San Francisco Bay Area Genealogy Calendar – March 2009

Posted on March 1, 2009 by Steve
  • Monday, March 2, 2009 – 7:00 PM
    SMCGS Board Meeting
    SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
    Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 3, 2009 – 10:00 AM
    SRVGS Board Meeting
    Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 3, 2009 – 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon
    Intermediate Genealogy Class
    Lavinia Schwarz – Land and Property Records, and Gazetteers
    Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
    Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
    *
  • Tuesday, March 3, 2009 – 1:00-2:30 PM
    Publications Committee Meeting
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 4, 2009 – 7:30 PM
    Frances Dinkelspiel – Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California
    BJE Jewish Community Library, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco
    Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
    *
  • Thursday, March 5, 2009 – 1:00 PM
    Betty Heryford – Land Records and Wills (Roundtable)
    Auditorium, Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, 734 Marin Street, Vallejo
    Sponsored by the Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia
    *
  • Thursday, March 5, 2009 – 7:30 PM
    Dick Finn & Duncan Tanner – Family Tree Maker 2009
    Vineyard Adult Education Facility, 1401 Almond Avenue, Livermore
    Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 7, 2009 – 9:00 AM
    Beginners’ Breakfast
    Star Restaurant, 1700 Novato Boulevard, Novato
    Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 7, 2009 – 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
    Fintan Mullan & Dr. Brian Trainor – Scots-Irish Family History Research
    Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites Oakland Airport, 77 Hegenberger Road, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 7, 2009 – 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
    Introduction to Genealogy
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2009 – 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon
    Elderberries group of St. John’s Episcopal Church visit CGS
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2009 – 7:30-9:00 PM
    Ron Filion – San Francisco Genealogy
    Congregation Beth Emek, 3400 Nevada Court, Pleasanton
    Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 11, 2009 – 9:30 AM-3:00 PM
    Book Repair Group
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 11, 2009 – 7:00 PM
    Jim Van Buskirk – My Grandmother’s Suitcase: Unpacking Generations of Secrecy
    Temple Israel, 3183 Mecartney Road, Alameda
    Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 11, 2009 – 7:30 PM
    Board Meeting
    Marin Family History Center, 220 North San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
    Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, February 11, 2009
    Glenda Lloyd – This Old House
    Sponsored by the Sacramento Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 11, 2009
    Irish Research Group
    Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
    *
  • Thursday, March 12, 2009 – 1:00-4:00 PM
    GSVB Library Open to the Public
    Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum (upstairs), 734 Marin Street, Vallejo
    Sponsored by the Genealogy Society of Vallejo-Benicia
    *
  • Saturday, March 14, 2009 – 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
    City Directory Library Open
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 14, 2009 – 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon
    Intermediate Genealogy Class
    Jane Lindsey – Immigration, Passenger Lists, Naturalizations, Passports
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 14, 2009 – 1:00-2:30 PM
    Frances Dinkelspiel – Towers of Gold
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Sunday, March 15, 2009 – 1:00 PM
    Jason Rose – Using Photographs to Trace Your Roots
    Jewish Community High School, 1835 Ellis Street, San Francisco
    Sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 17, 2009 – 10:00 AM
    General Meeting
    Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Rd at Smith Rd, Alamo
    Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 17, 2009 – 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon
    Intermediate Genealogy Class
    Jane Lindsey – Immigration, Passenger Lists, Naturalizations, Passports
    Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
    Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
    *
  • Tuesday, February 17, 2009 – 7:00 PM
    Kay Gutknecht – We Were Foxhole Buddies
    Santa Clara City Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Road, Santa Clara
    Sponsored by the Santa Clara County Historical & Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 18, 2009 – 1:00-3:00 PM
    Daytime Workshop
    Clubhouse, Country Squire Mobilodge, 5720 Oak Hill Dr (corner of Esquire Drive and Manitoba Avenue), Sacramento
    Sponsored by the Sacramento Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 18, 2009 – 1:00-2:30 PM
    CGS Board Meeting
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Friday, March 20, 2009 – 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
    City Directory Library Open
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 21, 2009 – 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon
    Intermediate Genealogy Class
    Margery Bell – Other People Finders, Continuing Education and Giving Back
    California Genealogical Society and Library, 2201 Broadway, Suite LL2, Oakland
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 21, 2009 – 10:30 AM
    Steve Morse – Hodgepodge
    Silicon Valley Community Foundation, 1700 S. El Camino Real, San Mateo
    Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Monday, March 23, 2009 – 5:00 PM
    RootsMagic User’s Group
    SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
    Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2009 – 10:30 AM-12:00 Noon
    Intermediate Genealogy Class
    Margery Bell – Other People Finders, Continuing Education and Giving Back
    Oakland Family History Center, 4766 Lincoln Ave, Oakland
    Sponsored by the Oakland Family History Center
    *
  • Wednesday, March 25, 2009 – 7:30 PM
    Jessica Hacken – Beginning England and Welsh Research
    Marin FHC, LDS Church, 220 North San Pedro Rd, San Rafael
    Sponsored by the Marin County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Wednesday, March 25, 2009
    German Research Group
    Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
    *
  • Thursday, March 26, 2009 – 7:30-9:00 PM
    Kay Speaks – Study Group
    LDS Church, 950 Mocho Street, Livermore
    Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
    *
  • Thursday, March 26, 2009
    Family Tree Software Group
    Danville Family History Center, 2949 Stone Valley Rd at Smith Rd, Alamo
    Sponsored by the San Ramon Valley Genealogical Society
    *
  • Saturday, March 28, 2009 – 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
    Tri-Valley TMG Users Group
    7077 Koll Center Parkway, Suite 110, Pleasanton
    Sponsored by the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society
    *
  • Monday, March 30, 2009 – 7:00 PM
    SMCGS Board Meeting
    SMCGS Library, 125 Lessingia Court, San Mateo
    Sponsored by the San Mateo County Genealogical Society
    *
  • Sunday, March 29, 2009 – Sunday, April 5, 2009
    Salt Lake City Research Tour
    Sponsored by the California Genealogical Society
    *

