Hello,

My great grandmother was Carmela Pagano who was married to Giovanni Barba. She came to the NY in 1897 from Roccapiemonte with daughters Anna Barba and Annuziata (Nancy). She was to meet her husband Giovanni in Philadelphia, PA. I believe he and others in his Barba family were masons. One of his brothers lived in Brooklyn. Carmela, Giovanni, and children eventually moved elsewhere in PA, and due to an accident, the children were placed in an orphanage in Erie, PA after their father died and their mother was severely injured.

Carmela had a sister named Maria Antonia Pagano who married Luciano Napoli. Antonia came to the US in 1900 with children Filomena, Antonia, Tomasso, and Nubilia. She was to meet her husband who lived on on Mulberry Street. The family also moved to Susquehanna, PA for a while.

I am interested in corresponding with anyone who might have Pagano or Barba roots in Roccapiemonte, Salerno in the Campania region of Italy. I know that there were also many Pagano and Barba families in the areas surrounding Rocca.

Cathy Teufel O'Neill

It seems you posted this 2 years ago, and I don't know if any other Pagano's wrote to you but, my Dad's family came from Roccapimonte. When I was 21 in 1976 I went to Roccapimonte, Italy with my parents and visited my Dad's aunt. We called her (phonetically) Mari-ooch. I guess that was for Maria (Pagano). She lived on Corso Mario Pagano.She is deceased now.
My grandfather and great grand fathers names were Antonio Pagano and my dad, now 92 is named Thomas Gatano Pagano.
I don't know if you went to ellisisland.org to look up your family but there are many people with the "Pagano" last name and loads of Antonio Pagano's from Roccapiemonte when I went on that site.
good luck in your search.

Sincerely,

Patricia Pagano Iwaniw

Hi Patricia,

How nice to finally get a reply. We must be distantly related, but exactly how is left to be seen. I made a spreadsheet with all of the Paganos I found on the Ellis Island site that emigrated to the US from Roccapiemonte. (When the main street bears your surname, you know you have found your way home.)

I would like to see if we can find a connection. You can contact me at catlefuet@mail.com One of my Paganos (Maria Antonia) lived with her husband and children at
100, 88, and 80 Corso Mario Pagano before going off to America.

When you family came to the US, where did they settle? My line seems to have settled predominately in NYC and in Susquehanna, PA. Many worked for the railroad.

I look forward to exchanging information with you.

Sincerely,
Cathy Teufel O'Neill