Luigi Giovanni Ventre (ca 1879 - 1948) was probably born in Picinisco, Frosinone, Lazio, Italy. (1) By 1901 he lived in Norwich, with his wife Rosalba née Capaldi and his brother-in-law Luigi Capaldi and his family, at 42 St Stephens Road, Lakenham. Luigi was an organ grinder. (2)
Luigi and Rosalba probably got married in Italy and then made their way to Norwich. They had four children: Restituta (1901 - 1985), Eremilia (1906 - 1907), Luigia (1906 - 1990) and John Richie (1908 - 1985). The last three children were born in Norwich. (3)
From 1906 to 1911 they lived at 5 Newman's Yard, Ber Street. Luigi was an ice cream vendor. (4) On the 1911 census he was also a musician. (5) By 1924 they had moved to 89 Ber Street, next door to Domenico Parravani and his wife Luigia, née Marcantonio, and the Ventres were still living there in 1926. From 1927 they lived at 36 Howard Street. (6)
Luigi, by then called Giovanni, was mentioned in the following trade directories:
Giovanni Ventre died on 5 April 1948 at 36 Howard Street. He was a fish fryer. (7) His wife had died on 17 October 1942, the wife of an ice cream vendor. (8)
Notes:
(1) The Capaldis were from Picinisco, see Gelsomino Capaldi on the 1911 census.
(2) 1901 census Wentry Linge, incorrect transcription of Luigi Ventre.
(3) birth records of Eremilia and Luigia, born on 1 May 1906, at the Millennium Library Norwich, N/HE/10/2, MF 1177/2, East Wymer, week ending 16 June; vaccination record of Richi, born on 27 Aug 1908, N/HE12/34, MF 1209/3, East Wymer, n° 449.
(4) ibid (3)
(5) 1911 census Luigo Ventri
(6) trade directories of 1924-1931 http://www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk Search for Ventri and Ventre. Later trade directories can be found at the Millennium Library Norwich.
(7) death record of Giovanni Ventre at the Millennium Library, Norwich, N/HE/11/55, MF 1200/3, Norwich South, week ending 10 April 1948
(8) death record of Rosalba Ventre at the Millennium Library, Norwich, N/HE11/49, MF 1199/4, Norwich South, week ending 24 October 1942.