Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of VIGILIO PERSEGHIN

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Descendants of VIGILIO PERSEGHIN

4. MR NAPOLEON² PERSEGHIN (VIGILIO¹) was born 19 Jun 1887 in TRECENTA, REVIGO PROV, ITALY ⁶, and died 18 Sep 1985 in DUNDALK, MD⁶. He married MRS ADELE MARIA BRANDALEZE 07 Jan 1907 in SAN BELLINO, REVIGO PROV ITALY, daughter of PIETRO BRANDALEZE and MATILDA QUAACHIO. She was born 21 Jun 1886 in SAN BELLINO, REVIGO PROV, ITALY, and died 13 May 1971 in DUNDALK, MD.

Notes for MR NAPOLEON PERSEGHIN:
      The Perseghins came to Wilmington, North Carolina as the result of an economic experiment by Hugh MacRae, a Southern businessman who sought to alleviate the labor problems of North Carolina by creating a series of peasent farming colonies in Southeastern North Carolina. MacRae's efforts in what he termed "human engineers" were based on Edmund Morris's book "Ten Acres Enough" which argued that, using modern farming methods, a farmer could support his family on ten acres of land. Between 1905 and 1912, MacRae's Carolina Trucking and Development Company established six such colonies on large tracts of timberland along the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. Agents were hired on commission to recruit colonist from Europe on the premise that they would be more familiar with small, intensive farming. Promotional literature described in glowing language the mild climate, abundant water supply, fertile soil, excellent roads, and available markets. In addition, the Company offered to build each colonist "a comfortable, three room cottage" for $240.00 to be paid off in installments.
      The first colony established was St. Helena, near the present town of Burgaw, due north of Wilmington, NC. Like all six colonies, St. Helena lay on a branch of the Atlanitc Coast Line Railroad to facilitate the shipment of the truck farm products. The town was surveyed with streets running perpedicular and paralell to the train tracks, reaching out to the grid of ten acre farms. Lots were set aside for church, school, park and, of course, the company store.
      Gaetano and Dominic Perseghin were the first to migrate to St. Helena in 1905. The land which they found was vastly different from the brochures. Most was still timberland that needed to be cleared. Both men were skilled craftsman, having been apprenticed to Austrian and German masters in Stutgart, Germany. Their break came when the saw broke at the lumber mill in Burgaw, N.C. and Gaetano was able to fix it. Their descriptions of America were glowing enough that after several years, Napoleon and Adele migrated, followed several years later by Vigilio, Imbania, Lawrence and Giovanni. My grandmother remembered how devastated she was, after the ocean voyage and train ride from NYC to Wilmington, to behold the tiny woodland shack in the middle of nowhere that was to be their dreamhouse. Everyone worked dawn to dusk cutting trees and removing stumps. While the railroad bought the wood for track ties, the colonists were totally dependent on the company store for everything.
      Gaetano and Dominic were hired by a Italian construction crew that was building roads through the South. It was working on a road near Kitty Hawk that the brothers witnessed the first Wright brothers flight. While Gaetano later settled in Sumpter, S.C., Dominic chose to settle around Dunalk, Md, where he left the road crew and took up his trade as a shoe maker and store keeper. Napoleon was the only son to actually convert his land in St. Helena into a working farm. He became a very active member of the local Catholic church which he helped to build. Besides his farm, he also started a small store (barely more than a shed) that supplied basic items like matches and tobacco.
The WW I draft registration lists Napoleon Perseghin as living in Burgaw, Pencader County, NC. A sign of the times in the South, his race is listed as "brown".
      After Vigilio and the two younger sons joined Dominic in Baltimore, Napoleon was encouraged to emigrate as well. The family moved north in 1917, but, at the insistance of Adele, quickly returned to Burgaw.
      In 1918, in the midst of the Flu epidemic, Veronica was born. The family was so sick that their house was quarantined. Ill himself, Napoleon was caring for the rest of the family as well. Since Adele was unable to nurse her child, Napoleon got milk from a neighor who was also nursing a child. A bottle would be passed over the fence at the end of a long pole. Somehow everyone survived.
      Napoleon remained in Burgaw for another seven years. At last he was convinced to sell his farm to underwrite a joint venture with Dominic. The two brothers bought a larger farm in Back River, Md. which both families were to live and work. Arriving in Dundalk in the fall of 1926, Napoleon and Adele were devastated to learn that Dominic had gambled much of their money away, leaving the family with a mortgage on the property and little resources to survive the winter.
      In the end the farm was lost. An angry Vigilio intervened, giving Napoleon one of his three town lots in St. Helena, Md. on which to build a house for his family. There on Baltimore St, he would raise his family and live the remainder of his long life. A skilled carpenter, Napoleon gave up farming and returned to his trade. For a while, he worked in construction as a carpenter. During the Depression he, his son Bruno and daughter Louise worked in a shoe factory. During the war, he got a job at Bethlehem Steel as a millwright
      Despite the setback with his brother, Napoleon was a shrewd businessman, using whatever resources he had to get ahead. Whenever he was able to save some money, he bought a lot and built a house, which he rented to first his many adult children and later to others. During the Depression, he squeezed his ownlarge family into two bedrooms and took in boarders. He grew figs and vegetables to can as well as grapes to make his own wine. In backyard sheds, he raised chickens and pigeons for food.
      Like his own father, Napoleon was a deeply religious Catholic who was active in the church his entire life. Originally attending Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church, a missionary Italian parish in East Baltimore, he later helped to start St. Rita's Catholic Church in Dundalk.
      While still in his fifties, Napoleon developed serious intestinal problems (ulcers, the loss of ten feet of large intestines and a large tumor) and had to go on disability. Although he is registered in the WW II draft records, he is listed as 4F.
      In 1950, Napoleon and Adele made the first of several trips back to their home towns of San Bellino and Trecenta in Italy. Although Adele's parents were both deceased, she still had a younger sister and numerous nephews, neices and cousins, mano of whom were working the same flax fields of the Po Valley as their ancestors. Living in Trecenta, the Perseghin cousins were more prosperous. After their parents death, Anna, Lena, Virginia and Frank continued to maintain contact their Italian counsins, visiting them every few years.
      Despite serious health problems throughout his life, however, Napoleon remained active well into his nineties. After Adele died, he threw away all his medicines, went back to eating whatever he felt like, and prepared to follow her. He ended up living another ten years. With the exception of the last six months of his life, which were spent in a nursing home, Napoleon lived at home, cared for daily by his many children, all of whom lived nearby.

