Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Carmelo ‘Charles’ Torretta


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Carmelo ‘Charles’ Torretta and six of his descendants down to the second generation.


First and Second Generations
1. Carmelo ‘Charles’ Torretta,1 born 26 October 1888 in Prizzi, Sicily, Italy (parents not determined);1, 2, 3, 4 died 7 November 1969 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.3, 5 Charles married, ca. 1923, Guiseppina ‘Josephina’ Palmisano4 (born 25 April 1903 in Phillipsburg, Warren County, New Jersey, the daughter of Salvatore Palmisano and Georgina Dyer;6, 7 Josephina died 16 November 19887). Charles is buried in Wisconsin Memorial Park, Brookfield, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.5

Charles emigrated on 17 August 1913 from Prizzi, Sicily, Italy.2

Josephina was raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, while her family lived there, until 1907, when the family moved to her father’s native Italy. Josephina returned to the U.S. in 1921, traveling with her brother Rocco.6


Children of Carmelo ‘Charles’ Torretta and Guiseppina ‘Josephina’ Palmisano:

 2i. Pauline Torretta, born ca. 1924 in Wisconsin.4
 3ii. Georgette Torretta, born ca. 1925 in Wisconsin.4
 4iii. Barbara Torretta, born ca. 1927 in Wisconsin.4
 5iv. Michael Torretta, born 1930 in Wisconsin.4
 6v. Salvatore Torretta.
 7vi. David Torretta.

  1. Record of Citizenship/Naturalization, U.S. Naturalization Record Index, 1791-1992, available at ancestry.com; Certificate No. 4283867-V209P103; Torretta, Carmelo, born 26 Oct 1888; Date of Arrival: 17 Apr 1913; Date of Naturalization: 17 Sep 1937, #31903.
  2. Passenger List, S.S. König Albert, sailing from Palermo, 5 Apr 1913 arriving at Port of New York, 17 Apr 1913; Line 4: Torretta, Carmelo, age 24; Last Residence: Prizzi, Sicily; father: Torretta, Michele, Prizzi; Final Destination: New York, NY; going to join cousin Leone, Giorgio, 228 E. 75 St., New York; Place of Birth: Prizzi, Sicily.
  3. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Torretta, Charles; no. 397-01-7086; b. 26 Oct 1888; d. Nov 1969; last residence: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1930, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, Milwaukee, Enumeration District 40-6, Sheet No. 17A, family of Charles Torret (39, Italy, shoe worker, shoe factory, 32 at first marriage, immigrated 1914), wife Josephine (27, PA, 20 at first marriage), daughter Pauline (6, WI), daughter Georgette (5, WI), daughter Barbara (3, WI), son Michael (2w, WI).
  5. Obituary, The Milwaukee Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Torretta, Charles; 8 Nov 1969; died 7 Nov 1969, aged 81 years.
  6. Passenger List, S.S. Presidente Wilson, sailing from Napoli, 6 Aug 1921, arriving at Port of New York, 18 Aug 1921; Line 20, Palmisano, Rocco, age 20, born in Phillipsburg, NY [undoubtedly referring to Phillipsburg, NJ, across the Delaware River from Easton, PA, where his family resided]; Line 21, Palmisano, Giuseppina [handwritten notation of Wife is incorrect; this is Rocco’s sister], age 18, born in Phillipsburg, NY [same note as above applies].
  7. Social Security Death Index (SSDI), Rootsweb (website). Torretta, Josephina; no. 389-68-789; b. 25 Apr 1903; d. 16 Nov 1988; last residence: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, WI