RootsChat.Com

It might be worth emailing the archives/library in Turin to see if they have any records of orphanages; if nothing else, they may be able to point you in the right direction.

http://archiviodistatotorino.beniculturali.it/Site/index.php/en/home

Looking at this bit of the website http://archiviodistatotorino.beniculturali.it/work/elemdetot.php?uid=300903 it does seem that they have orphanage records from 1732 - 1950

Thank you...I did email this morning asking about an orphan born in 1865 in Torino and living in orphanage until age 16 named Concordino Stefano or any variation likely...hoping to receive something.  Only other idea is one of those people who speak to the dead?

My humble opinion is that his name was Concordio (male form of Concordia) Stefeno.   Think that whoever wrote out the marriage license  wrote it as it sounded and with surname used 'ph' rather than 'f'.

Annette

So, again...what advice would you all give as where to turn next?

Name is a huge stumbling block. Name is 1900 Walker Co Alabama Census was Save Concord, name is 1920 and 1930 was Joe Sefeno which was given by coal miners. Grandpa could not read or write, barely spoke English even in his later years. Born in Torino Italy, was in an orphanage until age 16 when a grape farmer retrieved him to work his farm. He left the farmer when the man never gave him part of the farm as promised and somehow got a free ride on a boat leaving Havre around Jan 1892.  Did not obtain naturalization until shortly before death. Named boat at that time as Bartania or that is the spelling recorded taker used. I also found one named Le Bartagne.

Only additional info I know is that he entered NY, lived in Spring Valley Ill, before moving to Alabama to work in the coal mines. At that time he married Parilee Smith and had a family, many children (James, Maggie, Mary, Frank, Fred, Elzo, Grady). After his children were born, he sent money to Italy to help another man (17) immigrate. Luigi Davito Gara came and married my Aunt Maggie.

It was my hopes that the Davito Gara family could lead me to my grandfather, but no luck so far.
Attached is all areas from marriage license where name appears, Census are all clear, and are as I have listed above.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, advice, Ideas, or time. I am so frustrated but do not want this to be the end.

Same old Immigration story of foreign name too hard for Americans to pronounce.
Great grandfather listed in census under 2 different names between 1900 and 1930.
Neither are Italian name but perhaps some version. Oldest document I have is a 1897
marriage license and the name is slaughtered in addition to a clerks terrible handwriting.
Im at a loss as to how to proceed.