JOSEPH IACOVELLI
Born 3/19/1924
Joseph V Iacovelli, son of Michele and Maria Fazio who were both born in Bitetto Italy. My first trip to Bitetto was 1n 1969. My purpose was to see the town that my parents were born in and meet all my relatives. I desired to visit the graves of my grandparents whom I never knew. I went back to Bitetto in 1971 with my wife Marianna Squicciarini, daughter of Michele and Maria Vitucci who were also born in Bitetto, Italy. These two visits instilled in me, the drive and determination, to learn more about the town and the people. I made many return trips to Bitetto taking photos of records, visiting the archives in Bari, Italy, talking to the elderly, visiting the cemetery. I gathered bits of information any way I can. I even made a trip to the Vatican to see the files of all the people in my family who were priests, and was told that no one can see them. I was denied access to them. I am still expanding the program as of this writing and will make periodic additions
About the contents of the program itself, there is much to be said. Much of the writing was faded by time. The handwriting was illegible in many instances. Records were destroyed by water and fire. There were many omissions of data and errors made by priests. The names also changed as the years went by. Examples are Schiacovielli changed to Iacovielli, then to Iacovelli. Vero became Lo Verro, then Loverro. Damone changed to Amone, Amone changed to Damone. The following are the signs in the program:
+++ Denotes a priest,
< Denotes not married,
* Denotes 1st wife,
** Denotes 2nd wife and so on.
There are over 22,000 names so far in this
file and the possibility exists that some of the data is
incorrect and I accept no responsibility, BUT, we will go
all out to make any correction necessary in order to make
it right. We can refer to my library containing
copies of most birth, marriage, and death records
which eventually will be donated to the Beato Giacomo Society.
I have spent over three decades of hard work building this
program and it is your program. It is donated
to the Beato Giacomo Society for its members. The
society will be the administrators. May the Beato
Giacomo watch over us all.
Joseph V Iacovelli Passed on September
1, 2004
