Ice cream sellers and street musicians

[morella]

Hello! I've just stumbled on this thread and I was wondering if anyone might be able to help.
I'm a student at the University of Edinburgh. I'm doing a research project on Italian language maintenance among the Scotsitalian community and on its role in shaping the identity of successive generations of Italian immigrants.
If you're a Scotsitalian (no matter whether you speak Italian or not) or have Italian ancestors (no matter how remote they may be) and think you could spare 5 minutes (honestly, it won't take more than that) to fill up a questionnaire I would be very grateful. Please send me a private message and I'l forward the questionnaire to you.
Thanks a lot
Katia

[srm0119]

I am new to rootschat and new to our Ice Cream making, street musician family links.  I come to you from the US, but my ggrandpa was born Emanuel Oliva in Bury, Lancashire (Oliver in US) and his father, Giovani was a listed as a traveling minstral on his birth registry in 1859 and musicians in census records.  Giovani Oliva (father Giovani) married Maria Divote/Devote(father Nicholas) 1844 in Liverpool and they ran a boarding house in Liverpool.  The Oliva's daughter and granddaughter married into the Granelli's of Macclesfield family and thus the ice cream connection.  I am interested in the Devote/Divote connection and wondering if Maria is connected and in tracing the Oliva and Divote family back to Italy.   
The Oliva's later moved to Macclesfield.  Just now connecting with the Granelli's and wondering if the Guido Devoti that married into the Granelli family may also be related to our Maria...so many name variations. 

Have heard Maria Divote may have been from the Liguria region.

Have read the victorian pages on the thread and wow...such a negative discription.  Much like our Irish ancestors in US. 

[janjim]

There is a book available in Manchester called "Manchester's Little Italy" by Anthony Rea - memories of the Italian colony of Ancoats - I think this book may be available at the Manchester Museum - cost 5.50 pounds.

I live in Australia, but a relation forwarded it to me, just to give me an insight into the Ice Cream Vending business which my GG Grandfather John Ambrose was involved in for a number of years.

Granelli family features quite a bit in this book, quite a good read.

janjim

[srm0119]

Thank you!  I will forward this to my UK distant cousin who has been in touch with the Granelli's.  Maybe she can do the same for us. 

[roofy]

Hi,
I cant believe I didnt spot this thread before;)
My great grandfather, Domino Bagnaro, came to england at the end of the 19th century and was an ice cream seller in southwark/bermondsey. My grandfather taught me the song that his dad sang as he went round selling ice cream and it mentions selling chestnuts too.
If we had audio I would sing it for you;)

The boys are comin' around ma barra,
say 'give us a tasta [taster] Jack'
Me no givva no tasta, because you nicka ma glass!
alonga come policey man, policey said to me
"what are you doing in this country? go back to Italy!"

I come all the way from Italy,
I made/make my way down saffron hill,
In the winter I sell chessanuts a lot!
In the summr I sell Ice a cream, a topper a[?] and ice tasta
hoorah hoorah, for im the Italian man.

Saffron Hill Ive discovered is where many Italian immigrants lived and worked from. I am still learning about this so cant tell you much more right now.
Ruth

[mimi1997]

Hi

Very new to this so please excuse any mistakes.  I was interested in the post by Suffolkmawther who mentions the Togni family from Hammersmith.  My mothers Great Aunt Ruby was married to Thomas Togni the ice cream seller.  My mother remembers her father Leslie Hill working with Thomas and Charles Forte (hotels ?) Does this ring any bells ?  Many thanks
 

[Mr. MIGKY]

Hi & welcome mimi1997 
Good reading this thread.

Migky 

[mimi1997]

Thank you

[sstarr2008]

Hi,

I had an Italian uncle from a family of ice cream vendors. His father seemed to move from Lancashire to Yorkshire then Glasgow  then back to Yorkshire and possibly even back to Italy in the years between 1909 to 1920.

Does anybody know how WW1 affected the Italians in the UK? Were they treated any differently during the war? Did they enlist? How many of them returned to Italy to fight in the Italian army?