Steve’s Genealogy Blog

The fifth child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek was Chester Skowronski, born in 1914.  The records for 1914 are available on microfilm at the Massachusetts State Archives and at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS).  Unfortunately the Massachusetts Vital Records 1911-1915 are not yet available online at the NEHGS website.  The Birth Certificate I have was generated in 2005 at the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, although the records for 1914 are no longer available from that agency.

Copy of Record of Birth for Chester Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Births Registered in the City of Worcester for the Year 1914. Chester Skowronski. Volume 624, Page 641, Number 4165. The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Copy of Record of Birth for Chester Skowronski.  The record shows that:

• Cheslow Skowronski, a male child, was born on 17 Dec 1914 in Worcester, Massachusetts
• His mother was Franciska Dimek who was born in Russia Poland and lived in Worcester, Massachusetts
• His father was Alexsandra Skowronski, occupation Moulder, who was born in Russia Poland
• The event was recorded in Jan 1915 as Reg. No. 4165, Vol. 624, Page 641

Although listed as Cheslow on the certificate, the child used the name Chester throughout life.

I posted a number of images of Vital Records, Cemetery Monuments, Immigration Records, and Naturalization Records for the Skowroński Family.  I decided it’s time to show a genealogy report for the Skowroński’s so I can keep track of what I’ve posted and to provide links back to the original documents.  The summary below does not include references to living individuals.

Descendants of Franciszek Skowronski

Generation No. 1

1.  FRANCISZEK SKOWRONSKI  He married MALGORZATA PODESWA, daughter of MICHAL PODESWA and ANNA RAJENKA. 
 
Children of FRANCISZEK SKOWRONSKI and MALGORZATA PODESWA are:
2. i. ALEXANDER FRANK SKOWRONSKI, born 02 Feb 1886, Gradi, Lomza, Russia-Poland; died 04 Jan 1970, Hahnemann Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
3. ii. PAWEL F. SKOWRONSKI, born 28 Oct 1890, Grondy, Lomza, Russia-Poland; died 05 Dec 1959, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
4. iii. JOSEFA SKOWRONSKI, born 13 Dec 1891, Grondi, Lomza Gubernia, Congress Poland; died 28 Aug 1989, Gardner Manor Nursing Home /Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

Generation No. 2

2.  ALEXANDER FRANK SKOWRONSKI (FRANCISZEK) was born 02 Feb 1886 in Gradi, Lomza, Russia-Poland, and died 04 Jan 1970 in Hahnemann Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He married FRANCES DYMEK 19 Feb 1906 in Woonsocket, Providence Co., Rhode Island, daughter of JOSEPH DYMEK and BRONISLAWA GOLASH.  She was born 03 May 1888 in Poland, and died 22 Jun 1963 in Massachusetts.
 
Children of ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI and FRANCES DYMEK are:
 i. ADAM SKOWRONSKI, born 24 Dec 1906, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 28 Dec 1906, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 ii. ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI, born 24 Aug 1908, Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts.
5. iii. BENJAMIN STANLEY SKOWRONSKI, SR., born May 1910, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 06 Nov 1998, Memorial Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
6. iv. EDWARD ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI, born 20 Aug 1912, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 29 Aug 1995, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
7. v. CHESTER STANLEY SKOWRONSKI, born 17 Dec 1914, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 22 Jan 2005, St. Camillus Nursing Center /Whitinsville, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
8. vi. JEAN BARBARA SKOWRONSKI, born 31 Mar 1917, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died 18 Oct 1996, Memorial Health Care /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 vii. FRANCIS SKOWRONSKI, born 26 Oct 1919, 16 Dorchester St. /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; died Bef. Apr 1930.
 viii. SOFIE SKOWRONSKI, born 1926; died 1926.

