The following is a chronology of ships on which our Buccella pilgrims arrived in America almost 100 years ago. While the first documented arrival of a family member was March 22, 1906 when Domenico Buccella arrived with his brother-in-law Domenico D'Angelo, there were likely two previous voyages. Domenico's older brother Raffaele was probably the first to arrive sometime in 1902, but since no record of that trip has been found, it is impossible to know when, where and on what ship. Their first cousin Zopito  appears to be the second, arriving in 1903. This cannot be confirmed with 100% certainty either, but the probability is very high so our chronology begins with him. Be sure to click on the photos to see an enlarged view of each ship. You can also view the ship manifests by clicking on the appropriate links.

April 2, 1903
S.S. Neustria

Zopito Buccella, age 22, first cousin of Domenico arrives at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Neustria. He states he has never been to the United States before and that he is joining uncle Giovanni Romano, 731 Fitzwater Street, Philadelphia; although it is unlikely this was his actual uncle. He may have been the padrone in Philadelphia who arranged the voyage, or a friend from Loreto. It is curious he did not state that he was joining his cousin Raffaele since he was likely already there. It appears Zopito made his way to Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania by 1906 and remained in the U.S. until 1907.

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March 22, 1906
S.S. Konig Albert

Domenico Buccella, 22, and brother-in-law Domenico D'Angelo, 30, arrive at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Konig Albert. They state they have never been to the U.S. before, and that they are joining brother (and brother-in-law) Zopito Buccella, Box 508, Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. However, Zopito was Domenico's cousin, not brother. Domenico  and at least some of the others moved from Johnsonburg to Allegany, New York at some point, perhaps as early as 1907. He departed the U.S. sometime in the fall of 1908.

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March 22, 1907
S.S. Konigen Luise

Giuseppe Buccella, age 27, brother of Domenico arrives at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Konigen Luise. He states he has not been to the U.S. before, and that he is joining brother Domenico, Box 8, Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. If this information is accurate, there were now at least four relatives together in the same location and a fifth, Gaetano, arriving within three months. Giuseppe probably left in late 1908 since he was in Loreto the following May for his wedding. He would return to the U.S. in March of 1912.

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June 15, 1907
S.S. Konigen Luise

Gaetano Buccella, age 20, first cousin of Domenico arrives at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Konigen Luise. He states he is joining cousin Domenico Buccella, Box 8, Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania. Like the others, Gaetano seems to have made his way to Allegany. Apparently, he was still in the country in the spring of 1909, since his name and address in Allegany were given by Domenico and Raffaele on the ship manifest from that year. This was his only trip to the U.S. and it is unknown when he returned to Italy.

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February 27, 1909
S.S. Prinzess Irene

Domenico Buccella, 25, and brother Raffaele, 31, arrive at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Prinzess Irene. They state they are joining Gaetano Buccella, Box 120, Alleghany, New York. While Raffaele rightly states that Gaetano is his cousin, Domenico again identifies his first cousin as his brother. Both state they have been to the U.S. before in Alleghany; Domenico in 1906-1908 and Raffaele in 1902-1904. There is no proof that Raffaele was there that early, but it is possible Domenico and the others arrived in Allegany in late 1907 or early 1908. By this time, Zopito (1907) and Giuseppe (c.1908) had already returned to Loreto to get married. Domenico and Raffaele would both return to Italy sometime before Poppy's wedding in November 1911.

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March 15, 1912
S.S. Ancona

Giuseppe Buccella, age 32, arrives at the Port of Philadelphia aboard the S.S. Ancona. He states he has been in the U.S. before from 1906-1909 in Philadelphia, but the information is full of errors. His initial trip to the U.S. was in 1907, and previous records indicate he was in Johnsonburg. Also, since he was married May 19, 1909, he probably left for Italy late in 1908 although he could have remained until early that spring, perhaps around the time Domenico and Raffaele arrived. He states he is joining cousin Pasquale Buccella, 1004 Ellsworth Street, Philadelphia, providing a possible clue to a family connection in Philadelphia. He may have ended up in Allegany, since Franco stated he was joining him there on a ship manifest the following year.

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June 11, 1913
S.S. Ancona

Franco Buccella, age 22, younger brother of Domenico arrives at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Ancona. He states he has not been to the U.S. before, and that he is joining brother Giuseppe, Box 120, Allegheny, New York; although it is not absolutely  certain that Giuseppe was in Allegany. Wherever they were, they may have been the only two remaining in the country, since Domenico and Raffaele left in 1911 and the whereabouts of Gaetano at this time are unknown. It would be Franco's only trip to the U.S.

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March 12, 1921
S.S. Duca degli Abruzzi

Domenico Buccella, 37, and first cousin Zopito Buccella, 39, arrive at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Duca degli Abruzzi. Domenico states he is joining brother-in-law Tommaso D'Attanasio, 2391 Washington Street, Canton, Massachusetts; although he did not have a brother-in-law with that name. Zopito states he is joining cousin Luigi DiMartile, Box 852, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; but again, the accuracy of the information is doubtful. It is unknown how long Zopito remained in the U.S. this time. Domenico made his way back to Western New York, where he declared his intent to become a U.S. citizen at the Cattaraugus County courthouse on June 5, 1922. He could have remained in the U.S. as late as 1924, before returning with his family in March of that year. However, it is more likely he returned to Italy late in 1923. 

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March 2, 1924
S.S. Colombo

Domenico Buccella, age 41, arrives at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Colombo with wife Maria Mariotti, 37, and son Guerino, age 9. He states that he has been in the U.S. previously from 1921-1924 in Massachusetts, and that they are joining brother-in-law Domenico Liberatore, RFD 2, Albany, New York. Once again, the information given on the manifest is inaccurate. First, neither Domenico nor Maria had a brother-in-law with that name. In addition, Domenico and Guerino would not turn their stated age until the following month. We also know that Domenico was in Cattaraugus County for at least a portion of his previous trip, since he started his citizenship paperwork there in 1922. He would return to Loreto one final time in 1960. Guerino would visit his childhood home once, in 1956. And sadly, Maria Mariotti would never return.

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June 5, 1930
S.S. Vulcania

Zopitantonio Buccella, age 50, first cousin of Domenico arrives at the Port of New York aboard the S.S. Vulcania. He states that he is joining wife Candida Buccella at 126 Beech Street, Yonkers. He also indicates that he has been in the U.S. previously from 1928-1929 in New York, although his last known trip was in 1921 when he stated he was heading to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There could have been an intervening trip. According to the relatives in Italy, Zopito returned there and lived for many years in Penne, where he died in 1960. They do not believe he had any children either born or living in the U.S.

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