Steve’s Genealogy Blog

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 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.

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.

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.

Today I saw that no fewer than four genealogy blogs, Chris Dunham’s The Genealogue, Joe Beine’s Genealogy Roots Blog, Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter, and Randy Seaver’s Genea-Musings mentioned the fact that Ancestry.com has now digitized and indexed all readily available U.S. Passengers Lists from 1820 to 1960.  Moreover, Ancestry’s entire Immigration Collection is FREE until the end of November.

I immediately took a look and I found much more than I expected, because the records in this collection are not just Immigrant Passenger Lists, but also include Crew Lists for World War II Naval Ships and Passenger Lists for Vacation Cruise Ships!

In particular, I found the record of my father’s World War II service on the S.S. Daniel Drake, where he served in the U.S. Naval Armed Guard on the Murmansk Run.

Crew Manifest for the S.S. Daniel Drake (Page 2)

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the entire manifest.  My father’s record states that:

• The manifest is that of the S/S Daniel Drake, United States Line
• The ship departed London on 20 September 1943 and arrived in New York on 01 October 1943
• Francis Danko is listed on line 14 as part of the Armed Guard
• His Serial Number was 801 66 21
• His rate (rank) was S1c (Seaman, First Class)
• His service was USNR (United States Naval Reserve)

The manifest also lists 42 crew members and 27 other members of the Armed Guard.  I’ll have to ask my father if he remembers any of these names.  He has several photographs of his shipmates, but doesn’t remember the names of most of them.  Perhaps now with this list, he can name the people in some of his World War II photographs.

I found some interesting details on this manifest, including the fact that five of the crew members on this United States Liberty Ship were not U.S. citizens.  Also of interest is that, of the members of the U.S. Armed Guard, only one was in the USN, the United States Navy; all the rest were in the USNR, the United States Naval Reserve.

For those who are not familiar with the Liberty Ships in World War II, I’ll have to write a piece on Liberty ships one day.  For now, just realize that the Liberty Ship crews consisted of a number of Merchant Marines (who were, in fact, not part of the U.S. Navy) and a group of Navy personnel called the Armed Guard who were trained to protect their ship and the Merchant Marines aboard it.

I never would have guessed that the Crew Manifests of World War II U.S. Liberty Ships would be in this collection!