Niebieszczany, Sanok. Jozefek and Wesoly families

ShannonCreedon — Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:58 pm

Author: ShannonCreedon

Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2026 5:58 pm

Hi,

First time poster, long time searcher.

From what I know of my grandfather's side of the family, his father came from Niebieszczany, a small village in Sanok, Subcarpathian Voivodeship.

First, I’m looking to find information about my great-grandfather, Jozef Jozefek. He was born in Niebieszczany, on or around 17 September, 1880, and died (maybe) between 1942 and 1945. The only evidence I have of his death is that in 1945, his wife is listed in the white pages as a widow.

Information I know about Jozef:

Father: Maciej/Matfei/Mearcin? Jozefek
Mother: Katarzina Kuchaveska
Possible Siblings (All dates are estimates): Jan (b.1883), Maryanna/Michalina (b.1884), Charles (b.1885), Stanislaw (b.1886), Wojciech (b.1887), Andrzej (b.1893)
Immigration to US: 1904
Spouse: Anna Wesoly/Wesola/Wesota

The rumors about him that I heard growing up were that he made several trips back to Poland after coming to the U.S. which are possible. I have a couple of ship manifests that show a Jozef Jozefek from Niebieszczany, with at least one listed as final destination being where he settled. It seems likely that if there was another trip to Poland, it might have been between 1913-1920 as there were no children born during this time. He is also not listed on the census in 1920 with the rest of the family, though he could have been elsewhere in the US. I don’t know the next time he arrived in Poland, though it could be any time after 1927. He’s listed as “head of house” on the 1930 US census, though listed as “absent.” In the 1940 census, he’s not listed at all, and his wife, Anna, is listed as “head.”

One story alleges that he was conscripted into the Russian Army, possibly during WWI, though I have no evidence to support that, nor do I know where to start looking to find out. It seems that he died in Poland, but, as it seems to be during WWII, I don’t know that I’ll be able to find how, when, or where it happened. There were also rumors that there was a second family in Poland.

Next, I’m hoping to find any information about his wife, Anna Wesoly/Wesola.

Birth: 17 March, 1886, possibly in Niebieszczany. Most records show Austria Poland.
Father: Anna’s marriage certificate says John , which I believe would be Jan, unless there’s another name that could be anglicized as John.
Mother: Mary Orzech/Orzeck
Immigration: 1904
Possible Siblings:
Joseph Wesoly - b. 12 June, 1878. Parents listed are Jan Wesoly and Sofia Ksczera (Ksezera?,)
Victoria Wesoly - b. 12 Dec 1880. “John” and Sofia Koczara
Pawel Wesoly b. 1 Nov 1888. Parents listed are “John” Wesoly and Catherina Zieminski
Frank (Franciszek Jan) Wesoly b. 1890
Jan Wesoly b. Dec 1895

If that information is in fact correct, that would mean that Jan Wesoly married several times. Once before 1878, once between 1880 and 1885, and possibly after 1886.

Anna and Jozef immigrated separately and settled in New Bedford, MA.

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Niebieszczany, Sanok. Jozefek and Wesoly families