This page including text and photos is © copyright to author Anne Frandi-Coory.
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For more about the history and hardships of the Frandi, Grego and Mansi families see
‘WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ISHTAR? -A PASSIONATE QUEST TO FIND ANSWERS FOR GENERATIONS OF DEFEATED MOTHERS’
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Author Anne Frandi-Coory's maternal Italian great grandparents, Raphaela Mansi & Filippo Grego (Greco)
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My maternal great grandmother, Raffaela Marisi Mansi, was sent to England when she was fourteen, after she had been raped by a Catholic priest in Rome and became pregnant to him.
I know that Raffaela gave birth to a daughter, who was later adopted out. This traumatic event changed Raffaela’s life forever and was to send ripples down through succeeding generations…
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See ‘My Mother Was A Catholic Nun‘ (Letter from Anne Albert (nee Frandi) to Anne Frandi-Coory after the death of Doreen Frandi)
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Aristodemo Frandi, Author's Italian great grandfather
Annunziata Fabbrucci Frandi, Author's Italian great grandmother
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Also see post ‘OKURU SETTLEMENT, JACKSON BAY’ where Frandi family landed in 1877
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GIUSSEPPE FRANDI FAMILY TREE:
1-Giusseppe FRANDI b. , Pisa Italy, d. Italy
+Caterina Degli Innocenti CASHELLI b. , Pisa Italy, d. , Italy
2-Aristodemo Giovanni FRANDI b. 8 Jul 1833, Pistoia Italy, d. 28 Jul 1919, 16 Murphy Street Wellington
+Annunziata Giustina Fabbrucci FRANDI b. 30 Dec 1840, Peretola Florence Italy, m. 4 Jul 1863, Diocesi Pisa Italy,
d. 15 Sep 1920, 16 Murphy Street Wellington
3-Francesco Garibaldi FRANDI b. 10 Jan 1866, Lugano, d. 20 Jul 1929, Wellington Hospital
+Assunta Pierotti FRANDI b. 15 May 1872, Leghorn Italy, m. 12 Dec 1888, Wellington, d. 20 Apr 1949,
Tasmania
4-Bella Italia Rosina Satina FRANDI b. 13 Jul 1889, Tasman Street Wellington, d. 20 Feb 1890, Tasman
Street Wellington
4-Amelia Fatima Elena FRANDI b. 31 Jul 1890, Wellington, d. 2 Nov 1967
+Cecil Edwin Young TAYLOR m. 1922, Wellington
5-Albert James Edwin TAYLOR b. 27 Jul 1923, Napier, d. 23 Oct 1987
5-Jean Lillian Eleanor Taylor TIERNEY b. 1925, d. 22 Jul 1998
+Unknown
5-Kenneth Maxwell FRANDI b. 1913, Otahuhu, d. 22 Aug 1916, St Marys Home Otahuhu
4-Menotte Garibaldi FRANDI b. 6 Sep 1891, Wellington, d. 5 Apr 1947, Silverstream Hospital Wellington
+Kathleen Travers FRANDI b. 1923, m. 26 Dec 1946, Wellington
5-Larlie Dennis Frandi THOMPSON b. 23 Mar 1947
+Mavis Mary Barbara Thomson FRANDI b. 1913, Wellington, m. 1935, Wellington, d. 29 Apr 1946,
Wellington Hospital
5-Ngaire FRANDI b. 1935
4-Ricciotti Orlando FRANDI b. 2 Nov 1892, Wellington, d. 18 Jan 1952, 49 Devon St Wellington
+Edna Ruth Cook Watts FRANDI b. 1906, Hendon London, m. 1926
