Paolo arrived in Melbourne in 1877, married Margaret Yeomans in 1881, they had three children and then in February 1894, the family leave Melbourne for Italy. That is the last trace of Paolo I can find, but I have discovered more about Margaret. This is a chronology of the Dattari family - there are a few gaps, I still don't know when Paolo died, I wish I did. I wish I knew more about what his life was like when he returned to Italy - did he indulge his passion for silversmithing or his passion for beetles? I just hope he was happy. I do not know when Margaret died either, but I do know she went went to the United States, and she was still alive in 1935 when her son Luigi/Louis died. Anyway, here's what I know.
c. 1850 Paolo Dattari born in Leghorn (also known as Livorno) in Tuscany, Italy. His 1881 marriage certificate list his parents as Luigi Dattari, Gentleman, and Eurichetta Mareschia.
1859 Margaret Elizabeth Victoria Yeomans is born, in Hagerstone, London. Her 1881 marriage certificate lists her parents as Charles Yeomans, hat maker and Charlotte Anne Prime. Charlotte died in 1869 at the age of 45.
1870 10 year old Margaret Yeomans and her father Charles, aged 45, arrive in Melbourne on the Ninevah.
1877 Paolo arrives in Melbourne on the Somersetshire (1) and soon after starts work in the Department of Crown Lands and Survey.
1880 - Whilst at the Lands Department, one of Paolo's duties in his role as a draughtsman was the creation of Parish Plans - I have found some on the State Library of Victoria website - in January 1880, he compiled the Parish of Kapong plan - Port Fairy region (view this plan, here); in March 1880 the Parish of Glenelg Plan, counties of Follett and Normanby - near the Victorian/ South Australian border (view this plan, here) and in 1882 the Parish of Tharanbegga Plan - near Tungamah (view this plan here)
Paolo's attribution from the Kapong Parish Plan.
State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/96071
1880 June Elected to the Field Naturalist Club of Victoria (2). Club members were interested in and presented papers on all things connected to plants, birds, animals and insects. Paolo had an entomological interest. If you search Trove there are many mentions of his activities within the Club, for instance Mr. Dattari exhibited dynastes Hercules and two large buprestis (Australian Sketcher, September 4, 1880); peculiar form of fungoid growth on the larva of the hepialus or large brown swift moth, by P. Dattari (The Argus, February 21, 1881); A paper was contributed by Mr Dattari being, the first part of a series of papers "On the Locomotion of Coleopterous Insects." This described the anatomy and structure of the antennae of the different families of beetles. (The Argus, August 12, 1884) Paolo also had an interest in ferns, this is one example of a fern that he exhibited at a Club meeting by Mr. P. Dattari, a frond of Pteris tremula from near Drouin, 5ft. 9in. long (The Argus November 15, 1886)
1880 November Poalo Dattari, along with Carlo Catani, Ettore Checchi and Pietro Baracchi were appointed Italian Jurors at the Melbourne International Exhibition. At the time they were all working for the Department of Crown Lands. Dattari was also appointed an International Juror in the Goldsmiths' and Silversmith's Work as well as the Jewellery and Precious Stones class. You can read about this in Ruth Dwyer's article Paolo Dattari, Jeweller and the Italian Court at the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880-81 (details in Sources) The Melbourne International Exhibition opened on October 1, 1880 and closed April 30, 1881. The Exhibition attracted 1.3 million people. Read more on the Exhibition, here.
1881 April 7 Paolo marries Margaret Elizabeth Victoria Yeomans at the Victoria Parade Congregational Church. The marriage certificate lists her age as 22, and his age as 31. His occupation is listed as Architect, Margaret is listed as a 'Lady' The Marriage notice (below) describes her as the youngest daughter of C. Yeomans, Northamptonshire, late of London.
Paolo and Margaret's marriage notice from The Age of April 23, 1881.
1881 May Paolo creates one of the handsomest pieces of silversmith's work that has been turned out of a Melbourne workshop. It was a presentation casket, made for Captain Frederick Standish for his retirement from the Victorian Police Force. The casket is 16in. long by 8in. broad, and 9in. deep. It contains 165oz. of Victorian sterling silver and 18-carat gold. The design is handsome and very appropriate, and is the work of Mr. Dattari. You can read more about Paolo's fine work in The Australasian Sketcher of May 28, 1881, here
Paolo's handsome silver casket, made for Captain Frederick Standish.
Australasian Sketcher, May 28 1881. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244701723
1881 December 4 Charles Yeomans dies, aged 58, in Melbourne.
1882 January 1 birth of son Luigi Charles Richmond Dattari. The birth notice said they were living at Florence Cottage, Waltham Street, Richmond.
1882 July 27 Paolo is granted a patent for the Dattari's Parallel Goniometer
Victorian Government Gazette August 4, 1882
1882 October 4 Commences work at the Victorian Railways Department as a Draftsman (3) 1882 City of Prahran Rate Books list the family living in Barry Street, South Yarra, in a six-roomed house, owned by Arthur Hobday.
