Steve’s Genealogy Blog

As part of his Petition for Naturalization, Damian Niedzialkowski was required to show that he had arrived in the United States legally. To do this, the U.S. Department of Labor produced a Certificate of Arrival that detailed his entry into the United States.

Certificate of Arrival for Dom. Niedzialkowski - 1935 (obverse)

Certificate of Arrival for Dom. Niedzialkowski - 1935 (reverse)

SOURCE:  Worcester County, Massachusetts, Naturalizations, v. 102 (1937-1938): Certificate of Arrival of Dom.  Niedialkowski, 1935, Filed under Petition for Naturalization No. 27505; Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester.  FHL microfilm 2,131,567. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the Certificate of Arrival for Dom. Niedzialkowski - 1935. The certificate states that:

• Dom. Niedzialkowski arrived in New York NY on 23 May 1920 aboard the SS Princess Matoika;
• His Certificate of Arrival No. was 1 150638;
• The certificate was issued 26 Mar 1935 by Byron H. Uhl, District Director, New York District;
• The reverse of the certificate mostly shows bleed-through from the front, but also includes a signature I cannot read.

The line on which Damian’s name appeared on his passenger manifest also included an annotation made after arrival. The annotation read:

1-150638-2/19/35

These markings indicate the number of the Certificate of Arrival and (probably) the date on which the request for the certificate was made. I actually used the information in this annotation to find the naturalization records.

The Certificate of Arrival was bound together with the Declaration of Intention and Petition for Naturalization and all three documents were filed under the Petition Number.

Written for the Carnival of Eastern European Genealogy.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

My Niedzialkowski ancestors lived in Worcester, Massachusetts, and so did two other Niedzialkowski families. After discovering church records in Poland and various civil records in Worcester, I’ve hypothesized that all the Niedzialkowski families in Worcester are related to my own.

One Polish immigrant to Worcester, Damian Niedzialkowski, continues to be a bit of a mystery. The List or Manifest of Alien Passengers to the United States that included Damian’s name stated that he was born in Pomaski, Poland, the same place my grandfather was born. Examination of the indexes to baptisms in the parish of Szwelice, Poland, stated that Damian Niedzialkowski was born in 1893. I have ordered the microfilm of the Szwelice parish records and am waiting for it to arrive at my local Family History Center.

I had also ordered a microfilm of the Naturalization Records for the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester, and that film arrived at the Family History Center last week. I examined the microfilm on Wednesday evening.

Declaration of Intention of Domiana Niedzalkowsky - 1935

SOURCE:  Worcester County, Massachusetts, Naturalizations, v. 102 (1937-1938): Declaration of Intention of Domiana Niedzalkowsky, 1935, Filed under Petition for Naturalization No. 27505; Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester.  FHL microfilm 2,131,567. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF Copy of the Declaration of Intention of Domiana Niedzalkowsky - 1935. The Declaration states:

• Damian Niedzialkowski filed his Declaration of Intention in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Worcester, in the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester;
• His name was spelled Domiana Niedzalkowsky on the Declaration;
• He resided at 72 Perry Ave., Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts;
• He was a laborer, age 39 years, male, white, medium complexion, grey eyes, dk. brown hair, height 5 feet-7 inches, weight 180 pounds, with moles on both cheeks, forehead, chin and bridge of nose;
• He was Polish and of Polish, Russian nationality;
• He was born in Pomocki, Lomza, Poland, Russia on 15 May 1895;
• His was married on 25 Nov 1926 at Worcester, Mass. to Caroline Gwega;
• His wife was born in Borowa, Swenciany, Poland on 16 Dec 1898 and entered the United States at New York on 30 Dec 1910;
• The couple had one child named Theresa, born 26 Dec 1927 in Worcester;
• His last foreign residence was Czapelowo, Lomza, Poland;
• He left for the United States through the Free City of Danzig and arrived at New York on 23 May 1920 aboard The Princess Matoika under the name Dom. Niedzialkowski;
• He signed the Petition on 22 Apr 1935 at Worcester;
• His Certificate of Arrival was No. 1 150638;
• His Petition was signed by W. A. Hopkins, Deputy Clerk for William C. Brown, Clerk of the Superior Court;
• The Petition was received by the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service on 14 Jul 1937.

This document provides some valuable information beyond that of Damian Niedzialkowski’s efforts to become a United States citizen. I now have additional information about Damian’s birth, his wife, his marriage, and his daughter. With this information, I hope to find Damian’s marriage record in Massachusetts and, consequently, discover the names of his parents. Perhaps, with this information, I can learn if and how he is connected to my own Niedzialkowski family.

Written for the Carnival of Eastern European Genealogy.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

As I expand my research on my Niedzialkowski ancestors and begin to assemble materials for a One-Name Study, I’m trying to assemble all available records on those with the Niedzialkowski surname and related surnames.

This is going to be a huge effort, even though the Niedzialkowski surname is relatively rare.

I discovered an Alien Passenger Manifest for Dam Niedzialkowski who entered New York on 23 May 1920.

Alien Passenger Manifest for Dam Niedzialkowski - 1920 (Page 1)

Alien Passenger Manifest for Dam Niedzialkowski - 1920 (Page 2)

SOURCE: Manifest, S.S. Matoika, 23 May 1920, List 14-A, line 10, Dam Niedzialkowski, age 27; “Passenger Record” digital images, Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation (http://www.ellisisland.org :  accessed 05 May 2008); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T715N, roll 2768.

Click on the images above to enlarge them. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Alien Passenger Manifest for Dam Niedzialkowski. The manifest states:

1. No. on list: 10
2. Head-Tax Status: RET. RES.
3. Name in Full: Niedzialkowski Dam
4. Age: 27 Yrs. - Mo.
5. Sex: ” [Male]
6. Married or Single: ” [S]
7. Calling or Occupation: Farmer
8. Able to Read: ” [N]; What Language: English, Polish; Able to Write: ” [N]
9. Nationality: ” [Poland]
10. Race or People: ” [Polish]
11. Last Permanent Residence: ” [USA], Worcester, Mass
12. Nearest Relative: Brother, Steve Niedzialkowski, 8 [Powshorn?] St., Worcester, Mass.
13. Final Destination: Mass., Worcester
14. No. on list: 10
15. Ticket to Final Destination: ” [Y]
16. By Whom Passage Paid: ” [U.S. Govt]
17. In Possession of $50: ” [N] 
18. Ever Before in the United States: ” [Y]; Year: 4 to 1918; Where: ” [See Col. 12]
19. Going to Join Relative or Friend: “” [See Col. 12]
20. Intend to Return to Country of Origin: ” [Y]; Length of Stay in US: Uncertain
21. In Prison: ” [N]
22. Polygamist: ” [N]
23. Anarchist: ” [N]
24. Overthrow Government: ” [N]
25. Offer of Work: ” [N]
26. Ever Deported: ” [N]
27. Condition of Health: ” [Fair]
28. Deformed or Cripple: ” [N]
29. Height: 5 ft. 9 in.
30. Complexion: ” [Fair]
31. Color of Hair: ” [Dark]; Color of Eyes: ” [Blue]
32. Identifying Marks: ” [None]
33. Place of Birth: ” [Poland], Pomaski

So, it appears that Dam Niedzialkowski had been in the United States from 1904-1918, and was now returning to the United States with his fare paid for by the US Government. The other men on this manifest page were also former alien residents of the United States who left the country and whose return fare was paid for by the US Government. All these men left the United States after the end of World War I in 1918 and returned two years later at government expense.

Of greatest interest to me is the fact that Dam Niedzialkowski was born in Pomaski, the hometown of my grandfather. It is likely that he and I are related, though I don’t yet know how.

