sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 5:30 pm
Post subject: Looking for relatives of Jakub Kulkowski, Aniela Gdowska
My grandfather, Jakub Kulkowski (Kukowski), came from Nwika, Galicia to Connecticut, USA in 1907 on the SS Rhein departing from Bremen. Jakub married Aniela Gdowska in 1913. Aniela, daughter of Vincenti and Victoria Gdowski, came to New Britain Connecticut in 1910 on the ship George Washington departing from Bremen. Her home town was Wierzchozlaw, Galacia. Aniela was met in the USA by her uncle Pawel Boryczka. Jakub and Aneila had 9 children, Victoria, Stanley, Helen, John, Frank, Katharine, Florence, Joseph and Sophie. They initially resided in New Britain, Connecticut but moved to Cromwell, Connecticut where they farmed. Information I have from Jakub and Aniela's marriage license indicates Jakub's parents were Francisci and Victoria Kukowski. Surname spelling changed, the "l" was deleted. Kukowski was now being used as their surname which differed from entry documents. I know that my grandmother had living relatives in Poland in the 1950's as she sent packages to them. I do not know their names but would certainly love to find them. Anelia's baptismal records indicate her paternal grandparents were Casimeri and Francesca (Solek) Gdowski and maternal grandparents Casimeri and Mariama (Mixera) Boryczka. Aniela died in 1961 and her obituary indicated a living brother and sister in Poland. Katha Gdowska came to USA in 1903 from Wierzchozlaw and was met by Pawel Boryczka who was her cousin.
Any information on these folks would be appreciated.
Sincerely, Sharon
**Aniela's baptismal record lists her town as Wierschostawice which may be more accurate than the ship manifest listing.
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PolishLibrarianPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Aug 2010
Replies: 323
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:03 am
Post subject:
Sharon~ Can you be a little more specific about Jakub's arrival date? Have you found his record on Ellis Island? I did not with a quick search based on the info you provided. Would like to see the writing on the manifest to see if there are other possibilities for Nwika (that doesn't turn up on maps that I can find).
Gdowski & Boryczka surnames are very prominent in the Tarnów area which is where Wierzchosławice is located http://www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/gdowski.html.
I discovered that my grandmother's sister was survived by a brother in Poland when she died in 1948. With perseverance (and the luck of an unusual surname) I have found & visited in 2009 in Poland living children of that brother. In fact the youngest daughter remembers receiving a blanket from that American aunt when she was very young. With luck and help from folks here, hopefully you will be equally successful. ~PL
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:36 am
Post subject:
PL, thank you for your inquiry and comments No we were not able to find him on the Ellis Island ship manifest. We are working from his green card which says he arrived on the Rhine August 1, 1907 from Nwika, Galicia, Poland. We have his naturalization papers but they do not indicate any information on his country of origin. We are stymied. We have his marriage papers from 1913 from the Catholic Church in Hartford, Connecticut which lists parents and Poland location. It is hard to read script but looks like Niwka or Nwika,Gal, Austria. Years ago when I asked my mother if her parents spoke of the "old" country she said no. So we have very little information on him. We know he had siblings that also came to the US. We are unsure of the names and are trying to research them. this is very exciting for my sister and I. We do have hopes of visiting Poland to see where our roots are and hopefully find our family. It would be so wonderful. Thank you for your interest and the link you provided. If you have other advice for us it would be most welcome. Sharon
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 12:42 am
Post subject:
As a "post script" my aunt said he was from the Tarnow area. I was able to find a Niwka just outside of Tarnow. Perhaps the spelling on the documents we have are incorrect.
Sharon
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ZenonPolishOrigins Team Leader
Joined: 28 Apr 2007
Replies: 1532
Location: PolandBack to top |
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:17 am
Post subject:
Zenon, thank you for your response. Actually I had read the "My Big Fat Polish Trip" blog before I joined and it was one of the reasons I decided to post here. It was very exciting to read their adventures in Poland. I am coming! Not sure when but it is a plan for me. Unfortunately we were not taught Polish at home. My mother would speak to my grandmother in Polish but usually it was about things not for childrens ears. Of course we did pick up a few words here and there but no conversational Polish. I wish it was different but it is as it is. I plan to learn some remedial Polish before my trip. To think I may find relatives, it is so exciting and I would love to be able to say a few things in Polish to them. I also visited the forefathers Trace Tour section as well and this will also be in my plan. Dziekuje, Sharon.
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ShelliePO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Replies: 1000
Location: Atlanta, GABack to top |
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 6:56 pm
Post subject:
Hi Sharon!
Have you learned more since your last visit to this forum?
Can you tell us more about your Jakub? What date of arrival was on his naturalization paperwork? When was he born?
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 8:20 pm
Post subject:
I have learned more - I think. There are many missing pieces. I like to call him my mystery grandfather. Jakub arrived August 1, 1907 on the SS Rhein. His home town was Niwka, Galicia. Spelling of his last name on the green card is different - Kulkowski. All of this information is gleaned from his green card. I am not sure if Niwka is the Niwka I have found on the map north of Wierzchoslawice, my grandmother's town. I believe there is more than 1 Niwka in Poland. I have not been able to find Jakub on the ship manifest - there is a torn page with names missing. Perhaps this is where he was listed. Jakub's parents names are listed on his marriage certificate, Francisci and Victoriae Kukowski. Two sisters, Katherine Kukowski Berek and Sophia Kukowski Slusarski also immigrated to the US. This is just about all I know of my grandfathers history. Both of my grandparents did not talk of Poland and their families there to their children. This seems strange to me. But it was a difficult time. So I am planning a trip to Poland where Aga and Zenon will help me. At this point I feel stuck. I continue to search and have not given up hope. I have attached copies of his green card and marriage certificate.
