I am still piecing together family history from Monreale, what currently appears to the place of common origin for the Musillami family.  As I do more research and obtain more narratives, I will continue to post them here until a final product can be assembled.

    Continuo di costruire la storia della nostra famiglia da Monreale, probabilmente il posto di origine per noi.  Quando trovo piu informazione o narrativi, lo addiggo quoi.

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    SANTA MUSILLAMI (currently residing in Messina) was born to ROSA GIANNITRAPANI and FRANCESCO MUSILLAMI.  FRANCESCO MUSILLAMI was born in Monreale in 1893 and died in Trapani in 1973.  FRANCESCO's father was SALVATORE MUSILLAMI.  SALVATORE MUSILLAMI was born in Monreale and married SANTA GAMBINO.  SALVATORE MUSILLAMI and SANTA GAMBINO moved to Valderice where he was a leather dealer.

    From the marriage of SALVATORE MUSILLAMI and SANTA GAMBINO there were 9 children: GIROLAMA, MARIA, ANNA, ROSALIA, BENEDETTO, GIUSEPPE, FRANCESCO, GERLANDO, and PAOLO.

    PAOLO MUSILLAMI moved to Marsala in the late 1800s or early 1900s.  A number of his descendants still live there.  Some of them moved to the United States in the early 1900s.  GERLANDO MUSILLAMI died in 1999 at 103 years old, and recounted that when he was young he worked in New York, where there were some relatives.

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    SANTA MUSILLAMI (oggi da Messina) nacque da ROSA GIANNITRAPANI e FRANCESCO MUSILLAMI (nato a Monreale di Palermo nel 1893 e morto a Trapani nel 1973). Il padre di Francesco si chiamava SALVATORE MUSILLAMI nato a Monreale di Palermo e sposato con SANTA GAMBINO si trasferì a Valderice di Trapani dove commerciava in pelle. Dal suo matrimonio nacquero nove figli: GIROLAMA, MARIA, ANNA, ROSALIA, BENEDETTO, GIUSEPPE, FRANCESCO, GERLANDO, and PAOLO. Quest’ultimo PAOLO andò a vivere nei primi del 1900 o verso la fine dell’800 a Marsala dove mi risulta esiste ancora una quantità di suoi discendenti e qualcuno di loro si trasferì nei primi anni del 1900 negli Stati Uniti. L’altro fratello GERLANDO morto tre anni fa a 103 anni mi raccontava di essere stato da piccolo a lavorare a New York dove vi erano dei parenti.

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EXCERPTS FROM E-MAIL FROM Joseph Michael Musillami:

        Most of this information was retrieved, with great pleasure from a wonderful priest who still lives in Piana degli Albanesi, Papa Stefano Plescia.  It was with great luck and pleasure that I had the chance to meet him in Sicily only two years ago.  He is approximately 82 years old and still a very good resource.  there is still one couple living in Piana degli Albanesi, with the Musillami name, when we visited they are not in the best of health.  It is Serafino Musillami and Antonina (Matranga) Musillami.

       My fathers name is FRANK FRANCIS MUSILLAMI, he was born in Madison,
Wisconsin 07/19/1931, he had two older sisters, Virginia Mae Musillami (DOB:
02/14/25) and Beatrice Carolyn Musillami (DOB: 02/10/24)  all three are still
alive and doing well.

       Their Father, my Grandfather, Gaetano Musillami was born 8/3/1892
according to official registration records in Piana degli Albanesi.  His date
of death was (05/05/1974).  On his US Citizenship documents it lists his race
as Albanian, with the Nationality as Italian.  His name spelled on the
Naturallization document was spelled Musillani.  The best I've been able to
determine the correct spelling is Musillami!  He arrived to the US through
Ellis Island on the S.S. Celtic on 04/30/1917.  His papers indicated that he
was meeting his sister, Virginia (Gina) Martarano(a) not sure, and her
husband Vito.  (they never had any children).

       His birth records indicate Gaetano's parents names were Francesco
Musillami and Pietra Spataro.

       The next set of records that I have show Francesco Musilami's (DOB:
08/22/1856) (my Great, Great Grandfather)  we have no facts but what my
aunt's and father remember were some stories of Francesco owning a vineyard
of some kind.  I have not been able to document that in any form and having
been to Sicily many people grow their own grapes so to what extent or size I
have yet to determine. I do remember when I was very young my Grandfather
running into someone from the "old country" who had "worked" for his father.
It is very unfortunate but my Grandfather never had a chance to go back to
Sicily.

       I also have listed as Francesco's parents Gaetano Musilami and Egidia
Campisi.

       My father Frank Francis Musillami, married Jean Adeline Delaney (DOB:
06/21/32) on 10/31/1948.  They had six children:
             John Thomas
             Mae Marie
             Frank Francis Jr.
             Debby
             Joseph Michael Musillami
             Patrick Michael Musillami

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Tornare alla Storia Musillami