Francesco

Francesco & Antonina Vasta

Francesco 1859-12/27/1931 Anna 12/25/1870-10/1961

According to records at Ellis Island, Francesco came to America at the age of 43. He arrived at Ellis Island on July 11, 1903 on the ship P. de Satrustegui. The Ship's manifest indicates that Francesco told officials he was coming to see his brother Giovanni.

Francesco was married to Antonina Guardala. According to Ellis Island records, she arrived in America on March 3, 1907 at age 36 with their four children: Caterina Vasta(Catherine), age 17; Salvatore Vasta (Samuel), age 9; Michele Vasta (Michael), age 6; and Luciano Vasta (Charles), age 5.

In America, they would have three more children: Amy, and twins Mary & Josephine.

Anna & Kids Ship's Manifest

Francesco's Ellis Island Ship's Manifest

Click on the picture for a larger view

There are conflicting stories about how, why, and when Francesco and Anna changed their surname from Vasta to West. Certainly the reason had to do with trying to avoid the predjudice against Italian immigrants that was commonplace in at the time. One story has it that before Anna and the kids arrived, Francesco worked in the coal mines of West Virginia. In order to get along with the company bosses, he was told to "americanize" his name. Another story has it that when they lived in the Upstate NY area, there was already an affluent family named "West" and they sort of adopted the name, again to avoid the prejudice of the day. There are other versions of the story. Sadly, those who can confirm any of them are gone.

Although the name was changed to West, Francesco and Anna are burried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetary in Rochester, NY. under a headstone that reads Vasta.