Antonio Bacciarelli

Great-great-grandfather, Antonio Bacciarelli, lived in Gera, Lake Como, Italy with his wife 'Mavora Delora' (Mavora Dell'Ora or Dell'Orr). He had at least three children that we know of, one of whom was grandfather Giovanni Battista Bacciarelli and two older brothers Guiseppe (Giaseppe) and Girolamo (Guillermo) possibly others named Antonio and Guerino.

Recent research of the parish records show that Antonio's father was Girolamo Bacciarelli and that he was aged 40 when my grandfather Giovanni Battista Bacciarelli was born in 1866 in Gera. His wife Mavora's father was Antonio Carlo Delphi Dall'Orr and the lady who translated Giovanni's birth document advised that 'Delphi' is normally used as a surname so it is likely that this may have been his mothers surname.

Little information is known about Antonio's life, although it is believed that he never came to England. Subsequent visits to Lake Como by family members, discovered that no living Italian relatives currently reside in the area. According to a local hotel owner, who kindly acted as an interpreter all the children and remaining relatives had died, moved or emigrated to England. Subsequent research shows that whilst this may be true, there are still many Bacciarelli's located in Italy, which can be seen on this Map, although it is not known wether any of these families are relations.

Interestingly, Antonio's occupation is listed on Giovanni's first marriage certificate, as 'Farmer (deceased)' but on his second marriage in 1900, Antonio's occupation is listed as 'fishmonger' and the 'deceased' amendment has disappeared! It is possible he served in the Italian Army, so perhaps he was interred in a prison camp or thought to be lost during the war.

During my research I discovered a listing for Antonio Alfonso Gaetano Bacciarelli, married to Maria Elisabetta Della Valle, who may be our Antonio's father or a relation, but this has not yet been established. It seems to have been common practice for 'nicknames' to be used and it is possible that Antonio may have remarried after his wife's death. Some of the existing documentation, has yet to be catalogued and much may have been lost so anyone with further information or pictures of Antonio and his family, please contact me with details.