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RESEARCH REPORT #3

The Search Goal was to locate documents regarding your Morelli family in the records of the Diocese of Lucca.

Monday, 31 March
I arrived at the archives for the Diocese of Lucca as they opened that morning. It’s a lovely little research room with eight seats at four long tables (only four researchers that day) and they were very prompt about bringing me the volumes I’d requested. I could order three at a time and they delivered them in about five minutes. I found many of the records I was seeking and was allowed to make digital copies, paying 16 Euro for the digital photos I took.

I’ve enclosed a list of the volumes I searched and the documents I located with descriptions (in what now looks like an odd combination of English, Italian, and Latin). I’ve also enclosed a list of the volumes available for the Sesto district (includes the Brancoli towns). I started in the volume for 1813-1845 (#175) and the books run back to 1740-1743 (#7). I updated that pedigree chart as I progressed back through the records.

From your wish list #1 & 3, I started with the search for the baptismal records of Gio. Sante and Ortensia. In volume #175 (1813-1845), on p. 135 was #393, the baptism of Giuseppe Morelli on 15 August 1839. He was a son of Gio Nobile Morelli, son of the living Sante Morelli of Piazza and Maria Caterina Caselli, daughter of the living Giuseppe Caselli of Gignano. I asked the clerks who asked around the room and ended up saying this was a small neighborhood in the vicinity.

On page 133 was #358, the baptism of Santi Maria Morelli on 23 January 1837, son of Gio Nobile Morelli, son of the living Sante Morelli of Piazza and Maria Caterina Caselli, daughter of the living Giuseppe Caselli of Gignano.

On page 121 was #324, the baptism of Maria Domenica Ortenza Morelli on 23 February 1834, daughter of Gio Nobile Morelli, son of the living Sante Morelli of Piazza and Maria Caterina Caselli, daughter of the living Giuseppe Caselli of Gignano.

In pursuit of #3, I searched 1825-1834 for marriages and births in Omberglio, Piazza, San Ilario, Deccia, Tramonte, Monsggrati, Orbiicciano, and Albiano (all the locations in the volume containing the area of Sesto). I did not locate other children from this family, confirming that Ortenza was the oldest child of Giovanni Nobile Morelli.

However, on page 101, #230 was the baptism of Gio Martino Morelli on 29 May 1827. He was a son of Nicolao Morelli, son of the late Michele Morelli, son of the living in Santi Morelli and Maria Domenica Oresti, daughter of the living Cesare Oresti living in Piazza. A review of Martino’s death record might interpret his mother’s name as Oresti. That would make Ortenza’s great-grandfather the same as Martino’s grandfather.

In pursuit of #4, Vol. #142 (1801-1806) was searched for siblings of Gio Nobile. On page 293 was the baptism of Gio Nobile Morelli on 19 June 1805 in Ombreglio San Pietro. He was a son of Santi Morelli, son of the late Michele Morelli of Piazza and Maria Domenica Giovannoni, daughter of the living Gio Lorenzo Giovannoni. He was born the day before.

On page 289 was the baptism of Maria Lucia Morelli on 1 January 1801 in Ombreglio San Pietro. She was a daughter of Sante Morelli, son of the living Michele Morelli of Piazza and Maria Domenica Giovannoni, daughter of the living Lorenzo Giovannoni. She was born the day before.

The death records of Ombreglio San Pietro were searched from 1801 through 1805 for the death of Michele Morelli with negative results. Perhaps he really wasn’t still living in 1801.

Volume #155 (1807-1812) included on page 267, the baptism of Maria Anna Morelli on 9 September 1807. She was a daughter of Santi Morelli, son of the late Michele Morelli, son of another living Santi Morelli and Maria Domenica Giovannoni, daughter of the living Gio Lorenzo Giovannoni living in Piazza.

On page 269 was the baptism of Giuseppe Morelli on 15 June 1809. He was a son of Santi Morelli, son of the late Michele Morelli, son of another living Santi Morelli of Piazza and Maria Domenica Giovannoni, daughter of the living Gio Lorenzo Giovannoni living in Piazza.

I searched Pieve di Brancoli and Ombreglio San Pietro for the birth of Maria Caterina Caselli, but the search was negative, nor were any other children of a Giuseppe Caselli.

They allowed me to stay a little after closing and even presented me with a couple of volumes of their earliest records as a gift. Very nice! They appear to answer correspondence and have a set charge for copies whether they make them or they’re digital by the patron.

A copy of this report will be sent email and with accompanying documents, translations, notes, and CD of photos (of Lucca and the documents) by priority mail tomorrow.

One-day on-site research project paid in full.

Thank you for entrusting me with your family research. I hope to do more research for you in the future.