PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Piaski, Lublin

danko101 — Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:09 pm

Author: danko101

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 5:09 pm

Zenon wrote:

Martin,

Have you seen Stephen Danko blog yet http://stephendanko.com/blog/ ? Look at the latest post, there is a pedigree of Wojciech Dańko and there are mentioned Piaski near Lublin as well as a few more towns in this region.

I sent you also private message regarding phone calls to possible relatives.

Hello Zenon, I am in touch with Stephen Danko, I must claim responsibility for those recent Stephen Danko posts, I've spoken to Stephen and he agreed to try and locate some records on microfilm and then digitize for me and translate them, and the result is those recent posts, unfortunately we can't seem to work out how they are actually related to me. To be honest, I haven't had the heart to tell him what I have recently discovered regarding the family name change! I don't want him to think I have wasted his time. It is because of Stephen Danko as to why I managed to find my cousin as she posted a response on his blog regarding the Danko surname study, and I contacted Stephen to ask him for her email address and since we have pretty much concluded we are definitely related.

Thanks again, kind regards, Martin.

Re: Piaski, Lublin

Zenon — Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:34 pm

Author: Zenon

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2009 3:34 pm

Martin,

Have you seen Stephen Danko blog yet http://stephendanko.com/blog/ ? Look at the latest post, there is a pedigree of Wojciech Dańko and there are mentioned Piaski near Lublin as well as a few more towns in this region.

I sent you also private message regarding phone calls to possible relatives.

Re: Piaski, Lublin

danko101 — Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:14 am

Author: danko101

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:14 am

Zenon wrote:

Welcome to the Forum Martin,

As you experienced it by yourself, while doing genealogy, especially when interviewing relatives, you can meet with a very wide range of responses. From very positive, emotional reaction, through moving and sad recollections, to indifference or even anger. The last response is often associated with different kind of "family secrets" for example about "black sheeps" in a family. I think the story of changing surname and the secret related to it may refer rather to the family than to the general history of the town before WWII.

You can read a little about history of the town here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaski . As you can see, aside from the fact that in Piaski there was a large Jewish population before WWII nothing unusual happened there.

I found for you phone number to the only person in the phone book from Piaski near Lublin bearing surname Dańko (no Zając). This is Marian Dańko ph. # +48 81 5821720 .

If you have someone who could make the call on your behalf in Polish maybe it is worth trying. If not, let us know, maybe we come up with something.

Firstly thanks for replying, I have read up a lot regarding Piaski on the internet, I couldn't find anything specific I was looking for, regarding a town disaster or major event, and from that could only conclude it was something family specific.

I did ponder the Jewish Question, but the only problem with that is, both my grandfather and his brother, my cousin's grandfather were catholic. My grandfather did marry twice but he was widowed. Which I believe is allowed, and to be honest, and hopefully not rasicst, the family doesn't look Jewish.

You said about getting someone to maybe call some relatives in Poland, to be honest I wouldn't have a clue where to start, you also suggest maybe we could come up with something? Do you mean, perhaps you would make a call for me? If so, that could be grand, I would very much appreciate it if you would do something like that on my behalf.

I don't have any contact number for any family members in Poland, as well, my grandfather lost touch with his family during the war. But I do know my cousin and her family did get in contact with my grandfathers sister, my dad's aunt, at the time, I believe she was living in Świdnik, her name is or was Marysza (Maria). I believe she married but I do not know what her married name is.

Apparently after my grandfather died, I believe my uncle (whom doesn't speak Polish) attempted to get in contact with family members in Poland and I believe he said that the family had moved and lived in the city of Lublin as there was no work in Piaski.

Thanks again for getting back to me, Take care, Martin.

Re: Piaski, Lublin

Zenon — Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:11 am

Author: Zenon

Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:11 am

Welcome to the Forum Martin,

As you experienced it by yourself, while doing genealogy, especially when interviewing relatives, you can meet with a very wide range of responses. From very positive, emotional reaction, through moving and sad recollections, to indifference or even anger. The last response is often associated with different kind of "family secrets" for example about "black sheeps" in a family. I think the story of changing surname and the secret related to it may refer rather to the family than to the general history of the town before WWII.

You can read a little about history of the town here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaski . As you can see, aside from the fact that in Piaski there was a large Jewish population before WWII nothing unusual happened there.

I found for you phone number to the only person in the phone book from Piaski near Lublin bearing surname Dańko (no Zając). This is Marian Dańko ph. # +48 81 5821720 .

If you have someone who could make the call on your behalf in Polish maybe it is worth trying. If not, let us know, maybe we come up with something.

Piaski, Lublin

danko101 — Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:55 pm

Author: danko101

Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 4:55 pm

Hello all, Firstly I apologise if this is not the correct place to post this, but I was wondering whether anyone maybe able to help me.

I am trying to establish whether someone might know anything regarding Piaski near Lublin and what happened there before WWII.

My grandfather fought in the Polish Armed Forces during WWII, I believe he was in The 1st Polish Armoured Division as he stated to my father during the war he got the freedom of the city of Breda, Holland (Netherlands).

As far as I can work out, my grandfather left his family behind and when to join the Polish Armed Forces in 1938.

I have recently been in contact with a long lost (or newly discovered) cousin of mine, she and her father told me, that sometime before or during the beginning of the war our whole Family in Poland (Piaski, Lublin region) changed their name from Zając to Danko.

I know from my grandfathers marriage certificate to my uncles mother marriage to my grandfather that his name was Danko.

According to my second cousin's father, he went to Poland sometime in the past, met up with his family, when asked what he wanted to see when in Poland he asked to see his grandfathers grave, when shown it he discovered that his grandfathers surname was Zając and not Danko, when he questioned this, the family were extremely cautious and coy and believed his father told him about the "Family Secret" but he hadn't mentioned anything.

When he returned home to Belgium from Poland he questioned his father regarding the name change, and his father (my grandfathers brother) "got extremely angry and annoyed" and it was never to be spoken of again.

I am wondering whether anyone might be able to put me in contact with someone from Piaski (Lublin region) who's family might of known a family with the surname Zając or Danko in that region.

I am very curious as what might of happened.

Do you have idea's or theories of what might of happened, is there something that might of happened that is known in Poland but not very documented in the West in English.

My grandfather and his brother are both dead, so if looks as though the only way to be able to find out what happened would be to try and get in contact with the family relations that remained in Poland. This is where I hope this Forum maybe able to help me.

Thanks in advance, I would appreciate any help or comments, Martin.