Vincent Massoletti

Sarah May Horwell 

Vincent Massoletti left from the port of Genoa in Sardinia in 1816 to go to America. He traveled on the ship Potomac arriving at Alexandria, Virginia in December 1816. Vincent left the ship and began talking to Mr. Richard Horwell, a tailor in Alexandria, asking where to stay. Mr. Horwell invited Vincent to stay at his home. There he met Mr. Horwell’s 18 year old daughter, Sarah May. Vincent and Sarah were married 2 years later.

Vincente became a merchant in Alexandria selling wines, delicacies and specialties imported from Europe. He also had a tavern’s license in Alexandria and a coffee house. He frequently advertised his businesses in the Alexandria Gazette. Alexandria, Virginia experienced a financial crisis around 1822 that affected Vincent. With the recommendation of prominent Alexandrian citizens, Vincent was recommended to and accepted into the Naval Marine Corps and served as clerk to the Quartermaster at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC. He served in the Marines from October 1, 1825 to Aug 21, 1846

When Vincent joined the Marine Corps, he and Sarah moved across the Potomac River from Alexandria, Virginia to the area outside the Navy Yard in Washington DC. Alexandria, Virginia was part of the District of Columbia at the time and until 1847. They attended Christ Church, Navy Yard (Now known as Christ Church, Capitol Hill), the city’s first Episcopal Church. The family cemetery plot is at Congressional Cemetery which was the cemetery of Christ Church.

Vincent and Sarah had 3 children that survived to adulthood: Joseph Richard, Lewis Edward and Julietta Marie. There were 3 other children. Walter died at the age of 9 and an unknown child died at the age of 3, both of scarlet fever in 1832. Another unknown child died in 1836. The 2 unknown children may have been named Mary A. and Sarah J. as these are 2 names on a small memorial stone in the corner of the family cemetery plot at Congressional Cemetery. These are the only 2 memorials with names that remain today, but there are records that let us know that Vincent, Sarah, Walter, 2 unknown children, Joseph, Rosalie (Joseph’s wife) and their infant son, Vincent Louis are buried in the family plot.

Vincent was naturalized on December 10, 1846. Henry Naylor appeared in court to sponsor Vincent for citizenship making an oath affirming Vincent’s qualifications for citizenship and his moral character. Henry Naylor was a Colonel, a member and vestryman of Christ Church and a highly respected citizen of Washington, DC.

Vincent died January 13, 1850 and is buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

The Massoletti Family Bible says “Our dear and truly beloved Father Vincent S. Massoletti departed this life 20 minutes before 3 o’clock Sunday morning Jan 13th 1850“

Vincent’s Arrival to America

Lillie Smith Massoletti’s Autobiography

Lillie Smith Massoletti, Vincent’s great-grandaughter, told of Vincent’s arrival in America in her autobiography written as a school assignment in 1916 when she was 14 years old. She writes “My greatgrandfather on my father’s side came from Italy to America when he was 19 years old. When the vessel on which he came landed in Alexandria, it was met by my greatgrandmother’s father. He had gone down to watch the vessel come in. As my greatgrandfather had no acquaintances in America he sought information from this gentleman. He was very much impressed with the boy’s appearance, and he invited him to go with him to his home. He accepted and was taken to the home and was introduced to the gentleman’s daughter who was then about 18 years old. They became very fond of each other and were later married.”

The autobiography of Lillie Massoletti said that Vincent was 19 when he came to America in 1816 which would suggest a 1797 birth year. The 1820 census, however lists Vincent in the 26-45 age category. His obituary also says he was in his 56th year in January 1850 suggesting a 1793 birth year.

Vincent and Sarah’s Marriage   

Vincent S. Massoletti and Sarah May Horwell were married at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia on Tuesday, October 27, 1818. The bondsmen were Vincent Massoletti and Richard Horwell. Sources report the marriage date as October 26th, 27th and 28th. The wedding announcement in the Alexandria Gazette reports that they were married on Tuesday. Since October 27, 1818 was Tuesday, it appears that the marriage license was probably granted on Monday, October 26th and the marriage ceremony was on Tuesday, October 27th.

