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The beginning & end of an Era in Casamazzagno for Costantino Tavan b. 1870 & Luigia (Lucia) Zannantonio (Vena) b. 1873 Who I remember with great fondness, and in his waning years in letters to my mother, constantly expressed the wish to see and embrace me once again before he died, his first born Nipote (Grandson) , who had emigrated to New Zealand in 1929 at the ripe old age of Six Months. This call from the heart, was related to me many times by my mother Silvia who read to me letters from her father Costantino. The strength of this bond between Nonno and myself did not become evident until it was too late when unexpectedly I was informed of his death. At that time I felt a sadness that I have not felt since. Sara' Quel che Sara' ! Costante Tavan born in Andreis, Pordenone, Friuli Venezia Guilia, and left home at an early age ( never to return ) to begin a new life, and found himself in Casamazzagno where he met, courted and married Luigia Zanantonio (Vena). They settled and lived at No. 4 V. Arturo Festini, the home of Luigia's father, Sante Zanantonio The name of Sante's wife is not known, though there is a photo of her in the Records. I have named her "Mistera" (Mystery) . Costante and Luigia had nine children, (two died at birth) their names are unknown. The others were: Ardemia * Emilio * Silvia * Vincenza and her twin Amerigo named after the discoverer of America, ( 'Amerigo Vespucci') then Elena and Guerrino. Zia Elena aged 88, still lives in the family home today. from the proverbial 'Needle to a haystack'. He made several working trips to the U.S.A. in the early 1900's for a year at a time, while his growing family back home ran the "Tavan Store". He worked long hours, saving money and returning to Casamazzagno with volumes of stock and new products to fill the store. He had a fearsome reputation for not suffering fools, tempered with a reputation for his honesty and generosity. He was known to help many a family in need, and commanded respect from all who knew him. her becoming romanticaly involved with Luigi Zanderigo six doors up the road. At one point, fearing the loss of her skills in the store, he forbade Silvia to associate with Luigi and banned him from the home. However that did not last for ever and eventually they were to marry. In part of the store Zio Amerigo learned the art of repairing shoes. He travelled thru the mountain villages selling and repairing shoes.The twins Vincenza & Amerigo were to go their separate ways. She to marry Giovanni DeMario and live in the nearby village of Costalessoio - He to emigrate to New Zealand with Luigi and Silvia. In early 1939 Amerigo returned to Casamazzagno to marry Antonia Maria Algarotti. During their return voyage to New Zealand in early 1940, World War Two had broken out, Italy had entered the war and on arrival at the port of Auckland, Amerigo was promptly arrested,declared an enemy alien and interned on Somes Island, Wellington . { Was he really found with concealed plans for the invasion of New Zealand ??? } Although this treatment seemed harsh at the time, he was not alone in in this experience. There were others, some worse. Some were naturalised New Zealanders. For most Italian Families there was no notice. In most cases there was a knock at the door, two policemen would tell the husband and father he was now classified as an "Enemy Alien" to pack a few essentials and say goodbye. One family's memories - Mamma had not learned much English, and so did not understand what was happening when two detectives stormed into the house, no reason given, putting a seal on the radio and leading father away, with mamma and the three children crying, subsequently relying on support from a Scottish family next door. Most if not all of theItalians who were interned were harmless. That Amerigo was returning to N.Z. as Italy entered WW2 may have placed him under suspicion. Amerigo's skills as a cobbler in Casamazzagno stood him in good stead during his internment, earning a few extra "coppers" from his fellow internees and the prison officers repairing their footware, as well as dabbling in making paua/abalone shell jewelery and ornaments. These were parceled home to sell to support his wife and baby son.He was to be detained as an Alien for the duration of the war. His first born son Dante, conceived on route to New Zealand was born July 1940 and it would be 1945 before they would see and embrace each other for the first time. On his release from Somes Island, Amerigo successfully established a shoe repair retail Shoe store aptly named "The Venetian Cobbler" from which he eventually retired. In Auckland in 1988 at the age of 82 Amerigo Tavan suffered a heart attack and