Tuesday, March 2, 2010

it all started with a headstone


It all started with a headstone: Elizabeth May Fasola 1921-1925 at rest with a lamb on top. This was in the Sequim View Cemetery. It called from me the whole time I was there. So, when I got home I decided to look her up on ancestry.com. I mean you never know. And while I didn’t find Elizabeth, I found what seemed to be her sister Margery Fasola born 1919 in Clallam County Washington, parents Alfonso Fasola and Nellie Correia. So off I went in search of a family tree with Margery in it and I found one really fast. It is the Orell Family Tree hosted by sharonilstrup. This family has Margery Nov 17 1919 – Jun 22 1981 and Elizabeth 1921 – 1925. I love it when I can figure families out J so, here is the breakdown of the family.
Father: Alfonso F Fasola born Jan 10 1893 Cadempino, Ct, Switzerland died Jun 21 1975 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA. ** story
Mother: Nellie Evelyn Correia born Mar 2 1891 Blyn, Clallam, Washington, USA died Jul 18 1967 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA married Jan 16 1915 Clallam, Washington, USA **photo
Paternal Grandfather: Enrico Fasola born 1854 died 1914 Cadempino, Ticino, Switzerland
Paternal Grandmother: Angiolina Crescionini born 1859 died 1931 Cadempino, Ticino, Switzerland
Maternal Grandfather: Manuel Correia born Jun 2 1858 Maderiea, Portugal died Feb 13 1945 Richmond, Wise, Virginia, USA **story
Maternal Grandmother: Christina Goncalves born Nov 15 1872 Funchal, Maderiea, Portugal died May 8 1938 Blyn, Clallam, Washington, USA married 1887 Honolulu, Hawaii **obit
Children:
Clarence Henry Fasola born Jun 4 1915 Clallam, Clallam, Washington, USA died Oct 6 1990 Centralia, Thurston, Washington, USA
Evelyn Noreen Fasola born Apr 24 1917 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA died Apr 5 1988 Port Angeles, Clallam, Washington, USA
Margery Ann Fasola born Nov 17 1919 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA died Jun 22 1981 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA
Elizabeth May Fasola born 1921 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA died 1925 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA
Clyde Dayton Fasola born Jan 15 1923 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA died mar 23 1993 Sequim, Clallam, Washington, USA

So, with just a little info from a lone child’s headstone I have a pretty good picture of a family that lived and died here in Sequim. I am hoping to somehow find a living relative and talk to them about their relatives lives in Sequim in the early to mid 1900’s

Alphonso Fasola story
The Real Age of Alfonso (Alfred) Fasola
After a great deal of eye strain we are proud to announce that contrary to all we have been told.... the man lied about his age when he immigrated to the United States! Too bad nobody is left to truely appreciate this but myself and my Uncle, his grandson, Duane Bennett! Here is what we now know and we will correct his records on this tree to reflect this knowledge!
At the time he immigrated, his paperwork through Ellis Island on Feb. 23, 1909 indicates his age as 18 years old. Per my mother, Janice Bennett/Andrew/Stanford, he was 19 years old when he immigrated to the United States. Well, even the U.S. Census in 1910 had him listed as 18 years old... but the U.S. Census was notorious for it's inaccuracies, people weren't always forthcoming, handwriting was bad, ect...
But the one document that I chose to take as accurate, and is completely legible is the one where he registered for the Draft in World War I. According to that document, filled out in his own hand and signed by him, and I am of course assuming that he would not lie to the U.S. Government about something this serious.... He was born January 10th, 1893, which would have made him only 16 years old at the time that he immigrated to the United States! There you have it! This is the official date of birth! Oh, and the official name and spelling: Alfonso.

Manueal correia story
Rumor Has It!
Okay! Here's the skinny as I got it through various family sources:
As far as we know: Manuel and Christina did not divorce. He did not pre-decease her either. He set up house with another woman and had more children with her. Eventually he died in Virginia and his children still resided there at the time. (the second family)
Manuel was rumored to have been an angry man, who was known to use his fists on his wife and children. So when he removed himself to live with a nephew on the Eastcoast, it appears that Christina buckled down to continue supporting and raising her children without any further anguish from her husband.
It is also rumored that at one point their youngest son, Frenchie (Francis) tracked Manuel down and met his "second" wife and daughters. That Frenchie found Manuel to still be handy with his fists and anger. As a result, Frenchie gave up all hope of any real relationship with his father when his father threw him out of his house and disowned Frenchie for defending his "stepmother and stepsisters" from his father's abuse.
Manuel was known to have a temper and that temper also prevented him from hold employment for any length of time.

Christina Goncalves Correia obit

Old Settler, 65 Passes During Visit With Son
Mrs. Christina Correia, 65, of Blyn, passed away at the home of her son, Francis, May 8, while on a visit at his home in Mayo, near Olympia. Cerebreal hemorrhage was the immediate cause of death.
The Correia family is one of the old-time settlers of Blyn, having moved there in 1889. Mr. Correia preceeded his wife in death a number of years ago.
Mrs. Correia was born on the Island of Maderia, off the coast of Portugal November 15, 1872. She moved to Honolulu in 1887 where she was married.
Moving to Blyn in 1889, a family of nine children grew to manhood & womanhood, who survive, together with 20 grandchildren and on great-grandchild.
Surviving children are: Mrs. Nellie Fasola of Sequim, Mrs. Mary Hendrickson, Mrs. Isobel Dean, Mrs. Virginia Reposa, Mrs. Jennie Burr, Mrs. Christine Sylvia, James and Irene Correia of Blyn. The body was shipped to Sequim for interment in the Blyn Cemetery Wednesday, under the direction of the Sequim Mortuary. Rev. J.H. Beall of Port Angeles read the funeral services.

1 comment:

  1. Laura, I love your photo of this little lamb headstone. I've seen lots of them for little children and babies, and they all seem to be real folkart, very primitive in the carving, and always emotional. I guess that's what makes them seem so heartfelt and poignant.

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