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Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 1:40 pm Post subject: Advice Needed for Szamotuly Region

I am trying to find the death record for my many times great grandfather, Simon Kuzniak. I have his birth record (1776 Braczewo) and the birth record of his son Adalbertus, my great great grandfather, born in 1827 in Sycyn. I am not able to find anything using BaSIA and am wondering if I have other online search options available. Thank you for any advice.

mcdonald0517
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:33 pm Post subject:

Hello,

According to Kartenmeister, the Lutheran and Catholic parish records for Braczewo are in Obrzycko see below.

German Name Bronschewo
Alternate Name 1: Braunsdorf 1944
Polish/Russian Name Braczewo
Kreis/County Obornik
German Province Posen
Today's Province Wielkopolskie
Location East 16°36' North 52°42'
Google Map Google Maps (Bronschewo)
Map Number 3265
Location Description This village/town is located 5.2 km and 98 degrees from Obersitzko, which is known today as Obrzycko
Lutheran Parish Obersitzko, Kreis Samter 1905
Catholic Parish Obersitzko, Kreis Samter 1905
Standesamt/Civil Registry Stobnitza 1905
Gemeindelexikon/Town Index V-23-159
Population By Year/Einwohner 1885: 73
1905: 85
Remarks 1912 Pages 12, 23

Again, Family Search has these records, but they are locked and can only be viewed from a family research center near you. If you don’t live near one, perhaps someone who does can do the search for you. Here is the link

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=69394&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Poland%2C%20Poznań%2C%20Szamotuły%2C%20Obrzycko%22&subjectsOpen=417219-50,417053-5

If you want to look again in Sycyn, per Kartenmeister, the Catholic and Lutheran parish records are in Szamotuly (in German: Samter) see below

German Name Sycyn
Polish/Russian Name Sycyn
Kreis/County Obornik
German Province Posen
Today's Province Wielkopolskie
Location East 16°38' North 52°39'
Google Map Google Maps (Sycyn)
Map Number 68
Location Description This village/town is located 3.1 km and 229 degrees from Kischewo, which is known today as Kiszewo
Lutheran Parish Samter, Kreis Samter 1905
Catholic Parish Samter, Kreis Samter 1905
Standesamt/Civil Registry Popowko 1905
Gemeindelexikon/Town Index V-23-90
Population By Year/Einwohner 1905: 310
Remarks Add 103 Residents for Gutsbezirk in 1905.

Again, Family Search has those records, but they are locked and can only be viewed from a family research center near you. Here is the link

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=69597&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Poland%2C%20Poznań%2C%20Szamotuły%2C%20Szamotuły%22&subjectsOpen=438821-50

Best of luck in your research,
Cynthia

Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:51 pm Post subject:

Thank you, Cynthia, so much for your replies! I am in Toronto and we do have a few Family Search centres. I take it that I would be scanning microfilm? Do you know if there’s a way of getting a copy of the record? I truly appreciate the detailed response to my questions.

Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 6:58 pm Post subject:

Can you tell me what records are stored at the Archdiocesan Archives in Poznan?

mcdonald0517
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:01 pm Post subject:

Hi Richard,

Every research center is different. Last time I went to one near me over a year ago, they had computers you use to look at the records. You can then download images to a USB stick or email them to yourself. If your center is still using microfilm scanners, then what I used to do is simply take a picture of the record with my phone or iPad. Some centers have the microfilm scanners connected to printers and for a small fee, you can print a copy. I think most centers have phased out the microfilm scanners and have gone to computers now.

Oh, and here is the link to the Kartenmeister database so you can search for any future villages in the former area of Prussian Poland

http://www.kartenmeister.com/preview/databaseuwe.asp

Good luck!
Cynthia

Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:23 pm Post subject:

Terrific! Great information, thank you!

Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:42 pm Post subject:

mcdonald0517 wrote:

I take that these centres have records that even if digitized, are not indexed? That you need to manually scan the pages for names? I know that that are initiatives by volunteers in the case of Wielkopolska such as the Poznan Project and BaSIA, but in general the LDS microfiche records are not indexed?

mcdonald0517
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:19 pm Post subject:

True that most of the Family Search records are digitized but not indexed. Also, in my experience when searching digitized records for ancestors in the Prussian partition of Poland, there were no indices in the parish books themselves (like there often is for parish books the Russian partition). So, be prepared to search for your names page by page. However, you can narrow it down if you have a small range of specific years. Tedious, yes, but it can be done.

Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:32 pm Post subject:

mcdonald0517 wrote:

Well, I'm 73 and somewhat patient... Very Happy

I started all this research when I became a grandfather 2 years ago and that's enough reason to keep doing it!
I regret not asking my mother stuff while she was still alive.
Have a great evening!

dnowicki
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Joined: 28 Dec 2011
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Location: Michigan City, Indiana
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:42 pm Post subject:

Richard Kuzniak wrote:

mcdonald0517 wrote:

Well, I'm 73 and somewhat patient... Very Happy

I started all this research when I became a grandfather 2 years ago and that's enough reason to keep doing it!
I regret not asking my mother stuff while she was still alive.
Have a great evening!

Hi Richard & Cynthia,

My LDS friends whom I've been helping with Polish genealogy told me that it is no longer possible to order films which have not been digitized. (Eventually all the films will be digitized but it is a monumental undertaking.) However, if a particular Family History Center has a copy of a film you want you can view it on a microfilm reader. Films which have been digitized can be accessed at home (if there are no contractual restrictions). For those which are restricted and must be viewed at a Family History Center it is possible to eliminate all the middle steps that Cynthia wrote about. Just bring your laptop to the center and do whatever you would have done from the comfort of home. BTW none of my LDS friends go to the local Family History Center anymore. The other, and much better option, is to view the records at an affiliated public library (usually one with a good genealogy department)—better hours and usually better equipment. That is what everyone here does. I would imagine that in a big city like Toronto the affiliated public library option should be available. Of course, one must follow whatever COVID restrictions impact library use.

The Szamotuły records on Family Search were all filmed at the Archdiocesan Archive in Poznań so the holdings for that parish are all available digitally at a Fam. Hist. Center or affiliated library. Also, if you notice the film notes in the catalog entry state that individual volumes of records are indexed within the register itself. The search is not quite as easy as on BaSia but it is better than looking through every entry in the volume. Also, in Wielkopolskie all the records in the Archdiocesan Archives both in Poznań and in Gniezno have been filmed (& digitized) on Fam. Search so all that is necessary is to check the Fam. Search catalog for whatever parish is of interest and you are in business. Piła, however, is another story. Nothing has been filmed for Fam. Search. Piła appears to be located in the Diocese of Koszalin-Kolobrzeg.

Wishing you success,

Dave

Richard Kuzniak

Joined: 04 Jul 2021
Replies: 109
Location: Toronto, Canada
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 9:03 pm Post subject:

Yes there are I think 3 public libraries in Toronto with that facility as well as a Family Search Centre. I will avail myself of those next week I hope. BaSIA is terrific but I think likely still missing much information that hasn’t been indexed yet. Understandable since it is staffed by volunteers. Is Szukajwarchiwach useful? I tried it but wasn’t able to find scans or images. Likely doing something wrong! Cheers!

mcdonald0517
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 9:39 pm Post subject:

Hi Dave,

Thanks for all the info on the Family History centers. It has been a while since I have been to one. I like the idea of bringing my own laptop! Also like the idea of utilizing a local library if they are a partner. I have found the volunteers at the centers around me to be very nice, but not very knowledgeable.

I always learn from your replies. Thanks again!
Cynthia

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