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

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

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

Stephania Meleski’s Petition for Naturalization – Front

Stephania Meleski’s Petition for Naturalization – Back

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the document.  The Petition shows that:

• Stefania Chmielewska changed her name to Stephania Meleski as part of the naturalization process on Petition for Naturalization No. 39405
• Stephania filed her Petition at the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester
• Stephania still lived at 15 Charlton St. Worcester, Mass and worked in a rooming house
• She was 57 years old, and was born on Jan. 7, 1886 in Likiszki, Vilna, Poland
• She was female, white, of medium complexion, with hazel eyes, brown hair, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 125 pounds, and had a mole on her chin
• She was of the white race, of Polish nationality, was not married, and had no children
• Her last place of foreign residence was Likiszki, Vilna, Poland
• She emigrated from Bremen, Germany and entered New York, N.Y. under the name Stefania Chmielewska on Sept. 16, 1901 on an unknown ship
• Since entering the United States, she had not been absent for a period of 6 months or longer
• She declared her intention to become a citizen of the United States on November 25, 1940 in the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester, Mass.
• She had been in the United States for at least five years, that is to say, since Sept. 16, 1901 and continuously in the state of Massachusetts for at least six months, that is, since Feb. 1933
• Stephania’s Petition was witnessed by Harriett Bell Thurston, a housewife, and Harry C. Thurston, retired, both residing at 56 Elm St. Worcester, Mass.
• The Petition was subscribed and sworn at Worcester, Massachusetts on December 13, 1941 before Carl L. [Greenslil?], Deputy Clerk for William C. Bowen, Clerk
• Stephania’s Certificate of Arrival was No. 1X 81667
• Stephania made her Oath of Allegiance on March 2, 1944 and was granted Certificate No. 6119990 by Carl L. [Greenslil?], Deputy Clerk for William C. Bowen, Clerk

In the three years since filing her Declaration of Intention, Great Aunt Stephania has changed her name, gained five pounds, developed a mole on her chin, changed her race from Polish to white, specified that Likiszki, Poland was Likiszki, Vilna, Poland, and still can’t remember the ship on which she immigrated.

But, most interesting of all is her statement that she had been in Massachusetts since February of 1933.  Since she immigrated in 1901, where did she spend the first 32 years of her life in America?

Triplicate Declaration of Intention for Stefania Chmielewska – Front

Triplicate Declaration of Intention for Stefania Chmielewska – Back

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Triplicate Copy of the Declaration of Intention. 

The films labeled Naturalization – Declaration of Intention included the Original Copy of the Declaration of Intention - the copy that remained with the Clerk of the Court.  This new set of records included the triplicate copy - the copy that was given to the declarant.  The Duplicate Copy was sent to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.

The Triplicate Copy appears to be identical to the original with a few exceptions.  In fact, the Triplicate appears to be a carbon copy of the original, since the two documents contains the same typographical eccentricities.  Note, for example, the extra space between the “e” and “r” in “County of Worcester” near the top left, the way that the final “i” in “Chmielewski” is typed over with an “a”, and the way that Stefania’s first name about halfway down the page appears to have a “t” squeezed in between the “S” and “e” after the name was typed in.

Differences include the presence of Stefania’s photo and signature on the Triplicate Copy, and the fact that the Triplicate Copy includes instructions to the declarant on the reverse.  In addition, the Triplicate includes a stamp on the back:

RECEIVED
FEB 1 – 1943
U. S. Immigration and Naturalization Service
[74] Tremont Street
Boston, Mass.

Normally, a copy of the Original Document would be considered a Derivative Source.  In this case, since all three copies were prepared simultaneously by carbon copy and each is clearly marked Original, Duplicate, or Triplicate, I consider each of these an Original Source (an Original Source of the Original, an Original Source of the Duplicate, and an Original Source of the Triplicate).  The copies I have are Exact Images of Original Sources.

These documents include Primary Information about the place and date Stefania made her Declaration, her address, her occupation, and her physical characteristics.  The documents include Secondary Information about Stefania’s race, nationality, birthplace, last foreign residence, and immigration information.

Original Declaration of Intention for Stefania Chmielewska

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Original Declaration.  According to the definitions of Original Source and Derivative Source, this document is an Exact Image of an Original Source.

