What is the database?

Welcome to the San Cassiano di Controne genealogical database—a unique gateway into the lives and legacies of those who came before us. Whether you’re tracing your family tree, exploring Tuscan heritage, or curious about the people who shaped this village, this collection offers you a powerful tool to connect with the past.

The passenger list from Genoa to Ellis Island, New York, transporting two men from San Cassiano (Rinaldo Mariani, Giuseppe Fabbri) and two men from Pieve di Controne (Modesto Fini, Michele Buonamici) to Montreal, Canada in May 1907.

Postcard of Bagni di Lucca. In possession of Camilla Illidi.

Three young men from San Cassiano in Oslo, Norway. From left to right: Luigi Illidi, Marcello Menchini, Adolfo Fabbri.

The cemetery headstone of Iacopo Mariani (1816-1901). Iacopo's grave is the oldest grave still existing in the cemetery of San Cassiano. More information about Iacopo Mariani can be found in the cemetery register and database of this website.

The headstone portrait of Fortunato Barsellotti (1895-1918). More information about Fortunato can be found in the cemetery register and database of this website.

The birth record of Fanny Caterine Mariani in 1900 from Paris, France. Her father was Rinaldo Mariani (see passenger list above) and Concetta Jacomini. While Rinaldo was born in Cocolaio, San Cassiano, it is not known where Concetta Jacomini was from.

The headstone portrait of Maria Domenica Barsellotti (1890-1947). More information about Maria Domenica can be found in the cemetery register and database on this website.

A group of teenagers outside the church of San Cassiano, ca. 1955. Luigi Illidi is shown on the right side, while the others remain unknown.

Group photo from the construction of the road from Bagni di Lucca to San Cassiano. Unknown time.

With over 3,000 meticulously recorded individuals, from the 1600s through to today, this database is far more than names and dates. Here, you’ll uncover life stories drawn from:

WWI, WWII and Other Historical Records: Unique documents detailing the resilience and contributions of this community

Census Records, Church Registers, and Civil Archives: Vital events and family connections across generations

Passenger and Military Lists: Stories of migration and service that reveal journeys taken and sacrifices made

Photos, Stories, and Headstones: Personal mementos that breathe life into the people behind the records

Start your journey

Imagine discovering the lives of your ancestors or unearthing the untold stories of San Cassiano. This database, available exclusively to members, allows you to search for individuals by name and explore their connections to family, community, and historical events.

With our membership (€10), gain full access to this wealth of information and uncover a window into your Tuscan roots.

View some sample entries below to see what stories await, and start a journey through history with us today.

Why a Membership?
This database represents over a decade of dedicated research and countless hours of sourcing, verifying, and compiling information to create an accurate and respectful record of San Cassiano’s heritage. With new discoveries and records regularly added, your membership helps support the ongoing preservation and expansion of this resource. This small fee allows us to continue maintaining and enriching the database, ensuring it remains a valuable tool for everyone exploring their family’s roots in San Cassiano.

Some examples of information from the database

Individual reports for each person in the database, including information about their parentage, partner(s), and children. There are currently over 3000 individual reports available in the database. For most people, you will also find other life events, such as marriage, military enrolment, census records, civil registrations (e.g., declarations of birth or deaths), church events, and – if available – cemetery headstones (in progress).

The ancestor chart is one of many charts available in the database. Here, you can get a visual overview of a person’s ancestry and – if possible – follow the ancestry as far back as the 1600s.

For the individuals where photos are available, you will be able to find them on the individual reports. There are currently 2600 media files attached to the database, including portraits, photos of everyday life, obituaries, cemetery headstones, newspaper articles from all over the world, original sources (see below), and group photos.

Explore the original sources where your ancestors signed their names. All life events in this database are supported by original sources that you can find in the reference list/bibliography at the bottom of each individual report. By exploring each source, you will be able to access the original record of each life event.

You will also be able to find a number of curiosities in our database. For instance, did you know that at least five men from San Cassiano participated in WWI on behalf of the US or Canada? Here is an example from when Archimede Silvestri, born in San Cassiano in 1875, enlisted for WWI in Chicago, Illinois.

Also, did you know that two sets of Fabbri brothers (actually two uncles and two nephews) from San Cassiano operated one of the most popular restaurants and delis in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in the early 1900s? Here are Agostino (‘Agusto’), Bartolomeo, and Iacopo Fabbri registered in the City Directory from Winnipeg, Manitoba as restaurant and deli owners on Portage Avenue. A brother of Agostino, Ulisse Fabbri, was originally a part of the group in Winnipeg, but moved to Ontario, Canada sometime before 1910. Their wives were also from San Cassiano, and we know that – at least – five of their family members and friends from San Cassiano traveled to work for them in Winnipeg.

Access database (requires membership)