3.  PAWEL F. SKOWRONSKI (FRANCISZEK) was born 28 Oct 1890 in Grondy, Lomza, Russia-Poland, and died 05 Dec 1959 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He married MARJANNA H. ZABORCZYK 09 Oct 1909 in St. Joseph Church /Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of FRANK ZABORCZYK and MARY LADA.  She was born 14 Oct 1888 in Poland, and died 24 Nov 1971 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Children of PAWEL SKOWRONSKI and MARJANNA ZABORCZYK are:
9. i. AGNES H. SKOWRONSKI, b. 22 Dec 1910, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 04 Nov 2002, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 ii. EDMOND SKOWRONSKI, b. 31 Dec 1913, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. May 1986, Tucson, Pima Co., Arizona.
10. iii. MARY A. SKOWRONSKI, b. 20 Jun 1917, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 17 Jan 2005, Webster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
11. iv. CHARLOTTE M. SKOWRONSKI, b. 07 Mar 1919, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 30 Nov 1996, St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
12. v. THEODORE P. SKOWRONSKI, b. 22 Mar 1922, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 30 May 1993, St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
13. vi. IRENE P. SKOWRONSKI, b. 22 Jul 1926, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 12 Oct 2003, UMASS Memorial Medical Center /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

4.  JOSEFA SKOWRONSKI (FRANCISZEK) was born 13 Dec 1891 in Grondi, Lomza Gubernia, Congress Poland, and died 28 Aug 1989 in Gardner Manor Nursing Home /Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married CZESLAW PSZCZOLKOWSKI on 26 Oct 1908 in Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He was born 16 May 1887 in Ostroleka, Lomza Gubernia, Congress Poland, and died 1959.
 
Children of JOSEFA SKOWRONSKI and CZESLAW PSZCZOLKOWSKI are:
 i. ZIGMUND PSZCZOLKOWSKI, b. 27 Apr 1915, Massachusetts; d. 26 Dec 1992, Shirley, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts; m. RACHEL YVONNE SEGUIN; b. 27 Sep 1922; d. Nov 1963.
14. ii. KAZMERA S. PSZCZOLKOWSKI, b. 03 Mar 1913, Massachusetts; d. 06 Sep 2000, Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Generation No. 3

5.  BENJAMIN STANLEY SKOWRONSKI, SR. (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born May 1910 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 06 Nov 1998 in Memorial Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He married (1) MARY B. RADZIK.  She was born 1918, and died Feb 1959.  He married (2) RUTH E. GRILLO Abt. 1964, daughter of ANTHONY GRILLO and GERTRUDE VON ROSSELER.  She was born 15 Jun 1926 in Jersey City, Hudson Co., New Jersey, and died 17 Dec 2000 in Fletcher Allen Health Care /Burlington, Chittenden Co., Vermont.
 
6.  EDWARD ALEXANDER SKOWRONSKI (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born 20 Aug 1912 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 Aug 1995 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He married BERNICE CELIA MARKIEWICZ 21 Nov 1936 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of STANISLAW MARKIEWICZ and ANTONINA LEJWODA.  She was born 07 Oct 1915 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 Oct 1974 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
7.  CHESTER STANLEY SKOWRONSKI (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born 17 Dec 1914 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 Jan 2005 in St. Camillus Nursing Center /Whitinsville, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He married MARY A. PIANOWSKI 12 Jun 1937 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of FRANK PIANOWSKI and GERTRUDE CHORNZY.  She was born 25 Dec 1919 in Princeton, Mercer Co., New Jersey, and died 19 Jan 1997 in St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Child of CHESTER SKOWRONSKI and MARY PIANOWSKI is:
 i. CHESTER R. SKOWRONSKI, SR., b. 1938, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 22 May 2005, Awendaw, Charleston Co., South Carolina.

8.  JEAN BARBARA SKOWRONSKI (ALEXANDER FRANK, FRANCISZEK) was born 31 Mar 1917 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 Oct 1996 in Memorial Health Care /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married (1) ROBERT H. SHARRON, SR. 18 Feb 1939 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, son of GEORGE SHARRON and ADORINE TATRO.  He was born 15 Apr 1917 in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1946 in Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married (2) MICHAEL JOHN DANKO 12 Jul 1952 in St. Mary’s Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, son of MICHAEL DANKO and MARIANNA DZIURZYNSKA.  He was born 13 Sep 1913 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 Nov 1981 in 15 Marion Avenue /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Child of JEAN SKOWRONSKI and ROBERT SHARRON is:
 i. BARBARA J. SHARRON, b. 22 Aug 1942, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 24 Dec 2003, Worcester Medical Center, St. Vincent Hospital / Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; m. GEORGE T. HAFFTY; b. Abt. 1923, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 23 May 2005, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

9.  AGNES H. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEL F., FRANCISZEK) was born 22 Dec 1910 in Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 04 Nov 2002 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married (1) JOHN KUPSTAS, son of JACOB KUPSTAS and VERONICA SEMAUKOWSKAS.  He was born 1908 in Massachusetts, and died 28 Sep 1936 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married (2) PETER O’PACKI, son of RAYMOND O’PACKI and DOMENICA OLENDER.  He was born 22 Feb 1919 in West Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 Jul 2004 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

Child of AGNES SKOWRONSKI and JOHN KUPSTAS is:
 v. LORRAINE KUPSTAS, d. 27 Feb 1959, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

10.  MARY A. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEL F., FRANCISZEK) was born 20 Jun 1917 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 Jan 2005 in Webster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married RAYMOND ARTHUR GAGNON, SR., son of GEORGE GAGNON and REGINA DUBE.  He was born 02 Jun 1913 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 09 May 1984 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
11.  CHARLOTTE M. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEL F., FRANCISZEK) was born 07 Mar 1919 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 Nov 1996 in St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married PAUL S. OJERHOLM Bet. 1941 - 1942, son of JULIUS OJERHOLM and EMMA HULT.  He was born 26 Oct 1921 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 Aug 2002 in St. Vincent Hospital at Worcester Medical Center /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
12.  THEODORE P. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEL F., FRANCISZEK) was born 22 Mar 1922 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 30 May 1993 in St. Vincent Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  He married JOSEPHINE A. MYEFSKI Bet. 1940 - 1941, daughter of JOSEPH MYEFSKI and BENEDICTA TOMKUS.  She was born 24 Jun 1921 in Massachusetts, and died 15 Oct 2001 in 15 Granite Street /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 
Children of THEODORE SKOWRONSKI and JOSEPHINE MYEFSKI are:
 i. THADDEUS P. SKOWRONSKI, JR., b. 14 Nov 1954, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 07 Jun 1989, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

13.  IRENE P. SKOWRONSKI (PAWEL F., FRANCISZEK) was born 22 Jul 1926 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 12 Oct 2003 in UMASS Memorial Medical Center /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married ANTHONY P. KIRVILAITIS.  He was born 12 Jul 1917 in Ohio, and died 18 May 1999 in Oxford, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

 Child of IRENE SKOWRONSKI and ANTHONY KIRVILAITIS is:
 i. ANTHONY KIRVILAITIS, b. 07 Aug 1956, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts; d. 14 Jan 2002, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachussetts.

14.  KAZMERA S. PSZCZOLKOWSKI (JOSEFA SKOWRONSKI, FRANCISZEK) was born 03 Mar 1913 in Massachusetts, and died 06 Sep 2000 in Gardner, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.  She married (1) STANLEY DYMEK Bef. 1968.  He was born 21 Jul 1912, and died Mar 1968.  She married (2) JAMES SUTHERBY Aft. 1968, son of JAMES SUTHERBY and BRIDGET COLE.  He was born Abt. 1912 in New York City, New York Co., New York, and died 16 Dec 1995 in Heywood Hospital /Massachusetts.

Alexander Skowronski’s lot in Notre Dame Cemetery includes the graves of Alexander Skowronski, his wife Frances Dymek, his daughter Jean B. Skowronski Sharron, and Jean’s husband Michael Danko.

Jean’s name, as inscribed on the monument, makes reference to her first husband, Robert H. Sharron, who died in 1946.  Robert Sharron’s grave is located in another section of Notre Dame Cemetery.

Monument for Robert H. Sharron and Barbara J. Sharron Haffty - Front

Monument for Robert H. Sharron and Barbara J. Sharron Haffty - Back

SOURCE: Robert H. Sharron and Barbara J. Sharron Haffty grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Section 25-C, Graves 1, 2 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The inscription on the monument reads:

ROBERT H. SHARRON
1917 — 1946
SEAMAN 1/C USN
HIS DAUGHTER
BARBARA J. SHARRON HAFFTY
1942 — 2003
OUR LOVING MOTHER

The US Navy Classification Guide describes a Seaman as:

Keeps deck ship-shape. Acts as messenger, lookout, sideboy, telephone talker. Stands anchor watch, lifebuoy watch. Mans guns and handles ammunition. Mans boats. must know organization of ship, including personnel and plan of ship. Ties knots used in seamanship, splices rope, handles ground tackle. Takes soundings. Performs specifically assigned duties at general quarters and emergency drills. 

