Martini Family---The ZUBBA connection

Nicastro, Catanzaro, Italy

S. S. Palatia ocean vessel

southern Italy homeland

Calvary Cemetery, Herkimer NY

FORTUNATO and ANNA ZUBBA

The ZUBBA ( sometimes spelled SUPPA) family is the start of our Italian heritage. Anna ZUBBA, maiden name unknown, left her little village of Nicastro (see photo), in the province of Catanzaro, in the region of Calabria, in Italy...(whew, that was a mouthful)...in 1893, when she was 43 years of age. Her husband, Fortunato ZUBBA, most likely came with her, or may have already come to America ahead of the family...we just aren't sure at this point. Anna and Fortunato ZUBBA had at least four children in Nicastro, but they did not all come to America with them. We will discuss them later. Anna boarded the ship at Naples, Italy, and arrived a little over two weeks later in New York City.
There is no mention of Fortunato again that we have found as of yet, but we do know that at some point prior to 1907, Anna ZUBBA had remarried to Angelo Pino (Pinna,Pina). There were no children from this marriage, and he died before 1910. Now for the children of Fortunato and Anna ZUBBA....

(1) Anna ZUBBA, born 1868 Nicastro, Italy, died June 26, 1910 in Herkimer, NY. Anna married Antonio VILLELLA in Nicastro, Italy....the great grandparents of Tony Martini.
More about her later.

(2) Salvatore ZUBBA, born June 11, 1872, Nicastro, Italy, died July 29, 1902 in Utica, NY.
He boarded the S. S. Palatia (see photo) at Naples, Italy, on May 13, 1902 with his wife
Maria Roberto ZUBBA, and arrived in New York City on May 28, 1902. We do not yet
know what happened to her after Salvatore died. He was a member of St. Mary of Mount
Carmel Catholic Church in Utica, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Herkimer, NY

(3) Angela ZUBBA, born Feb. 17, 1878 in Nicastro, Italy, died March 1, 1937 in Utica, NY.
She came to America in about 1893, although all the documents vary. She married
Lorenzo (Lawrence) Giglio in Utica on December 30, 1898. She was a member of St. Mary
of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Utica. Lorenzo lived until April 5, 1951.

(4) Antonetta ZUBBA, born June 13, 1879 in Nicastro, Italy, died September 12, 1945 in
Herkimer, NY. She came to New York in 1893, and married Nicolo (Nicholas) George in
1894. Nicholas died July 10, 1913 in Herkimer, NY at age 45. In September, 1918,
Antonetta ZUBBA became the first "Gold Star Mother" in Herkimer...an honor she did not
want...when her son Antonio ZUBBA was Killed in Action in France in World War I. He was
buried in Calvary Cemetery, and the Herkimer Veterans Post was named in his honor.
Antonetta was also buried in Calvary Cemetery in Herkimer, NY. Comments/questions to graveyardgossip@gmail.com

Welcome to Graveyard Gossip.  We will take the stories from our past and retell them for all who desire to read and enjoy. We will explore the Martini and Willden branches as they twist and turn from across the Atlantic to wander America in search of a better life. Each post will be titled in a manner that allows you to read only what you wish....your line....our line....whatever. Highlighted names are direct ancestors in the Martini/Willden lines. This blog is the result of over 50 years of research, not to mention the work of others in the past.  When I was an 18 year old college student, my older historian brother asked me to look up a family Census record at the University Library....and I've been hooked ever since.....it also was probably my first time actually in the University Library, but that's a story for another blog. An email address devoted to this site is added in the Profile area so that you can ask questions or comment on what you find. We hope you will return to us frequently and enjoy your past. All you have to know is how you are related to Tony Martini and Tonya Willden, but you probably wouldn't be here if you didn't. Read on! Comments/questions to diguproots@gmail.com