Louis Sentinella or Santinelli (ca 1804 - 1843) was born in Italy. According to family tradition, he was from the island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples.(1) He was an image maker - a plaster figure maker - which also links him to the province of Lucca in Tuscany. (2)
On 5 September 1831 Louis married Rebecca Peck (1812 - 1871) at St Michael at Thorn, Norwich.(3) Their first son, Robert Louis, was born in Cambridge on 24 Jun 1832. (4) The next three children were born in Norwich and baptized at St John Maddermarket Catholic church: Rosina (1833 - 1913), Joseph Louis (1835 - 1840) and Sarah Frances (1837 - 1916). (5) At the time of Sarah's birth the family was living in Rising Sun Lane, Ber Street. (6) Louis may have been the first Italian who settled in the Ber Street area, which would later become renowned for its Italian community.
From Norwich the Sentinellas returned to Cambridge. Morea Elizabeth (1840 - 1898) was born in Short Street, Cambridge, on 7 August 1840 and Joseph Louis (John) died there on 27 July 1840. (7) (8) But by March 1841 the family were living in Market Lane, Newport, in Wales. (9)They had moved to Ynys Gau, Merthyr Tydfil by 22 April 1843, when Jacob (1843 - 1897) was born. (10)
Louis died of Phthisis at Merthyr Tydfil on 24 September 1843. (11) Rebecca married again, with Edward Jordan, on 13 Nov 1856 in London. (12)
1. I am indebted to Steve and Margaret Reindstadtler for sharing the family stories and the information on several certificates.
2. 1841 Wales Census, John Lewis, Newport HO 107/751/17
3. marriage record in parish registers of St Michael at Thorn, Norwich, held at Norfolk Record Office (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
4. baptismal record of Robert Louis Sentinella (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
5. baptismal records St John Maddermarket Catholic chapel, held at Norfolk Record Office MF/RO 618/1
6. birth certificate of Sarah Frances Sentinella, Norwich, vol.13, p.173 (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
7. birth certificate of Morea Elizabeth Sentanela, Cambridge, vol.14, p.11 (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
8. death certificate of John Sentanester, Cambridge, vol.14, p.6 (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
9. Ibid. 2
10. birth certificate of Jacob Santinella, Merthyr Tydfil, vol.26, p.404 (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
11. death certificate of Lewis Santanelli, Merthyr Tydfil, vol.26, p.253 (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)
12. marriage certificate of Rebecca Sentinella, St Luke, vol.1b, p.742 (Steve & Margaret Reinstadtler)