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death and Burial of Wiktoria Zbikowska Burska – 1814

Posted on February 27, 2009 by Steve

Wiktoria Zbikowska, wife of Antoni Burski, died on 25 Nov 1814 in Borze Marcisze, Płock Department, Duchy of Warsaw, and was buried in the cemetery of the parish church in Gzy, Płock Department, Duchy of Warsaw.

The Death and Burial Record of Wiktoria Zbikowska Burska - 1814

The Death Record of Wiktoria Zbikowska Burska – 1814

SOURCE: Parafia pw. Walentego (Gzy, Ciechanow District, Płock Department, Duchy of Warsaw). “Księga Zmarłych Parafia Gzy, 1813-1825. [Book of Deaths of the Parish of Gzy, 1813-1825.],” folio 6 verso & folio 7 recto, Wiktoria Zbikowska Burska, 25 Nov 1814; filmed as Księgi metrykalne, 1781-1845, FHL INTL microfilm 1496799.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record of Wiktoria Zbikowska Burska. Translated from the Latin, the record reads:

In Borze Marcisze on the 25th of November of the same year [1814], the Noble Wiktoria née Zbikowska, first married to Milewski, wife of the Noble Antoni Burski, leaving behind her widowed husband, 50 years old at death, [incensed?] armed with all the sacraments, and buried in the cemetery.

According to this record, it appears that Wiktoria was married to a man with the surname Milewski before she married Antoni Burski.

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death of Stefan Burski – 1834

Posted on February 26, 2009 by Steve

Stefan Burski, husband of the deceased Marianna Zawadzka, died on 17 Mar 1834 in Borze Marcisze, Płock voivodeship, Congress Kingdom of Poland. His death was recorded in the registers of the parish church in Gzy, Płock Voivodeship, Congress Kingdom of Poland on 18 Mar 1834.

The Death Record of Stefan Burski - 1834

The Death Record of Stefan Burski – 1834

SOURCE: Parafia pw. Walentego (Gzy, Ciechanow District, Płock Governorate, Congress Kingdom of Poland). “Księga Zmarłych Parafia Gzy, 1826-1851. [Book of Deaths of the Parish of Gzy, 1826-1851.],” entry 9, folio 60 recto, Stefan Burski, 18 Mar 1834; Archiwum Diecezjalne w Płocku.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record of Stefan Burski. Translated from the Polish, the record reads:

No 9.
Borze Marcisze. It happened in the village of Gzy on the eighteenth day of March in the year one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-four at the hour of four in the afternoon. There appeared Wojciech Smoliński, thirty-four years of age and Antoni Chotkowski thirty-two years of age, both farmers residing in the village of Borze Marcisze, and they stated that yesterday at the hour of eight in the morning, Stefan Burski died, seventy-four years of age, a widower, residing with his daughter. Visually confirming the death of Stefan Burski, this document was read to the witnesses and signed by us; the witnesses are unable to write.-
          R[everend] Baltazar Prusiński, Canon of Pułtusk, Pastor of the Parish of Gzy –

