Frank and Elizabeth Pop Up in Church

Note: For the complete list of posts, go HERE.

One of the great things about doing this kind of research is that folks are extraordinarily interested in helping each other solve their puzzles.

Official marriage records from New York City start to unravel the marriage details of my grandparents. They were married on May 4, 1924. Check. Once word goes out that I’m looking for the mysterious Frank and Elizabeth, a cousin pops up with a baptismal record from the Mary Help of Christians Church in Manhattan for her grandfather, which yields another clue: The godparents for her grandfather are listed as Frank and Elizabeth. 

Given that these events were roughly the same time frame, I’m hoping that Frank and Elizabeth were also married at Mary Help of Christians, and that records at this church might provide some additional clues about my grandparents -- like their birth dates, for example, always a useful piece of data in tracking down more data.

Mary Help of Christians Church, known for its twin copper-topped bell towers, was built in 1917 and located at 440 East 12th Street. Unfortunately, it closed in 2007 and after preservationists failed in their efforts, the church was razed in 2013 and is now a lovely building containing over-priced condos. According to the New York Times: 

The condo offers units ranging from one-bedrooms, with an average of 753 square feet, to four-bedroom penthouses, with an average of 2,870 square feet. Most are two-bedrooms. All feature wine refrigerators, washers and dryers and radiant-heat bathroom floors. The eight penthouses have about 11- to 16-foot ceilings and private outdoor space.

As of this writing, there are currently 2 three bedroom units in the building for rent for $16,000 and $19,000 per month. Two units are for sale can be yours for an average price of $3,937,500.

Soooo...back to the grandparents. When Mary Help of Christians closed, the church was incorporated into nearby Immaculate Conception Church. So I thought I would try there for records, and amazingly struck gold.

An extremely helpful person at Immaculate Conception sends me my grandparents’ marriage certificate, and even also provides a handy raised seal version. There on the marriage certificate are my grandparents’ birth dates -- Francesco, 5 Oct 1897 and Elisabetta, 25 November 1901. The witnesses were Anthony Ruggiere, the son of Francesco’s brother Michael and Angelina DeFabritus, the daughter of Elisabetta’s half brother Michael. 

Clearly this wedding was a family affair, despite the fact that in later years all evidence of this family would disappear.

Lastly, from that same aforementioned cousin, I get a photo. A photo of the happy newlyweds.

The only photo that I’ve ever seen of these two.