The Gambatese Family
Gambatese/Gambatesa/Gambateso/Gambatera Family of Paterson, N.J.
NOTE: This is a work in progress, the information are mere facts gathered and the order of placement of events will continue to change as new information is found. It may be several more months before a real chronological order will be completed. The hopes in the near future will be to locate the properties and the World War I registration of at least the sons of the immigrant as well as their locations prior to arriving in America. If I send you a newer copy, please discard the older one, since the order of children may change as well as typographical mistakes will be corrected. In addition Raffaele will be done as a time line since it appears these little fragments are all running into each other. My largest concern which the time line will show the information that appears to be incorrect. The greatest conflict of the family records are that of Michelina. She is shown repeatedly as 6 or 7 years younger than Raffaele, and on one record 10 years younger. The only place that is shown as 4 years difference in ages is the headstone, which I am having serious doubts that the date of birth is correct. I believe this but not conclusive, Michelina, was born circa 1865.
1 RAFFAELE GAMBATESE Born in Italy July 26, 1856 died Paterson, N.J. July 14, 1928 at 109 Webster Avenue, Paterson, N. J. Married July 15, 1887, Michelina Giordano. She was born in Italy Sept. 18, 1860 [from headstone], the daughter of Michele and Maria Capardo Giordano, all of who were born in Italy (No city shown). Michelina died Jan. 4, 1925.
1878-1890 Found no records of births, Gambatese Family NJ State Archives
1878-1900 Found no records of deaths Gambatese Family NJ State Archives
1880 September 15, 1880 Raf. Gamberta, aged 24 years, laborer, arrived on September 15, 1880, in New York. on the ship Scotia, from Naples, captain of ship was John Spettal, Manifest ID was 80092. I believe this is our Raffaele.
1886 Mlle, C. Giordani, aged 21 arrives on September 27, 1886, in New York. On the ship La Cascogne, captain was Santelli. Manifest Id was 80902 out of Le Havre. [This may become significant in the future not sure this is Michelina but a good guess]
1887 July 15, Raffaelle Gambateso of 19 Jersey Street, Paterson, N.J. aged 30 at the nearest birthday [making his year of birth about 1857]. He is shown to be born in Italy the son of Angelo Gambateso and Marie Aquerzno? Michelino Giurdano, born in Italy of 19 Jersey Street, Paterson; aged 23 at the nearest birthday [making her birth 1864-65] the daughter of Michael Giurdino and Marie Michele Chiafa eide. The witnesses were George B. Senior and Albert Magee. The wedding was performed by Joseph Greavez.
1888-1892 No listing for Gambatese in the Paterson directory
1892 October 29, Inferior Court of Common Pleas, Declaration of intent: Whereas Raffale Gambateso renounces forever all allegiance and fidelity…to umbert, King of Italy. The full application paper was not with this]
1894 November 1, Passaic Common Pleas: Pasquale Cappella, being duly sworn according to law, on his oath, said that he is acquainted with Raffaele Gambateso of Paterson, N.J., the said Raffaele Gamabateso has resided within the United States five years at least, and within the Stae of New Jersey one year at least…Passaic County, ss. Raffaele Gambateso being duly sworn according to law, on his oath doth declare and say that he will support the Constitution of the United States…
1895-1896 Gambatese, Rafaelle, grocer 38 Market Street in the Paterson Directory [present day this is located between Cianci and Mill streets.
1897-1902 No listing for Gambatese in Paterson directory
1900 Checked census in NJ, NY, and Pa., and found no listing for Gambatese
1904 Gambatese, Raffaele a laborer, in home at 118 West 27th street, Paterson. I checked the 1915 Muehler Map of Paterson, which shows 27th Street was a.k.a. Carlisle Avenue, the house is located between Nagle and Ramsey.
1905 New Jersey State cencus shows Raffel Gambatese aged 48, I am not sure of month, however the year is 1857. Michelina shows aged 39 years it appears birth month to be June but definitely 1866.
1906 May 19, 1906-Giuseppi Gambatesa is born, On the birth certificate it shows Raffaele aged 50, a laborer; Michela Giordano Gambatesa aged 40, a housekeeper, this being the 8th child born on this marriage, which now 5 are living. They are living at 118 West 27th Street. A.k.a. Carlisle Avenue, Paterson, N.J.
1910 The 1910 census Sup district 178, enumeration dist. 134 7th ward sheet 6B lines 4-15 shows married once 24 years, with Michelina having bore 6 children 5 are still living and they are Michael 22, Peter 16, Angelo 14, Mary 11, and Joseph 4; in addition 5 boarders. The census also shows that they are living in an owned home with a mortgage.
1920 census on sheet 5b, enumeration district 119 living in 7th ward. Ralph living on Carlisle Avenue, Paterson, N. J. Ralph is shown as born in Italy, his mother tongue is Italian. Ralph is shown as head of household aged 64, owning a mortgaged home coming to America in 1880, naturalized in 1888 [which we can prove was really 1894] working in a dye house. Michelina aged 54, immigrated in 1887,[if correct I have the wrong one]. She claims to have naturalized in 1888. This of course follows suit with her husband since prior to the Women’s Suffrage Act of 1922, she would automatically naturalize when her husband did so. They were enumerated with son, Angelo, 23, working at silk mill; daughter, Mary, aged 21, working at silk mill; Joseph aged 18. The four families around them were of the surname Barbieri.
1925 Paterson, N.J. Michelina was interred in Lot 6, number 270 grave 1, at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery at age 53 on January 7, 1925, the cause of death on the cemetery card states Hem.
1925 Michelina Gambatese Death Certificate, filed January 6, 1915. The informant was her husband Raffele Gambatese, died January 4, 1925 at age 53, which would mean she was born in 1872, which is highly unlikely. Her death certificate shows died of cerebral hemorrhage. At the time of Michelina’s death her address was 118 Carlisle Avenue, Paterson. They are buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery located in Totowa, N. J.
1928 Raffael (on cemetery card) was interred July 17, 1928, aged 74 years, lot section 6, number 27, grave 2. He was born in Italy and the undertaker was listed as DeLuccia. On Raffaele’ death certificate the informant Peter Gambatese states that Raffaele last worked for Rozin Company and was living at 109 Webster Avenue. This area was known as the stony road section. The order of the children may not be correct and will be corrected at a latter time.
More about Raffaele: Well known in Paterson for some fifty years, Raffaele Gambatese, of 109 Webster avenue, died Saturday evening at 10 o’clock after a two weeks’ illness. He was known as a person of a loveable disposition. He is survived by four sons, Peter, newly appointed attendance officer; Angelo, Joseph and Michael, and one daughter, Mrs. Mary De Stari. Funeral services will be held Friday morning in his home, and at 9:30 o’clock a mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Pompeii R. C. church. Interment will take place at Holy Sepulchre cemetery. ALSO: Gambatese-In Paterson, on Saturday, July 14, 1928, Rafaele, husband of the late Michelina Gambatese, aged 74 years. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday, July 17, 1928, from his late residence, No. 109 Webster avenue, at 9 o’clock a. m., and from Our Lady of Pompei R. C. church, at 9:30 o’clock a. m. Interment at Holy Sepulchre.
11 Michael Gambatese married Nellie Prall
12 Peter Gambatese married Lillian Pompicello
13 Angelo Gambatese married Florence Avigliano
14 Mary Gambatese Henry DiStasi
16 Joseph (Giuseppe) Gambatese married Cele Hartmann