1910 US Census:
North Carolina, Pender County, Burgaw Township, Roll 1125Book 2, page 302

Napoleon Perseghin, Head of Household, 23 years old, married, 3 years. Born in Italy, Speaks Italian, Migrated 1907, Both parents born in Italy, Trade: Farmer, Farm: 169 acres.
Adele Perseghin, Wife, 24 years old, married 3 years, 2 children, both surviving, Born in Italy, Speaks Italian, Migrated 1907, Both parents born in Italy.
Annie Perseghin, Daughter, 2 years old, born in North Carolina, both parents born in Italy.
Diverge Perseghin, Daughter, 1 month old, born in North Carolina, both parents born in Italy.

World War I Draft Registration Card
9/12/1918
Napoleon Perseghin
Born June 19, 1887 in Italy
Residence:      Burgaw, Pender County, North Carolina
Occupation:      Farmer on his own farm in Burgaw, NC
Dependents:      Wife and 5 children
Description:      Medium height and build, brown eyes, black hair

1920 US Census Records:
North Carolina, Pender County, Burgaw Township, Roll 1313, Book 1, pg. 159a

Napoleon Perseghin, Head of Household, 32 years old, Married, Migrated in 1907, Born in Italy, Speaks Italian, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian, Occupation: General Farmer.
Adele Perseghin, Wife, 33 years old, Married, Migrated in 1907, Born in Italy, Speaks Italian, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
Annie Perseghin, Daughter, 12 years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
"Degaivia" (Diverge) Perseghin, Daughter,10 years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
"Petrina" (Petra) Perseghin, Daughter, 8 years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
Bruno Perseghin, Son, 5 years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
Frank Perseghin, Son, 4 years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
Veronica Perseghin, Daughter, 2 ½ years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.
"Lina" (Madeline) Perseghin, Daughter, 2/12 years old, Born in North Carolina, Both parents born in Italy and Speak Italian.

1930 US Census for 12th District, Dundalk, Baltimore County, MD lists:

Napoleon Perseghin, hd of Household, 42, age at time of marriage 19, net worth $5,000, born in Italy
Adele Perseghin, wife, 43, age at time of marriage 20, born in Italy
Anna Perseghin, daughter 21, born in NC
Luisa Perseghin, daughter, 20, born in NC
Petria Perseghin, daughter, 18, born in NC
Madelene Perseghin, daughter, 11, born in NC
Bruno Perseghin,son, 16, born in NC
Frank Perseghin,son, 14, born in NC
Veronica Perseghin,Daughter, 12, born in NC
Joseph Perseghin, Son, 8, born in NC
Virginia Perseghin,daughter, 6, born in NC
Lewis Perseghin, “uncle” (should be nephew), 18, born in NC

U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942
Name: Napoleone Perseghin
Birth Date: 19 Jun 1887
RESIDENCE: Baltimore, Maryland
Birth: Italy
Roll: WW2_2243418

Social Security Death Index

Name: Napoleon Perseghin
SSN: 213-09-2279
Last Residence: 21222 Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
Born: 19 Jun 1887
Died: Sep 1985
State (Year) SSN issued: Maryland (Before 1951 )

U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995
Name: Napoleon Perseghin
Age: 45
Birth Date: abt 1888
Issue Date: 13 Mar 1933
State: Maryland
Locality, Court: District of Maryland, Circuit and District Courts
Title: Indexes to Naturalization petitions to the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for Maryland, 1797-1951
Description: Lukitsch, John-Pozzuoli, Maria
Series: M1168

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Napoleon Perseghin
Arrival Date: 5 Sep 1950
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1887
Age: 63
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Genoa, Italy
Ship Name: Vulcania
Search Ship Database: Search the Vulcania in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Nativity: Italy
Line: 18
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_7884
Birth Location: Italy
Page Number: 45

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Napoleon Perseghin
Arrival Date: 3 Sep 1953
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Brussels, Belgium
Port of Arrival: Idlewild Airport, Idlewild, New York
Line: 24
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_8358
Page Number: 297
Source Citation: Year: 1953; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_8358; Line: 24; .