In the Worcester, Massachusetts City Directories, I had previously found Dam Niedzialkowski listed as Dominic in the year 1936, and as Damian or Damiano Niedzialkowski in 1940, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, and 1949. I know a bit more about him now that I found this Alien Passenger Manifest, and I have more confidence that he and I may, in fact, be related.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Back in October, Gayl Dandurand sent me an email to tell me about the Naturalization Index available through the Albany County, New York Hall of Records. The naturalization records indexed on this site are only for Albany County, New York, but I’ve been able to find several records of interest listed there.

I’ve only begun to search the index, but I’ve so far found the following relatives in the Albany County Naturalization Index:

1. My paternal Uncle: John Danko from Austria-Poland, resident of Albany, naturalized 02 Feb 1932, petition number 7693;
2. The husband of my Stepmother’s Aunt Maryanna Halaszyn: Mikolaj Priznar from Austria-Poland, resident of Cohoes, naturalized 04 Jan 1929, petition number 6438;
3. My step-grandmother, Tekla Halaszyn: Tesi Walkama from Poland, resident of Albany, naturalized 30 Nov 1945, petition number 12796;
4. My cousin Christopher’s 3rd Great Grandfather: George Lather from Germany, resident of Albany, naturalized 03 Oct 1872, book 22;
5. My stepmother’s cousin’s Father-in-Law: Frank Siracusa from Italy, resident of Albany, naturalized 28 Sep 1926, petition number 5024.

In addition to the naturalization index, the Hall of Records also houses historical information on a number of subjects as part of their Special Collections, including the Aurania Club which was located across the street from the house in which I grew up, and the Vincentian Institute, the school I attended from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Hall of Records also provides online images of Deeds and Mortgages since 1980, although it appears that only the first page of these documents is available online.

Other records in the Hall of Records include Marriages for the City of Albany from 1870-1946, City and County Census Records for 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1875, 1880, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925, and Albany City Directories from 1830-1994.

It looks like the next time I’m in Albany I should stop by the Hall of Records.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Back in June 2006, I wrote an article entitled A New Look at Immigrant Passenger Manifests where I discussed various annotations frequently seen on early 20th century passenger manifests. 

I received a question from Jeff E. who noticed some annotations on the passenger manifest for his great grandmother.

Jeff’s great grandmother traveled from Russia to the United States with a six year old son. The pair arrived at Castle Garden in 1885 on the S.S. Hammonia.

On the line with Jeff’s great grandmother’s name were the numbers 16 and 18 in the column entitled “Date and Cause of Death”. Jeff wondered what these numbers meant and if they might indicate the death of the six year old child. (Look for the numbers 16 and 18 in the lower half of the manifest page, below.)

Page 11 of the Passenger Manifest of the SS Hammonia
27 June 1885

Even though the numbers 16 and 18 appear in the column for “Date and Cause of Death”, these numbers don’t, in fact, refer to a death. Rather, the numbers are a subtotal of the numbers of male and female passengers from a particular country, in this case, Russia.

In most cases, the numbers are a subtotal of the male and female passengers from a given country listed on each page. In the case of Jeff’s grandmother, the numbers are a subtotal of the number of male and female passengers from Russia on pages 5 through 11 of the manifest.

Similar numbers appear throughout the manifest.

An actual death at sea was recorded on page 15 of the manifest. (Look for the notation of death on the lower half of the manifest, below.)

Page 15 of the Passenger Manifest of the SS Hammonia
27 June 1885

Page 15 shows the information for a 70 year old passenger from Germany crossed out. In the “Date and Cause of Death” column, the manifest states “died on sea drowned”. No date was provided.

Passenger manifests were usually completed at the port of departure. The names of passengers who did not arrive at the destination in the United States, therefore, were crossed out. Such was the case for the German passenger who died at sea.

