Devecchis Family History & Genealogy

Giovanni Francesco Agostino DeVecchis was born and raised in Ascoli Piceno, Italy. He was a "Bird of Passage" in his younger years, seeking employment in the United States, beginning in 1909, returning to Italy to marry his childhood sweetheart, then again to visit her and his new babies.
We located John's naturalization papers in the National Archives in Philadelphia, PA. On the "Certificate of Arrival - For Naturalization Purposes", dated April 28, 1926, it appears that Giovanni DeVecchis arrived at Ellis Island on September 24, 1912 aboard the ship, "Moltke". On the "Declaration of Intention", dated May 20, 1919, Giovanni DeVechio "arrived at the port of New York, on or about the 23rd day of September, 1912" aboard the ship, Maud America, from Naples, Italy. The "Petition for Naturalization", dated 19th May, 1926, states that Giovanni DeVecchio "emigrated to the United States from Naples, Italy on or about the 11th day of September 1912, and arrived in the United States, at the port of New York on the 24th of September, 1912, on the vessel 'Moltke'". He signed this last as "Giovanni DiVecchis". It should also be noted that the signers and witnesses attesting to his character were his very good friends, Philip Capriotti, occupation - Insurance Agent, and Carlo Agostini, occupation - mechanics helper. They had been naturalized as U.S. citizens themselves only two months prior.
Grandpop never went back to Italy after he brought his wife and children to the United States. He often said that the United States was his country and his home.
At one point, Giovanni was known as "Jack Davis". It was shortly after his naturalization that he Americanized his name to John DeVechio. Interestingly, only his oldest son, Joseph, kept the two "c"'s in his last name.
An article in the Every Evening newspaper, in Wilmington, DE, dated August 3, 1955, reported that "John N. DeVechio of 1504 West Third Street, is the first man in Wilmington to receive an increase in benefits under the 'totally disabled freeze' provision in the 1954 amendments of the Social Security Act." The new regulation provided allowances for disabilities sustained by beneficiaries and increased the benefits in most cases.