Mary's Parents

The Parents of Mary Merola


Luigi Merola.	Rosina Breganti.

The story unfolds with Rosina 'Rosa' visiting an uncle, Paul Briganti, who was a taylor living in New York City. She was sixteen at the time. Not long after, Rosa's mother came to America with a younger brother and sister. In July 2004 while on a visit to New York, we visited Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. We acquired some of the Certificates of Baptism for some of the children of Luigi and Rosa. On a few certificates under Sponsors there are listed a Paolina Briganti, a Luigi Briganti and a Sabrina Briganti. The relationship to Rosina of these three is not know. On Rosina's Certificate and Record of Death it lists Guiseppi Briganti as the father and Filomena Di Guiseppi as the mother. It also indicates that both were born in Italy. Luigi Merola lived on Crosby Street, the same street as Rosa's uncle Paul. Luigi and Rosa, fell in love, and were married.
( Well maybe it didn't happen exactly like that! ).

Luigi was born 21 June 1865 or (according to his death certificate 15 February 1863) in Capaccio, Italy. Capaccio is approximately thirty miles south east of Salerno. Rosa was born about 1871 in Parula, not far from Luigi's birth place. On Rosa's Certificate and Record of Death it indicated that she was 40 when she died in April 1911. Rosa, Luigi's first wife, was 16-17 and Luigi was 22-23 at the time of their marriage which took place on 23 April 1887. The Marriage Certificate also indicated that Paolina Breganti was one of the two witnesses to the ceremony. During a visit to New York in July 2004 some additional information about the second and third marriage of Luigi were discovered and will follow at the end of this page.

To continue we know that ten children survived until adulthood, but there were others. The exact number is unknown. Also during the July 2004 visit to New York the best estimate of the number of children that Luigi and Rosa had together is between 15 and 17. I am not sure if this can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, but we will continue to look into it. The oldest living child was Mary, my grandmother. She was married just two years before her mother died, which left Luigi with nine children at home.

Much of the story of this Merola family is found in the autobiographical sketch written by Mary 'Merola' Scovotti. All seventy or so pages can be found in the new web site www.MerolaFamily.Com. There was food to eat and a clean, warm place to call home. Was it above average home of the time. We don't know. We do know, that the children that reached maturity were strong and succesful. They married and achieved the all American dream of freedom and self expression. We believe that would be the wishes of most parents, even today.

	Luigi Merola standing in front of the Merola Brothers General Contractors office. Along with Luigi is Ralph Russo a real estate man and Angelina Merola, Luigi's daughter and office secretary. This office was at 119th Street and 1st Avenue, New York. Picture supplied by Anthony Merola, grandson of Luigi Merola

	This is a picture of one of the Merola trucks, complete with company signage. Picture supplied by Anthony Merola, grandson of Luigi Merola

	Antonio 'Anthony' Merola with his half brother Louis Merola in the middle. Louis is one of four children of Luigi and his second wife, Amelia. On the right is Louis Scovotti, oldest son of Mary 'Merola' Scovotti, Anthonys older sister. Best guess is early to mid 1930's. Picture supplied by Anthony Merola, grandson of Luigi Merola

Maria Merola and Ross Scovotti Descendants

If there is an error, PLEASE let us know. We can be contacted through this web site. Thank you.

                                                  Great               Great-Great             Great-Great-Great
                 Children      Grandchildren        Grandchildren       Grandchildren           Grandchildren


                 Donato(d)

                 Donato(d)  
   
                 Louis(d)       Margaret            Louise               James
                                                                         Joseph
                                                                         Jack

                                                    Thomas               Alexa
                                                                         Cole
                                                                         Grace

                                                    Michael

                                Louise              Louis                John
                                                                         Victoria 
 
                 Grace(d)       Robert              Joan                 Jennifer
                                                                         Jessie
                                                                         Melissa

                                                    Robert               Isabella
                                                                         Julianna

                                                    Christine            Matthew
                                                                         Samantha

                                Edward

                                Linda               David                Jack
                                                                         Caroline
                                                    Steven

                                                    Mark V.

                 Rosemary(d)    Peter               Priscilla            Alexander
                                                                         Brandon

                                                    Pamela

                                                    Penelope

                                Paul                Rosanne              Shaniece
                                                                         Samantha
                                                                         Shane

                                                    Matthew R.           Hope
                                                                         Kristian
                                                                         Jacob

                                                    Carolyn              Jordan
                                                                         Layla Rose

                                                    Sarah                Amren
                                                                         Annaliese
                                                                         Mattea
                                                                         Hayden
                                                                         Josiah (JAC-JAC)
                                                    Joseph

                                James               Francesca

                                

                 Michael        Nancy               Matthew J.           Mark M.

                                Ross

                                Michele             Gordon

                                Mark                Michael A.
                                                    Thomas
                                                    Elisabeth
                                                    Daniel
                                                    Margaret

                 Anthony(d)     Anthony             Michael A.
                                                    Lisa

                                Christopher O.      Christopher A.
                                                    Stephen
                                                    Matthew J.

                                Donna               Brian
                                                    Allison
                                                    Conor
                                                    Brenna



                                                    Great                 Great-Great             Great-Great-Great
                 Children      Grandchildren        Grandchildren         Grandchildren           Grandchildren

                    7            15               35                   33         

             90  descendants to date from the first marriage.

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