Fragassi Mysteries

2005 - THE EARLIEST FRAGASSI we have record of so far is Francesco Fragassi, who came from Teramo, in the Abruzzi region of Italy, through Ellis Island in 1913. There are many other Fragassi's who came from Teramo through Ellis Island, as well. We had our suspicions that “Uncle Frank” was really Roczi’s father.

(We have since learned that, although this may still be related to our true Fragassi line, this is not close enough for us to trace right now. OUR Fragassi line first came from Bitritto, Bari in Puglia, Italy... See below.)

Let’s go backwards from Rocky, whom we definitely know. He spoke little, if anything at all, of his family. This has made things difficult, but not impossible in the research arena. Rocky’s sister, Angela, reluctantly spilled the beans in the one conversation I had with her years ago that her mother’s name was Frances and what cemetery Rocky was buried at. With those clues we were able to find his birth date and actual death date, we found him in the social security death index (10 years after the fact), and the California death index, in the 1930 census, and his US Navy records. The 1930 census led us right to Rocky’s real father, Mike Fragassi, then with that name to Ellis Island again, and to find more records. It's rather circular.

The Fragassi family history of the 20th Century is interesting to say the least. Michele "Mike" Fragassi (Rocky’s father) came to the States to stay in 1909, from the text of the 1920 and 1930 census schedules, which matches his Ellis Island records. We don’t know when exactly or how he came to California, let alone why. It can be speculated that the Railroad led him here. He worked on the Railroad as a gardener in one census. Ellis Island recorded at least two trips to the US for Michele Fragassi and the same for Francesco Fragassi, his cousin or brother. Also, one ship record names his father back home in Italy as "Rocco". Currently we're trying to figure out why there are two trips registered for apparently the same person within days of each other so as to make it seemingly impossible that he should arrive at the US once about the same time he should be leaving for another trip... Hmmm.. Verrry interesting... (See the January 1909 departure and February 1909 departure)

How did Mike meet his wife? What was their relationship like?

Mike thought enough of his father to name his son after him, and in spite of himself, in spite of what other reasons were given, Rocky named his eldest son after his father, as well.

Roczi had an “Uncle Frank” over sometimes, and played a deception that they were from Sicily and “connected” to the Mafia there. He always played the Italian card, never any other heritage.

Mike’s wife, Frances, actually respected the demand from Roczi that she have nothing to do with her own grandchildren (because her son was ashamed she was part Native American is all we can believe.) She had to be content with standing across the street to silently watch them play. How did she feel about that?

And what of all the unspeakable abuse toward spouses and children? Where did that begin?

No one seems to know what hardships were borne that created this terrible animosity toward one’s own family. Children certainly don’t ask for it, nor do they deserve it. How many generations have gone through it? Is it unique to those who immigrated to the US? Did it happen in the Old Country? Are there other lines with the same problem?

There has to be just beyond this family circle some healthy love and acceptance… This is one of the motives for research on this line, to find the part of the chain that is not corrupted.

And, going forward, don't we all have the choice of what kind of legacy to pass on to those who come after us?...

Amen.

see also Fragassi Mysteries, pt 2