In the early 1900's our ancestors made numerous trips over the Atlantic Ocean. As you can imagine, work must have been pretty scarce in Cutro, Italy. At that time, the United States was vastly growing, and for this reason there was a need for many skilled trades. From 1880 - 1930, 4,600,000 Italians migrated to the United States.

Our ancestors, Alfonso and his sons, all were talented stonemasons and bricklayers. Many of the early trips they made through Ellis Island would lead them to West Virginia and Pennsylvania. In West Virginia, their skills were put to use as they would lay the stone around the entrances that led into coal mines. In Philadelphia, PA, most of the work they did consisted of constructing various fountains throughout the city.

Alfonso and Elizabetta Procopio had 7 boys, Giuseppe, Tommasso, Ercole, Alfonso, Salvatore, Francesco, and Gaetano. Eventually, Giuseppe, Ercole, and Gaetano immigrated to the United States. Alfonso left Italy to live in Buenos Aires, South America. Francesco died at a young age in Italy, he was also blind. Salvatore remained in Cutro,Italy. Tommasso had traveled to the West Virginia, with his father Alfonso, and his 2 brothers, Giuseppe and Geatano. One day on their way home from work Tommasso was thrown from a horse and died. It wasn't until 2 years later, when they had enough money,that they were able to return to Italy. It is said that Tommasso is buried in West Virginia or Pennsylvania, but we have not yet found the exact location. It is believed that because of this tragedy, Alfonso and Elizabetta would never travel to the United States after this. Despite that fact, Alfonso Procopio believed that the United States was the "Land of Liberty" and it was always his desire that his family would make the United States their homestead.

In 1926 his sons, Giuseppe Procopio and Gaetano Procopio came to the US find work. Their brother Ercole had arrived in 1913 and was living in Philadelphia. The brothers all lived together for about 2 years before Giuseppe returned home to Cutro, Catanzaro, Italy to get his family.

Giuseppe Procopio

In 1929, Giuseppe and Maria Rosario Procopio and their 4 children at the time, Alfonso, Domenic, Esther, and Carmela, left Italy and moved to Niagara Falls, NY. While living in NY, Rosario gave birth to Elizabeth and Hugo. In 1936, still living in NY, their daughter Esther was 16 years old when she met her husband Anthony Stevan Conte. They then moved to Philadelphia, PA where they lived for about 2 years. While living in Philadelphia, Rosario gave birth to Albert. In 1940, Alfonso Procopio, Giuseppe's oldest son, traveled to Washington, DC looking for work. It was then the Procopio family moved to Washington, DC. Just about all of Giuseppe's descendants still reside in the Washington, DC area.


Click Here to see Giuseppe Procopio's original Birth Certificate

Click Here to see the translation of Giuseppe Procopio's Birth Certificate

Click Here to see Giuseppe's Certificate of Citizenship

Click Here to see Giuseppe and Rosario's Marriage License

Salvatore Procopio

Salvotre Procopio never traveled to the United States. He remained in Cutro, Italy with his younger daughter Rosalina. Rosalina married and had 3 children. She and her children are the only descendants of Alfonso Procopio (b. 1860) that still live in Italy. Her married name is not known, for this reason it will be very difficult to complete this portion of our family tree. Alfonso Procopio, Giuseppe's oldest son made many trips back and forth to Italy, he eventually brought Salvatore's oldest daughter, Elizabetta "Tatina" Carnucci and her family, to the United States.

Geatano Procopio

Click Here to see Geatano Procopio's original Birth Certificate

Click Here to see the translation of Geatano Procopio's Birth Certificate

Ercole Procopio

Click Here to see Ercole Procopio's original Birth Certificate

Click Here to see the translation of Ercole Procopio's Birth Certificate

Alfonso Procopio (age 42) first traveled to the US from Naples, Italy on October 31, 1902 and arrived in Ellis Island, NY on November 17, 1902 on a ship named "Calabria". It stated he would be staying with a cousin named Alessandro Ruggiero. He had $10.00 in his pocket.

On March 2, 1905 the Ship "Neckar" left Naples, Italy and Arrived in Ellis Island, NY on March 15, 1905, traveling on the ship was Alfonso Procopio (age 45) with his sons, Giuseppe (age 15) and Ercole (age 11), and a Domenico Procopio (a tailor and either a brother or nephew of Alfonso, age 22) all were said to be staying with Antonio Fabiano. Alfonso and Domenico have him listed as their cousin and Giuseppe and Ercole list him as their Uncle. It seems that the age of Ercole on this manifest does not match up with the birth dates as we know them.

On October 13, 1913 Ercole Procopio arrived in Ellis Island on a ship named "Mendoza". The ship departed from Napoli, Italy on September 28, 1913. Ercole was 16 years old at the time. On the ship manifest Ercole stated that he would be staying with a cousin with the first initial F. Procopio. This trip would serve as Ercole's move to the United States. Domenico Procopio, another Procopio traveling on the ship, is listed only a few lines down on the manifest. He is not a descendent of Alfonso Procopio, but perhaps a brother or nephew.

On November 2, 1920, Giuseppe Procopio arrived in Ellis Island, NY. He was traveling on a ship named "France". This ship left the port of France on October 24, 1920. At that time, Giuseppe was married and had 3 Children. He was going to stay with his brother Ercole, at 537 League Street in Philadelphia. It is said that in 1926 Giuseppe and Gaetano traveled again to the United States and again stayed with Ercole, but this manifest has not yet been posted.