passed away, In Casamazzagno within the same hour his twin Vincenza also, following a heart attack, passed away :: Ardemia: married and died in Candide: Vincenza: ( Amerigo's twin ) married and died in Costalessoio: Silvia: married, emigrated to and died in New Zealand: Elena: aged 89 never married and still lives in the Tavan Family home in Casamazzagno. and will most certainly be buried in the Tavan Family Plot in Casamazzagno: Emilio: emigrated to France, married and died there. (No Children) Amerigo: married and emigrated to and died in New Zealand : Guerrino: (Nino) returned from fighting in ww2 only to findout his sweatheart was unfaithful in his absence, ( it broke his heart ), he never married, and died an alcholic. Zia Elena's passing will be the end of that era in Casamazzagno and In part there is a sadness to this telling. In the mean time we are currently planning to bring Zia Elena out to New Zealand For a months visit hopefully for Xmas 1998. Cousin Luigino De Mario living in Bournemouth England ( son of Vincenza, twin to Amerigo ) will accompany her from Italy. As she said, to Luigino- "You are not going to New Zealand without me !!! A great 'spirit' for 89 years of age. |
 I take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous contribution from don Roberto Sarti the Parish Priest of Andreis, without whose generosity of spirit and commitment to the research he undertook of his own volition to provide a major part of the ancestral data of the Tavans, this document would not have been so complete, We have become friends. I first wrote to don Roberto Sarti in May 1997 asking if there were any records of Tavans in his parish. His reply in June was the start of a flood of information. His first report traced Tavan lineage back to 1750. This was later corrected after discovering an error during a visit to the Bishop's records which eventually provided a continuous line of Tavans back to Sebastiano Tavan C. 1600. He supplied ancient maps of the area of Andreis, ancient photos of the village and surrounds, supplied many copies of extracts of births, marriages and deaths, some written in Ancient Italian that required specialist translation. He also informed his parishioners during the homily at mass about my research and his involvement into the history of the Tavans of Andreis, in his words they "Offered him much encouragement". One of his parishioners sent me an autopgraphed copy of a book he published (in Italian) in 1960 Titled "La Villa e La Valle de Andreis". The unique history of "The Village and the Valley of Andreis", with many old photographs of the village and approaches, photos of the ancient type of house construction that is unique and only found in Andreis. He also sent me an original page dislodged from a very old book . It was a print of an engraving, the scene depicting native bush in New Zealand with a Maori warrior and a European forester clearing the bush. The book was about Captain Cook's voyages in the south pacific, written and published in Italian in 1890. In 1996 The village celebrated the "Festival of the Millennium of Andreis 996-1996". There are records of a woman living there in the year 996. Most amazing of all, I later received a video tape in the mail produced by don Roberto and a friend with background music by Vivaldi seductively evident between commentaries. It began with a view of the approaches to the village, up the rise into the piazza, in the centre was the war memorial with dedications to those soldies who died during the first and second world wars. There were many Tavans & Stellas listed. Continueing on thru the narrow ancient streets to view in side his beautiful Church "Santa Maria delle Grazie". Later the Video showed two of the Tavan family homes of my Ancestors, used for many generations, handed down from father to first born son. This scene was indead quite emotional for me. The tour continued on to the cemetery where there were many tombstones bearing the name Tavan, as well as other family names closely related such as Vittorello & Vittorelli, Gio bata, Palleva, and Stella. Costante's sister Anastasia Tavan Married Luigi Stella and bore five children. A WOMAN RUNNING TO TAKE FLOWERS TO THE CEMETERY, ANOTHER RETURNING FROM THE MARKET WITH THE SHOPPING: LIFE GOES ON LIKE THIS, A LITTLE MONOTONOUS IN THE MIDST OF TRANQUILITY. --- HERE YOU SEE THE LAND, RUGGED AND WILD, WHICH HAS FORMED IN THE INHABITANTS A STRONG AND INDEFATIGABLE CHARACTER AND NOW WITH THESE FINAL SCENES, A DEAR GREETING TO YOU ALL IN NEW ZEALAND, AN AFFECTIONATE GREETING, WITH AN INVITATION NOT TO FORGET THIS SOIL OF WHICH A LITTLE BELONGS TO YOU: POOR AND ARID SOIL, BUT RICH IN HISTORY, RICH IN POETRY,AND RICH IN HUMANITY : CIAO MAURO MY FRIEND" |