Let me begin by saying that I know that there are errors in this family tree. I have put nearly all of the Colloraffis that I have found on this tree, so that they will not be "lost to history". The computer makes it very simple to correct errors and place individuals where, future evidence, may show that they belong. When I have "guessed" at the placement of an individual or family, I have indicated my reasons for the placement in the notes section and have also place an "X" as the middle letter of a name. Pure genealogist would be very upset with me for doing this, but I have my own way of doing things, as many Colloraffis do. My reason for placing a person on the tree, even if it may be the wrong placement, allows others to read the evidence that this person existed. I have known of too many researchers, who have left people and facts in their files and then have died, or had records destroyed, so that a researcher in the future has to try to redo the many thousands of hours of work that have gone into research, without a clue of where to look, or what was found.

It needs to be noted that these records are very difficult to read. The handwriting is often nearly unreadable. Records have been damaged by water, pages torn, and years of records are missing. Other pages are so yellowed and the ink smeared that it is nearly impossible to make out the writing. It should also be noted that information is sometimes wrong.

This is especially true in death certificates, where the information is given by survivors who may not have know the actual age, name or birthplace of the person. Also, the spelling of names often differs in the same family, or even for the same person. I have tried to indicate this in my notes or by giving the version written, and what is probably the correct version.

I know that we have missed Colloraffis that should be included in our family tree. In the following records, you will sometimes see a reference to the town of Caronia, which is located near Sant' Agata Di Militello. We know the names and birth years of several members of the Colloraffi family that were born there and emigrated to the United States. They are in the chapter on emigration. However, the records of Caronia and those of the island of Salina, are not available through the Family History Center Library, at this time. I will continue to attempt to find this branch of our family. I believe that they are linked to the Colloraffi family of Sant' Agata di Militello, but am not sure how. My own ancestor, Biagio Colloraffi, is said to have been born in Caronia.

With all of the hundreds of names that are now in our family tree, perhaps the best way to find your ancestors is to start at the end and locate a relative. You will notice that each person is numbered. By tracing the names and numbers enclosed by ( ), after your ancestor, you can find your family tree. Remember that if you encounter an "X", this is my best guess, as to the placement of that individual.
You will also come to two PRETEND ANCESTORS. These are Madre and Padre. The reason that they are there is to allow my computer to list all of the rest of the families. There is a several generation gap between the census records and the civil records and we may never know the correct linking of our families. Remember, too, that I have tried to include all of the early ancestors that I was able to find in the census of 1681 and 1714. In order to do this, I had to FABRICATE a relationship between Don and Elizabetta, Giac, and so forth, as discussed in a previous chapter. In fact, Don and Giac may be the same person.

Information after 1910, for the most part, was provided by family records. My hope is that by reviewing this family tree you will be able to find information about forgotten ancestors that may be of interest to you. If you contact me, I can send you copies of the records that I have in my files. Following this chapter, you can read individual family stories and view pictures of our small family. There is also a little more about the history, culture and people of "Bedda Sicilia." (In Sicilia the L in Bella is pronounced as a D.)