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Birth and Baptism of Walenty Burski – 1810

Posted on February 25, 2009 by Steve

Walenty Burski, son of Stefan Burski and Marianna Zawadzka, was born in Borze Marcisze, Płock Department, Duchy of Warsaw. He was baptized in the parish church in Gzy, Płock Department, Duchy of Warsaw on 25 Oct 1810.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Walenty Burski - 1810

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Walenty Burski – 1810

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Walentego (Gzy, Płock Department, Duchy of Warsaw). “Kzięgi Metrykalne par. Gzy, Księga Urodzonych 1804 – 1825. [Metrical Books of the Parish of Gzy, Book of Births 1804-1825.],” folio 41 verso, Walenty Burski, 25 Oct 1810; Archivum Dieceznialne w Płocku.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Walenty Burski. Translated from the Latin, the record reads:

Borze Marcisze. On the 25th of October [1810], I who am named above [Wincenty Garnowski, curate of Gzy] baptized an infant named Walenty, born yesterday evening, son of the nobles Stefan Burski age 56, and Marianna née Zawadzka age 46, legally married couple. The Godparents were the nobles Ignacy Kondracki and Marianna his wife.

As is typical for records from this time period and location, the name of the priest and the year must be obtained from a previous record.

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death Record of Antoni Burski – 1833

Posted on February 24, 2009 by Steve

Antoni Burski, husband of Antonina Mossakowska, died on 24 Oct 1833 in Borze Marcisze, Płock voivodeship, Congress Kingdom of Poland. His death was recorded in the registers of the parish church in Gzy, Płock Voivodeship, Congress Kingdom of Poland on 25 Oct 1833.

Death Record of Antoni Burski - 1833

The Death Record of Antoni Burski – 1833

SOURCE: Parafia pw. Walentego (Gzy, Ciechanów District, Płock Governorate, Congress Kingdom of Poland). “Księga Zmarłych Parafia Gzy, 1826-1851. [Book of Deaths of the Parish of Gzy, 1826-1851.],” entry 25, folio 57 verso, Antoni Burski, 25 October 1833; Archiwum Diecezjalne w Płocku.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record of Antoni Burski. Translated from the Polish, the record reads:

No 25.
Borze Marcisze.

It happened in the village of Gzy on the twenty-fifth day of October in the year one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-three at the hour of two in the afternoon. There appeared Antoni Chotkowski and Franciszek Pomaski, age thirty-six, both farmers residing in the village of Borze Marcisze and they stated that yesterday at the hour of five in the morning, Antoni Burski died, seventy years of age, residing with his daughter in the village of Borze Marcisze in house number 4. Visually confirming the death of Antoni, this document was read to the witnesses and signed by us; the witnesses are unable to write.
      R[everend] Baltazar Prusiński, Canon of Pułtusk, Pastor of Gzy

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death of Antonina née Mossakowska Burska – 1834

Posted on February 23, 2009 by Steve

Antonina née Mossakowska Burska, wife of Antoni Burski, died on 02 Jan 1834 in Borze Marcisze, Płock voivodeship, Congress Kingdom of Poland. Her death was recorded in the registers of the parish church in Gzy, Płock Voivodeship, Congress Kingdom of Poland on 03 Jan 1834.

The Death Record of Antonina Burska - 1834

The Death Record of Antonina née Mossakowska Burska – 1834

SOURCE: Parafia pw. Walentego (Gzy, Ciechanow District, Płock Governorate, Congress Kingdom of Poland). “Księga Zmarłych Parafia Gzy, 1826-1851. [Book of Deaths of the Parish of Gzy, 1826-1851.],” entry 1, folio 59 recto, Antonina Mossakowska Burska, 03 January 1834; Archiwum Diecezjalne w Płocku.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death Record of Antonina née Mossakowska Burska. Translated from the Polish, the record reads:

No 1.
Borze Marcisze

It happened in the village of Gzy on the third day of January in the year one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-four at the hour of eleven before noon. There appeared Wojciech Sawliński, thirty five years of age and Antoni Chotkowski twenty-eight years of age, both farmers residing in Borze Marcysze and they stated that yesterday at the hour of two after midnight Antonina née Mossakowska Burska, a widow, fifty-six years of age, residing with her children in Borze Marcisze in house number three. Visually confirming the death of Antonina, this document was read to the witnesses and signed only by us because the witnesses are unable to write.-
          R[everend] Baltazar Prusiński, Canon of Pułtusk, Pastor of the Parish of Gzy

Antonina was a widow at the time of her death. Her husband Antoni died just two months earlier, suggesting that both of them may have died of the same illness.

Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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Describing Place Names in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth 1569-1795

Posted on February 22, 2009 by Steve

When genealogists enter the names of the locations where events in their ancestors’ lives occurred, they are faced with the dilemma of how to enter place names so as to unambiguously identify the locations in both space and time.

To accomplish this task, the genealogist must decide how much information is required to unambiguously identify a place. Is city and country enough, or must one enter other administrative subdivisions? In America, genealogists generally accept that most places can be accurately and unambiguously identified by specifying city, county, state, and country.

Genealogists must also decide whether to enter the name of the place as it was known at the time of the event, or the name of the place as it is known today. Entering place names as they are known today is the easier option, but this choice suffers from the downside that, if place names change in the future, the information in the genealogical database will be outdated . Entering place names as they were known at the time of the events described provides the advantage of historical accuracy and provides the reader with a richer understanding of the historical conditions described in the genealogy.

Efforts to achieve this goal of identifying places as they were known at the times of the events described can be a difficult task because borders throughout the world have changed repeatedly throughout the history of civilization.

Genealogists researching Polish ancestors may be able to trace their families to the time of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795). At the time it existed, the Commonwealth was officially known as Królestwo Polskie i Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie, interpreted as the Kingdom of Poland and Grand Duchy of Lithuania, and was colloquially known as Rzeczpospolita, meaning Commonwealth or Republic. In 1967, Paweł Jasienica coined the name Rzeczpospolita Obojga Narodów (The Commonwealth of Both/Two Nations) in his three volume work by the same name, although this name was not used at the time the Commonwealth actually existed.

The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth was split into several different types of administrative divisions including provinces (singular provincia, plural prowincje), voivodeships or palatinates (singular województwo, plural województwa), lands (singular ziemia, plural ziemie), and districts (singular powiat, plural powiaty).

To make matters even more complex, the borders of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth changed somewhat over time as the Commonwealth gained or lost territory.

In general, the Commonwealth after the Union of Lublin in 1569 encompassed Korona Polska (the Polish Crown), Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie (the Grand Duchy of Lithuania), and several fiefs and dependencies. Within the Polish Crown there existed two provinces: prowincja wielkopolska (Province of Greater Poland) in the northwest of the Commonwealth, and prowincja małopolska (Province of Lesser Poland) in the south. The Grand Duchy of Lithuania is also referred to as prowincja litwa (Province of Lithuania) and is located in the northeast of the Commonwealth.

Each province was divided into województwa (voivodeships).

After the Union of Lublin in 1569, prowincja wielkopolska (Province of Greater Poland) was composed of the following województwa:

województwo brzeskokujawskie (Brześć Kujawski Voivodeship)
województwo chełmińskie (Chełmno Voivodeship)
województwo gnieźnieńskie (Gniezno Voivodeship)
województwo inowrocławskie (Inowrocław Voivodeship)
województwo kaliskie (Kalisz Voivodeship)
województwo łęczyckie (Łęczyca Voivodeship)
województwo malborskie (Malbork Voivodeship)
województwo mazowieckie (Masovian Voivodeship)
województwo płockie (Płock Voivodeship)
województwo pomorskie (Pomeranian Voivodeship)
województwo poznańskie (Poznań Voivodeship)
województwo rawskie (Rawa Voivodeship)
województwo sieradzkie (Sieradz Voivodeship)

After the Union of Lublin in 1569, prowincja małopolska (Province of Lesser Poland) was composed of the following województwa:

województwo bełskie (Bełz Voivodeship)
województwo bracławskie (Bracław Voivodeship)
województwo czernihowskie (Chernihiv Voivodeship)
województwo kijowskie (Kiev Voivodeship)
województwo krakowskie (Kraków Voivodeship)
województwo lubelskie (Lublin Voivodeship)
województwo podlaskie (Podlaskie Voivodeship)
województwo podolskie (Podole Voivodeship)
województwo ruskie (Ruthenian Voivodeship)
województwo sandomierskie (Sandomierz Voivodeship)
województwo wołyńskie (Volhynian Voivodeship)

