Giobatta Petris & Rosa Taiariol
Husband: Giobatta “Tita” Petris
Birth: 11 Aug 1871, Zoppola, Italy
Father: Giacomo Antonio Petris Mother: Cattarina Cassin
Death: 4 Feb 1941, Zoppola, Italy
Birth: 11 Aug 1871, Zoppola, Italy
Father: Giacomo Antonio Petris Mother: Cattarina Cassin
Death: 4 Feb 1941, Zoppola, Italy
Wife: Rosa Tajariòl
Birth: 9 Mar 1871, Cesena, Azzano Decimo, Friuli, Italy
Father: Domenico Tajariòl Mother: Pietra (Pierina) Marson
Death: 4 Jan 1948, Zoppola, Italy
Marriage: 29 Dec 1892, Zoppola, Italy
Children: Pietro (1893-1893)
Geremia (1894-1913?)
Emilio Osvaldo (1895-1910)
Emilia (1897-1897)
Giacomo (Jack) (1899-1970)
Giorgio (Lolli) (1900-1970)
Celeste (1902-1903)
Emilia (1904-1978)
Pierina “Mora” (1909-1986)
Emilio (1911-1912)
Giobatta Petris was born on August 11, 1871, in Zoppola. He was the first of the eight children of Giacomo Antonio Petris and Cattarina Cassin. As the eldest son, he was named after his grandfather, the weaver Giovanni Battista Ciargnel. Giobatta, later known as Tita, was raised as a farmer’s son. He would have had a basic education and could read and write. He would have been given farming skills and basic trade skills like carpentry.
Early on, Giobatta learned about the fragility of life. When he was six, his newborn brother Angelo died. When he was 17, his four-year-old sister died. In 1890, his father died suddenly, leaving him as the man of the family. Giobatta was only 19 years old.
The same year his father died, a new family moved to town, and he first met Rosa Tajariòl.
Birth: 9 Mar 1871, Cesena, Azzano Decimo, Friuli, Italy
Father: Domenico Tajariòl Mother: Pietra (Pierina) Marson
Death: 4 Jan 1948, Zoppola, Italy
Marriage: 29 Dec 1892, Zoppola, Italy
Children: Pietro (1893-1893)
Geremia (1894-1913?)
Emilio Osvaldo (1895-1910)
Emilia (1897-1897)
Giacomo (Jack) (1899-1970)
Giorgio (Lolli) (1900-1970)
Celeste (1902-1903)
Emilia (1904-1978)
Pierina “Mora” (1909-1986)
Emilio (1911-1912)
Giobatta Petris was born on August 11, 1871, in Zoppola. He was the first of the eight children of Giacomo Antonio Petris and Cattarina Cassin. As the eldest son, he was named after his grandfather, the weaver Giovanni Battista Ciargnel. Giobatta, later known as Tita, was raised as a farmer’s son. He would have had a basic education and could read and write. He would have been given farming skills and basic trade skills like carpentry.
Early on, Giobatta learned about the fragility of life. When he was six, his newborn brother Angelo died. When he was 17, his four-year-old sister died. In 1890, his father died suddenly, leaving him as the man of the family. Giobatta was only 19 years old.
The same year his father died, a new family moved to town, and he first met Rosa Tajariòl.
Rosa Tajariòl was born on March 9, 1871, in Azzano Decimo. She was the youngest of the six (possibly more) children of Domenico Tajariòl and Pierina Marson. The family were tenant farmers who moved among the various villages near Azzano Decimo. No details of her childhood have come down in the family, but, like Giobatta, she would have been raised as a farmer’s child. She could read and write. (Across the bottom of the picture of her in the chair in front of the house which that she had send to her daughter Emilia in San Francisco, she had written “Ricorde tu mama”—remember your mother.) She would have learned to work the land and handle all the domestic duties in the home. She must have been very diligent at it. Her daughter Emilia was a very good cook and an impeccable house cleaner, skills she must have learned that from her mother.
Sometime in 1890, her father died. On November 11, 1890, the Widow Tajariòl left Villotta di Chions and brought her children to Zoppola, where the family became tenants of Antonio Romanò and lived in via Castello. Rosa was also only 19 years old.
Two years later, on December 29, 1892, Giobatta and Rosa were married at the Church of San Martino di Vescovo, in Zoppola. They were both 21 years old. They moved into the house on Via Biacche, where their first child, Pietro, was born on March 3, 1893. Unfortunately, he died eight days later.
Sometime in 1890, her father died. On November 11, 1890, the Widow Tajariòl left Villotta di Chions and brought her children to Zoppola, where the family became tenants of Antonio Romanò and lived in via Castello. Rosa was also only 19 years old.
Two years later, on December 29, 1892, Giobatta and Rosa were married at the Church of San Martino di Vescovo, in Zoppola. They were both 21 years old. They moved into the house on Via Biacche, where their first child, Pietro, was born on March 3, 1893. Unfortunately, he died eight days later.
They would have ten children together—six sons and four daughters—but only six of them would survive to adulthood and five of them would emigrate to California. Geremia was the second born and oldest son to survive. Geremia was born in 1894, Emilio in 1895, and Emilia in 1897. Emilio died in 1910 at the age of 15 and Emilia only lasted six days. In 1899, Giacomo (Zio Jack, nicknamed Stagnaro—tin-plater) was born, followed by Giorgio (Zio Lolli) in 1900 and Celeste in 1903. Celeste would die 11 months later. In 1904, two months after Celeste died, another daughter was born and she was named Emilia after her sister. Oddly, the names Emilia and Celeste do not appear anywhere in the family ancestry. In 1909, a final daughter named Pierina (named after her mother’s mother who had died in 1896) was born. She went by Mora. Finally, another son was born in 1911 and named Emilio after his teenage brother who had just died the year before. This Emilio only survived for 16 months, though.
Geremia became something of a family mystery. In April 1912, he boarded the Duca D’Aosta in Genoa, bound for New York. He arrived on April 17th with $30 in his pocket—quite a tidy sum for a 17-year-old immigrant. He was headed for Lemoore, California, to stay with his cousin Pietro Bortolussi and work for Italian Swiss Colony Winery. Half his wages were sent back home to the family. In 1913, his uncle Domenic, cousin Giovanni Tajariòl and Valentino Cecco joined him, as did his childhood friend Andrea Quattrin. That was the last confirmed fact we have about him, and the California part of the family never knew what happened to him. One source said that he married and died in California. Another said he moved to British Columbia instead of going home to fight in World War I. The only lead we have is that Rosella Bomben, daughter of Geremia’s youngest sister Mora, wrote
About Uncle Geremia, I can only tell you that my mother told me that during the war of 1915-18 (the First World War), he came to fight in Europe but with the French; this was a great regret for my grandmother Rosa, (that he didn’t fight with the Italians for the liberation).
As a non-Frenchman, the only way Geremia could have joined the French Army was by joining the French Foreign Legion. According to The Garibaldian Volunteers in France during the First World War (Heyries, 2016),
On 6 August 1914, Ricciotti Garibaldi, much like his father, Giuseppe, had done on 7 September 1870, offered his services to the French Republic, sending a telegram to the Italian press and to the French government where he called on other volunteers to join him. Six (out of seven) of Ricciotti’s sons followed his example.
Geremia must have answered this call. The Garibaldi Legion was only formed officially in November and was disbanded in March of 1915 so the ex-patriots could return to Italy and join the Italian Army once Italy officially entered the War. In those four short months, they fought in the three Battles of the Ardenne, suffering over 50% losses. The troop did not really distinguish itself particularly, but the newspapers later picked up the story of the Volunteers and mythologized to in order to drum up pro-War sentiments in both France and Italy.
Geremia seems to have survived. Or, at least, he was not among the casualties reported by https://theworldremembers.org/search-the-names. But he did not return to Italy to continue fight there. Again, according to Rosella’s mother, he went back to California after serving in France, married a Mexican girl, and had children. According to Nerio Petris, he immigrated to Canada, but no facts of his life supporting either of these stories have yet to come to light.
In 1917, Tita and Rosa would have had to “host” German and Austrian officers and soldiers in their home when the town was overrun during a winter assault. Though we do not have any Petris accounts of the experience, Palmira Quattrin wrote about it later in life. She said that the soldiers were filthy and had lice. They slept in the hallways of the house while the officers took the bedrooms, confining the family to all live in one bedroom. They stole everything from food to clothing, including the girls’ dresses to send home to their own sisters and girlfriends. The occupation lasted nearly a year.