5-Ricciotti Orlando FRANDI b. 8 Nov 1926, Wellington, d. 7 Mar 1984, Beachcroft Ave Onehunga
Auckland
4-Olivia Stella FRANDI b. 11 Feb 1894, Wellington, d. 1894
4-William Donald FRANDI b. 28 Apr 1895, Wellington, d. 29 Jul 1971, Post Office At Waimate
+Violet May Rowley FRANDI b. 9 Sep 1911, Newburn England, m. 23 Jan 1932, Wellington, d. 15 Dec
1989, Waimate
5-Violet Doreen FRANDI b. 31 Aug 1932, 28 Hanson Street Wellington, d. 31 Aug 1932, 28 Hanson
Street Wellington
5-John William FRANDI b. 5 Feb 1933, Wellington
5-Ateo Donald FRANDI b. 8 Apr 1934, Wellington, d. 29 Sep 2004, Lister Home Innes St Waimate
5-Bryan Frank FRANDI b. 10 Sep 1936
5-Keith Winston FRANDI b. 7 Dec 1941, d. 20 Aug 1963, Waimate
5-Pamela May Frandi PARKHILL b. 9 Sep 1944
3-Italia Maria FRANDI b. 10 Apr 1869, Pisa, d. 20 Nov 1946, Wellington
+John CARRENGE (KARENTZE) b. 9 Apr 1856, m. 1886, Wellington
4-Helena Arethusa CARRENGE (KARENTZE) b. 6 Aug 1888, Wellington, d. 28 Nov 1918, Wellington
+Frank Hubert WOODWARD m. 1916, Wellington
+Pietro CORICH b. 1854, Moschenizza Volosko Austria, m. 17 Jun 1901, Wellington, d. 1 May 1906,
Wellington
4-Elvira Maria CORICH b. 22 Sep 1902, Wellington, d. 7 May 1996, Auckland
+Melville Francis PENGELLY b. 17 Mar 1901, Wellington, m. 1931, Wellington, d. 24 Sep 1973,
Wellington
5-Anthony John PENGELLY b. 11 Sep 1935, Christchurch
+William John MEBAN b. 1899, m. 1923, Old St Paul’s Church Wellington, d. 1924, At sea
3-Ateo FRANDI b. 4 May 1873, Pisa, d. 8 May 1915, “Daisy Patch” Helles Dardanelles
3-Italo Giovanni FRANDI b. 14 Jul 1877, Okura Jacksons Bay Westland NZ, d. 21 Feb 1960, Wellington
+Margaret Marion Farquhar FRANDI b. 1886, Dunedin, m. 8 Nov 1906, Wellington, d. 1971, Lower Hutt
Wellington
4-Elvira Alexandria Orams FRANDI b. 1907, Greymouth New Zealand, d. 6 Feb 1932, Wellington
Hospital
4-Ateo Cameron FRANDI b. 1909, Wellington, d. 21 Nov 1991
+Anne McArthur McWhinnie FRANDI m. 1931
5-Cameron John FRANDI b. 1931
5-Valerie Anne Frandi LITTLEJOHN b. 1933
5-Margaret Frances Frandi READ b. 1941
5-Helen Judith Frandi PRICE b. 1943
5-Katherine Vera Frandi HALL b. 1945
5-Leslie Paula FRANDI b. 1948
4-Jeanie Rowena Margaret FRANDI b. 1911
+Horace Arnold HESTOR m. 1938
5-Donny HESTOR
4-Ian Buchanan Orcini FRANDI b. 1914, d. 1966
+May Elizabeth FRANDI m. 1942, d. 22 Nov 1998
5-Lois May FRANDI b. 1943
5-Janet FRANDI b. 1944
5-John Buchanan FRANDI b. 1946
4-Alice Joyce Frandi CARVER b. 1926, Wellington
+Pat Oram Lance CARVER m. 1948, Wellington
3-Antonio Raffaello FRANDI b. 22 Sep 1878, Okura, d. 1929, Wellington
+Yolande Olive Blanche Cornelius FRANDI b. 1887, m. 6 Jul 1910, Wellington, d. 1947
4-Grace Anita Annunziata FRANDI b. 14 Jan 1911, Newtown,Wellington d.5 Oct 1985, Matamata
+Charles HAZELTON m. 1932, Wellington b. 2 Nov 1905, Taranaki, d. 17 Dec 1984, Matamata
5-Stanley Charles Hazelton b. 12 Aug 1932 Matamata, d. 7 Mar 1933 Matamata
3-Enrico Carlo FRANDI b. 1880, Wellington, d. 1948, Huntly
+Margaret Evelyn Flanagan FRANDI b. 1882, Pukekohe, m. 31 Jan 1910, Huakohua-Flanagan Residence, d.
