Maria Messina Greco

Maria Messina Greco was a mid-wife in Tampa at the turn of the 20th century. What makes her work special is that she kept logs of the babies she delivered and those records were miraculously preserved. Chances are if your family is from Ybor or West Tampa, Maria touched your life in some way.

Maria Messina was born the 25th of April 1880 in Santo Stefano Quisquina, Sicily. She was the daughter of Ignazio Messina, age 40 a shoemaker and Guistina Reina age 32 a seamstress. She was from a large family at least seven siblings before her and two after. By the time Maria was 4 she had lost her father.

It is believed that Maria received a license in Midwifery from the University of Palermo. Although professionally trained perhaps her calling was passed down from one generation to the next as Maria’s own grandmother Maria Francesca Lo Presti was also a midwife.

On November 16th 1906 Maria left her native country through the port of Naples. She was accompanied by Luigi Greco her uncle through marriage and soon to be father-in-law. She arrives in the United States through Ellis Island on November 30th. The manifest indicates that she is 4’11” feet tall with a fair complexion, brown hair and eyes. She indicates that she is on her way to join brother Ignazio.

On February 1st of 1907 not more than two months after arriving in the US, Maria marries Luigi’s eldest son Salvatore. Although four years her junior and arriving in Florida seven years before her, Salvatore would be no stranger to Maria, as depicted in the chart below there were several intermarriages between the Messina, Reina and Greco families.

Salvatore Greco was born the 7th of March 1884 in Santo Stefano Quisquina. He was the first son born to Luigi and Maria Castiglia. In 1885 his mother died and his father remarries the following year. By 1899 the family with seven children makes their way to the United States. By 1900 a 16 year old Salvatore establishes himself as a cigar maker an occupation he would work at for the next ten years. Later in life Salvatore will apply for citizenship where he is described as 5’6” tall, fair complexion with brown hair and eyes.

The newlyweds would live with Luigi for the first year of their marriage. During this time there would be no recorded births by Maria. The following year the young couple would move to an apartment at 1509 ½ 9th Avenue. In the same building live Maria’s sister Angelina Messina D’Angelo and younger brother Ignazio. 

Maria would quickly establish herself as a midwife and by the end of 1909 document the birth of over 200 babies. About the same time Salvatore leaves the cigar industry to pursue a career in insurance. So successful they become that by 1910 could afford a live in cook.

In May of 1912 the couple would start their own family with the arrival Delia Greco. This would be their only child. By 1914 the family moves to 1513 9th Avenue; here they will remain for the next twenty years. During the 1930’s Maria practice will gradually wind down. Daughter Delia marries in 1931 to Dr. Joseph Spoto and by 1933 the young couple has their first child. In 1939 Maria records the last entry in her journals. At age 60 she had delivered over 6,700 babies.

In 1957 the couple will move to Redington Beach to live with daughter Delia and family. On 29th of August 1957 Salvatore Greco passes away and less than one year later on 26 June 1958 his beloved Maria will follow.

Maria’s journals are on microfilms and can be ordered at any Family History Center. They are titled Tampa, Florida, midwife records, 1908-1939. Film number 1597958 contain years 1908 to 1922 and film number 1597959 contain years 1922 through 1939. What you can expect to find in the records varies but would normally include the date, name of the child, surnames of both parents, where both parents were born, address and the fee charged.