Because relatively few passengers died at sea, the “Date and Cause of Death” column was largely left blank. Officials frequently entered statistical information in unused spaces on the manifest and, thus, the “Date and Cause of Death” column was used to keep subtotals of the numbers of male and female passengers from different countries.

So, it appears that Jeff’s great grandmother and her six year old son arrived safely at Castle Garden at the conclusion of their journey.

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko

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.

The 1910 U.S. Federal Census showed that Kajetan Izbicki, the brother of Bolesław Izbicki, arrived in the United States in 1905.  The passenger manifest for the S.S. Ryndam includes his record.

The S. S. Ryndam

The Passenger Manifest for Kajetan 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 551, List L, Line 10. 

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

• Kajetan Izbicki, a 20-year-old, single male, departed Rotterdam on the S.S. Ryndam on 11 Mar 1905 and arrived in New York on 29 Mar 1905
• Kajetan was a farm laborer and was able to read and write
• He was Polish and a citizen of Russia from the village of Piertany
• He had never been in the US before; his destination was 12 Grosvenor Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, the home of his brother, B. Izbicki
• Kajetan had a ticket to his destination; passage was paid by his brother; he had with him $10 $25
• He was never in prison, was not a polygamist or anarchist, and was not coming to the US as a result of any offer or solicitation of employment
• His health was good, and he was not deformed or crippled

Kajetan did, indeed, go to stay with his brother, Bolesław.  In 1905 Bolesław was living at 12 Grosvenor Street in Worcester.  In 1910, Boleslaw was living with his family and Kajetan at 11 Meade Street in Worcester, just one block from the house on Grosvenor Street.  In May 1910, Kajetan was married.  I have not yet found any records for Kajetan after the record of his marriage.

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

Yvonne DeCarlo died on 08 Jan 2007.  She was born Margaret Yvonne Middleton on 01 Sep 1922 in Vancouver, British Columbia, although the exact date of her date of birth is the subject of some speculation.  Through her life, Margaret usually went by the name of Peggy.  Peggy’s father left in 1925, and when she was 15 years old, her mother brought her to Hollywood.

For a stage name, Peggy took her own middle name and her mother’s middle name to become Yvonne DeCarlo.  A beautiful young woman, Peggy began a successful career in motion pictures; one of her most important roles was as the wife of Moses in the film The Ten Commandments.

The role for which she is best known, however, was as Lily Munster on the television show The Munsters.

Peggy was born too late to be listed on the currently available Canadian Census Records, and she arrived in the United States too late to be listed on the currently available United States Census Records.  However, genealogical information about Peggy Yvonne Middleton is readily available on the internet, such as this clipping about her marriage to Robert Morgan.

Yvonne DeCarlo’s Marriage to Robert Morgan

SOURCE: “Yvonne DeCarlo Weds”. Dallas Morning News. November 22, 1955. Page 16.  http://www.GenealogyBank.com.

The greatest source of records about Peggy on Ancestry.com is the Immigration Records, since she traveled frequently.  Being a Canadian Citizen, she had to register as an alien each time she entered the United States.  Peggy frequently traveled with Constance MacKenzie.

Passenger Manifest from Mallorca to New York 1951

Based on this manifest, Peggy was born in 1924 and Constance was born in 1901.  This manifest shows that the two women sailed in First Class on the S.S. Independence from Mallorca.  Constance traveled with 5 pieces of luggage.  Peggy traveled with 8 pieces of luggage.  I don’t even own 8 pieces of luggage.

Passenger Manifest from Southampton to New York 1952

Based on this manifest, Peggy and Constance have both become younger.  Although this manifest was prepared a year after the previous manifest, both Peggy and Constance have become a year younger.  Based on this information, Peggy was born in 1926, and Constance was born in 1903.  This time, the two women traveled First Class on the S.S. United States from Southampton.  Constance traveled with 4 pieces of luggage and Peggy with 8.

By examining the immigration records at Ancestry.com, one can follow Peggy around the world in the 1940s and 1950s.  While most of our ancestors left behind only one passenger manifest, Peggy left dozens.