As a final note, the initial “B.” in Jean B. Skowronski Sharron’s name - stands for Barbara, the same name she gave her daughter.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

After posting the information on the Skowronski / Dymek / Danko gravestone in Notre Dame Cemetery, I received a message from George G. Morgan, well-known genealogy author and lecturer.  Many people are familiar with George through the online classes he teaches, his “Along Those Lines…” column, and the Genealogy Guys Podcast he hosts with Drew Smith.

In his message, George provided some interesting information about cemetery medallions:

Thanks for the response on your blog about the medallion on the grave
in MA.

I am really a cemetery addict — a taphophile of the first magnitude — and have photos of tens of thousands of cemetery markers from all over the world that I’ve taken or that have been taken for me by great friends.

I hadn’t seen that particular medallion in recent times. However, I did go back and found a couple of examples. I suspect that they, like the Confederate Cross of Honor stakes that the UDC placed on Confederates’ graves, have been stolen (or removed by cemetery workers ‘cleaning’ the graves).

BTW, in my hometown in NC, there was a terrible rash of cemetery vandalism about a decade ago in which the vandals pried DAR, SAR, Mayflower Descendants, Masonic, Eastern Star, and other bronze medallions from footstones and tried to sell them for scrap.

Fortunately, several scrap metal dealers contacted the police and more than a dozen people were arrested, tried, and convicted of felony destruction of property and grand theft.

Thanks, George!  I have to admit, I really haven’t paid much attention to the medallions in cemeteries.  I’ll have to correct that slight!

Yesterday, I posted the photograph of the monument on the graves of Alexander Skowronski, his wife Frances Dymek, his daughter Jean B. Sharron Danko, and Jean’s husband (my uncle) Michael J. Danko in Notre Dame Cemetery.  Click on the link for a PDF copy of the map of Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The Cemetery Record, provided by Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester, Massachusetts, reads as follows:

Notre Dame Cemetery No. 04 - Owner: Skowronski, Alexander, Mr.

Lot - Sec-HF Lot-245 Grv-1- =================           12 X 11
       UAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3           3OB         3                         3                            3
       3             4             3              3           3            2           3             1            3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       3                            3                           3                          3                           3
       AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAU
Space  Deceased/Resvd                                 Burial Date       Age    Container
——-   ———————————————       ——————    ——     ————–
1        Skowronski, Alexander, Owner           01/07/1970   82     ASPH
2        Skowronski, Frances, Wife                   06/25/1963   73     ASPH
3        Danko, Jean B., Mrs., Daughter            10/22/1996   79     WILB
3OB   Danko, Jean, Baby, Great Grandchild  09/21/1999  Stillb  COMBO
4        Danko, Michael J., Son-in-law              11/21/1981   68     PALMER

AAAAAAEnd of ListAAAAAAA

I mentioned yesterday that there was one additional burial in this lot that was not inscribed on the monument.  This burial was for Jean Marguerite Danko, granddaughter of Michael and Jean Danko and great granddaughter of Alexander & Frances Skowronski.

Marker for Jean Marguerite Danko

SOURCE: Jean Marguerite Danko grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Grave 3OB (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

There is also another marker, commemorating Michael Danko’s service in the US Navy.

Marker for Michael J. Danko, Jr.

SOURCE: Michael J. Danko, Jr. grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Grave 4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The marker for Michael J. Danko, Jr. reads:

MICHAEL J DANKO JR
SF1 US NAVY
WORLD WAR II
SEP 13 1913     NOV 19 1981

The SF1 indicates that Michael J. Danko, Jr. was a Shipfitter First Class.  The US Navy Classification Guide describes a Shipfitter as:

Makes repairs to hull and deck structures. Puts ship plates in place, rivets together sections of steel plates and hull framing. Scarfs and closes seams between overlapping steel plates. Cuts, chips, files, and caulks angles, seams, and rivets. Welds. Renews gaskets in watertight doors, parts, and hatches. Installs and repairs pump connections. lays out, bends and shapes sheet metal and metal sections. Threads and fits pipes. Works closely with Metalsmith and Carpenter’s Mate.

