The following is a review of the new book, Not Forgotten: An Unabridged History of the Barbieri Family, by Michael J. Barberi of Charlotte, North Carolina.
This hardback family history of 361 pages is a prime example of what a high-quality family history can be. The editorial content of the book, the quality of the research, the layout, and even the paper, are as good as it can get. The illustrations (charts and all) are nearly all in color – making them pop off the page. The volume is heavily footnoted with sources for where the author found his information. A bibliography is included. I especially liked the way the family was presented – done in such a way that the early portion (especially Chapter 1) of the book draws the reader into the family history – and keeps us!
The above mentioned chapter one is titled “The Most Interesting Stories and Key Findings of the Berbieri Family Research.” The chapter has 18 sections, each dealing with stories, facts and charts that are especially interesting. Again, once a Barbieri family member (or extended family member for that matter) reads that chapter, they will most certainly be drawn into the story in its depth.
The book is organized chronologically, complete with tree charts, photographs, and key facts, all written in a highly descriptive format. The sources were primarily based on detailed civil and church records of every person with the surname Barbieri (and similar spellings) from the Italian town of Cerreto Sannita, running from 1579 to 1920, as well as from Pietraroia, Italy from the late 1700s to 1920. Then the author goes on to trace Barbieri families who immigrated to the United States, to their descendants who are living today, and the few who remained in Italy.
While the early chapters deal with Barbieri ancestors and cousins of long ago, it is evident that many hours of time and analysis went into the those chapters. While much of genealogy research can be considered difficult, those dealing with seventeenth-century Italian relatives and their records can be overwhelming to most. The case for ancestry of even these most-distant relatives is well made, with sources, as well as conclusions drawn from research of those sources.
Chapter 12 is made up of the findings of DNA analysis of the Barbieri family, even dating the ancient Barbieri ancestor’s probable migration to Italy during the Greek and Byzantine eras.
The following is from the Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
SECTION I: Summary of Key Findings
Chapter 1 – Most Interesting and Key Findings of Barbieri Family Research
Chapter 2 – Consolidated Family Facts of Direct Barbieri Ancestors: Late 1500s to First United States Generations
Chapter 3 – The Barbieri Ancestral Town of Cerreto Sannito
Chapter 4 – Evolution of Italian Surnames, the Barbieri Family Name and Given Names
SECTION II: Our Direct Barbieri Ancestors of the Early Modern Period: Late 1500s-1800
Introduction to Section II
Chapter 5 – 10th Great-Grandfather Giovanni Angelo Barbieri (1578/90-1655) to 8th Great-Grandfather Salvatore Barbieri (1660-1708)
Chapter 6 – 7th Great-Grandfather Carlo Barbieri (1694-1767/69) to 4th Great-Grandfather Vincent Antonio Benedetto Barbieri (1791-1851)
SECTION III: Our Direct Barbieri Ancestors of the Late Modern and Contemporary Periods: 1800s-1940+
Introduction to Section III
Chapter 7 – The Six Children of 3rd Great-Grandfather Pasquale Antonio Barbieri (1811-1866) Who Immigrated to the United States and Their Descendants
Chapter 8 – The Three Children of 3rd Great-Grandfather Pasquale Antonio Barbieri Who Stayed in Italy and Their Descendants and the Four Children Who Died Young
Chapter 9 – 2nd Great-Grandfather Michel Barbieri (1849-1919) and Great Grandfather Pasquale Barbieri (1871-1916) and His Descendants
Chapter 10 – Grandfather Michael James Barbieri (1890-1941) and His Descendants (1909-Present)
SECTION IV: The Maternal Ancestry of Michael J. Barberi
Introduction to Section IV
Chapter 11 – The Maternal Ancestry of Michael J. Barberi: The Charles Family
SECTION V: Y-DNA Testing, Origin of Our Ancient Barbieri Ancestor, His Arrival in Italy and the Struggle of the Italian Life
Introduction to Section V
Chapter 12: Scientific Origins of the Barbieri Family to 500 AD
Chapter 13: The Struggles of Italian Life from 500 A.D. to the First Known Barbieri in the Late 1500s
SECTION VI: Other Barbieri Family Lineages that Descend from Giovanni Barbieri (1578/90-1655) or His Ancestor
Introduction to Section VI
Chapter 14: The Five Barbieri Family Lines Possibly Living Today Who Descend from a Direct Barbieri Ancestor
Chapter 15: How to Determine a Barbieri Cousin Relationship
Epilogue
APPENDICES
Appendix A: Birth/Baptism Records of Eleven Paternal Barbieri Grandfathers
Appendix B: Vital Records of Maternal Grandfathers Peter Charles and Edward Joseph Charles
Appendix D: The Genealogy Relationship Between Grandmother Lillian Dunham and Stanley Ann Dunham, the Mother of President Obama
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
The book may be obtained from the author, Michael J. Barberi
Address: 5212 Sunningdale Dr., Charlotte, NC 28277
Email: mj2barberi@yahoo.com
The cost is $62 per book, plus $10.50 for postage for first book and $5.00 for each additional volume. Books are shipped by USPS Media Mail.