1883 March 25 Birth of daughter Eurichetta Charlotte Florence. The birth notice lists their address as Florence Cottage, Barry Street, South Yarra.
1883 September 5 Paolo is granted a patent for the 'Dattari and Edwards Electro-control'
Victorian Government Gazette October 12, 1883
1883 December Paolo Dattari had five cases against him in the Petty Sessions Prahran Court from December 1883 to August 1885 and one case at the Carlton Court in December 1886. In each case he owned money - once to Evans Bros, W.J. Hunt & Co., Mills & McInnes and one name I can't read and twice to R. G. Pollard - he owed them just over 13 pounds in July 1885 and just over 9 pounds in August 1885 - both of these cases were settled out of court. Was he having liquidity problems or was he just a bit lackadaisical about paying bills?
Victorian Petty Sessions Registers Carlton Court December 15, 1886
From Find My Past
1884 Designed a two-storey extension to 33 Grey Street, East Melbourne. Read about this in Ruth Dwyer's article Paolo Dattari, Architect - a building (details in sources)
1885 City of Prahran Rate Books list the family still living at 12 Barry Street, South Yarra, in the house owned by Arthur Hobday.
1886 June Paolo presents a paper to the Victorian Field Naturalist's Club of Victoria. The Argus of June 15, 1886 reported that A paper was read by Mr P. Dattari "Notes on the new Australian beetle, Phalacrognathus Muelleri." The author briefly reviewed the history of this splendid insect, and stated that in his opinion the specimens exhibited would probably be found to represent more than one species. The paper was illustrated with enlarged coloured drawings of the mandibles, &c (Read article here) The State Library of Victoria has a digitised copy of Paolo's paper - read it here.This was a significant paper, the Weekly Times of June 11, 1938 referred to it - More, than half a century ago - 1886 to be precise - members of the Field Naturalists Club of Victoria were presented, by P. Dattari, with a pamphlet on the "New Australian Beetle, Phalacrognathus Muelleri." (read the rest of the article, here)
One of the illustrations in Paolo's paper - Notes on the new Australian beetle, Phalacrognathus Muelleri. The paper does not list the illustrator.
State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/281652
1886 December 1 Paolo served with a Supreme Court writ by William Thomas Clapham, Paolo had signed a promissary note on August 4, 1886 promising to pay Clapham six pounds, fourteen shillings and ten pence by November 7 and had failed to do so. I don't know the outcome of this case. His address was Station Street, North Carlton and his occupation was listed as draughtsman. (4)
1887 Birth of son Paolo Giovanni Carlton. I can't find a birth notice in the newspaper, so I don't know the exact date.
1887 October 11 Victorian Railway Department 'dispense with his services' (3)
1887 December Family sails for London via Suez and Naples on the Ormuz
1891 March Family arrives back in Melbourne on the Oceana
1891 November City of Prahran Rate Books - the family are back in Barry Street, South Yarra, this time at No. 47, in a five-roomed house owned by Elizabeth Suckling.
1892 December City of Prahran Rate Books - they are living at 50 Barry Street, South Yarra, a four-roomed house owned by Jane Wilson,
1894 February Family leaves for London via Ports on the Austral. This is the last trace of Paolo Dattari that I can find, I presume he died in Italy sometime between 1894, when he left Australia and 1902 when Margaret leaves Italy for the United States.
1900 June 5 Luigi Dattari arrives in New York on the Hesperia, which sailed from Naples on May 17. He is listed as 18 years old, his occupation appears to be Chemist, but it is hard to decipher. His Nationality has been indexed as Austrian, but I believe that it is Australian. His American contact is a 'relative' is Frank Healey of 88 Gold Street, New York.
1900 August 15 Ernesto Sacchi, 29 years old, arrives in New York also on the Herperia on August 15, 1900, which sailed from Naples on July 28 June 1900. Ernesto is the future husband of Margaret Yeomans Dattari. Ernesto was Naturalised in 1906, his occupation then was listed as upholsterer.
1902 July 17 Margaret (listed as Margherita) aged 43 and Eurichetta, 19, and Paolo (15) arrive in New York on the Karmania, which left Naples June 28. Their American contact is Luigi Dattari.
1904 November 30 Eurichetta marries Henry Stefanoty, in New York. Henry was born in Florence in 1879 and arrived in New York in March 1904. They had six children - Margaret (born 1905), Teresa (1906), Henry (1912), Evelyn (1914) and twins Eugene and Ernestine (1915) (5)
1909 May 13 Paolo, aged 22, arrives in New York on the Konigin Luise, which had sailed from Naples on April 10. I can't dechiper his occupation and his American contact is Emilio Sacchi. The Census record for Paolo said that he arrived in the United States in 1903, so did he visit Italy and return in 1909 or does this record refer to another Paolo Dattari? I feel that is unlikely given the contact is a Sacchi. I found this reference early, which led me to research other Sacchi/Dattari connections, which is how I found the 1910 Census Record, below, showing that Margaret Dattari had married Ernesto Sacchi. I cannot find a marriage record for them.
