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Hi,

Where do I go to look for shipping records / crew lists for the years 1864 - 1867 ?

I don't know what port he would have gone to.

The individual, Emanuel Potesta, married in Greenwich, London in 1864 and then disappears and can't be found in any census,there are no divorce or death records. Have looked through ayslum and workhouses with no success too.

Then an Emanuel Potesta, age 25, occupation a confectioner (all correct for my Emanuel even the spelling of the name which is something as it is normally recorded as Podesta) is recorded as enlisting in the US army in 1867 in Boston.

It looks as though he deserted his wife in England (was a "had to get married" situation but sadly the baby died when a few weeks old) and emigrated to the States.

Thanks for any help.

GfL :-)

This may or may not be him


Name: Emanuel Potesta
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Date of Arrival: 1865
Vessel: Belgian
Port of Arrival: Quebec
Roll: C-4520

Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935
about Emanuel Potesta Name: Emanuel Potesta
Gender: Male
Age: 29
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1836
Date of Arrival: 1865
Vessel: Belgian
Search Ship Database: View the 'Belgian' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Port of Arrival: Quebec
Roll: C-4520

Occupation, Farmer

Andy

However there is this enlistment too so may be different people



Name: Emanuel Potesta
Birthyear: abt 1842
Birthplace: Italy
Enlistment Age: 25

Also found this death

Name: Emmanuel Potesta
Date of Registration: Jul-Aug-Sep 1864
Registration district: Greenwich
Inferred County: London
Volume: 1d
Page: 434

Im not seeing that marriage in London in 1864? Can you post the details please...wife etc

That Boston enlistment record states he is from Italy. Where and when was your man born?

x

Hi Everyone,

Wow, wasn't expecting replies so quickly ! Thank you.

OK, first thing, the death that TootyFruity has found is the baby that I referred to. He died in August, 5 months old not weeks - sorry.

Ginny,

Emanuel Potesta married Jane Moore who came from Plymouth, Devon.

The certificate says:

22 Jan 1864 Marriage solemnized at St Alphege Parish of Greenwich.
Potesta Emanuell (they got his name back to front) Full Age Bachelor, Occupation Confectioner, Residence Greenwich, Father Potesta T Emanuell Confectioner

Jane Moore, Full Age, Spinster, Occupation -, Residencd Greenwich, Father James Moore, Shoemaker

Sarah :-)

Hi Andrew,

The only thing that puts me off the Potesta you found is the occupation as "mine" was a Confectioner not farmer not to say he didn't change occupations, perhaps due to lack of work, for a while and then returned to being a confectioner.

Where is the ship database that you refer to? Perhaps a dumb questin but going to ask anyway, do these listings give details of where the passenger came from other than country?


Ginny,

The origins of Emanuel are a mystery. It was thought that he came from Italy as there is no trace of a birth in the UK and the name seems to originate from Italy. Plus the family relative I'm trying to help thinks he came from Italy.

Regarding his age I can only do an approximate based on the "full age" comment on the wedding certificate which, unless he lied, means he was 21 or over. Jane was born 1840 so, I know assuming is dangerous, but I'm assuming he was born around the same time.

TootyFruity,
I don't suppose is there anything else about the 25year old that you found?

Thank you all for your help :-)

Would this be Jane?


1871 England Census
about Jane Potesta Name: Jane Potesta Married
Age: 32
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1839
Relation: Servant
Gender: Female
Where born: Greenwich, Kent, England
Civil parish: Greenwich
Ecclesiastical parish: St Alphage
Town: Greenwich
County/Island: Kent
Country: England
Registration district: Greenwich
Sub-registration district: Greenwich East
ED, institution, or vessel: 6
Household schedule number: 248
Piece: 757
Folio: 38
Page Number: 38
Household Members: Name Age
Elizabeth Litherland 52
Jane Potesta 32

The enlistment image says occupation confectioner place of birth Genoa, Italy, so could be your man

Hi Ginny,

Yes, that is Jane.

10 years after the death of baby Emanuel, Jane had a son called Sydney Potesta (1874), a daughter called Jessie Potesta in 1876 and she said the father was Emanuel Potesta which I believe to be a lie. There is no record of EP other than the wedding certificate. Jane had a baby in 1879 called Benjamin Potesta but on the certificate the father is "Benjamin Potesta occupation Tailor" ! Baby Benjamin died when 9 weeks old but on the death certificate where it says "Name and Surname of the Father, or if the child be illegitimate of the Mother" it is signed Jane Potesta, admitting the baby is a bastard. In 1880, Jane had a baby William Parrey, father was Benjamin Parrey a Tailor. She then had Josephine Parry, same father. She married BP, certificate does say she is a widow, in 1886 and he died in 1887. Looking at the addresses on the certificates I have and the 1881 census (which shows Sydney as "stepson" with the name Parrey) Jane was obviously with Benjamin Parrey although his 1st wife did not die until 1877.

I honestly believe that EP deserted Jane and, as was the way back then, Sydney, Jessie and Benjamin took on her surname despite the father being Benjamin Parrey. I know the life story of Sydney (it is his great grandson I am trying to help), I know Benjamin died but Jessie is a puzzle as she disappears. She does not show on any census and I can find no death record for her.

As a point of interest by 1886 Sydney had changed back to using the surname Potesta. That year he was sent by a court to a borstal and is registered as "Potesta" and when Jane gave permission for him to enlist in the army at 14 it was as "Sydnery Herbert Potesta".

:-)

Hi TootyFruity,

I so want to say that he is "my" EP I was hoping that I would be able to find an immigration record via the shipping lists saying "Emanuel Potesta, Residence, London England" but it can never be that simple eh ! lol

:-)