After the War, the economics of the area were dire, despite Italy technically being on the winning side. Like their brother before them, Jack and Lolli went to America to make their fortunes and to send money home to the family. Jack took the SS Arabic out of Naples and bound for Boston in August of 1922. He was traveling with Remiggio (Roy) Quattrin and stayed initially with Giacomo Querin in Big Creek, California. He never returned home. He married, had two sons—Ovidio (Blackie) and Robert—and lived for some time in Boston where he worked as a laborer. In the early 1930s, he settled in San Francisco where he was the head maintenance man at the American Can Company.
Zio Lolli boarded the Conte Rosso in Genoa on July 8, 1923, bound for New York. He was escorting his sister-in-law Maria Lenardon to Kingsburg to reunite with Jack. He never returned home, either. He moved to Nichols, California, where he married, had two children—Ronnie and Maxine—, and worked as a chemical burner at American Chemical with Poldi Quattrin.
In 1924, Tita and Rosa became grandparents for the first time with the birth of Jack’s son Ovidio Angelo. He would be the first of ten grandchildren. Seven of them would be born in America and never meet their grandparents.
In 1925 or so, Rosa was commiserating with her friend Elisabetta De Paoli that her daughter Emilia was 22 and getting too old to find a husband. She was a bit of a tomboy and none of the boys in town were interested. Elisabetta assured her that when her son Andrea Quattrin returned from America, he would marry her. Andrea did as his mother asked, and he and Emilia were married in 1927. She quickly became pregnant, and Andrea returned to San Francisco to start building a life for them there. On February 12, 1928, Emilia gave birth to Giovanni Battista (John) Quattrin, named after both his grandfathers. He was the first grandchild that Giobatta and Rosa were able to hold in their arms. (As an aside, John bore a striking resemblance to his Zio Jack when they were both young.) In 1930, Andrea returned to meet his son for the first time and to take John and Emilia to America. Emilia would not return until 1958, after her parents and husband had all passed away.
In 1936, their youngest daughter Mora married Felice Bomben. Nicknamed Filissùti, Felice was 6’ 4” and athletic. He was a member of Mussolini’s personal bodyguard late in the War. In 1978, when John Quattrin and family returned to Zoppola, they stayed with Mora and Felice. One of the few things Kevin understood was when Felice proudly (but quietly) told them was that he was “still a Fascist.” Mora and Felice had a son and three daughters: Tarquinio, Caterina, Edda, and Rosella. Tarquinio, unfortunately, did not survive. Risa and Tita would live long enough to meet each of them.
Tita died on February 4, 1941, at the age of 70. Rosa outlived her husband by almost seven years, dying on January 4, 1948, at the age of 77. They were both buried in the cemetery in Zoppola. Their gravestones no longer exist.
Geremia became something of a family mystery. In April 1912, he boarded the Duca D’Aosta in Genoa, bound for New York. He arrived on April 17th with $30 in his pocket—quite a tidy sum for a 17-year-old immigrant. He was headed for Lemoore, California, to stay with his cousin Pietro Bortolussi and work for Italian Swiss Colony Winery. Half his wages were sent back home to the family. In 1913, his uncle Domenic, cousin Giovanni Tajariòl and Valentino Cecco joined him, as did his childhood friend Andrea Quattrin. That was the last confirmed fact we have about him, and the California part of the family never knew what happened to him. One source said that he married and died in California. Another said he moved to British Columbia instead of going home to fight in World War I. The only lead we have is that Rosella Bomben, daughter of Geremia’s youngest sister Mora, wrote
About Uncle Geremia, I can only tell you that my mother told me that during the war of 1915-18 (the First World War), he came to fight in Europe but with the French; this was a great regret for my grandmother Rosa, (that he didn’t fight with the Italians for the liberation).
As a non-Frenchman, the only way Geremia could have joined the French Army was by joining the French Foreign Legion. According to The Garibaldian Volunteers in France during the First World War (Heyries, 2016),
On 6 August 1914, Ricciotti Garibaldi, much like his father, Giuseppe, had done on 7 September 1870, offered his services to the French Republic, sending a telegram to the Italian press and to the French government where he called on other volunteers to join him. Six (out of seven) of Ricciotti’s sons followed his example.
