Friday, March 13, 2015

The Evolution of Occupational Terms - Forese


Often we encounter occupational terms within the Italian records which are no longer in use. One such term is a "forese". 



This occupational designation is a derivative of the designation "forestiero" [in Latin: foris] and means a person working and sometimes living in the countryside surrounding a town, usually a farmer or someone in the forestry trade in more mountainous terrains. This designation is often used interchangeably with the various terms for a farmer. 

The picture above shows a typical farmer's home in northern Italy. Note the stone enclosure on the side of the house for containing the animals at night.

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Picture Wednesday - Termini Imerese, Palermo Province, Italy



Update from Portale Antenati



On 25 February 2015, Portale Antenati announced that images from the Archivio di Stato di Cremona  have been uploaded to the website.

Then today, 11 March 2015, they announced additions to the records of the Grosseto, L'Aquila, Caltanissetta, and Ragusa provinces.

Happy Hunting!