1910 United States Federal Census - Borough of Manhatten, New York. This record was 'enumerated' on April 16, 1910. Paolo junior, now known as Paul, is listed twice - once with his Mum and once with his sister!
Sacchi, Ernest - 36 years old - occupation: upholsterer. Born in Italy, parents born in Italy.
Sacchi, Margaret - 51 years old - occupation: none. Born in England, parents born in England.
Dattary, Paul - 23 years old - occupation: Collector in the Insurance Industry. His place of birth is listed as 'Ata English', as is his sister and his other entry, below. I presume this was the abbreviation for Australia. In other Census records they list birthplaces as Ire English, Scot English etc. His father is listed as Italian, mother English.
Part of the Sacchi / Dattari entry from the 1910 United States Federal Census on Ancestry
1910 United States Federal Census - Newark City, New Jersey. This record was 'enumerated' on April 23, 1910.
Stefanotti, Henry - 30 years old - occupation - Jeweller. Born in Italy, parents Italian.
Stefanotti, Henrietta - 27 years old. Birth place 'Ata English', father Italian, mother English.
Stefanotti, Margaret - 4 years old. Father Italian - mother 'Ata English'
Stefanotti, Teresa - 3 years old - as for Margaret.
Hijeck, Annie - 18 years old - occupation - servant. Born in Austria Poland.
Dattari, Paul J - 25 year old - occupation - Life Insurance. Birthplace 'Ata English', father Italian, mother English.
1915 New Jersey State Census - Ernest born October 1874, in Italy, occupation: upholsterer. Age last birthday was 40. Margaret born March, 1877 in England, age last birthday was 38 - that is either a mistake or a lie, but that fact that he is listed as an upholsterer and she was born in England, suggests they are 'our' Margaret and Ernest.
1922 October 10 Louis Charles Richmond Dattari was naturalised in St Louis, Missouri. His wife was listed as 22 year old Hazel of Chicago, no children. Louis died June 17, 1935. An application was made by his mother, Margaret Sachie (sic) of 500 Liberty Avenue, Hillside, New Jersey for a headstone to be erected by the US War Department. Louis had served from April 28, 1918 to January 17, 1919. As his mother applied for the headstone, it seems to indicate that Louis was no longer married.
1942 April 23 Eurichetta is naturalised under the name of Henrietta Charlotte Stefanoty. It lists her birthplace as Melbourne March 23, 1883 and her arrival in the United States as July 17, 1902. The Naturalisation took place in California and lists the date of her marriage, birth date of her husband and children and where they were living in 1942. She died April 16, 1964 in Los Angeles.
1922 October 10 Louis Charles Richmond Dattari was naturalised in St Louis, Missouri. His wife was listed as 22 year old Hazel of Chicago, no children. Louis died June 17, 1935. An application was made by his mother, Margaret Sachie (sic) of 500 Liberty Avenue, Hillside, New Jersey for a headstone to be erected by the US War Department. Louis had served from April 28, 1918 to January 17, 1919. As his mother applied for the headstone, it seems to indicate that Louis was no longer married.
1942 April 23 Eurichetta is naturalised under the name of Henrietta Charlotte Stefanoty. It lists her birthplace as Melbourne March 23, 1883 and her arrival in the United States as July 17, 1902. The Naturalisation took place in California and lists the date of her marriage, birth date of her husband and children and where they were living in 1942. She died April 16, 1964 in Los Angeles.
Eurichetta Dattari, from the photo on her Naturalisation paper.
Source: California, Federal Naturalisation Record, on Ancestry.
Footnotes:
(1) Paolo's arrival in Melbourne - Ruth Dwyer lists this date in her article Paolo Dattari, Architect - a building. The passenger list for the Somersetshire is on Ancestry, and Dattari isn't listed, not saying its incorrect, just can't confirm this.
(2) Paolo's election to the Field Naturalist's Club - thanks again to Ruth Dwyer's article Paolo Dattari, Architect - a building.
(3) Paolo's commencement date and final date at the Victorian Railways is from Ruth Dwyer's Paolo Dattari, Jeweller and the Italian Court at the Melbourne International Exhibition, 1880-81
(4) Supreme Court Case Files, Public Records Office of Victoria - William Thomas Clapham v, P. Dattari - VPRS 267 Consignment number: P0007 Unit number: 680
(5) Eurichetta's family details are listed on her Naturalisation papers, on Ancestry.
Sources
- Paolo Dattari, Jeweller and the Italian Court at the Melbourne Exhibition, 1880-81, by Ruth Dwyer published in the Italian Historical Society Journal, v. 5, n. 2, July-December 1997, read it here.
- Paola Dattari, Architect - a building by Ruth Dwyer published in the Italian Historical Society Journal, v.8, n. 1, January - June 2000, read it here.
- Public Records Office of Victoria shipping lists.
- Ancestry family History database - including US Census records, shipping records, Naturalisation records, US Military Records and Victoria Rate Books www.ancestry.com.au
- Find My Past database.
