Cristiani - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Query: Cristiani- famous circus family from Italy, joined Ringling Circus, Sarasota, Florida

nanderson2150 — 2012-01-15 05:35:04Z

Hi Melissa,

I cannot tell you how excited I was to read your note on the ancestry.ca message board re the cristiani circus family and my search for a possible connection to my great grandmother. I had just about given up hope about establishing if/what connection there is when your message arrived. Knowing that Pete is still alive and might remember is awesome. We were told growing up that my great grandmother Rosanna Cristiana(i) was related (my father said cousins) to the circus Cristianis but there are no records still in the family or that Ive been able to access and the only surviving member is my aunt Rosie, my late Father's youngest cousin, 83 now, who also only knows what she was told. Including, she was told that one or more members of the circus family visited with our family when they were performing in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. But Rosie does not remember exactly when but was away at the time so could have been 1939. On the other hand, I have found records of the family performing across Ontario in the late 40s and early 50s as well. And I found one border crossing record of Pietro (Pete's uncle if I have this right) travelling from Canada back into the US in February 1940. There is also a record of him travelling from Canada to the US thru Sweet Grass, Montana in August 1939 where my greatgrandmother's brother and family lived .

I have looked at your tree and have spent a fair chunk of time recording both Ernesto's and Pietro's families travels with the North American circuses. I did notice that most of the kids were born in/around Modeno which is in northern Italy, specifically Lombardia, correct? But others were born elsewhere depending on where the family's performing took them. I also noted that Pilade had 16 children with Anna Bottari and reputedly 24 in total?!? (Im wondering if one of his sons was my greatgrandmother's father?)

The thing is the earliest info I have re my great grandmother Rosanna is that she married Vincenzo Cosenza and they and their two children Frenco (my grandfather) and Maria (aunt Rosie's Mom) lived in the south of Italy, specifically worked on a huge farm in the village of Piane Crati, just south of the now city of Cosenza, province Cosenza, reggio calabria. Dont know where Rosanna was born but here is what I do know: she was born June 1868 in Italy, died in Ottawa Dec 18, 1949. She and her kids followed her husband to Canada in 1906.
-Parents Angelo Cristiana(i) and Antonia Conera - did not emigrate
-Brother Angelo b.Dec 29, 1878 in Italy. Lived and farmed in Glasgow, Valley County, Montana after immigrating to US in early 1900s. Married Mary Carbone in Italy and had 5 children in US. Died March 13, 1966. (Photo of him and family in my tree)
-Brother Francesco - only have italian photo postcard he gave to Rosanna's husband (in my tree)
-apparently also had older brother Giovanni (John) and another brother Tomasso who went to africa.

Please feel free to look at my Cosenzo/Taylor family tree and if you would show any/all pics to your husband and father in law. Do you see a family resemblance? I thought I did from the Cristiani Circus videos but may be wishful thinking. Thanks so much. I tried to email back to the email address you gave but I keep getting delivery failure notices. Please feel free to email me directly at nanderson2@sympatico.ca if you feel comfortable doing that.
Thanks again. Nancy
Nancy

Re: Query: Cristiani- famous circus family from Italy, joined Ringling Circus, Sarasota, Florida

iloveequus — 2012-01-14 04:25:39Z

Hi Nancy,
My name is Melissa Cristiani, my husband Tony is the son of Pete Cristiani (Pete is the youngest and only surviving member of this great circus family). I am sorry to take so long to check the message board. I can't wait to check your geneology. Pete lives here in Sarasota and his memory is wonderful, hopefully he can help you. I can tell you the family came from Modena, Italy. There are so many stories! Are you able to access my Cristiani family tree? I look forward to talking to you! Sincerely, Melissa
My email address is iloveequus.cristian@gmail.com

Re: Cristiani's

nanderson2150 — 2011-10-07 16:12:44Z

Hi Debbie - I have been trying to reach you on email and hoping this will work. I have sent a few other posts to this thread in hopes of connecting. My name is Nancy Cosenzo Anderson from Ontario, Canada and my great grandmother, Rosanna Cristiani, from Cosenza, Italy was related to the Flying Cristianis. Please feel free to check out my public family tree on ancestry called Cosenzos. Hope we can connect.

