Gesso Sicily, a tiny village in the district of Messina, has been in the spotlight after the election of President Joe Biden. It is well known that USA has recorded a large number of Italian immigrants since the 19th century, in particular from Southern Italy and Sicily. After the American election campaign, Italian media focused their attention on the figure of President and his wife, Dr. Jill Jacobs Biden.
It was recently reported that Jill Biden roots are from Messina Sicily, more precisely from Gesso Sicily, where the descendants of her family would still live. However, there is also another realistic hypothesis about the origin of Jill Jacobs ancestors.

Gesso Sicily, are Jill Biden’s roots from this Sicilian village or not?
According to the first hypothesis, it seems that Jill Biden grandfather, Domenico Giacoppo, just one year old, moved to the USA on May 1900 with his father Placido and his brothers. They all were born in Gesso Sicily, a village located in the district of Messina Sicily. This fact has been proved by the immigration registers held in Gesso at the Ethno-anthropologic and Folk Music Museum of the Peloritani Mountains, directed by Mr. Mario Sarica, and by genealogical studies operated in order to trace the family trees of all the local inhabitants.
The curiosity is that once Giacoppo’s family moved to the USA, they turned the surname into the American version “Jacobs”, in order to avoid misspellings. Also, from the archives held in Ellis Island, it is testified that there were at least 5 members of Giacoppo’s family that emigrated to the USA in the same year. It is sure that a large community of Gesso inhabitants -moved to Hammonton, New Jersey- donated the altar to the Mother Church of Gesso Sicily, dedicated to St. Anthony Abate, Patron Saint of this tiny village, as it is attested by the inscription on the side of the altar.
Effectively, in Hammonton, into this native community from Sicily, Jill Biden was born in 1951, on the 3rd of June: a lovely coincidence, since it is the day of the celebration of Virgin Mary of the Letter, Patron Saint of Messina Sicily, main city to which Gesso and other small villages and hamlets belong.
The second realistic hypothesis claims that actually Jill Biden roots in Sicily would be from another village of the district of Messina Sicily, not far from Gesso Sicily. In accordance with some evidences and written resources, the origins of Jill Biden Sicilian family would be traced in Castanea delle Furie, where the surname Giacoppo is also very widespread. According to this thesis, Jill Biden grandfather, Domenico Giacoppo, was born in New Jersey from Gaetano Giacoppa, native from Castanea, and Concetta Scaltrito (or Squadrito), born instead in Gesso Sicily.
We are not still sure about which one of these two hypotheses is true, but in any case, what is sure is that Jill Biden roots can be tracked in Messina Sicily.

Gesso Sicily is a small village of Messina located on the Tyrrhenian slope of the Peloritani Mountains, about 260 meters above sea level. This town surprises for its thousand-year history: in the Middle Age, this pleasant place certainly favored the foundation of at least two Basilian monasteries (as evidenced by the street toponymy), dedicated to Saint Gregorio and Saint Biagio.
Perhaps, a female monastery called Badia was also founded. From the artistic and architectural point of view, the most interesting buildings are the Mother Church, other churches and convents dating back to the XVII century, because they had survived the 1908 earthquake, preserving much of their original artistic heritage.
Gesso Sicily & Messina: “Jill Biden roots tour”
Of course, the information that the new First Lady Jill Biden is Sicilian is very attractive and captivating and made happy and proud Italian people, particularly Sicilians. On the Internet, the news is circulating about the First Lady herself remembering her grandmother preparing delicious lunch and Sicilian dishes on Sundays, such as ragù meatballs and “parmigiana”.
Today people from Messina and Gesso Sicily are excited because of the American First Lady Jill Biden roots: banners acclaiming Jill Biden Sicilian roots have recently appeared over balconies, and Italian TV programs and news have dedicated broadcasts reporting from Gesso. The inhabitants await in Sicily Jill Biden to let her discover and visit the ruins of the original house that would seem to have belonged to her ancestors.
The resulted mediatic glory might probably have in the future a positive and significant influence all over Messina Sicily territory and its beauties, as well as a great international tourist promotion.
We from Discover Messina Sicily will be ready to welcome all those who want to know the places where Jill Biden roots intertwine, that’s why we prepared the day tour “Castanea, Gesso Sicily & Messina: Jill Biden roots day tour”, in which it is possible to visit in a single day tour the birthplaces of her ancestors.

We don’t know if Jill Biden has ever been to Sicily or Italy, but hopefully one day she will come and visit her ancestors’ places for the first time as US First Lady. Then we will be lucky enough to meet her in person and show her our warm welcoming and affection!
Hello,
I was so interested to read your article about Jill Biden’s Sicilian roots. My ancestors are also from Gesso and Hammonton, New Jersey.
In fact one if my Great Grandmothers was named Santa Scaltrito.
Can you help me discover if Santa Scaltrito and Concetta Scaltrito related?
Dear Dorothea,
We are glad that you are interested to discover your roots. Your surname, Curcio, is very popular and very widespread in Gesso. Instead, Scaltrito is still popular in Castanea delle Furie. Wish we could build an “identity bridge” between the US and Sicily to trace the origins of your family.
My father’s family is from Hammonton and also from Gesso, Messina. They are the Pitale family.
Hello Marion,
we are at your disposal if you are planning a visit to Gesso, Messina.
Don’t hesitate to contact us.
Regards,
Chiara
This history sounds like our family history. We are Giacobbe’s from Hammonton or Jacobs. This is my ancestors. Sounds to close to
Jill’s history.
Dear Barbara,
Thank you for your feedback.
Giacoppo’s family (moved from Gesso to the US in 1900) was made up of Placido and Angela and their four children: Natalina, Antonio, Giovanna and Domenico. Are they your relatives, great grandfathers or grandmothers?
Waiting for your answer, we are at your disposal to trace the origins of your family.
Dear Chiria
My siblings and i are planning a trip to Sicily next year sometime in May. We would very much enjoy coming to Gesso and hope we could meet with you.
Is there a direct address and phone number for you or the museum ?
Once we have definite dates , we could arrange a visit.
Hello Dorothea,
we will be happy to welcome you to Sicily next year. Of course we will include also the museum in Gesso.
You can contact us at info@discovermessina.com in order to plan your family trip.
Regards,
Chiara
Dear Chiara,
I just happened to see the above post. Placido Giacoppo and his family. That is my great grandfather. My grandmother is Giovanna. They moved to Hamming on and changed their name to Jacobs.
I would be so interested in any other information you can provide.
I am planning a trip to Sicily.
Thank you
Hello Janet,
thank you to share your family experience.
We are at your disposal to know about your origins.
Contact us at info@discovermessina.com
Regards,
Chiara
My father side ancestors came from Gesso, Italy and settled in the Hammonton, NJ and South Jersey area in the early 1900s where I was born and raised. My wife and I are traveling through Europe in April 2023, including driving from Rome to Sicily and planning to be in Gesso and the surrounding area for 3-4 days, probably not enough time to see all of Sicily. I wanted to research the Capilli, Capelli, Capella, Pagano, Berendato, and Campanella family records I suppose that may exist in local churches, etc. I don’t quite know where to start. Any thoughts?
My grandfather was born in Gesso, Francisco Giacobbe, He came to America with his father, Antonio his mother, Antonia Bernardo, and sister Sarah came over later they settled in Hammonton, New Jersey and their name to Jacobs. My grandfather Frank and grandmother Margaret had a blueberry farm. Fond memories of the 16th of July festival and spending summers in south Jersey and the shore.