Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:15 pm
Post subject: Any success stories?
I was wondering if anyone has had success in contacting relatives in Poland via this forum or a similar one. Or is it really necessary to go to Poland to the actual ancestral village? Or are there other ways of successfully finding relatives who might still be in Poland. I live in the USA and will not able to travel to Poland for a few years at least. I'm just looking to learn about what others have experienced in this regard. Thanks so much! Kate
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 10:53 am
Post subject:
Kate,
I have read a number of stories about relatives finding each other on Polish Origins. I had been hoping for the same, and I'm happy to say that recently I have heard from a cousin who lives in Poland who read what I wrote on Polish Origins. It had been 4 years since I posted, so it was a wonderful surprise.
I have read about others who have contacted people on Facebook who shared their ancestral surnames, and were from their ancestral village.
I have read about people who have inherited old letters from Poland, and wrote to the address in hopes that relatives still lived there.
I read in a Polish genealogy book about writing to the priest in your ancestral village, and asking if he knows of any relatives. The letter should be written in Polish.
Best of luck!
Cheri
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 7:13 am
Post subject:
Cheri,
Thanks so much! how exciting to have found a cousin in Poland! I am hoping that some day that will happen for me as well! Kate
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2015 4:46 pm
Post subject:
So something cool happened today! I took a chance and found an email for the Catholic Church in the town near Humniska, Brzozow. I decided to email them and ask if they had an email for the priest at the parish in Humniska where my ancestors worshipped for hundreds of years. They answered back and gave me an email address. I sent the priest an email and heard back from him just a few hours later! He says that he will see what info he can find for me. I am very excited! Kate
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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 6:47 pm
Post subject: Re: Any success stories?
| kamcglynn wrote: | | I was wondering if anyone has had success in contacting relatives in Poland via this forum or a similar one. Or is it really necessary to go to Poland to the actual ancestral village? Or are there other ways of successfully finding relatives who might still be in Poland. I live in the USA and will not able to travel to Poland for a few years at least. I'm just looking to learn about what others have experienced in this regard. Thanks so much! Kate |
Kate, a member of Polish Orgins is very helpful, here is her website if you need help researching. But it's mainly for the Malopolskie region as well as some Slovakia. http://www.genealogy.sk/
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 1:44 am
Post subject:
Kate, I've been wondering if you heard from the priest again. Cheri
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Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2016 7:49 am
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Cheri, yes, I did! He sent me a word document with typed info on my great grandmother's family! It was fascinating! The family story is that there were 6 kids, all of whom came to the USA. I have much info on 4 of them but the other 2, an "Anna" and Josef, supposedly lived in NJ, and there isn't much of anything known about them. The document the priest typed up for me listed a total of 10 children! My great great grandmother had 10 children over a 25 year span, which is impressive. There is no Anna, just a Jadwiga. So, I have loose ends on Josef and "Anna", but the info provided is fascinating! It actually brought tears to my eyes to see names of family that I never knew existed. The priest asked me for my mailing address b/c he said he has tons of information to send me. It has been a month since I heard from him but I am trying not to be antsy given that we had Christmas in that timeframe. Thanks for asking!
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Fri Jan 08, 2016 10:48 am
Post subject:
Kate, wow, that is very cool! I haven't had any luck with the priest from my grandmother's village, but I have read advice about asking the priest how you can make a donation. Maybe you have already done that. At the very least I'm sure you would want to pay him for the postage. Money transfers can be expensive, but someone could advise you on that. I've only sent money to Poland (a donation to Polish Origins actually) via Paypal, but of course the priest would need to have an account...
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:38 am
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All, I wanted to share something very exciting! I decided to get on Facebook about 4 days ago, solely to see if I could find family in Poland. Lo and behold, I am now in touch with my 2nd cousin once removed. Her grandfather and my great grandmother were siblings. There has been no contact between the families for about 70 years until now. I also have another potential relative with whom I've been in contact - his father looks like a spitting image of my great grandfather. I am so excited!!
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 8:54 am
Post subject:
I'm so happy for you Kate! Yes, there are success stories!
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