Hello again everyone,
I have an update.. having been recovering from some surgery so I've had some time on my hands to go back through my research and I have started to build up a bit of a picture of what was happening in Giovanni's life leading up to his last known address at Turpins Bank in 1902.
I ordered and received the death certificate of Henry Leo, Giovanni's youngest and only son by Anastasia. He died on July 14th 1902 at 2 Stowell Square of convulsions/measles and the informant on his certificate was his father Giovanni, present at death. Very interesting to note that this date was just 3 days before Lily Battista was admitted to Tynemouth workhouse, citing her fathers address as Turpin Bank. It was also just 3 months before the rest of Giovanni's younger children were admitted to Tynemouth Workhouse on 17 Nov 1902.
Giovanni definitely had an awful few years...
His brother Vincenzo died January 1900 (followed shortly by Vincenzo's baby son Nicola in April).
His first wife (and mother of 8 children) Elizabeth died in September 1900.
He then marries Anastasia 5 months later in Feb 1901, who is already 3 months pregnant with Henry Leo.
They are all living together in April 1901 at 9 Bird Street - including Lily who is 17 and Elizabeth 15.
Henry Leo is born in Sep 1901, the family now have a new baby to cope with.
Lily is admitted to Tynemouth Workhouse in Nov 1901 for 20 days and then again on Dec 28th 1901 where she states her father has gone to Newcastle, address unknown (discharge unknown).
Henry Leo dies in July 1902 aged just 10 months at 2 Stowell Street, Giovanni is present.
Giovanni's 7 youngest children are admitted to Tynemouth workhouse in November 1902.
RTL - I can't remember whether you found a baptism record for Henry Leo? It would be interesting to note an address or his godparents then.. I have the reference on Ancestry but it doesn't give these details in the transcription.
I also obtained two more marriage certificates hoping to glean more conclusive info on Giovanni's death, but they have only deepened the mystery
I believe his eldest son Pasqaulino married a woman called Marieta Di Carlo in 1906, however this certificate arrived and the fathers name is Bernardo! Pasqualino is named as Pasquale (which he is known as on other records) and both he and his father are listed as Ice Cream sellers from North Shields. Father is not noted as deceased. Pasquales address is 40 Ellison Street, North Shields but I can't find this on a map, only an Ellison Street in Jarrow
Interestingly Marieta's father is also called Bernardo.. that's a coincidence right or maybe a typo? Her address is Princess Street, Newcastle.. another address I cannot find. I've found some small references to the Di Carlo family but they are also quite elusive. Marieta and Pasquale had a son Loretto in 1907 (I have birth and baptism records) then both mother and son disappear and Pasqualino went on to re-marry down in London (being a sailor I think he had 'a girl in every port').
Secondly, I ordered John George and Emma Anderson's marriage cert from 1911... on this JG father's name is JOHAN BATTISTA and he is a CUSTOMS HOUSE OFFICER. John George's address is Church Street, North Shields and he is a Fish Quay Labourer, aged 21.. all of which fit. Emma Anderson is noted as living at the same address but having searched her and her father John Anderson on the 1911 census for that address came up with zero. Similarly and unsurprisingly, there is no trace of a JOHAN Battista anywhere in the north east at that time.
I remember some time back on this thread his other daughter Elizabeth's workhouse admission in 1912 which noted her fathers as "William, a Tailor".
I also think Giovanni has been noted to as FRANK before - on his first wife Elizabeth's burial record.
This truly is a mystery
