My maternal grandfather, Konstanti Niedziałkoski (who later in life spelled his name Kostanty Niedzialkowski) left his home in the Russian Partition of Poland and set off for a new life in America . From what I have learned about the process, agents for the shipping companies actively recruited potential emigrants throughout Europe, arranging most of the details for their passage to America . These details included transportation to a port of departure in Europe, passage on a ship to America, and transportation in America to their final destination . They may also have arranged for their lodging for them at the port of departure, since the emigrant may have had to stay in the port for a time while waiting for the ship to sail.
Konstanti obtained a passport from the Russian government, traveled from his home to the port of Rotterdam and registered for passage on the S.S. Ryndam, a ship operated by the Holland-America Line . He purchased a third class, or steerage accommodation on the ship, which amounted to a bunk deep in the ship’s hull, with relatively little opportunity for privacy . Food was poor, sanitation was something to be desired, and the opportunity to visit the upper deck for fresh air was limited.
The S.S. Ryndam was a 12,340 gross ton ship, built in 1901 . The ship provided accommodations for 286 First Class passengers, 196 Second Class passengers, and 1800 Third Class (Steerage) passengers . The ship was able to achieve a speed of 15 knots and made the journey from Rotterdam to New York in ten days . Konstanti left Rotterdam on May 14, 1910 and arrived in New York on May 24, 1910, where he was processed through Ellis Island . The Passenger Arrival manifest of Konstanti Niedzialkoski lists him on line 8 . It shows that:
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He was 18 years old and single at the time he immigrated
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His occupation was farm laborer
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He was able to read and write
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His nationality was Russian, but his “race or people” was Polish
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His last permanent residence was Omaszki, Lomza in Russia
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His father was Teofil Niedzialkoski, living in Omaszki, Lomza
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His final destination was Worcester, Massachusetts and he already had a ticket to his final destination
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His passage was paid by his uncle and he had $9 with him
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He was going to stay with his uncle, Franciszek Niedzialkowsky at 18 Huntington Avenue in Worcester, Massachusetts
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He was 5 feet, 3 inches tall, of fair complexion, with blond hair and blue eyes
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He was born in Omaszki, Russia
Konstanti had arrived . He was examined, processed, and sent on his way to lead his new life in America . Next, Konstanti files his Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States.
Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko
