I
have been researching my Baccelli line for a very long time. I pretty much
exhausted all records in the U.S.A and did a lot of research on Italians in
Sacramento. I was pretty sure that not only did Francisco come from northern
Italy, but from Lucca, Italy. It was just weird that there was another Baccelli
that appeared in Sacramento right before my great grandfather died. They were
the only two Baccelli’s in the Sacramento area.
All
the records I obtained on Francisco’s associates all came from Lucca, Italy,
but I just couldn’t find the link for Francisco. I searched many church records
in some towns in the Lucca area, but wasn’t able to find Francisco. I tried all
kinds of research strategies and even got very creative with my research. I ended
up finding all 13 children that Francisco and Inez had.
I
came across some old photos of Francisco’s children. One, in particular had a
very distinct look which stood out. I then came across an online photo of
another Baccelli tree that just happened to have a photograph that looked identical
to Francisco’s son. After making contact with the Baccelli tree owner he agreed
to DNA testing. After several months of waiting the results finally came in and
he was a match. Knowing that his Baccelli ancestors were from Lucca, Italy a
search was conducted in the same township where his ancestors were from and
Francisco’s baptismal record was found and down came the wall and the line was
moved back to the late 1600s.
This
wouldn’t have been possible without that old time photo and DNA testing. I want
to thank my new found cousin, John for taking the DNA test and for having that particular
photo online. I also want to thank my other cousin, Danny for checking the
microfilm for the township in Lucca and pulling the baptismal record and for helping
get Francisco’s line moved further back. I also want to thank my second cousin,
Elwood Greer for giving me those old photos and especially my brother, Brent
for doing a DNA test.
Never
give up on an ancestral line you want to solve. You might have a strong brick wall,
but with patience and creative research you can knock that wall down. It took
me and many of my older family members many years of research and now the wall
has finally fallen.