To the left of the main monument is a US Flag.  The flag holder includes a medallion that reads:  US VETERAN:

Medallion on Flag Holder

SOURCE: Michael J. Danko, Jr. Flag Holder Medallion, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Grave 4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

The “Rules, Regulations and Policies” of Notre Dame Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum state:

FLAGS: One (1) American flag is permitted on each grave in which a Veteran is interred. The cemetery is not responsible for placing flags on lots. However, flags may be obtained at the cemetery office.

PLEASE NOTE: Only one flat granite marker is allowed at the foot of each grave. This also includes Veteran markers.

SOURCE: Notre Dame Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum, Rules, Regulations and Policies (Worcester, Massachusetts: Notre Dame Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum).

The parents of Adam Skowronski, who birth and death records I posted yesterday and the day before, was Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek.  They are buried in Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Skowronski, Dymek, Danko Monument - Front

Skowronski, Dymek, Danko Monument - Back

SOURCE: Alexander Skowronski, Frances Dymek, Michael J. Danko, Jean B. Skowronski Sharron grave marker, Notre Dame Cemetery, Holy Family Section, Lot 245, Graves 1, 2, 3, 3OB, 4 (Worcester County), Massachusetts, photographed by Stephen J. Danko, 09 Sep 2005.

This marker shows that Alexander Skowronski (1887-1970) and his wife Francis Dymek (1888-1963) are buried here along with Michael J. Danko (1913-1981) and his wife Jean B. Skowronski Sharron (1917-1996).

Jean B. Skowronski Sharron was the daughter of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek.  Jean was also the wife of my paternal uncle, Michael J. Danko.  Jean’s full name on the gravestone reflects the fact that she was married to Robert H. Sharron before his untimely death in 1946.  Robert Sharron is buried elsewhere in Notre Dame Cemetery.

The motto on the front of the monument reads (in Polish) “Proszę o Zdrowaś Marja”, which means “I ask for a ‘Hail Mary’ “.

Alexander is buried in Grave 1, Frances in Grave 2, Jean in Grave 3, and Michael in Grave 4.  Cemetery records show that there is another burial in this lot (in Grave 3OB), not inscribed on the monument.  In addition, the lot contains two additional markers flush with the ground.

Tomorrow: About the additional burial and the two additional markers.

Yesterday I wrote about the Birth Record for Adam Skowronski, the first child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek.  I also found the Death Record for Adam Skowronski.  It turns out that Adam lived for only four days.

The Death Record for Adam Skowronski

SOURCE: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. Return of a Death. City of Worcester. 1906. Volume 41. Page 320. Adam Skowronski.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record for Adam Skowronski.  The record shows that:

• Adam Skuronsky’s death was Registered No. 211, on page 320 of volume 41 of the Death Records in Gardner, Massachusetts for 1906
• Adam died at 140 Greenwood Street, Gardner, Massachusetts on 28 Dec 1906, age 4 days
• Adam was a single, white male, born in Gardner, Massachusetts
• His father was Alec Skuronsky, born in Russia
• His mother was Francis Dimak, born in Russia
• No occupation is given
• The informant was Alexis Skuronsky of 140 Greenwood St., Gardner
• Alex was buried at St. John’s Cemetery on 29 Dec 1906 by Ryan Bros. Inc. of Gardner
• The physician, J.E. Waters, M.D., attended the deceased from 24 Dec 1906 to 28 Dec 1906 and stated that the cause of death was asphyxiation, with the contributing factor of improper care for 4 days
• The Gardner Town Clerk, Levi W. Wood, filed the Return of a Death on 02 Jan 1907

After the joyous occasion when Adam was born on Christmas Eve, the family must have been devastated when he died four days later.  From the stated cause of death, I suppose that Adam may have suffocated in his crib.

I have been searching for years for the Birth Record for Adam Skowronski, the first child of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek, and today I found the record on the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  Two of the daughters of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek married two of my paternal uncles.  Adam was born in Gardner, Worcester County, Massachusetts in 1906.  Adam is listed on line 393 of page 321 in volume 560 of the 1906 Birth Registrations for Worcester.