After the Union of Lublin in 1569, Prowincja Litwa (Province of Lithuania) was composed of the following województwa:

województwo brzeskolitewskie (Brest Litovsk Voivodeship)
województwo mińskie (Minsk Voivodeship)
województwo mścisławskie (Mstsislaw Voivodeship)
województwo nowogródzkie (Nowogródek Voivodeship)
województwo połockie (Polotsk Voivodeship)
województwo smoleńskie (Smolensk Voivodeship)
województwo trockie (Trakai Voivodeship)
województwo wileńskie (Vilnius Voivodeship)
województwo witebskie (Vitebsk Voivodeship)

In turn, each województwo was divided into ziemie (lands) and powiaty (districts), but a detailed tabulation of these smaller divisions is beyond the scope of this article.

With this understanding of the administrative divisions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the genealogist may specify a place name as follows:

name of city or village, voivodeship, province, nation, or
name of city or village, voivodeship, nation

for example:

Szwelice, Masovian Voivodeship, Province of Greater Poland, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, or
Szwelice, Masovian Voivodeship, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

or, if one prefers to write the place name in Polish:

Szwelice, województwo mazowieckie, prowincja wielkopolska, Królestwo Polskie i Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie, or
Szwelice, województwo mazowieckie, Królestwo Polskie i Wielkie Księstwo Litewskie

From a practical standpoint, the name of the province is redundant, since none of the voivodeships overlap or occur in more than one province. The name of the province can be omitted for brevity, without significantly diminishing the specificity of the place name.

If the ziemia (land) or powiat (district) is known, adding that information to the place name can further refine the location for the reader, but identifying the correct ziemia or powiat often requires the use of a more detailed map of the Commonwealth than is commonly available.

By providing accurate place names as they were known at the time of the events described, genealogists can enhance their work with a richer understanding of the world in which their ancestors lived.

Other articles in this series:

  • Describing Place Names in the Duchy of Warsaw 1807-1815
  • Describing Place Names in the Kingdom of Poland 1815-1816
  • Describing Place Names in the Kingdom of Poland 1816-1837
  • Describing Place Names in the Kingdom of Poland 1837-1844
  • Describing Place Names in the Kingdom of Poland 1844-1867
  • Describing Place Names in the Vistula Land 1867-1915

    • Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

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    Interview on KUSF

    Posted on February 21, 2009 by Steve

    Today, I was interviewed by Zbyszek Stanczyk, host of Studio Poland on KUSF 90.3 FM.

    Zbyszek promised me that the hour would fly by, and indeed it did. We talked about the basics of Polish genealogy and this blog, and barely started to get into our discussions when the hour was over.

    The interview, including musical selections from a Warsaw-based R&B group, will be broadcast on Sunday, February 22 at 2 PM Pacific Standard Time. For those who don’t live in San Francisco and can’t pick up KUSF, the broadcast can be heard by clicking the “Listen Now” link at the top of the KUSF website or, if you have iTunes installed on your computer, by clicking on the iTunes Radio Tuner and selecting KUSF under the “public” category.

    The show will be streamed at 2 PM Pacific Standard Time on Sunday, February 22, 2009. Unfortunately, it will not be available at any other time.

    I hope you’ll listen!

    Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

    Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

    The Birth and Baptism of Franciszek Wincenty Wiśniewski – 1840

    Posted on February 20, 2009 by Steve

    Franciszek Wincenty Wiśniewski, son of Paweł Wiśniewski and Rozalia Burska, was born on 09 Mar 1840 in Łady Zalesie, województwo płockie, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was baptized in the parish church in Gzy, województwo płockie, Congress Kingdom of Poland on 05 Apr 1840.

    The Birth and Baptismal Record of Franciszek Wincenty Wisniewski - 1840

    The Birth and Baptismal Record of Franciszek Wincenty Wiśniewski – 1840

    SOURCE: Parafia pw. Walentego (Gzy, powiat ciechanowski, województwo płockie, Congress Kingdom of Poland). “Księga Uródzonych Parafia Gzy, 1826-1843. [Book of Births of the Parish of Gzy, 1826-1843.],” entry 13, folio 157 verso & folio 158 recto, Franciszek Wincenty Wiśniewski, 05 Apr 1840; Archiwum Diecezjalne w Płocku.

    Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Franciszek Wincenty Wiśniewski. Translated from the Polish, the record reads:

    No 13
    Łady Zalesie

    It happened in the village of Gzy on the twenty-fourth day of March / fifth day of April of the one-thousand eight-hundred fortieth year at the hour of one in the afternoon there appeared Paweł Wiśniewski, thirty-two years of age, [Raczacarz?]residing in the village of Łady Zalesie, in the presence of Aleksander Milewski, fifty-eight years of age, and Michał Świderski, thirty-eight years of age, earning a living by day labor in the village of Łady Zalesie, and he showed a child of the male sex, born in his home on the ninth day of March of this same month and year at the hour of ten before noon of Rozalia Burska, thirty-five years of age, his wife. To this child at Holy Baptism performed today was given the name Franciszek Wincenty, and his Godparents were Felix Łada and Józefa Wałewska. – This document
         R[everend] B Prusiński, Vicar of the Parish of Gzy     [continued?]
    This document was read to the declarant and witnesses and signed by us. The father and witnesses do not know how to write –
         R[everend] Baltazar Prusiński, Vicar of the Parish of Gzy

    Franciszek Wincenty’s father, Paweł, was a day laborer. Unlike his wife, Rozalia Burska, he was not born to a noble family. Since nobility was passed from father to son, none of his children were of noble birth, despite Rozalia’s noble birth.

    This record begins on the bottom of one page and ends on the top of the next. The priest signed both portions of the record and repeated the words “Akt ten” or “This document” in both places.

    Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

    Posted in Burski, Wiśniewski | Comments Off on The Birth and Baptism of Franciszek Wincenty Wiśniewski – 1840

    The Birth and Baptism of Andrzej Wiśniewski – 1834

    Posted on February 19, 2009 by Steve

    Andrzej Wiśniewski, son of Paweł Wiśniewski and Rozalia Burska, was born on 07 Mar 1834 in Borze Marcisze, województwo płockie, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was baptized in the parish church in Gzy, województwo płockie, Congress Kingdom of Poland on 15 Nov 1836.

    The Birth and Baptismal Record of Andrzej Wisniewski - 1834

    The Birth and Baptismal Record of Andrzej Wiśniewski – 1834

    SOURCE: Parafia pw. Walentego (Gzy, powiat ciechanowski, województwo płockie, Congress Kingdom of Poland). “Księga Uródzonych Parafia Gzy, 1826-1843. [Book of Births of the Parish of Gzy, 1826-1843.],” entry 52, folio 119 recto,
    Andrzej Wiśniewski, 27 Nov 1836; Archiwum Diecezjalne w Płocku.

    Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Andrzej Wiśniewski. Translated from the Polish, the record reads:

    No 52
    Łady Zalesie

    It happened in the village of Gzy on the twenty-seventh / fifteenth day of November of the one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-sixth year at the hour of twelve noon there appeared Paweł Wiśniewski, twenty-six years of age, earning a living from day labor in the village of Łady Zalesie, in the presence of Jan Satkowski, thirty-eight years of age, and Jan Wiśniewski, thirty-four years of age, the first earning a living by [Kopczyzny?] in the village of Żebry falbogi, the second earning a living from day labor in the village of Ostaszewo Włuski, and he showed a child of the male sex, born in Borze Marcisze on the seventh day of March in the year one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-four, at the hour of four in the morning of Rozalia Burska, thirty-two years of age, his wife. To this child at Holy Baptism performed today was given the name Andrzej, and his Godparents were the aforementioned Jan Satkowski and Maryanna Wiśniewski. The document was read to the declarant and witnesses and signed by us – The father and witnesses do not know how to write. – R[everend] Baltazar Prusiński, Vicar of the Parish of Gzy –

    Andrzej’s father, Paweł, was a day laborer. Unlike his wife, Rozalia Burska, he was not born to a noble family. Since nobility was passed from father to son, none of his children were of noble birth, despite Rozalia’s noble birth.

    Andrzej was apparently baptized on the same day as his younger brother Ignacy. If the documents accurately record the dates of birth and baptism, Andrzej was baptized more than two years after his birth. Another Andrzej 13 Jul 1831 to the same parents. Since this would be the second child of this couple named Andrzej, it is likely the first Andrzej died in infancy.

    Copyright © 2009 by Stephen J. Danko

    Posted in Burski, Wiśniewski | 2 Comments