Italian Community in Merthyr Tydfil

[kjmck]

Hi everyone,

I am hoping someone can help with a query I have. I am researching a Tree for a friend. His grandmother Adelina Marcella Howells (1926 - 1994) was born illegitimately to Elizabeth Howells. Apparently Adelina's father was of Italian descent and living in the Italian community of Merthyr. Family story tells that Adelina's father was called Marcus/Marco Spearo (Spelling is guessed), and that both he and Elizabeth were around 17 when Adelina was conceived/born. Upon finding out that 'Marcus/Marco' had gotten someone pregnant, his parents sent him back to Italy. There is some dispute whether he was Italian or Spanish, but the likelihood is that he was Italian.

Does anyone have any advice on any routes I can follow to try and find out more?

Many thanks,

Keelan

[MarMnkly]

Hi Keelan
the only family I can think of (who live/lived in Merthyr) with a name that sounds similar is Speroni

[kjmck]

Hi

Do you know anything more of this family?

Keelan

[groom]

If you look on Freebmd, the first mention of births/ marriages of Speronis in Merthyr doesn't appear to be until the 1940s.

[kjmck]

Aye I did notice that. I feel this may be a needle in a haystack.

Keelan

[Sam Swift]

Speroni's mentioned here
http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/ItaliansOfMerthyrTydfil.htm

[MarMnkly]

I wondered if your friend knows what part of Merthyr Tydfil Elizabeth Howells was living in, and if she was working locally or away from home at the age of 16/17 when she became pregnant?
Mar 

[iolaus]

If you look on Freebmd, the first mention of births/ marriages of Speronis in Merthyr doesn't appear to be until the 1940s.

There's a speroni born just down the road in Ponty in the 1920s