Thanks Shellie for asking.
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dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2950
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:46 pm
Post subject:
Sharon,
The marriage certificate you posted from 1913 is actually a transcription of the record of your grandparents' marriage which took place on July 2, 1912. Since the record is in Latin the first names need to be translated from their Latin form. Jacobum is the direct object form of the Latin Jacobus which is Jakub in Polish and Jacob/James in English. Anielam is again the direct object form of the Latin Aniela which is Aniela in Polish and Angela in English. The names of the parents are all in the Latin possessive case form. Francisci = Franciscus in Latin and Franciszek in Polish and Francis or Frank in English. Victoriae = Victoria in both Latin and in English and Wiktoria in Polish. Vincentii = Vincentius in Latin which is Vincent in English and Wincenty in Polish. If you would like a translation of the entire certificate, post in the Latin records translations section of the forum and I would be happy to translate it for you.
If your grandmother was born in Wierzchoslawice that village has a parish church and there are LDS films of births, marriages and deaths which would probably cover the years in which you would be interested. Niwka also has a parish church and again there are LDS films of the parish records. Before you go to Poland it would probably be beneficial to rent those films and see what you can find there about your ancestors.
Best of luck in your research.
Dave
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ShelliePO Top Contributor & Patron
Joined: 18 Feb 2009
Replies: 1000
Location: Atlanta, GABack to top |
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:23 am
Post subject:
Sharon,
I totally agree with Dave - I would definitely look at the LDS films and get as much info from them before your trip. Then you can spend more time doing other fun things, like finding living relatives! I hope you find them - it's very exciting!!
Also, I think there are some other potential sources of information. Do you have naturalization papers for your grandfather, or just the green card you posted? If he became a citizen, or intended to become a citizen by filing papers, then you can order his naturalization papers or his alien registration papers.
Have you tried to follow any paper trails from your grandfather's sisters? Perhaps their marriage records have a place of birth too, so you can confirm that your family is from Niwka, or another village.
Discussing your information here is one of the best ways to get un-stuck. I am confident that you will make some progress before you leave for Poland.
Shellie
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:47 am
Post subject:
Dave and Shellie, you both have given me new ideas. I will order films from LDS. I was not successful in searching for them online therefore I thought they were not included in the films. I do have a copy of Jakub's naturalization certificate and will order copies of his filed papers.
I believe I have become "unstuck".
I am grateful to both of you - God provided the teacher.....
I will be back with a update!
Sharon
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:02 pm
Post subject:
Special thanks to Dave and Shellie - I have sent for naturalization records for Jakub today. The LDS folks here in Conyers have been extremely helpful and I expect I will be viewing microfiche for Niwka and Wierzchoslawice very soon. I am overjoyed.
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 7:35 pm
Post subject: Niwka, Brysko (sp?) Galicia Poland Jakub Kulkowski born
Slowly the puzzle pieces are falling into place. I have received files from the US Immigration and Naturalization Service dated February 3, 1939 for my grandfather Jakub Kulkowski. This document states he was born August 15, 1887 at Niwka, Brysko, Galicia, Austria, now Poland (exact from the document). I am trying to locate where exactly his birthplace was. It is possible that Brysko is actually Brzesko but I am confused as to how Niwka fits in. Niwka is listed on his naturalization papers. His documents also list his mother and sister as living in Niwka, Brysko (sp) Galicia, Poland as of February 3, 1939. His father is listed as deceased. If anyone can help me to figure out where his village was located I would appreciate it.
Interestingly these documents also provided an answer to why we were not able to find him on the Ellis Island manifest for the SS Rhein sailing from Bremen arriving in New Your August 1, 1907. He was using an alias! We suspected as much and now have confirmation. I have also learned his mothers maiden name (Bobus) and that he left behind a sister in Poland (Ana Kadziur). I am now waiting on my grandmother's information.
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dnowickiPO Top Contributor
Joined: 28 Dec 2011
Replies: 2950
Location: Michigan City, IndianaBack to top |
Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 8:36 pm
Post subject:
Sharon,
I believe that the way it all fits together is that Niwka is a village in the powiat of Brzesko. It would sort of be like saying that you are from Conyers, Rockdale, Georgia. The Slownik Geograficzny has an entry for Nikwa and states that the village of Nikwa belonged to the parish of Radlow in the powiat brzeski (of Brzesko). Perhaps the attached map may help. I think that you would find his birth record in the parish of Radlow, if those records have been filmed.
Hope things keep coming together for you.
Dave
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sharondippity
Joined: 30 Dec 2012
Replies: 12
Location: Conyers, Georgia USABack to top |
Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 9:20 pm
Post subject:
Thanks so much Dave. This helps a lot.
Sharon
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. See Jo's blog 'My Big Fat Polish Trip', and especially the beginning parts of it when we were in the Tarnow area, including the town of Wierzchoslawice: http://blog.polishorigins.com/2012/03/09/my-big-fat-polish-trip/ , http://blog.polishorigins.com/2012/03/20/my-big-fat-polish-trip-part-2/ and http://blog.polishorigins.com/2012/03/30/my-big-fat-polish-trip-part-3/ .
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