The Declaration states that:

• Stefania Chmielewska made her Declaration of Intention No. 52410 to become a citizen of the United States in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, County of Worcester, in the Superior Court of Massachusetts of Worcester
• She resided at 15 Charlton St., Worcester, Worcester, Mass.
• Her occupation was a rooming house keeper
• She was 54 years old, female, white, medium complexion, hazel eyes, brown hair, 5 feet 2 inches tall, 120 pounds, with no distinctive marks
• She was of Polish race and of Polish nationality
• She was born in Likiszki, Poland on Jan. 7, 1886
• She was not married, had no children, and had not previously made a Declaration of Intention
• Her last foreign residence was Likiszki, Poland
• She emigrated from Bremen, German and entered the United States at New York, N.Y. under the name of Stefania Chmielewska on Sept. 16, 1901, but did not know the name of the ship on which she had traveled
• She submitted her Declaration at Worcester, Mass. on November 25, 1940
• Her Certificate of Arrival was No. 1x 81667
• The Declaration was signed by William C. Bowen, Clerk of the Superior Court

The Declaration shows that Stefania’s surname was corrected from Chmielewski to Chmielewska.  The Certificate of Arrival number was also corrected:  the space for the number shows xxxxxx and the actual number is typed to the left of the clerk’s name.

As fate would have it, not only did Stefania forget the name of the ship on which she sailed, but she reported the wrong date of arrival.

I’m not sure where Stefania’s birthplace of Likiszki is, but two choices are likely: the village Likishki Vel’ke [Likiškiai], Alytaus, Lithuania and the village of Lilishki [Liuliškiai], Vilniaus, Lithuania.

Change of Name for Stefania Chmielewski

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Change of Name card.  I had always thought that my great aunt’s name was Stephanie Meleski.  Her Naturalization Index Card showed that her name was Stephania Meleski.  Now, this card shows that she changed her name from Stefania Chmielewska as part of the naturalization process.

In the past, I had not been able to find Stephania in the census records.  Now that I have some alternate names, perhaps I’ll have better luck!

Index Card for the Naturalization of Stephania Meleski

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Index Card for Stephania.  The card states that she was granted Certificate of Naturalization No. 6119990, that her name was Stephania Meleski, that she lived at 15 Charlton St. Worcester, Mass., that she was 58 years old at the date of admission (meaning that she was born in about 1885-1886), and that she became a citizen on Mar. 2, 1944 (her Certificate of Naturalization was dated the same day) at the Superior Court at Worcester, Mass.  She had filed Petition of Naturalization No. 39405.

The information on this card provided enough information to look for Stephania’s Naturalization Papers, since the records for 1944 have been microfilmed.  Stephania’s Certificate of Naturalization was No. 6119990 and her Petition for Naturalization was No. 39405.

In addition to the information on how to find Stephania’s Naturalization Papers, the Index Card provides several useful pieces of information.  Stephania was living at 15 Charlton St. in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1944.  This is useful information since I haven’t been able to find Stephania in the Census Records.  The second useful piece of information is that she spelled her name Stephania Meleski, not Stephanie Meleski as I previously thought.

Although the Index Card does not provide a space for an Alien Registration Number, Stephania would have been required to register as an alien in response to the Alien Registration Act of 1940.  All aliens over the age of 14 were required to fill out a two page form (the AR-2, including a perforated section, the AR-3)) at their local post office.  After the form was processed, the AR-3 (the Alien Registration Card) was torn from the AR-2 and mailed to the applicant.  Aliens were required to carry this card with them.

Most aliens registered between July and December 1940.  Registrations completed between July 1940 and April 1944 have been microfilmed and were placed in the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.  These records are searchable by name, date of birth, and place of birth, and copies of these records may be obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

Further information on the Alien Registration Act is available at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.  Requests for the alien registration documents may be made on a Form G-639, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request.  No fees are required until you are notified by the USCIS.  The first 100 pages of reproduction and two hours of search time are provided without charge unless the requester is a commercial organization.  Be prepared for a long wait (more than six months) before receiving the papers.  I’m sending in the forms for my ancestors this week.

The last piece of information I obtained from the Naturalization Index was a complete surprise for me, and it appeared on the very next image after Stephania’s Index Card.

Tomorrow:  The Surprise!

In July, while I was at the Massachusetts Archives, I tried to find Helen’s Naturalization Papers on microfilm, but I found that only the index cards for 1953 had been microfilmed.  Nonetheless, I did find the index card for my grandmother’s naturalization.

Index Card for the Naturalization of Helen Anne Niedzialkowski

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Index Card.  The record is actually very informative.  The card states that she was granted Certificate of Naturalization No. 7089706, that her name was Helen Anne Niedzialkowski, that she lived at 40 Barnes Ave., Worcester, Mass., that she was born 2/15/97 (that’s 1897), and that she became a citizen on 6/12/53 (her Certificate of Naturalization was dated the same day) at the Superior Court at Worcester, Mass.  She had filed Petition of Naturalization No. 46714 and had previously held Alien Registration No. 3179566.