They were married in St Paul’s Episcopal Church on Pitt Street in Alexandria.  The congregation had split from Christ Church and started St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  The church was built and consecrated 17 May 1818 – Vincent and Sarah were married just 5 months later.

Alexandria Gazette – Thursday, October 29, 1818

On Tuesday morning last, by the Rev. Mr. Wilmer, Mr. Vincent Massoletti, late of Genoa, to Miss Sarah M. Horwell, of this town 

Business in Alexandria

Vincent may have been a merchant in Genoa before coming to America even at the young age of 22. A letter has survived from 1814 written to him from his sister, Marina. She speaks of their Mother and sister, Bedina, and speaks of muslin fabric that Vincent had sent them. The letter is between Marseilles and Genoa and it is not clear who is in Genoa and who is in Marseilles. When Vincent opened his store in Alexandria, he sold wall hangings imported from Marseilles in addition to other imported items.

Vincent opened his first store in Alexandria in 1818 and sold imported wall hangings from Marseilles, lemons from Sicily, wines, cordials and groceries. 

February 2, 1822

Vincent applied for a license to run an ordinary on Prince Street in Alexandria. His petition claims that he has procured a house on Prince Street and the ordinary would accommodate travelers and their servants and would have beds, bedding and stalls for horses. The petition was signed by many prominent Alexandrian gentlemen. The petition was approved.

The ordinary was opened at the end of February 1822 as the Alexandria Coffee House where it is advertised that all commercial papers of the Union and every suitable refreshment would be supplied as well as porter, beer, ale, wine, cordials and liquors of every description. 

Military   

In April 1824, a letter of recommendation was written by Honorable William H. Crawford and Humphrey Peake that explained that Vincent Massoletti had come into some financial difficulty through bad business misfortunes and that he had lost a lot of money that he had brought with him from Italy. The letter was a recommendation for the position of clerk. Humphrey Peake was a prominent Alexandrian who was the collector of the port of Alexandria and owner of what is now known as the Peake-Fairfax House (501 Cameron Street). Honorable William H Crawford was Secretary of the Treasury and ran for President in 1825.

Naval records show that Vincent first enlisted in the Naval Marines October 1, 1825 as a Private. His application describes him as 5’9 1/4“, black eyes, black hair with a swarthy complexion. It says he was born in Italy in the town of Genoa. His first application had a note that no doctor report was needed as it was ordered that he be entered by the Commander of the Corps. 

Vincent was discharged from the Marine Corps on August 21, 1846.

It appears that Vincent and Venerando Pulizzi developed a friendship that lasted many years. Venerando was a musician from southern Italy and a member and leader of the Marine Corps Band. Muster roles show Venerando and Vincent listed next to each other each month and they served as witnesses for each other’s life events. Vincent’s estate included a piano so he and Venerando must have shared a love of music. Vincent’s children carried on his musical talent.

Venerando Pulizzi

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson suggested to then-Commandant of the Marine Corps William Ward Burrows that Italian musicians be enlisted in the Marine Corps and added to the current Marine Band. Commandant Burrows sent Captain John Hall to southern Italy where American ships were stationed during the war with Tripoli. After arriving in Sicily, Captain Hall eventually enlisted Gaetano Carusi, a local band leader, and 15 other musicians in Feb. 1805. Twelve-year old Venerando Pulizzi was among this group and likely a music student of Carusi.

The musicians arrived in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 19, 1805. Pulizzi was promoted to Fife Major in June 9, 1812, and served as acting Leader/Drum Major from Oct. 17, 1816, until John Powley enlisted. Pulizzi resumed the duties of acting Leader/Drum Major until he was officially promoted to Leader/Drum Major on July 24, 1824. He served with the band until Sept. 3, 1827.

https://www.marineband.marines.mil/About/Our-History/History-of-the-Directors/Venerando-Pulizzi/

Venerando left the band and was promoted to Sergeant Major in 1832 and served at the Navy Yard until his death in 1852. He is also buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.

Massoletti Family Plot at Congressional Cemetery 

Death and Estate   

Vincent passed away January 13, 1850 and due to cold weather and ground, was moved to the Public Vault at Congressional Cemetery until warmer weather. Vincent left an estate valued at $7,059.75 which converts to $233,250 in 2020.