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Hi there,

Trying a shout in the dark... any suggestions on researching Italian Military Internees? My husband and I just found out his grand Uncle (Giorgio F Raffaelli, b. 21 Nov 1927) was captured by the Nazis in Northern Italy (Fosicandora, Lucca, Toscana, Italia) and served in a camp. I'd love to find documentation.

Thank you for your time!
Caitlin
New Hampshire

Have you tried simply googling a variation of their names, or mother's names, and "Illinois"? Sometimes obituaries of grandparents, aunts/uncles, maybe even other half-siblings can come up.

I recently found my husband's half-sister through obituaries: we only knew her married name (didn't even know her maidien name) because of his biological grandfather's obituary. Through goggling "[first name] [last name] [town, state listed in that obit]", I found her other half-brother's obituary... I was able to find the half-brother's facebook profile, and went through his friend's list looking for possible family members and was going to message them. Don't be afraid, you never know how you might find them... it turns out I found my uncle (by marriage)'s sister on his friend's list. This woman is best friends with my husband's half-sister!

Feel free to message me if you'd like more guidance or a second pair of eyes... or someone to just talk to about the process. It took us years.

Best,
Caitlin
New Hampshire

Greetings!

My mother and I have spent decades attempting to trace my great-grandmother's origins further back in Co. Galway. We are always hoping for more information, so I thought, why not give it a shot. We have been home to Ireland many times, and have attempted to do genealogical research, but it can be difficult when you have limited time. Our cousins have been helpful in that they know much of the oral history, where the family homes were, and where people are buried (without headstones). I'd like to see what kind of paper trail we could muster up.

Here is the family:
William Melia (b. 26 Aug 1860, Cregg, Cortoon, Co. Galway; d. unknown), a farmer, married Ellen Crowe (b. 24 Dec 1864, Turloughmore, Co. Galway; d. unknown), who was literate
Their children:
Catherine Melia, b. abt 1890 in Cortoon; baptism was 19 Jan 1890, baptism name: Catherine Malley; died here in the States
Martin Joseph Melia, b. 10 Oct 1892, Cortoon; died here in the States, emigrated with Catherine
Nora Agnes Melia, b. 9 Oct 1983, Cregg, Cortoon; my great-grandmother, died in Massachusetts on 11 Dec 1977
Julia Melia, b. 1896, Cortoon; d. 17 Oct 1977, Cregg, Cortoon; m. a Kavanagh
John Melia, b. 13 Aug 1898, Cortoon; d. unknown; m. Mary Burke
Michael Melia, b. abt 1901; baptism was 9 Feb 1901 in Corandulla, baptism name: Michael Malley; d. unknown
Thomas Melia; b. abt 1903; d. unknown, after 1993, we believe and he was the last sibling living; m. Katherine Greany
Anthony Melia, b. 1905; baptism was 2 Sep 1905, baptism name was Anthony Mallia; d. unknown; m. Margaret O'Hara in 1933
Hubert Melia, b. 1908; baptism was 17 Sep 1908, baptism name was Hubert Mallia; d. unknown
Our cousins have told us that my grandfather was named for another son named Francis. We have not found a record of him.

William Melia's parents were William Melia, born about 1831 in Co. Galway, and Catherine Burke, born about 1836, died Sep 1903. We have found four children:
William Melia
Honora Melia, b. abt 1863; baptism in Corandulla 24 Jun 1863, baptism name Honora Mally; died here in the States
Michael Melia, b. abt 1866; baptism in Corandulla 7 Nov 1866, baptism name Michael Malley; d. unknown
John Melia, b. abt 1868; baptism in Corandulla 26 Nov 1868; d. unknown

Ellen Crowe's parents were Martin Crowe, born about 1841 in Co. Galway, (he died between the 1901 and 1911 Census; he was in Liscananaun, Clogher, Co. Galway in 1901), and Julia Walsh, born about 1848, and presumably passed on by the 1901 census. We have found five children:
Ellen Crowe
Anthony Crowe, b. 22 Sep 1873 in Turloughmore, Gal, Ireland; d. unknown
John Crowe, b. abt 1876, Lackagh, Gal; d. unknown
Margaret Crowe, b. abt 1883, Lackagh, Gal; d. unknown; married Thomas Joyce 11 May 1905 in Lackagh
Judy Mary Crowe, b. abt 1879, Lackagh, Gal.; d. unknown

And that is all we have of passed on relatives. It would be incredible if we could find the names of William & Catherine's parents, and Martin & Julia's parents. We know the records are scarce and often missing, so would appreciate any help that you all have to offer!

Best wishes,
Caitlin (& my mother, Kathleen)
New Hampshire

He seems to have left quite a paper trail, which is always a bonus!  Presumably you've also seen his father's will?

Thank you! I am thrilled with the papertrail.

The will was what started me being able to track him more easily, as it confirmed his original occupation.

I also wonder how often it was that fathers indentured their sons?