Fidello Rodi (ca 1872 - 1931), also called Frederick, was born in Rome, Italy. (1) He probably arrived in Norwich in the early 1900s and started a family with Rosa Browne (ca 1886 - 1925). Their first child, Frederick Browne Rodi (1903 - 1965) was born in Stettin, Prussia, now Szczecin in Poland. (2) He was baptised at St John Baptist Catholic church in Norwich on 13 April 1905. (3) The other children, Dominic Browne (1905 - 1964), Antonetta (1907 - 1963), Luigi (1908 - 1908), Francesco (1909 - ?) and Alfonso (1914 - 1987) were all born in Norwich.
In 1905 Frederick was an ice cream seller and the family lived at 2 Scott's Yard, Ber Street. (4) However, in 1907 he was a street musician and the Rodis had moved to 3 Fox and Hounds Yard, Ber Street. (5) Frederick and Rosa married at St John Baptist Catholic church on 2 April 1907. They were both street musicians. (6) By July 1908 they were living at 9 Brook's Yard, Ber Street and Frederick was still working as a street musician. (7)
On the 1911 census the Rodis lived at 8 Brooks Yard. They had 3 rooms. Frederick was a street musician. (8) By 1914 he was a general labourer and the family was living at 1 Butcher's Alley, Ber Street. (9)
Frederick Rodi was mentioned in the follolwing trade directories (10):
- 1924 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, pp 31 and 482, ice cream vendor, 1 Butcher's Alley
- 1925 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, pp 34, 510, 572, ice cream maker, 1 Butcher's Alley
- 1926 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, pp 524 and 588, ice cream maker, 1 Butcher's Alley
- 1927 Kelly's Directories of Norwich, pp 37 and 538, ice cream vendor, 1 Butcher's Alley. The Norwich Ice Biscuit Company, biscuit makers, was also situated in Butcher's Alley.
Frederick died on 29 March 1931, an ice cream vendor, still living at Butcher's Alley. (11) His wife Rose had died on 3 June 1925, the wife of a biscuit maker. (12)
Notes:
- 1911 census
- Ibid. 1
- Baptismal records of St John Baptist Catholic church, Norfolk Record Office, MF/RO 621/5
- Birth record of Dominic Browne Rodi, 8 May 1905, Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, N/HE 10/1, MF1177/1, East Wymer, week ending 24 June
- Birth record of Antonetta Rose Rodi, 20 Jan 1907, Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, N/HE 10/3, MF 1177/3, East Wymer, week ending 2 March
- GRO marriage Frederick Rodi, Apr-Jun 1907, Norwich, volume 4b, page 307
- Birth record of Luigi Rodi, 12 Jul 1908, Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, N/HE 10/4, MF 1177/4, East Wymer, week ending 25 July
- Ibid. 1
- Birth record of Alfonso Luigi Rodi, 6 Oct 1914, Norfolk & Norwich Millennium Library, N/HE 10/9, MF 1179/1, East Wymer, week ending 14 November
- See http://www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk for the trade directories.
- Death record of Frederick Rodi, 29 Mar 1931, Norwich & Norfolk Millennium Library, N/HE 11/38, MF 1197/6, West Wymer, week ending 4 April
- Death record of Rose Rodi, 3 June 1925, Norwich & Norfolk Millennium Library, N/HE 11/32, MF 1196/6, East Wymer, week ending 6 June