Early History

There was a mass exodus of the Bove and Nave families from Italy to the U.S. in the late 1890's and early 1900's from Casalduni, Province of Benevento. On April 2, 1897, Dominico Nave arrived at Ellis Island on the ship S.S. Ferdinando de Lesseps and settled in Norristown. He settled in Norristown, PA at 13 Chestnut Street. They had 6 children: Thersina, Maggie, Nicole, Congella, Joseph and Adalina. Dominico also had two step-children: Mary and John Penilla. John Penilla (Pinelli) settled in Conshohocken and married an Italian immigrant , Julia, sho had immigrated in 1906 and had the following children; Rose, Julian, John and Frances. All these children were born in the United States.

The Bove family preferred South Philadelphia as their residence. Angelo, a musician and his wife Rosa, with their child Carlo resided at 926 Montrose Street, having immigrated to the U.S. in 1897. Their son Carlo was born in the United States. Luigi Bove, a clothes presser, had immigrated in 1892 to the U.S. and settled at the turn of the century at 772 S. 7th Street, very close to the Philadelphia Italian market. Luigi and his wife Carmella had at least five children, all born in the U.S.: Antonio, Filomena, Emilia, Assenta, and Elena. Antonio was a printer.

The Nave family preferred settlement in Norristown. On May 26, 1905, Angelamaria and Salvatore Nave arrived at Ellis Island from the ship Neckar from Naples. They were to live with Angelmaria's husband Carlo, who lived at 128 E. Main Street in Norristown with Raffaele Nave, who was later known as Ralph Nave, who may have died in World War I as a result of gassing. Ralph Nave was born on December 22, 1887 and was a shoemaker. Intrestingly, both Salvatore and Angelmaria were hospitalized when they arrived in the U.S., but were later discharged. They had a son Charles Nave, who was born around 1911 and lived at 16 Chestnut Street, Norristown.

On June 15, 1905 Alfredo Eurico Nave, aged 32, a farmer, and Luigi Bove, aged 36, a shoemaker departed for America on the Konig Albert from Naples.

Luigi Bove's destination was with a friend in Norristown, Dominico Frangione, who lived at 553 Lafayette Street in Norristown. Alfredo Nave departed to South Philadelphia to stay with his cousin, Nicola Roasario of 909 Hall Street. Both Luigi Bove and Alfredo Nave had visited the United States prior to their arrival, the first visit in 1899 and then again in 1902. It is logical to assume they visited Luigi's father, also named Luigi Bove, who immigrated in 1892 to the U.S. and lived in South Philadlephia. Luigi Bove settled in Norristown with his wife Marie, and sons Angelo, Antonio and Frances. They lived at 17 Chestnut Street in Norristown, PA.

Frances Bove and Dominic Nave immigrated to the United States from Casalduni, Province of Benevento, southern Italy. The story behind their immigration is that one of the children died and they family continued to see his ghost. A priest told the family he would only rest if they all moved away, so they did. Someone went to find the relatives in Casalduni, but they were all gone.

Dominic came to America with Angelmaria and Josephine to New York on July 15, 1910. Frances came with Lewis (was really handsome, and had lots of girl friends. He married later in life, and he died of pneumonia in one hospital room as his wife was giving birth to their child in another room. The boys were full of fun, and always pulling tricks on the girls.), Salvatore (6months old), Virginia, Lena, Carmella and Ralph. Their first child was also named Salvatore, but he died in Italy as a young child.

There was yet another tragedy in the family shortly after they arrived in the U.S. Several family members, including Nunzio Madore and possibly Josephine's first husband, lost their lives due to the influenza. Ralph Nave was gassed in WWI and was unable to fully function.

Many family members remain in Norristown, PA today. During this period, many of the Nave family members, as well as most of their neighbors, worked at the local cotton factory/knitting mill, Rambo & Recar Globe, on Main Street in Norristown.

There were also many familes with the Nave surname living in Norristown and Black Horse, the next town east of Norristown. There has never been any connection drawn to these family members.

Most of the Nave family members were baptised and married at the local church, Holy Saviour Parish, which was founded in 1903 at 409 E. Main Street. St. Patrick's Church served the Italian Catholics in Norristown prior to the establishment of Holy Saviour.

We are in the process of contacting family and get a clearer picture of the family genealogy tree.