Early Sassos from Palagiano, Italy

Palagiano, Italy 

"City of Clementines"

Town of approx 16,000 people

Approximately 30 miles East of Bernalda (where the Viggianos are from)

Photo of Giovanni "John" Sasso and his wife Dolarata Sasso

They spoke a dialect of Italian known as Pugliese (from the Apulia region of Southern Italy), vice today's accepted Italian.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Italy still had prevalent dialects for various regions (i.e. Barese, Foggiano, Salentino, Tarantino, Sicilian, Apulia, and others).

Giovanni "John" Sasso

Born:  1856 (Palagiano, Italy) Died:  Jun 26, 1942 (Albany, NY, USA)

Immigration Dates - May 2, 1910 (w/ daughter Mary)

Naples, Italy to New York on the SS America

US Citizenship - Looking for any data

Knickerbocker Press, Thursday, July 17, 1930

Another newspaper photo

Arrival from Naples, Italy on the SS America on May 2, 1910. 

This document says he was 51 years old.  (Row 25)

Traveled with Rocca Maria Sasso, 23 years old (Row 23), and with several other people 

from Palagiano, Italy (where they came from).  

This was his daughter who later became, Mary D'Auro (her married name and in his will).

We know this because they listed the name of their nearest relative and both listed

"Addolarata" ... Maria listed her as her mother, Giovanni as his wife.

Note - Row 26 is a Pasquale Mottolese from Palagiano (we think this could be Immaculato's husband as her obituary states she is married to a Patsy as well).  

Last Will and Testament of Giovanni Sasso

Addolorata Mary Sasso

Mary Dolorato "Dolores" Sasso

Addolarato (a)

Born:  1861 (Italy)  Died:  1938 (Albany, NY)

Immigration Dates - Still looking for data

US Citizenship - Still looking for data

FamilySearch.org also lists a possible maiden name of Dallerice, but we are researching that to see if that can be verified.

Children

Pasquale "Patsy" Sasso 

(Immigrated to the US and married Donata Viggiano - parents of the Nine Sasso Children)

Mary Michela Sasso D'Auro

Immigrated to the US

(Possibly Rocca Maria Sasso that came w/ Giovanni on the same ship?)

Immacolata Mottolese

Looking for info on her immigration.  Aunt Cookie said she had met one of the Mottolese cousins when she was little.  Her obituary from 1943 in the Knickerbocker News is below.

Stella Lanza

Looking for info on her immigration.  I believe one of our cousins knows and is in touch with one of Stella Lanza's descendents.  Unsure of why in Giovanni's will, her name is spelled "Lenzo." 

Pasquale "Patsy" Sasso

Born: Sep 12, 1885 - source: his 1942 draft card (Palagiano, Italy) 

Gravestone and FamilySearch.org says Sep 12, 1884 

Died:  Feb 12, 1963 (Albany, NY)

Immigration Dates - Still looking for data

US Citizenship - Feb 1932

January 13, 1932 Knickerbocker Press - Left hand column, 3rd paragraph from bottom

Feb 3, 1932 in Albany Naturalization Court - Pasquale Sasso becomes a US Citizen

1941 - Angelo and his Grandfather (Giovanni or John)

Pat, Patsy, Jane and young Joe

Pasquale with his son Lenny

Possible World War I Draft Card, shows Pasquale living at 36 South Ferry St.  

Patsy Sasso's World War II Draft Registration Card - April 26, 1942

Times Union, Wed, Feb 13, 1963

Pasquale "Patsy" Sasso Obituary, Knickerbocker News, Feb 14, 1963

A photo of Pasquale, Donata, and Baby Charlie's gravesite at St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands.  

Immaculato Sasso Mottolose

Knickerbocker News, Tuesday, November 9, 1943

Obituary for Pasquale's Sister - Macalato 

Stella Sasso Lanza

Thursday, April 4, 1946 Times Union

Times Union, Wednesday, April 3, 1963

Calvary Cemetery, Glenmont, Albany County, NY

1920 Albany Census (Lines 75-78) showing John and Delores Sasso living with Stella and Sergio Lanza. 

This lists Sergio as a shoemaker.

Mary Sasso Daurio

(also spelled Dauria and Dourio)

Patsy Daurio's Citizenship Petition

April 14, 1928

(also note the race declaration.  It's also puzzling as it seems he indicates Italian No. (northern) even though he was also from Palagiano - clearly in the South.  But some of the shipping manifests also separate between Northern and Southern Italians as different races).

1920 Valley Falls, Census with the Daurios

1930 Valley Falls, NY Census with the Daurios

1940 Valley Falls, NY Census with the Daurios

Saint Johns Cemetery, Schaghticoke, NY 

We don't know who is in this photo, but my Grandmother saved it with all her other family documents and photos. 

Obituary of Mary's Daughter - Mary Malm

https://www.chasesmithfamily.com/obituaries/Maria-Malm?obId=31152904