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Napoleon Perseghin
Arrival Date: 8 Oct 1955
Port of Departure: Genoa, Italy
Ship Name: Cristoforo Colombo
Search Ship Database: Search the Cristoforo Colombo in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Nativity: Italy
Line: 9
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_8644
Birth Location: Italy
Page Number: 40
Source Citation: Year: 1955; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_8644; Line: 9; .

Notes for MRS ADELE MARIA BRANDALEZE:
The Brandaleze came from San Ballino near Venice where they were peasants on the Count's estate. The Perseghins and Bombanatos considered them to be lower class.
Adele and her sister Rosa married Gaetano and Napoleon and immediately emgirated to America. Neither saw their parents again. With two World Wars intervening, Adele did not return to her home village until the 1950's. By that time, they had become the "rich Americans" to their cousins who were still struggling as farmers. Since the fifties, there has been regular contact with San Ballino.
Nona ("grandmother") was a tiny rotund woman who only learned as much English as she needed to get by. Living at home, raising nine children, she was deeply attached to her children, all of whom settled nearby. Her daughters especially maintained daily contact with their mother until her death in 1971. Besides daily mass, her one recreation was bingo, which she played several times a week.

U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995 U.S. Naturalization Records Indexes, 1794-1995
Name: Adele Perseghin
Age: 58
Birth Date: abt 1887
Issue Date: 25 May 1945
State: Maryland
Locality, Court: District of Maryland, Circuit and District Courts
Title: Indexes to Naturalization petitions to the U.S. Circuit and District Courts for Maryland, 1797-1951
Description: Lukitsch, John-Pozzuoli, Maria
Series: M1168

New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
Name: Adele Perseghin
Arrival Date: 8 Oct 1955
Port of Departure: Genoa, Italy
Ship Name: Cristoforo Colombo
Search Ship Database: Search the Cristoforo Colombo in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: New York, New York
Nativity: Italy
Line: 10
Microfilm Serial: T715
Microfilm Roll: T715_8644
Birth Location: Italy
Page Number: 40

More About NAPOLEON PERSEGHIN and ADELE BRANDALEZE:
Marriage: 07 Jan 1907, SAN BELLINO, REVIGO PROV ITALY

Children of NAPOLEON PERSEGHIN and ADELE BRANDALEZE are:

17.	i.		ANNA MARIA³ PERSEGHIN, b. 16 Jun 1907, San Bellino, Revigo, Italy; d. 24 Mar 1996, Dundalk, Baltimore, MD.
	ii.		DIVERGE VICTORIA PERSEGHIN, b. 04 Apr 1910, Burgaw, N.C.⁷; d. May 1985, Dundalk, Baltimore, MD⁷; m. THEODORE GRANSEE; b. 08 Jul 1915, Maryland ⁸; d. Jun 1965, Dundalk, MD⁸.

Notes for DIVERGE VICTORIA PERSEGHIN:
North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000 North Carolina Birth Index, 1800-2000
Name: Devege Victoria Perseghin
Date of Birth: 4 Apr 1910
Birth County: Pender
Roll Number: B_C076_68001
Volume: 1
Page: 41

Notes for THEODORE GRANSEE:
Social Security Death Index Social Security Death Index
Name: Theodore Gransee
SSN: 217-01-7064
Born: 8 Jul 1915
Died: Jun 1965
State (Year) SSN issued: Maryland (Before 1951 )

1930 US Census for Baltimore, MD lists:

William Gransee, h of h, 50, born in MD
Mary H Gransee, wife, 42, born in MD
George Gransee, son, 19
Thoedoe Gransee, son, 14, born in MD
Anna Gransee, Daughter, 1914

18.	iii.	PETRA ANGELINA PERSEGHIN, b. 29 Oct 1911, Burgaw, N.C.; d. 30 Aug 1990, Dundalk, Baltimore, MD.
19.	iv.	BRUNO JOSEPH PERSEGHIN, b. 03 Feb 1914, Burgaw, N.C.; d. 15 Dec 1994, Dundalk, Baltimore, MD.
20.	v.	FRANK VIGILIO PERSEGHIN, b. 22 Mar 1916, Burgaw, N.C.; d. 13 Feb 2006, Dundalk, MD.
21.	vi.	MISS VERONICA IMBANIA JULIA PERSEGHIN, b. 05 May 1918, BURGAW, N.C.; d. 28 Jun 2007, Abingdon, MD.
22.	vii.	MADELINE MATILDA PERSEGHIN, b. 02 Dec 1919, Burgaw, N.C..
23.	viii.	JOSEPH ANDREW PERSEGHIN, b. 21 Mar 1922, Burgaw, N.C..
24.	ix.	VIRGINIA PERSEGHIN, b. 14 Mar 1923, Burgaw, N.C..

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