While searching for the 1901 Canadian Census Record for John Rawding and his family, I came across several other records for this family.  In particular, I noticed that some of the family members traveled back and forth between Canada and the United States and left behind the records of those journeys.

Many records of alien arrivals at various United States ports of entry have been preserved.  These records include Card Manifests (Alphabetical) of Entries through the Port of Detroit, MI, 1906-1954, United States National Archives microfilm publication M1478, 117 rolls.  The record for James Rawding, son of John Rawding, entering the United States at Detroit in 1923 is recorded on roll number 83.  Better yet, Ancestry.com has digitized these records and access to these records is free for the rest of the year 2006.

Detroit Card Manifest for James Rawding, Front

Detroit Card Manifest for James Rawding, Back

SOURCE:  James Rawding; December 12, 1923, in Card Manifests (Alphabetical) of Entries through the Port of Detroit, MI, 1906-1954; micropublication M1478 (Washington: National Archives), roll83. 

James Rawding’s Card Manifest was recorded on Form Spl. 187A, Primary Inspection Memorandum.  The information recorded on the front of this card is similar to that recorded on the Ellis Island Passenger Manifests and is transcribed in the attached PDF file.  The back of the card was used to record information if an alien appealed a decision barring him from entering the United States.  The card for James Rawding has a few notes on the back of the card, but was apparently admitted.  Information on the front of the card includes the following information:

• James Rawding, a single male born and living in Aylesford, Nova Scotia entered the United States on 12 Dec 1923 at Detroit, Michigan
• James was 34 years old, was of Scottish race and Canadian citizenship, and was employed as a steamfitter
• James had a brother Fred in Aylesford, Kings County, Nova Scotia
• James had previously been in the United States, specifically in Vermont, from 1920-1922
• On this trip, James intended to go to a hotel, intended to stay in the United States for a month, and did not intend to become a citizen
• James was described in good health, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with fair complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes
• He had a ticket, paid for his passage himself, and had with him $50.00

Now that I know these records exist, I’m going to start looking for border crossing records for others I know entered the United States through Canada.

Copyright © 2006 Stephen J. Danko

I’ve been taking the opportunity to search the Immigration Collection at Ancestry.com during the Free access to this database through the end of the month of November.  Yesterday, I found the Crew Manifest for the World War II Liberty Ship S. S. Daniel Drake on which my father served.  Today, I found the Crew Manifest for the World War II Liberty Ship S. S. Joaquin Miller, on which my uncle Frederick F. Niedzialkowski served.

Crew Manifest for the S.S. Joaquin Miller (Page 1)

Click on the link for a PDF copy of page 1 of the manifest.  My uncle’s record states that:

• The manifest is that of the S/S Joaquin Miller
• The ship departed Boston and arrived in New York
• Frederick F. Niedzialkowski is listed on line 21
• He had been to sea for 1 year at this point in time
• His position in the ship’s company was Seaman 1/c (Seaman, First Class)
• He was not to be discharged at the port of arrival (New York)
• He was able to read
• He was 19 years old, was of the male sex, was of the Polish race, and his nationality was US
• Fred’s height was 6′1″, and his weight was 176 (pounds)
• He had a scar on his right wrist

Other pages of the manifest show that the ship was operated by the Isthmian Steamship Co., 71 Broadway, New York, and that it arrived in New York on 31 August 1943.  Other pages show that the ship was expected to leave New York on 11 September 1943 and that it stopped in Newport News, Virginia on 14 September 1943, thence heading for foreign locations.

There is also an enigmatic notation on one page that the ship had previously left Bizerte (Tunisia?) on 20 July 1943.  In this notation about Bizerte, the port of departure Boston was crossed out and the port of Bizerte was written in.

I’ll have to check with my cousins to see if they have a copy of Fred’s military records to see if those records include any additional information on Fred’s destinations while in the Navy.