D'ANNUNZIO FAMILY HISTORY
In 1878 Michele D’Annunzio together with his wife Fortunata Manicini and their four children Maria Grazia, Felice Andrea, Filipo (Puche) and Pepina left their home in Atina, Lazio Italy and emigrated to Liverpool
It was a heart wrenching decision to leave their home, family and friends to make a better living for themselves. Michele obtained birth certificates for himself and his family just before leaving Atina in the summer of 1878 and travelled by ship (SS Italia) to Liverpool.
The first family home was number 55 Gerard Street a far cry from sunny Italy but nevertheless it was now home. Gerard Street became the main street for Liverpool’s Little Italy; the 1881 census shows at least 50 Italian families residing there.
Michele set up his home as a lodging house where he let rooms to other immigrants who followed the chain migration from Italy.
By the end of the 19th century Liverpool’s Italian quarter was well established, relatives of the original settlers had joined them giving a considerable rise to the population within the network of streets in and around the Scotland road area
Within 10 years of arriving Michele had bought a larger property at number 38 Clare Street where he housed 18 lodgers names include…Volante, Mangini, Fesci, Perechini and a host of English names too.
Maria Grazia D’Annunzio married Vincenzo Volante and lived at number 82 Gerard Street they went on to have 13 children one of which was Dominic (Dom) Volante.
Felice Andrea D’Annunzio married Agnes Lang and lived at number 7 Whale Street which was a corner shop known locally as Wally Langs.
Filipo (Puche) D’Annunzio (my great-grandfather) married Alice Green had 2 children. He was later widowed and married Mary Ann Swindly and lived at 43 Holly Street they had 9 children one of which was my Grandfather Laurence D’Annunzio.
Pepina D’Annunzio did not marry and died age 31.
The majority of the D’Annunzio family stayed within close proximity of the Little Italy area after the mass slum clearance of the early 20th century. They resided in the newly built tenements that became synonymous with the area these include St Andrew's Gardens (The bull ring), Gerard Gardens and Blackstock Gardens to name a few.
It was a heart wrenching decision to leave their home, family and friends to make a better living for themselves. Michele obtained birth certificates for himself and his family just before leaving Atina in the summer of 1878 and travelled by ship (SS Italia) to Liverpool.
The first family home was number 55 Gerard Street a far cry from sunny Italy but nevertheless it was now home. Gerard Street became the main street for Liverpool’s Little Italy; the 1881 census shows at least 50 Italian families residing there.
Michele set up his home as a lodging house where he let rooms to other immigrants who followed the chain migration from Italy.
By the end of the 19th century Liverpool’s Italian quarter was well established, relatives of the original settlers had joined them giving a considerable rise to the population within the network of streets in and around the Scotland road area
Within 10 years of arriving Michele had bought a larger property at number 38 Clare Street where he housed 18 lodgers names include…Volante, Mangini, Fesci, Perechini and a host of English names too.
Maria Grazia D’Annunzio married Vincenzo Volante and lived at number 82 Gerard Street they went on to have 13 children one of which was Dominic (Dom) Volante.
Felice Andrea D’Annunzio married Agnes Lang and lived at number 7 Whale Street which was a corner shop known locally as Wally Langs.
Filipo (Puche) D’Annunzio (my great-grandfather) married Alice Green had 2 children. He was later widowed and married Mary Ann Swindly and lived at 43 Holly Street they had 9 children one of which was my Grandfather Laurence D’Annunzio.
Pepina D’Annunzio did not marry and died age 31.
The majority of the D’Annunzio family stayed within close proximity of the Little Italy area after the mass slum clearance of the early 20th century. They resided in the newly built tenements that became synonymous with the area these include St Andrew's Gardens (The bull ring), Gerard Gardens and Blackstock Gardens to name a few.