1965, Huntly
4-Lena Agnes Italia FRANDI b. 12 Nov 1910, d. 5 Dec 1990, Tauranga
+Sydney George PETERSON m. 10 Dec 1949, d. 18 Jan 1988, Morrinsville
4-Patricia Josephine FRANDI b. 10 Jul 1912, d. 26 Nov 1993, Blenheim NZ
+John William HANCOCK m. 1939, d. 27 Nov 1999, Blenheim
5-Errol HANCOCK
5-Gay HANCOCK
4-Margherita Eileen Sarah FRANDI b. 9 Jun 1914, d. 23 Mar 2002, Auckland
+Herbert George Gerald OTTO m. 1938, d. 26 Dec 1993, Auckland
5-Margaret OTTO
5-Judith OTTO
4-Aristodemo Ateo FRANDI b. 16 Aug 1916, Gordonton, d. 10 Aug 2004, Hamilton
4-Charles Henry FRANDI b. 26 Nov 1918, d. 1957
4-Daniel John FRANDI b. 26 Nov 1918, d. 2001, Tauranga Hospital
+Mrs FRANDI
5-Terence John FRANDI b. 1948
5-Paul Anthony FRANDI b. 1954
+Nola Patricia RODGERS m. 1947
5-Terence John FRANDI b. 1948, d. 2000, Matakohe
5-Paul Anthony FRANDI b. 1954
5-Erin FRANDI
4-Mary Cecelia FRANDI b. 12 Mar 1920, Gordonton, d. 2006, Morrinsville
3-Benito Ranieri FRANDI b. 20 Feb 1882, Wellington, d. 15 May 1882, Tinakori Road Wellington
3-Alfredo Giusseppe FRANDI b. 1884, Wellington, d. 6 Dec 1968, Wanganui
+Maria Cajetan Grego FRANDI b. 2 Jul 1894, 81 Mare Street South Hackney London, m. 27 Mar 1918,Church Of The Holy Rood Market St Watford, d. 10 Mar 1980, Wanganui
4-Reginald Alfred FRANDI b. 20 Jul 1919, Wellington, d. 28 Apr 1975, Gisborne
+Dawn Marguarite Kelly FRANDI m. 1945, d. 2005
5-Marguarite Freda Regina FRANDI b. 1946, d. 1997
5-Katrina Lizbeth Michelle FRANDI b. 3 Aug 1948, Gisborne, d. 6 Oct 1993, Gisborne
5-Kelly Michael Alfred FRANDI b. 26 Jul 1951, Tolaga Bay Maternity Hospital Gisborne
5-Michelle Elizabeth Frandi DOWNIE b. 29 Mar 1954, Wanganui Maternity Hospital
4-Doreen Marie FRANDI b. 27 Sep 1920, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 6 May 1995, Wgtn
+Joseph Jacob Habib Eleishah COORY b. 21 May 1902, Dunedin, m. 7 Nov 1945, ChCh, d. 16 Dec
1974, Dunedin
5-Anne Marie Frandi-Coory REVILL b. 20 Apr 1948, Hilljack Dunedin
+Edward Joseph STRINGER b. 1922, m. 1957, Wellington, d. 1973
5-Florence STRINGER b. 3 Sep 1956, Wellington
+Mr ENGLISH
5-Vincent COORY b. 28 Jun 1952, Cromwell
+Phillip George COORY b. 1906, Walker St Dunedin, d. 18 Sep 1987, Dunedin
5-Kevin Joseph COORY b. 5 Aug 1945, Christchurch
+Francis John COORY b. 1920, Dunedin
5-Anthony Mervyn COORY b. 21 Oct 1949, Wellington
4-Joyce Francisco FRANDI b. 1924, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 16 Jan 1998, Wellington
+Ernest Harold SWAINSON b. 1921, Te Karaka, m. 4 Feb 1942, Wellington
5-Reginald Harold SWAINSON b. 1942
5-Douglas Ronald SWAINSON b. 1943
+Mr COOPER m. 1991
+Bruce GOBLE
5-Kathryn Anne FRANDI b. 1962, Wellington
5-Gillian Lee FRANDI b. 1965, Wellington
+Mr RARERE
5-Johnny RARERE b. 1952, Wellington
4-Margaret Mary (Betty) Frandi GENTZ b. 26 Feb 1926, Wellington
+Frederick John GENTZ m. 1944, Wellington
5-Freddie GENTZ b. 29 Dec 1944, USA
5-Gerald (Gerry) GENTZ b. 26 Aug 1950, USA
4-Anne Christina Frandi ALBERT b. 1936, Wellington, d. 2001, Wanganui
+William (Bill) ALBERT b. 1934, Namukura, m. 1959, d. 14 Aug 2001, Paraparaumu Wellington
5-Mark Anthony FRANDI b. 1955, Wellington
5-Michael ALBERT
5-Karen ALBERT
5-Phillip ALBERT
5-Lisa ALBERT
5-Gerrard ALBERT
5-Paul ALBERT
3-Giovanni FRANDI b. 1887, Wellington, d. 1887, Wellington
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Aristodemo & Annunziata with their seven children (c. 1900)
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Alfredo Giusseppe Frandi, Author's maternal grandfather
Maria Cajetan Grego Frandi, Author's maternal grandmother
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GREGO FAMILY TREE UPDATED 29 NOVEMBER 2011
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1-Ludovici Giovanni GRECO b. , Sicily
+Maria Amendola Gaetana Pirelli GRECO b. , Sicily
2-Filippo GREGO b. 17 Oct 1869, Amalfi, Italy, d. 1962, Watford England
+Raffaela Marisi Mansi GREGO b. 28 Aug 1870, Florence, d. 1967, Watford England
3-Caroline Elizabeth GREGO b. Dec 1892, Shoreditch London
3-Reginald (Reggie) GREGO b. 1893, Hackney
3-Maria Cajetan Grego FRANDI b. 2 Jul 1894, 81 Mare Street South Hackney London, d. 10 Mar 1980,Wanganui
+Alfredo Giusseppe FRANDI b. 1884, Wellington, d. 6 Dec 1968, Wanganui
4-Reginald Alfred FRANDI b. 20 Jul 1919, Wellington, d. 28 Apr 1975, Gisborne
+Dawn Marguarite Kelly FRANDI d. 2005
5-Marguarite Freda Regina FRANDI b. 1946, d. 1997
5-Katrina Lizbeth Michelle FRANDI b. 3 Aug 1948, Gisborne, d. 6 Oct 1993, Gisborne
5-Kelly Michael Alfred FRANDI b. 26 Jul 1951, Tolaga Bay Maternity Hospital Gisborne
5-Michelle Elizabeth Frandi DOWNIE b. 29 Mar 1954, Wanganui Maternity Hospital
4-Doreen Marie FRANDI b. 27 Sep 1920, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 6 May 1995, Wgtn
+Joseph Jacob Habib Eleishah COORY b. 21 May 1902, Dunedin, d. 16 Dec 1974, Dunedin
5-Anne Marie Frandi-Coory REVILL b. 20 Apr 1948, Hilljack Dunedin
+Edward Joseph STRINGER b. 1922, d. 1973
5-Florence STRINGER b. 3 Sep 1956, Wellington
+Mr ENGLISH
5-Vincent COORY b. 28 Jun 1952, Cromwell
+Phillip George COORY b. 1906, Walker St Dunedin, d. 18 Sep 1987, Dunedin
5-Kevin Joseph COORY b. 5 Aug 1945, Christchurch
+Francis John COORY b. 1920, Dunedin
5-Anthony Mervyn COORY b. 21 Oct 1949, Wellington
4-Joyce Francisco FRANDI b. 1924, Watford Hertfordshire UK, d. 16 Jan 1998, Wellington
+Ernest Harold SWAINSON b. 1921, Te Karaka
5-Reginald Harold SWAINSON b. 1942
5-Douglas Ronald SWAINSON b. 1943
+Mr COOPER
+Bruce GOBLE
5-Kathryn Anne FRANDI b. 1962, Wellington
5-Gillian Lee FRANDI b. 1965, Wellington
+Mr RARERE
5-Johnny RARERE b. 1952, Wellington
5-Trevor RARERE b. , Wellington
4-Margaret Mary (Betty) Frandi GENTZ b. 26 Feb 1926, Wellington
+Frederick John GENTZ.
5-Freddie GENTZ b. 29 Dec 1944, USA
5-Gerald (Gerry) GENTZ b. 26 Aug 1950, USA
4-Anne Christina Frandi ALBERT b. 1936, Wellington, d. 2001, Wanganui
+William (Bill) ALBERT b. 1934, Namukura, d. 14 Aug 2001, Paraparaumu Wellington
5-Mark Anthony FRANDI b. 1955, Wellington
5-Michael ALBERT
5-Karen ALBERT
5-Phillip ALBERT
5-Lisa ALBERT
5-Gerrard ALBERT
5-Paul ALBERT
3-Earnest George GREGO b. Dec 1895, Hackney
3-Florence (Florrie) GREGO b. 1896, Watford
3-Josephine GREGO b. 1897
+Unknown
3-Barbara Grego JOHNSON b. 1899
+Laurie JOHNSON
4-Roger Grego JOHNSON
3-Julia Grego SMITH b. 25 Feb 1900, Watford, d. 18 Jun 2001, Ashford, Middlesex
+Herbert (Minto) Edwin SMITH b. 22 Feb 1895, Hockham, Norfolk, d. 10 Jan 1981, Ashford, Middlesex
4-Douglas SMITH b. 1921
4-Roy SMITH b. 1924
+Unknown
5-Larry SMITH b. 1950, Bahamas
3-Peter GREGO b. 1901
3-Jessie GREGO b. 1902, Watford
3-Sophia Grego CARILLO GREGO b. 1903, Watford
+Vincenzo CARILLO b. , Otiviano
4-Michael Joseph CARILLO b. 1932, Watford
+Geraldine CARILLO
5-Maria CARILLO
3-Margaret GREGO b. 1906, Watford
+Dennis ASTON
3-Joseph GREGO b. 1908, Watford
+Floss GREGO
4-Peter GREGO
4-Beryl GREGO
3-Phillip Peter GREGO b. 9 May 1910, Watford England, d. 1998, Watford
+Bessie Ruth GREGO b. 20 Jan 1910, Sussex, d. Apr 1988, Sussex
4-David GREGO
+Yvonne (Bonnie) GREGO
5-Lynda Grego WATSON
5-Paula GREGO
3-Alfonso Bouvenora GREGO b. 1911, Watford
+Ruby GREGO
4-Stephen Reginald GREGO b. , Watford
4-Michael GREGO
3-Philomena (Emmie) Grego STACEY b. Mar 1913, Watford, d. , Fridley, Minnesota, USA
+Mr STACEY
4-Roger Grego b. Watford (Adopted by Philomena’s sister, Barbara Grego Johnson).
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Grandsons of Raffaela & Filippo Grego: Peter Grego on right with his cousin Michael Carillo & distant relative, Gina from NZ, in 1994 in Long Lane, Watford. Photo: afcoory
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One of the several shops owned by the Grego family. Doreen Frandi, Anne's mother was born in an upstairs bedroom of the above shop in Leavesdon Rd, Watford, Hertfordshire. Photo:afcoory
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Side view of Grego's Store corner Leavesdon Road & Judge Street, Watford. Photo: afcoory
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Johannis Mansi Family Tree:
1-Johannis MANSI b. , Germany
+Unknown
2-Raffaela Marisi Mansi GREGO b. 1870, Florence, d. 1954, Watford England
+Filippo GREGO b. 1869,Amalfi, Italy, m. 17 Dec 1891, St Monica’s Chapel Hoxton Square Shoreditch London, d. 1962, Watford England
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Note: Raphaela gave birth to 17 children.
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Emmie's Wedding: L to R: Dennis & Lillie Aston, Barbara Grego, ? & Emmie Stacey (bridegroom & bride) Raphaela & Filippo Grego. (Photo: Phillip Grego)
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L to R: Filippo Grego, Lillie, Emmie, Joseph Grego, Filippo's son. (Photo: Phillip Grego)
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Phillip & Bessie Grego's wedding-Joseph on left & Emmie on right. (Photo: Phillip Grego)
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Grego Family c.1909. Back Row L to R: Reggie, Florrie, Maria (Millie), Front Row: Julia, Raffaela, Joseph (on lap), Lillie, Jessie, Barbara, Filippo, Sophia. (Photo: Roy & Larry Smith)
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Notes for above photo: Reggie was killed in WW1, Florrie died of tuberculosis.
Maria is Anne Frandi-Coory’s grandmother, and Julia is Larry Smith’s grandmother.
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Joseph and Barbara's double wedding (Photo: Roy & Larry Smith)
Notes for above photo:
Back Row L to R: Filippo, Flossie’s brother, Jessie, Joseph, ?, Laurie,Julia, ?, Laurie’s dad,
Front Row L to R: Philomena (Emmie), Raphaela, Flossie, Barbara, Laurie’s mother, Lillie.
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If anyone can shed light on who the other people are in any of the above photos, I would love to know. Anne Frandi-Coory.
Hi there, I have been “working on” my wife’s family tree, she is the daughter of Harold Earnest SWAINSON who married Joyce FRANDI.
If you are interested I can send you an updated version of that section of of the FRANDI family tree,
That would be fantastic thank you John
Roger Johnson son of Philomena (Emmie) Grego, is interested in tracing her, as we lost contact a few years ago.
Her last know address was in Fridley, Minnesota USA. Her married name was Stacey.
Kay
Did Emmmie have a brother named Alfonso Bouvenora Grego ? If so that was my grandfather and I know very little about his side of the family.
Yes, Emmie did have a brother called Alfonso was born in 1911. I met a man in Watford in 1994 who was also called Alfonso Grego and who was a nephew of your grandfather. There is a family tree on my blog with this information. There is a significant amount of information about the Grego family going back centuries (formerly Greco) in my book “Whatever Happend To Ishtar?”. It is available on sites such as Amazon, UK Book Depository and Booktopia. I also have more photos which I can email to you if you desire. Kind regards, Anne Frandi-Coory
Dear Kay
I have been unable to trace Emmie to the States. I did interview her youngest brother Phillip, whom she was closest to, in 1994. That information is all in my book ‘Whatever Happened to Ishtar?’.
The tragedy of Raffaela and her descendents, including my grandmother (Emmie’s older sister Maria) and my mother, makes harrowing reading. I would have liked to have met Roger, although I did hear a lot about him when I was in Watford in 1994.
Sorry I can not be of any help to Roger. As you will see by some of my posts, defeated mothers are common on my Italian family tree, and tragedies abound.
Kind regards
Anne Frandi-Coory
Kay
Did Emmie have a brother named alfonso bouvenora Grego
yes, he was known as Alfie Grego. He lived in Leavesden Road, Watford with his wife Ruby and son Stephen.
Kay
I am Stephen Reginald Grego son of Alfonso Bouvenora Grego. My mother,s name was Ruby Grego. I cannot make
out who julia Grego is
Hello Stephen
Thank you for taking the time to inform me of the mistake in the Grego family tree.
I have deleted the name ‘Julia’ from the family tree. The mistake is mine, and I apologise. Obviously, I have misunderstood who the woman was in some of the photos of the Grego family which I was given in1994.
In friendship and shared family history
Anne Frandi-Coory
Well, I was searching for my grandmother’s family in the 1901 and 1911 censuses and happened to google Filippo Grego only to come up with this amazing result. My grandmother was Julia Grego (who died in 2001 in Ashford Middlesex at the age of 100). Her eldest son Doug (90) is in a nursing home in London and her other son Roy (87) is still active and healthy in the Bahamas (where he was posted in WW2), and where I was born in 1950.
We never knew much about the Italian side of the family and were very confused about names. The 1911 census lists Filippo’s wife as Fellucia while the 1901 census lists it as Maria C. My father always knew his grandmother as Raphaella. Then there were the other names that appeared on various documents like Manzi, Pirelli, and Amendola. This site – and your book – should clear a lot of things up for me.
