Learned new clue about grandpa's early life

Uncovering the mysteries of his parents

Anthony (Quaker) Christopher (age 83), Dec. 25, 1990, Seaford, N.Y.

I found a clue about my grandfather’s early life mystery.

It places the family in New York City (not Pennsylvania where he was born) raising more questions about how he wound up in Wappinger’s Falls when orphaned sometime from ages 7 to 9.

According to my family’s story, my grandfather’s mother died in that town and his father returned to Italy. From there my grandfather and an older sister were sent to an orphanage in New York City.

My essays on Anthony Christopher are to substantiate and complete his story. I want to frame the story of his long life and know what happened to his parents.

Less important but interesting would be to learn whether I have Calabrian roots via this grandparent. He always proudly said, “I am a Calabrese” so it was important to him.

There are no immigration records found so far of either of his parents though his birth record cites both of them as “of Italy.”

I found out there was a sizeable immigrant Calabrian population in Erie, Pa., where he was born. The Erie Calabrese Club existed there up until 1991.

Here’s what I know:

Grandpa was born Antonio Cristofolo on Nov. 17, 1908, to Maria Lapere (45) and Andreas Cristofolo (27). Their cited address of 1610 Walnut St., Erie, Penn., is non-existent, according to Google Maps here. St. Paul’s Church is at 1617 Walnut St.

New information:

The child born later was Caterina Cristofolo on Dec. 7, 2010, in Erie, Pa., according to St. Paul’s Church. She died on 5 Feb. 1913 at age 2 in Manhattan, according to ancestry.com.

Grandpa turns up in records in the 1920 census. His name is cited as Anthony Christopher. He lived in Erie, Pa., with a ‘brother-in-law’ Joseph Demane, his wife Lena Demane (Grandpa’s sister), and two Demane children.

Lena was the older sister and always part of my grandfather’s and family’s life.

His mother is cited as Maria Lepere, Lapere, Rafreair, Rapreair, and his father, according to the children’s birth records, and my grandfather’s baptismal records as Andreas (Andrea) Cristofaro, Christofaro, Cristofolo.

Neither of them turns up in the 1920 Census, Find a Grave, any ship’s manifest from Italy, though the birth records say they are both of Italy, she a homemaker and he a laborer.

I found no death record for Maria in Wappinger’s Falls Town or Village, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., or Vassar Hospital or NYS so far.

NYS Vital Records in Albany is permanently closed, and death information for genealogical purposes has a 36-month backlog.

I looked through the digitized microfiche of the Poughkeepsie Daily Eagle and Poughkeepsie Journal.

There are too many deaths to make this practical, and a keyword search, death, obituary, obits, Maria (under all spellings including the various ways her husband cited Christopher) has been futile so far.

After Christmas, I’m going to WF to walk the cemeteries like my brother did some years ago. Only I’m going outside town as well to a larger cemetery someone suggested. In addition, the RC church (1864) could have records dating back over 100 years.

Anyone with clues or ideas on how to confirm deaths of that era in NYS please post in comments.