Geremia must have answered this call. The Garibaldi Legion was only formed officially in November and was disbanded in March of 1915 so the ex-patriots could return to Italy and join the Italian Army once Italy officially entered the War. In those four short months, they fought in the three Battles of the Ardenne, suffering over 50% losses. The troop did not really distinguish itself particularly, but the newspapers later picked up the story of the Volunteers and mythologized to in order to drum up pro-War sentiments in both France and Italy.
Geremia seems to have survived. Or, at least, he was not among the casualties reported by https://theworldremembers.org/search-the-names. But he did not return to Italy to continue fight there. Again, according to Rosella’s mother, he went back to California after serving in France, married a Mexican girl, and had children. According to Nerio Petris, he immigrated to Canada, but no facts of his life supporting either of these stories have yet to come to light.
In 1917, Tita and Rosa would have had to “host” German and Austrian officers and soldiers in their home when the town was overrun during a winter assault. Though we do not have any Petris accounts of the experience, Palmira Quattrin wrote about it later in life. She said that the soldiers were filthy and had lice. They slept in the hallways of the house while the officers took the bedrooms, confining the family to all live in one bedroom. They stole everything from food to clothing, including the girls’ dresses to send home to their own sisters and girlfriends. The occupation lasted nearly a year.
After the War, the economics of the area were dire, despite Italy technically being on the winning side. Like their brother before them, Jack and Lolli went to America to make their fortunes and to send money home to the family. Jack took the SS Arabic out of Naples and bound for Boston in August of 1922. He was traveling with Remiggio (Roy) Quattrin and stayed initially with Giacomo Querin in Big Creek, California. He never returned home. He married, had two sons—Ovidio (Blackie) and Robert—and lived for some time in Boston where he worked as a laborer. In the early 1930s, he settled in San Francisco where he was the head maintenance man at the American Can Company.
Zio Lolli boarded the Conte Rosso in Genoa on July 8, 1923, bound for New York. He was escorting his sister-in-law Maria Lenardon to Kingsburg to reunite with Jack. He never returned home, either. He moved to Nichols, California, where he married, had two children—Ronnie and Maxine—, and worked as a chemical burner at American Chemical with Poldi Quattrin.
In 1924, Tita and Rosa became grandparents for the first time with the birth of Jack’s son Ovidio Angelo. He would be the first of ten grandchildren. Seven of them would be born in America and never meet their grandparents.
In 1925 or so, Rosa was commiserating with her friend Elisabetta De Paoli that her daughter Emilia was 22 and getting too old to find a husband. She was a bit of a tomboy and none of the boys in town were interested. Elisabetta assured her that when her son Andrea Quattrin returned from America, he would marry her. Andrea did as his mother asked, and he and Emilia were married in 1927. She quickly became pregnant, and Andrea returned to San Francisco to start building a life for them there. On February 12, 1928, Emilia gave birth to Giovanni Battista (John) Quattrin, named after both his grandfathers. He was the first grandchild that Giobatta and Rosa were able to hold in their arms. (As an aside, John bore a striking resemblance to his Zio Jack when they were both young.) In 1930, Andrea returned to meet his son for the first time and to take John and Emilia to America. Emilia would not return until 1958, after her parents and husband had all passed away.
In 1936, their youngest daughter Mora married Felice Bomben. Nicknamed Filissùti, Felice was 6’ 4” and athletic. He was a member of Mussolini’s personal bodyguard late in the War. In 1978, when John Quattrin and family returned to Zoppola, they stayed with Mora and Felice. One of the few things Kevin understood was when Felice proudly (but quietly) told them was that he was “still a Fascist.” Mora and Felice had a son and three daughters: Tarquinio, Caterina, Edda, and Rosella. Tarquinio, unfortunately, did not survive. Risa and Tita would live long enough to meet each of them.
Tita died on February 4, 1941, at the age of 70. Rosa outlived her husband by almost seven years, dying on January 4, 1948, at the age of 77. They were both buried in the cemetery in Zoppola. Their gravestones no longer exist.
Unfortunately, nothing more specific is known about Giobatta and Rosa Petris, and no stories about them have been passed down in the Northern Californian branch of the family. All we have are the photos. Tita had a strong jaw, squared shoulders, and piercing eyes that made him appear to be a man one would not want to cross. Rosa, later in life, seems tired, with slumped shoulders and slightly sad eyes. But that is only conjecture. They remain an enigma to their descendants.