Since I now know her Petition number and Certificate of Naturalization number, I should be able to find her complete naturalization records at the Superior Court at Worcester, Massachusetts.  Perhaps even more interesting is that, since she waited so long to become a citizen, she was obligated to register as an alien and she had an Alien Registration Number.  With this number, I should be able to request a copy of her alien registration from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

One nagging question, however, is:  are the birth/baptismal certificate, the Hamburg Emigration List, and the Ellis Island Passenger Arrival List for the same Mary Danko who married Paul Golinski in 1915?  If not, I have obtained the records for two different people.

While in Boston in July, I obtained Mary Danko’s Certificate of Arrival and Mary Golinski’s Petition for Naturalization.  If these two documents are for the same person, all the documents I have are for the same Mary (Danko) Golinski.

Petition for Naturalization for Mary Golinski – Front

Petition for Naturalization for Mary Golinski – Back

Click on the link for a PDF copy of Mary Golinski’s Petition for Naturalization.  The Petition was filed under Section 310(b) of the Nationality Act of 1940 which states that a woman could petition for naturalization without filing a Declaration of Intention if she was married to a citizen and lived continuously in the United States since her marriage.  Mary Golinski’s Petition for Naturalization states that:

• Mary Golinski’s Petition for Naturalization No. 33772 was filed in the Superior Court of Massachusetts at Worcester
• She lived at 11 Prescott Pl. Worcester, mass. and was a housewife
• She was 54 years old, and was born on march 12, 1887 in Galigo [Galicia], Poland
• She was a white female, with medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair
• She was 4 feet 10 inches tall, 100 pounds, with no visible distinctive marks, whose nationality was Polish
• She was married to Paul Golinski on October 4, 1915 in Barre, Mass.
• Her husband was born in Sliwnica, Austria on Dec. 18, 1888, entered the United States at New York, N. Y. on May 20, 1913, and resided at Worcester, Mass.
• Mary’s husband was naturalized on Oct. 2, 1939 at Worcester, Mass. and his Certificate of Naturalization was No. 4735161
• Mary had five children:  Victoria Mary (f) born July 19, 1916 at Barre, Mass.; Frances Wanda (f) Aug. 25, 1918; John (m) Jan. 2, 1922; Josephine (f) Sept. 24, 1925; Joseph (m) Jan. 26, 1928; the last four were born at Worcester, Mass. and all five children were living at Worcester, Massachusetts
• Mary’s last place of foreign residence was Niedowa [Nienadowa], Poland
• She emigrated to the United States from Hamburg, Germany and lawfully entered the United States at New York, N. Y. under the name of Marianna Danko on June 26, 1909 on the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria
• Since her lawful entry, she had not been absent from the United States for a period of 6 months or longer
• She had resided continuously in the Untied States for at least 3 years immediately preceding the date of her petition, namely since June 26, 1909
• She had not previously made Petition for Naturalization and filed the current petition under Section 310 b
• She did not ask for a change of name
• Sophie Zamoita, a housewife residing at 12 Prescott Place, Worcester, Massachusetts, and Frances E. Swenson, a laundress residing at 128 Prescott Street, Worcester, Massachusetts signed affidavits as witnesses of her character, having known her since 1935
• The Petition for Naturalization was signed at Worcester, Mass. on June 25, 1941 and was accompanied by Certificate of Arrival No. 1-292585 by the petitioner, the witnesses and by Philip S. Smith, Deputy Clerk, with the typed name of William C. Bowen, Clerk
• Mary Golinski singed the Oath of Allegiance on September 30, 1941, as witnessed by William C. Bowen, Clerk, and Carl [Grunslit]
• Mary’s Petition for Naturalization was granted on Line No. 41 of List No. 4-5 and Certificate No. 5374214

The information on Mary Golinski’s Petition for Naturalization ties her convincingly to the Hamburg Emigration List and the Ellis Island Passenger Arrival List for Marianna Danko, born in 1883-1884.  The emigration and immigration documents also agree with the birth and baptismal record for Marianna Danko, born on January 12, 1884 in Nienadowa, Galicia.

The evidence indicates that Great Aunt Mary was born on January 12, 1884.  After she arrived in the United States, Great Aunt Mary apparently changed her date of birth to March 12, 1887.  Perhaps she just didn’t want her future husband to know she was nearly five years older than he was!