The Birth Record for Adam Skowronski

SOURCE:  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Births Registered in the Town of Gardner for the Year 1906. Adam Skowronski. Volume 560, Page 321, Number 393. http://www.newenglandancestors.org.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth Record for Adam Skowronski.  The record states that:

• The Birth Record for Adam Skuronsky is recorded in Volume 560, Page 321, Line Number 393 in the Birth Records for the Town of Gardner for the year 1906
• Adam Skuronsky, a white male, was born on 23 Dec 1906 in Gardner, Massachusetts
• Adam’s father was Alexander Skuronsky, a laborer born in Russia
• Adam’s mother was Francis Dmak, born in Russia
• Adam’s birth was recorded in January 1907

As I’ve seen in other Massachusetts Birth Records from this time period, the names are misspelled in this record.  The misspellings and the correct spellings are:

• Adam Skuronsky = Adam Skowronski
• Alexander Skuronsky = Alexander Skowronski
• Francis Dmak = Frances Dymek

This Birth Record fills one of the gaping holes in my knowledge of the family of Alexander Skowronski and Frances Dymek.

On a related note, the New England Historic Genealogical Society has announced that they have received the microfilms for Massachusetts Vital Records for the period 1911-1915.

Agnieszka Dańko, the daughter of Pawel Dańko and Zofia Szymańska, and the sister of my great grandfather, Jakub Dańko, was born in Nienadowa on 06 Jan 1838.  Agnieszka’s record is the second entry on this page.

The Birth and Baptismal Record for Agnieszka Dańko

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish of the Immaculate Heart of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Dubiecko, Poland. Liber Natorum et Baptisatorum (Book of Births and Baptisms). 1838. Page 44. Text in Latin, translated by Stephen J. Danko.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Agnieszka Dańko, along with a transcription and translation from the Latin.  The record states:

• Agnieszka Dańko was born on 06 Jan 1838 in house number 158 in Nienadowa
• She was baptized in the church in Dubiecko on 07 Jan 1838 by Antoni [Itselczycki?]
• She was a legitimately born, Catholic girl
• Her father was Pawel Dańko, a farmer
• Her mother was Zofia Szymański, daughter of Anna and Andrzej Szymański, farmer
• Her Godparents were Marcin Tanowski, and Rozalia Wayda, the wife of Błażej Wayda, both farmers
• The midwife present at the birth was Agnieszka Pilchowa, who was “not tested”
• The priest who baptized the child was Antoni [Itselczycki?]
• Agnieszka apparently moved to house number 50 on 28 May 1881

It’s interesting to note that the priest who performed the baptism only signed the first baptismal record on the page.  On all other records, he signed “same as above”.

The midwife, Agnieszka Pilchowa, was described as “not tested”.  I suppose this means that she did not have a license as a midwife.  When compared with the Birth and Baptismal Record for Agnieszka’s sister Jadwiga, Jadwiga’s midwife was listed as “District Midwife”.

Pawel Dańko often called on Marcin Tanowski and Rozalia Wayda to be the Godparents of his children.  I don’t know who Marcin Tanowski married, but he may be a relative or the husband of a relative of Pawel.  Rozalia Wayda, wife of Błażej Wayda, may well be Pawel’s younger sister, but I’ll have to search for the marriage record for Błażej and Rozalia to be sure.

Leon Izbicki, the brother of Bolesław Izbicki, arrived in the United States in 1902.  The passenger manifest for the S.S. Rotterdam includes his record.

S. S. Rotterdam

The Passenger Manifest for Leon Izbicki

SOURCE:  Immigration and Naturalization Service. Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957. National Archives Microfilm Publication T715, Roll 243, List F, Line 18.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Passenger Manifest for Leon Izbicki.  The record shows:

• Leon Izbizki, a 20-year-old, single male, departed Rotterdam on the S.S. Rotterdam on 24 Apr 1902 and arrived in New York on 04 May 1902
• Leon was a laborer and was able to read and write
• He was Polish and a citizen of Russia from the village of Pjertani
• He had never been in the US before; he was going to stay with his brother Bol[esław] Izbicki, Lab[orer] of Sta. No. 1, Box 52, Worcester, Mass
• Kajetan was in possession of $2 when he arrived in New York
• He was never in prison, was not a polygamist or anarchist, and was not under contract, expressed or implied, to labor in the United States
• His mental and physical health were good, and he was not deformed or crippled

Leon’s village in Poland was spelled Pjertani on the Passenger Manifest.  The correct spelling of this village is Piertanie.  Today, Piertanie is located in the far northeast corner of Poland.

Leon did not remain in the United States.  He returned to Poland.