Anna Orsatti — Anna Ditoto

This is a partial biography for Anna Orsatti Ditoto. Born in a small village in south central Italy, Anna was just eleven years old when her father Giustino died leaving her mother Teresa (di Cesare) Orsatti with four children. In 1906, Teresa and her two daughters, Anna and Chiarina, son Pietro, and nephew Pasquale de Rubertis emigrate to America to join her son Giovanni Orsatti in Waterbury, Connecticut.

Anna eventually married Domenic Ditoto and the couple established one of many Italian-American families in Connecticut. The following details are outlined in chronological order. Where possible, documents or photographs support the text. If you are reading this and have additional details, please contact us.

Birth / Nascita
The birth records for the comune of San Giovanni in Galdo (held in the Archivio di Stato, Province of Campobasso, Molise Region, Italy) include a record for the birth of Anna Orsatti on Friday, 28 February 1890. The record appears on the bottom of page 7 and top of page 8, entry number 20. This record notes the parents Giustino Orsatti and Teresa di Cesare and even includes the fathers signature.

Note that many other sources reference Anna's birth as 1891, but in addition to the 1890 birth shown below, a check of the 1891 records did not include any Orsatti birth in the comune of San Giovanni in Galdo.

(Click images above or below to view larger versions of original birth records)

Emigration / Emigrazione — Immigration / Immigrazione
On 20 April 1906, Anna departed the Italian Port of Naples bound for America on the S.S. Barbarossa. On 25 April 1902, less than a month shy of his 18th birthday, Domenico arrives at the Port of Boston after 15 days at sea. On line 29 (passenger number 539), he reports his final destination in America as Waterbury, Conn. to join brother in-law Francesco Santoro at 51 Canal Street. The manifest indicates he had never before been to the United States and had paid for the trip himself.

The first five passengers appearing on the passenger list show the Orsatti family en route from Naples to America. It was common for Italian women to travel under their maiden name, so 'De Cesare Teresa' (age 44) is the first name appearing, followed by 'Orsatti Anna' (age 15), Chiarina (11), Pietro (9), and Anna's cousin De Rubertis (age 21).

They are all traveling to America for the first time and report their final destination as Waterbury, Connecticut to join Anna's eldest brother, Giovanni Orsatti, living at Phoenix Avenue.

04 May 1906 Passenger Arrival Record (Port of New York - S.S. Barborossa), Line 29

(Click image above to view larger version of Passenger Manifest)


A young Anna Orsatti (possibly an engagement photo, but exact date unknown)

Marriage / Matrimonio
On 11 April 1908, Anna and her future husband, Domenico di Tota, applied for a Marriage License at the City Hall in Waterbury, Connecticut. In reviewing a copy of the original license, the following information can be obtained: Groom’s age listed as 24 (which verifies year of birth as found from other sources), occupation listed as "Shop hand", residence at time of application listed as 52 Webb St (which is the same residence listed for his 17 year old bride Anna Orsatti, spelled Orsata in this document), father listed as Chelemento, mother as Louisa Pietronto.

This document was signed by the applicant as "Domenico De Toto", but since the bride was a minor child at the time, her mother "Teresa Orsata" had to indicate her mark with an "X" (see below).




The couple wed on Sunday, 10 May 1908 at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Waterbury (New Haven County) Connecticut. The Marriage Certificate was completed by Reverend Michael A. Karam, Rector of Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 309 South Main Street, Waterbury (signed and dated 10 May 1908). The records on file at the Church confirm the date of marriage, listing the groom as Domenico DiToto (son of Clementine & Luisa Pietronata DiToto) and bride as Anna Orsata (daughter of Justini & Teresa DiCesare Orsata). The witnesses were Carmine Santoro and Lucia Ciarleglio and the marriage was performed by the Rev. Valentiero Roverato.

Marriage License signed by 'Domenico Di Toto' and on the reverse side by 'Teresa Orsata'
(Since Anna believed her birth was 1891, her age was listed as 17 years old (a minor)

Children — Starting a Family in America
Details about the children will come shortly . . .

Possibly a photo of baby Clemente Ditoto (born 24 Oct 1909 - died 16 July 1910)


Domenic & Anna Ditoto with children Louise Ditoto (2 and 1/2) and son John
Possibly taken 24 Aug 1913 (the date of his baptism at Our Lady of Lourdes)

Naturalization / American Citizenship
Info about Anna's citizenship (if she obtained it through Domenic's naturalization).

50th Wedding Anniversary
On 10 May 1958, Domenic and Anna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. The family had a celebration at.....

Death / Morte
After more than 56 years of marriage, Domenic Ditoto lost his beloved wife Anna on Tuesday, 11 August 1964. She was 73 and he was 80. Just three months later, on Tuesday, 24 Nov 1964, just before the Thanksgiving holiday, Domenic also died. At the time of his death, Domenic Ditoto had left two sons, John and Raymond Ditoto, both of Waterbury; four daughters, Mrs. Louise Lombardo, Waterbury, Mrs. Charles [Teresa] Stanfield, Los Angeles, Cal., Mrs. John [Ida] DiLeo, Waterbury, and Mrs. John [Rita] Mongillo, Wolcott; two brothers, Anthony [Antonio] and John [Giovanni] Ditoto [di Tota], both of [Campobasso] Italy; 10 grandchildren [Ann (Lombardo) Brandmeyer, Louise (Lombardo) Lynch, Dolores (Lombardo) White, John D. Ditoto, Peter J. Ditoto, David J. DiLeo, Eleanor DiLeo, Thomas P. DiLeo, Linda S. Ditoto, Raymond Ditoto]; eight great-grandchildren [Michael Brandmeyer, Patricia Brandmeyer, Robert F. Brandmeyer, Bernard M. Lynch Jr., Louise E. Lynch, Daniel M. Lynch, Maureen A. Lynch, Kathleen L. White]; as well as several nieces and nephews in both America and Italy.

(View Google Aerial Map of Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Watertown CT)