CAPALDI Gelsomino

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):

• 1924 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, p. 28 and 249, 5 Brooks Yard
• 1925 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, p. 31, 5 Brooks Yard
• 1926 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, p. 32 and 274, 5 Brooks Yard
• 1927 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, p. 33, 5 Brooks Yard
• 1931 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, p. 37 and 306, 5 Brooks Yard

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:

1. 1911 census
2. His father's name was mentioned in the marriage record at St John Maddermarket Catholic chapel, of which a transcription can be found at the Norfolk Family History Society. His mother's name was kindly given to me by Sandra Bassiri.
3. 1901 census. Luigi and Rosalba lived at the same address. Due to a mistake in the transcription their surname was Linge (from the first name Luigi).
4. http://www.ancestry.co.uk family tree 'Gelsomino Capaldi of Norwich' and the birth and death records at the Millennium Library Norwich
5. death record of Philippo Capaldi, who died on 14 July 1896 (East Wymer).
6. birth record of Loretto Capaldi, born on 11 December 1904 (East Wymer) and birth record of Mariucia, born on 7 May 1906 (East Wymer).
7. birth record of Felicia Capaldi, born on 12 February 1913 (East Wymer)
8. Go to http://www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk for the trade directories.
9. death record of Miranda Capaldi, week ending 9 January 1943 (Norwich South)
10. http://www.ancestry.co.uk family tree 'Gelsomino Capaldi of Norwich'