We ordered the will hoping it might clear up other mysteries around the parents. We haven't found any immigration records for them or even a marriage record. We haven't found birth records for Frank or his dad. We think we know what Italian town dad is from, and he has siblings born there, but no record for him. No marriage banns in mom's town. Just nothing. Oh, and when dad died in 1927 here in the US, his obit also named Frank.

So yeah, safe to say mom's will did NOT resolve any mysteries.

@epilanthanomai

Did you look through the Antenati records? Sometimes the birth name is a little different - or 2 names are given but then the person goes by the 2nd name OR the child was born in a nearby town. I've done a lot of research using these records and may be able to help or give you tips.

@girasoli I've searched, but I'm certainly happy to have another pair of eyes, thanks!

The short version is that Luigi Gigliotti was probably born around 1854-59 in or around Caraffa di Catanzaro. His birth year varies from doc to doc, and the location is pieced together from family members.

Antenati has births for Caraffa di Catanzaro from 1809-1865. 1866-1910 are on familysearch.

@girasoli There's a Luigi Gigliotti born in Caraffa in 1875 (atto #1) who seems way too young. The atto says his mother is the widow of another Luigi, so I guess it's conceivable that there's funny business going on there with dad.

I haven't found a lot of the neighboring comuni on either antenati or familysearch. Awkwardly if he's descended from Antonio Gigliotti and Angela Pucci then their other kids' atti di nascita name them as Don and Donna, so they might have just had money to travel.

@epilanthanomai

*1st, is Caraffa di Catanzaro in the Calabria region?
*I'm a little confused. Was the name you were looking for Frank but the records you did find were for a Luigi?
*Do you know the parents of this Frank/Luigi or is that part of the mystery?
Sorry... just trying to figure out from the info you posted.