Gelsomino Capaldi (ca 1867 - 1955) was born in Picinisco, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy (1). His parents were Gaetano Capaldi and Maria Giuseppa Gizzi. (2) He was one of three siblings who settled in Norwich. The others were Luigi (ca 1864 - 1902) and Rosalba (1871 - 1942). (3)
On 4 December 1892 Gelsomino married Almerinda Marcantonio at St John Maddermarket Catholic church in Norwich. She was the sister of Elisabetta Marcantonio, who was married to Gelsomino's brother Luigi. Elisabetta had been promised in marriage to Luigi in childhood, so it is possible that the same was true for Gelsomino and Almerinda. Gelsomino and Almerinda had twelve children: Pepina (1894 - 1948), Philip (1895 - 1896), Gelsomino (1896 - 1897), Maria (1898 - ?), Philomena (1900 - 1935), Louis Patrick (1902 - 1974), Loretto (1904 - 1905), Mariucia (1906 - 1991), Beatrice (1907 - 1999), Millia (1910 - 1982), Felicia (1913 - ), Francis Gelsomino (1919 - 1920). (4)
In 1896 the family lived at 37 Alden's Yard, Ber Street and Gelsomino earned a living as a street musician. (5) By December 1904 they had moved to 8 Brooks Yard, Ber Street, and by May 1906 they lived at number 5. (6) By 1913 Gelsomino had become an ice cream vendor. (7)
Gelsomino's name only appeared in trade directories as a private resident (8):
Almerinda died 1 January 1943 at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. She lived at 327 Gertrude Road and her husband was 'formerly a biscuit maker'. (9) Gelsomino died in Norwich Outer in the second quarter of 1955. (10)
Notes: