Maternal Grandmother, Rose Lima. Circa.1905. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
My late maternal grandmother, Rose Lima was born on September 14, 1898 in Termini Imerese, Sicily, Italy. She emigrated to Canada via Ellis Island, New York, USA on June 26, 1900 with her mother, Giuseppa Bova. They joined Rose’s father, Antonino in Ottawa, Ontario who’d emigrated earlier. The family operated a Fruit and Groceries Store. My late mother, Dorothy Lima Perry told me that Antonino’s surname and hence, her mother’s maiden surname was “Mandia.”
Birth Registration. Antonino Mandia, Jr.
Rose’s brother, Antonino was born on May 12, 1906 in Ottawa, Ontario. According to this Ontario-Canada 1832-1915 Record of Births, the birth was registered on May 28, 1906. The parents were “Antonino Mandia” and “Giuseppa Bova.”
Rose Mandia and Pietro Lima on their wedding day.
Record of Marriage. Rose Mandia and Pietro Lima.
According to the Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1947-1967, the Register of Marriages confirms my grandmother, Rose Mandia wed my grandfather, Pietro Lima on October 1, 1918 in Ottawa. Her parents were “Antonino Mandia” and “Giuseppa Bova.”
Certificate of Baptism. Giuseppina Lima.
Rose and Pietro Lima moved to Toronto, Ontario in 1919. They established a Fruit and Groceries Store and had four children. Their second daughter, Giuseppina Lima was born on March 26, 1921. According to her baptismal certificate of April 27, 1921, my grandmother Rose’s surname was “Lamantia.”
M. Mandia Fruit & Groceries. Toronto. Circa 1931.
Rose Lima’s brother, Michael Mandia was born on November 11, 1902 in Ottawa. He and his wife relocated to Toronto in 1925. They established M. Mandia Fruit and Groceries.
So, I perplexed, what was my grandmother Rose’s surname? Mandia or Lamantia?
I searched the Ellis Island Passenger Records database and confirmed that Rose’s father, Antonino had arrived at Ellis Island, New York, USA on April 20, 1899. The surname recorded, however, was “Mantia.”
Mandia, Lamantia or Mantia? Part Two of this blog outlines the genealogical research I conducted to answer this question.
