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General => The Common Room => Topic started by: GfL on Thursday 22 July 10 13:27 BST (UK)

Title: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: GfL on Thursday 22 July 10 13:27 BST (UK)
have a connection, in anyway whatsoever, with this surname in their family history ?

I've taken on a challenge to try and help a family member I do have some info but am waiting on receiving more hence there being hardly anything here at the moment.  Just putting the "feelers" out as to how much of a challenge I may have taken on bearing in mind it is (in mind) a fairly unusual name but one I am not having much luck with !

Any feedback would be welcome.

Thank you.

GfL

 

Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: nanny jan on Thursday 22 July 10 13:44 BST (UK)
Hi,

FreeBMD has  some Potesta birth/marriage/death registrations; earliest is a death in 1847.


http://freebmd.rootsweb.com



Nanny Jan
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: FosseWay on Thursday 22 July 10 15:37 BST (UK)
Is it Italian?

I ask because some city states in Tuscany (before Italian unification) had governors/rulers whose title was Podestā or Potestā. It comes from potere = 'to be able', and is related to our words 'potent', 'potential' etc, and basically means 'one with power to...'.
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: Sloe Gin on Thursday 22 July 10 20:52 BST (UK)
No personal connection, but I was going to mention the variation Podesta.  Caught my eye because this chap (http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/john-alexander-podesta.html) was a member of the Titanic crew.  (He survived  :))
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: Ella Potesta on Sunday 25 July 10 15:32 BST (UK)
Hello,

My whole family (on my Dad's side) are Potesta's. What is it you were looking for exactly?
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: GfL on Sunday 25 July 10 21:45 BST (UK)
Hi Everyone,

Thanks for replying, I have been on FreeBMD and had some success.  I've come up against "Podesta" a lot.  I don't think the guy on the Titanic is connected but it'd be an interesting story to tell people  :)

Ella,
Please check your personal messages.

GfL   :)
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: Valda on Sunday 25 July 10 22:33 BST (UK)
Hi

Ella cannot receive personal messages on Rootschat until she has posted three times.


Regards

Valda
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: GfL on Monday 26 July 10 13:00 BST (UK)
Valda,

Thank you for letting me know.

ELLA,
Please post once more then I can re-send the PM.   ;D       

Just some names mentioned in it:
Jane Potesta, William Potesta, Sidney (Sydney) Herbert Potesta, Benjamin Potesta

Thanks
GfL   :D
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....question
Post by: GfL on Wednesday 28 July 10 23:15 BST (UK)
Looking for record of birth of Sidney (Sydney) Herbert Potesta born c1874, mother Mary Ann Jane Potesta nee Moore who in 1886 remarried and became Mrs Parrey/Parvey.  In the 1881 census it says Place of Birth is Deptford but this draws a blank.  I have his military records, marriage and death certificates but cannot find any record of his birth !!

Any help / ideas would be most welcome.

Thank you

GfL

Moderator'sComment: see also thread on Westmeath board
www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?action=post;topic=471212.0;num_replies=0
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: GfL on Friday 06 August 10 23:02 BST (UK)
BUMP (hopefully allowed)

In case Ella logs on again or anyone else who hasn't seen this can help.

Thanks.

GfL  :)
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: aghadowey on Friday 06 August 10 23:05 BST (UK)
Bumping up posts really isn't allowed. Ella has been online earlier today so possibly she has read the thread.
Title: Re: Potesta - does anyone....
Post by: jackiebush1960 on Wednesday 20 April 11 12:56 BST (UK)
hi,imtrying to find out about the titanic john podesta,he was born alfred john alexander podesta 18887 southampton, to john podesta and wife mary light(born bransgrove hants c1855)they were married south stoneham hants 1879. alfred john married daisy chivers in southampton 25/10/1913. and he died 1966 southampton.
i cannot find anything on john podesta senior at all, mary is down as a widow in 1891,cant find either on 1881 census,she remarried in 1893.
it says on the titanic pieces that john was married when he joined up,but i cant find a previous marriage for him.

could john senior be john married deborah mew in southampton 1864,deborah died sep q 1879,which would fit nicely with the john marrying mary light in dec q 1879!
any help would be appreciated.  jackie