Yea, learning Italien would proberly be a big help and even going to Venice would help(expensive). There are still some modern Gradenigo descendents living in Italy though. Some of them own land amoung other things from what I could gleam from the internet. and Joseph Gradenigo is the one who began the mixed race line of Gradenigo's in Saint Landry. The Gradenigo name is also spelled Gradney/Gradeni too. The free people of color Gradenigos left for Texas sometime in the 20th century and a black news anchor named Mia Gradney in Houston is also a descendent and a distant cousin of mine( I was a little disappointed when I found that out. She very attractive..but I digress). Yea, If I ever find someone of something that could directly trace Juan Gradenigo to a Noble Granedigo, I will let you know..but its not going to be easy. Sidenote: Juan had a brother who got caught in Napoleon's war in Egypt and never was heard from again according too an entry in Father Heberts catholic records from a priest. Interesting stuff.

Welcome to the family,

Rodney