Re: Cristiani's

nanderson2150 — 2011-10-07 16:08:12Z

hello. I have responded to two other posts in this thread but doing it yet againt to further increase my chances of connecting. My name is Nancy Cosenzo Anderson and my great grandmother was Rosanna Cristiani, related/cousins with the Flying Cristianis. She immigrated to Canada (via New York) in the early 1900s and is included in the public family tree named Cosenzos on Ancestry. They came from Piane Crati/Aprigliano, which is just south of the now city of Cosenza, Province of Cosenza, Region of Calabria, Italy.
Hope we can connect. nancy

Re: Query: Cristiani- famous circus family from Italy, joined Ringling Circus, Sarasota, Florida

nanderson2150 — 2011-10-07 15:52:32Z

Hello again. I just reponded to another post in this thread but thought Id send again to increase the chance of connecting. My name is Nancy Cosenzo Anderson. My great grandfather, who was married to Rosanna Cristiani, changed the name from Cosenza to Cosenzo after immigrating to Canada around 1900. I was and am still told that Rosanna was related to the Flying Cristianis in the USA. I am putting together a family history on Ancestry (have a look at the public tree called Cosenzos) and would really like to connect. I am also trying to contact Debbie Cristiani.
Ciao. Nancy

Re: Cristiani Circus family

nanderson2150 — 2011-10-07 15:42:56Z

Hello Folks. My name is Nancy Cosenzo Anderson. My maiden name was Cosenza before my great grandfather, who was married to Rosanna Cristiani, changed it to Cosenzo after they immigrated to Canada from the south of Italy in the early 1900s. I was and am still told that my great grandmother was related/cousins to the Flying Cristianis circus family. I am trying to build my family history on Ancestry (public family tree named Cosenzos)and would really like to connect. Looking forward to hearing back.

Cristiani Circus family

iloveequus — 2011-02-02 08:00:57Z

We are trying to add to Debbie's work on the family tree. Especially would appreciate pictures of the family. We are also continuing the search for the video about the family called, "Roll Out the Sky" Produced by Charles Van Doren. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Tony Cristiani

Cristiani Circus family

iloveequus — 2011-02-02 08:00:56Z

Query: Cristiani- famous circus family from Italy, joined Ringling Circus, Sarasota, Florida

iloveequus — 2011-01-10 17:01:51Z

I am researching the Cristiani family from Cuomo, Italy area. Ernesto Cristiani was the father, and mother Emma Victoria Notari.

Re: Cristiani Circus Family

iloveequus — 2010-09-02 05:55:36Z

Hi Debbie, it's Melissa- Tony Cristiani's wife. I love doing family trees. Did my Mom & Dad's. I offered to start scanning pics to disc (and returning them) to archive them. I am using the ancestry.com Would love to work together or any way that archieves the final goal of preserving the families geneology on paper and disc. Anyway, hope to hear from you! Sincerely, Melissa and Tony

Re: Cristiani's

starzasweetie — 2010-03-19 02:43:31Z

A number of them live in Sarasota, Fl. My stepdad is Tony Cristiani. His father, Pete, was a circus performer along with his six brothers. They all did bareback riding and equestrian acrobatics.

Cristiani's

2001-01-23 21:03:30Z

I do not know where they came from! I was hoping someone would have some info for me. Wish I could help!

Finding Ancestors

2001-01-20 14:40:20Z

My grandfather came from Barre, Italy. I would like to know more information about the Cristiani family.

Thank You

Cristiani Circus Family

2001-01-07 18:32:30Z

I am looking for any information regarding the Cristiani family who came from Italy and joined the Ringling Circus. I have alot of information since they came to the states, but nothing about their family they left behind in Italy.

Thanks in advance.