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Singerline Genealogy/Family History: Family Pictures |
One of the best parts of this whole family history thing would have to be these pictures. I know it isn't really this way, but there's something about having those eyes looking at us from the past that somehow adds to the sense of connection. With a picture (and with stories), these dry gatherings of statistical information -- mostly dates and names -- take a step closer to being the living, breathing individuals they once were.
My paternal grandfather Benjamin Joseph Singerling (1896-1969) on board the USS Kansas. He is on the lower right. The picture probably dates from the mid 19-teens (if the "19" written on the margin is his age, the year would be 1915). And so began a connection to the US Navy that would be continued in the second World War, when he reenlisted because his two oldest sons had joined...
...which, of course, left my maternal grandmother Helen McDonald (1894-1976) at home alone with the younger children. This photo may or may not date from the war years, but it does show the back of a house in the right East Newark, NJ, neighborhood, and those would be aunts and uncles of mine (except for the woman and children to the back right, who were neighbors).
Another picture of my father's parents and their family. The picture dates from sometime in 1931 or 1932, to judge from the baby who was born in December of 1930. This is the back of their house on John Street, in East Newark, NJ.
My paternal grandparents celebrating their 40th anniversary, April 1957.
My maternal grandmother Pasqualina Miele (1902-1990). She's standing on a station platform, somewhere on the New York City subway system. Given her outfit and apparent age, I'd guess the picture was taken in the later 1920s, perhaps very early 1930s.
Here are my maternal grandparents, as well as my mother and my aunt. This pictures probably dates from the later 1940s and is likely to be located somewhere in New York City, where my grandmother had family.
Grandpa arrived at Ellis Island in the fall of 1923, having sailed from Naples on the Guglielmo Peirce.
My paternal grandfather's mother Mary Jane Woods (1871-1939) along with some of her children (although my grandfather is not among them) and one of her sisters (Gertie). Doll, or Dorothy, was born in 1911 or 1912 -- after her father had died -- so the picture can be dated judging by her apparent age.
My paternal grandmother's father Bernard McDonald (1868-1898). I know almost nothing about this great grandfather, except that he was born in the States, he married in 1890, probably worked in the leather industry (which was very big in Newark, NJ), and died at a very young age.
My maternal grandmother's father Pasquale Miele (1870-1925). This picture shows him leaning out of a New York City tenement window, quite possibly up on East 115th Street or so, which is the neighborhood where my grandmother's family lived. I know very little about this man. The once or twice I find him in the census he is noted as a laborer. I would guess he found it difficult to find work, or that he was paid very little, as family history relates how his wife would have to make artificial flowers with the help of the children to make ends meet.
It seems that bisnonno arrived at Ellis Island in 1895, on board the Duca d'Aosta.
My maternal grandfather Oto Comanzo (1899-1964). Like his older brothers, my grandfather was in the Italian army during the first World War. This picture would likely be from the late 19-teens.
My maternal grandfather's father Pietro Comanzo (1866-1933). This is one side of his identity card, which was issued in 1930, during the years of fascism. The description reads that he was a bastaio, or a maker of saddles, and that he was 1.76 meters tall, that he had brown eyes and a dark complexion, and that his nose and mouth were both giusto, which, as it literally means "correct," probably meant that they were straight or perhaps unblemished.
This picture and the next both date from 1930. It was the last time my grandfather went back to visit his family in Italy. This one is rather "famous" within family circles as many copies can be found in various households. It shows my maternal grandfather's father, along with my grandfather's two brothers, Nicola and Agostino. They are seated outside their saddle shop with a sample of their handiwork.
Here is a group shot that includes my grandfather's mother Lucrezia Corsano, his two sisters-in-law, and his four sisters.
My maternal grandmother's maternal grandmother Maria Giuseppa Familiano (dates unknown). As my great grandmother Gelsomina Letteriello was from the town of Campagna in the province of Salerno, I can only guess that would be the rough location of this picture. Family history suggests that bis-bisnonna Maria Giuseppa had wanted to come to the States, but the daughter who would have taken her in was not the daughter she wanted to live with. So, she stayed in Italy. Another story has her dying alone in her house and not being found for several days.
My paternal grandmother's maternal grandfather Thomas Gargan (1840-after 1910) brought his wife and children over to the States in the early 1870s. He, of course, left family behind, including his brother James Gargan and family.
The 1861 census shows that my great grandfather Thomas Gargan (1840-after 1910) lived with his parents and siblings at 39 Back Sneddon Street, Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland. A friend of mine visited her own Scottish relatives in August 2000 and was kind enough to take some pictures for me. My thanks to her and to her family.
There is a business currently located at no.41 Back Sneddon. No.39 itself is a carpark or parking lot, but is is possible that the building that used to be there looked like this.
Webpage last updated: 23 November 2001
