Ancestor born Venice Italy, how to find info

[alliejaye]

Antonio Barr was born in Venice, Italy on 15 August 1842, his parents Giovanni Barr and Maria Cade or Cadi but leaning more towards Cade.
It's so hard finding any information for Italy
He emigrated to Australia around 1860, changing his name to Anthony/Antony.
Also Giovanni Barr is listed as a Sea Captain!

[birdlip]

Hi alliejaye.

have you tried Cyndis list? Lots of resources listed there.

[alliejaye]

yeh i have thanks, no luck, might have to make a trip to Italy hahahhaha

[birdlip]

a very good reason for a trip!

[Jan1954]

Have you tried the Anglo Italian FHS to see if they are able to help?

[alliejaye]

hi Jan i'm not sure what i am suppose to be looking at on that site?

[Lizzy9]

Hi, I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Civil Registration in Italy didn't begin until around 1866, tracing those records is difficult enough when you don't live in the town of research (there's very few online records), before civil registration it's almost impossible to trace a christening particularly if you don't know the parish. Even after 1866 it isn't easy. The first census taken in Italy was in 1871.

[Lizzy9]

Alliejaye, Barr doesn't sound very Italian, Antonio/Anthony may have also changed his surname making your search even more difficult.

Venice was under Austrian rule in 1842, maybe his surname is of Austrian origin?

[alliejaye]

yeh i have thought the same but his fathers name on his marriage certificate is Giovanni Barr, his mothers name from what I can decipher is Maria Cade which I wouldnt have thought was Italian either. Antonio changed his name in Australia I have the papers, and his grave says Anthony, sometimes its listed as Antony but I think thats just spelling errors.
I knew that the search for the parents or siblings was going to be impossible, but we all hope for miracles lol.

[Lizzy9]

Just found this which may help you in your search.

https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/Italy_Church_Records