The only other Grego I knew personally was Philip (who, the story goes, inherited all of the old man’s money much to the dismay of his siblings). He visited us in the Bahamas during the 1970s.
I had been planning a trip to Amalfi, which is where my father always thought that Filippo and Raphaella came from. What does your research suggest?
Sorry – I misspoke. It was Joey Grego who, the story goes, inherited all of the old man’s money much to the dismay of his siblings) and who visited us in the Bahamas during the 1970s.
Dear Larry
How wonderful to hear from you. In my travels I have spoken with many members of the Grego/Mansi families and have built up a significant family history. I also spoke to a genealogist who specialised in the Mansi family tree. I met her when I visited the Mansi Palace in Lucca, Italy. (Had no luck trying to reclaim it – ha ha- it has been gifted to the Italian people.) There is too much information to write down in this reply, but it is all in my book ‘Whatever Happened to Ishtar?’ which tracks life stories through succeeding generations, focusing on mothers. Many of the stories are very sad, and there is much brutality. However, overall, the bigger picture is one of a rich heritage that I am proud of. The Gregos originated in Southern Italy, so this may be where the Amalfi Coast comes into the picture. You are right, Joseph Grego did inherit the Grego shops etc. All disappeared now though. I met and interviewed Phillip Grego in Watford, in 1994. He was Joseph’s younger brother, and only remaining sibling. Many relatives have since contaced me via this blog and by private email. Can you tell me who Julia was married to and if she was known by another name? Good reading Larry, and please keep in touch! Your long and distant relative, Anne Frandi-Coory
Yes, my father knew Philip. Is he still alive?
Julia married Herbert Edwin Smith of Great Hockham, Norfolk in 1920 – after his return from WW1 (Palestine). They lived in Watford for a time and Herbert (known as Minto) even worked for the old man briefly in the chip shop. They moved around a bit before settling in Ashford about 1939.
Julia’s son Doug was posted to North Africa in the 8th Army during WW2 (no children) and Roy was posted to the Bahamas in the RAF, where he married a Bahamian (two children). My parents were acquainted with several of the Grego children in the old days (we lived in Surrey from 1955-60).
Julia was born feb 25 1900 in watford and died june 18 2000 in Ashford (sorry for the earlier error – I just looked at the death certificate). She was always known as Julie.
Hello again Larry
Phillip Grego died in 1998. I have sent you an email as well.
Kind regards, Anne.
Just bought a copy of the book for my Dad, Michael Joseph Carillo (pictured with Peter Grego above in our back garden)!
His granparents were Raphaela Mansi & Filippo Grego, its been interesting to read all your notes, much of which dad knows about, can’t wait to read him the book! Maria Carillo – daughter of Michael Joseph Carillo
My father Michael Carillo’s Grandparents were Raphaela Mansi and Filippo Grego. Pictured with his cousin Peter Grego and you in our back garden @ Long Lane in 1994. I’ve just bought your book and will be reading it with dad, we are always keen to know more about our family tree.
Its been interesting to read the blogs, much of which Dad knew, his memory is good.
Dear Geraldine and Maria
How lovely to hear from you. I am glad you have corrected my mistake in calling your father “Alfonso” instead of Michael.
Not sure how that occurred, but I will amend my records.
Kind regards
Anne
Hi, I am seeking information regarding Rosaria Grego Rea (born about 1850-1865) who married Constandino Rea. They would be my ggggrandparents.
Do you know if Giuseppe Frandi had any sons who remained in Italy ? I have a great grandfather with that name, who came to the U.S. from Pisa circa 1905.
Hi David
I only know that Aristodemo and Annunziata Frandi lived in Pisa sometime before emigrating to NZ and Frandi seems a reasonably uncommon name from what I have been able to ascertain. We did hear of a Frandi working for the municipal office in Pisa in early 1990s but couldn’t find out if he was related or not. So in answer to your question David, it is possible Giuseppe Frandi did have other sons or other close relatives left behind in Italy. Aristodemo Frandi also had family connections in Pistoia. Other than that, I cannot say. Regards, Anne