Surname Saturday: Family of Benedetto Davi and Maria Terzo

Benedetto “Benedict” Davi
& Maria Terzo
b. ca 1854
|--Rosa Davi
|----b. ca 1890, Sicily
|--Giovanna “Jennie” Mary Davi
|----b. 22 Dec 1893, Sicily, Italy
|----d. Oct 1985, Flushing, Queens, New York
|--& Vincenzo Vincent “Jimmie” Terrana
|----b. 26 May 1883, Sette Cannolli, Palermo, Sicily, Italy
|----d. Jun 1956, Brooklyn, Kings, New York
|----m. 1909
|--Michele Davi
|----b. ca 1899, Sicily

This is the family of my husband’s great-great-grandparents, Benedetto Davi and Maria Terzo. I know very little about this family, and most of what I know comes from: the Social Security application of Jennie Mary Davi Terrana, the New York Passenger Lists 1820-1947 on Ancestry, and a Terrana family history by Joseph F. de Rienzo (for the initial information on Jennie Davi). I also have the Naturalization Petition Certificate of Michael Davi, dated 11 February 1930. I believe this is Michele Davi, whose age was listed as 4 on the passenger list, since this Michael Davi was said to be 31 years old, so both point to a year of birth of 1898 or 1899.

Benedetto Davi came over some time before wife Maria Terzo (listed on the passenger record under her maiden name) and children Rosa, Giovanna, and Michele, who arrived in New York on 8 September 1903. Benedetto is listed as the relative whom they are to join upon arrival. Based on Maria’s age and that of her children, there were very likely other, older children.

I would love to share information with anyone related to/researching this family; you can contact me at my e-mail address, which can be found by going to my profile page (there is a link to that page in the About Me section to the left).