Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 11:16 am
Post subject: Where in Galicia was ...
Hello,
I'm trying to determine a location in Galicia, Austria based on naturalization papers for my great-grandfather.
He was born in 1869, arrived in New York from Bremen in 1898, and petitioned for naturalization in 1912.
In that 1912 petition, he listed his birthplace as what looks to be "Spitkovicha, Galicia, Austria". I can see
where Galacia would have been around those years, but is there any way to figure out where something
that looks/sounds like "Spitkovicha" was? Or maybe "Stipkovicha" if mispronounced?
I've attached both scans from the paperwork on the likely chance I've not translated it correctly! 
Thanks!
Scott
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Cheri Vanden BergPO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 16 Oct 2011
Replies: 504
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Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 1:16 pm
Post subject:
Scott,
It might be Spytkowice. Choose a Polish speaker and listen to it pronounced here: https://www.ivona.com/
I think there are two villages named Spytkowice, see here: http://data.jewishgen.org/wconnect/wc.dll?jg~jgsys~gazetteer
You can choose a map to check the locations. I think both were in what had been Galicia, maybe someone else could be of more help.
Cheri
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 4:00 pm
Post subject:
Wow - I think you found it Cheri!
I see there are a couple Spytkowice's near Kraków, and I also found both on these old maps: http://lazarus.elte.hu/hun/digkonyv/topo/200e/37-50.jpg
And thank you for the link to the "speakers"!!
Scott
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Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 5:08 pm
Post subject:
Scott,
Galicia Town Locator: there were two Spytkowice in what was then Galicia:
Spytkowice Myslenice Jordanów (names refer to gmina and powiat)
Spytkowice Wadowice Zator (these are the ones you found. I didn't check maps for the one above).
Gilberto
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Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 8:27 am
Post subject:
Oh, I think I understand... so gmina and powiat are like a state or county and then a town.
I see all the Spytkowiche's on the map now; at least we know they came from that area of Poland. They must have been married because his wife was 3 months pregnant when they arrived in New York.
Dziękuję Gilberto!
Scott
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dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2956
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Tue May 17, 2016 10:21 am
Post subject:
Scott,
To relate the Polish Wojewodztwo, powiat and gmina to US categories...Wojewodztwo (Province) is similar to one of our states, a powiat is similar to one of our counties, and a gmina would be somewhat similar to a US township. A town is a miasto and a village is a wies.
The attached maps show the two villages named Spytkowice in contemporary Poland. Both are in Wojewodztwo Malopolskie. Spytkowice #1 is in powiat (county) wadowicki and is the seat of gmina which bears the name of Spytkowice. Spytkowice #2 is in powiat (county) nowotarski and is also the seat of the gmina which bears its name.
The map of Galicia shows the villages during the 19th Century.
Both villages 1 & 2 are relatively close to each other.
Hope this helps you to visualize the places.
Wishing you success in your research,
Dave
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 6:33 pm
Post subject:
That's perfect, thank you David!
I will include exactly what you wrote in the birth notes for our great-grand-parents. Maybe one day, someone from our family will take a trip to Poland and figure out exactly which Spytkowice they were from!
Scott
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