Obituary for Gladys Graig

Posted on November 6, 2006 by Steve

STAMFORD – Gladys Graig, 76, died at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2006, after a brief illness.

She was married in Jefferson in 1948 to her loving husband, Vernon A. Graig, who predeceased her in 2001.

Gladys was a loving wife, caring mother and devoted grandmother .  She was very dedicated to her family, who loved her dearly.

She is survived by her sons, Gary A. of Mesa, Ariz., Thomas A. (Bobbie) of Stamford, and Jeffrey A. (Barbara J.) of Albany; her grandchildren, Andrea, Gary, Emily, Keith, Kyle and Lukas; a brother, Bernard Hendricksen of Mesa, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.

Friends called at the Hall Funeral Home, 40 Main St. (corner of Liberty Street), Stamford, Sunday between 2 and 5 p.m.

Funeral services will be at noon today, Nov. 6, at the Stamford Trinity Church with Pastor David Nuss officiating and Mary Louise Hendricksen and Deacon Schemerhorn assisting.

Donations may be made in memory of Gladys to the Stamford Trinity Lutheran Church or the Hospice Inn, care of Community Hospice at 445 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the hall Funeral Home under the direction of William A Tari.

SOURCE:  Gladys Graig Obituary, The Daily Star, Oneonta, New York, 6 November 2006, page 5.

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Gladys Hendricksen Graig, 76

Posted on November 4, 2006 by Steve

I’m flying back to New York today to attend the funeral of Gladys Graig.

I met Gladys about 17 years ago, shortly before my sister Barbara married Gladys’ son Jeffrey.

Gladys was born in 1930 in Brooklyn, Kings Co., New York, the daughter of Norwegian immigrants Telef Henricksen and Gerda Sofie Larsen, both from Aust-Adger, Norway .  She married Vernon Arthur Graig in 1948 in Summit, Schoharie Co., New York.

Gladys is survived by her brother Bernhard; three sons, Gary, Thomas, and Jeffrey; four grandsons; and two granddaughters.

She was predeceased by her husband Vernon in 2001, and by her sister Elsie Andresen in 2004.

After her husband’s death, Gladys moved to Arizona, but she visited her family in New York every summer .  This year, she arrived in Albany in early July, and I was able to spend a few hours with her before I had to fly back to California at the end of my vacation .  Shortly before she was due to return to Arizona, Gladys was diagnosed with cancer .  She spent the last few weeks of her life surrounded by her family and loved ones.

I knew Gladys as a kind and thoughtful woman .  Knowing I was studying Polish, she sent me a copy of the Polish National Anthem along with a note that read “The next time I see you, I expect you to sing this for me”.

I will miss her.

Posted in Daily Journal, Graig | 4 Comments

Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak on Good Morning America

Posted on November 3, 2006 by Steve

In case you missed the four episodes of Good Morning America where Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak helped the four anchors trace their roots, here’s a summary of the links:

Megan has also been answering genealogy questions posted at the Good Morning America website.

Visit these links and you may find that you’re still able to sign up for a 3-day free trial of Ancestry.com.

If you want to learn more from Megan, visit her website.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Marriage of Piotr Dańko and Katarzyna Chruścicka

Posted on November 2, 2006 by Steve

My grandfather’s half-brother, Piotr Dańko, son of Jakub Dańko and Zofia Głowacz, was married to Katarzyna Chruścicka,  daughter of Marcin Chruścicki and Anna Klimak, in 1933.

Piotr Danko      Katarzyna Chruscicka

        Piotr Dańko                                 Katarzyna Chruścicka

Thanks to my cousin, Piotr Dańko, for the photographs of his grandparents .  The Marriage Record for Piotr and Katarzyna is Number 7, the second from the top of this page in the Duciecko Parish records.

The Marriage Record of Piotr Dańko and Katarzyna Chruścicka

The Marriage Record of Piotr Dańko and Katarzyna Chruścicka

SOURCE:  Roman Catholic Parish of the Immaculate Heart of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Dubiecko, Poland. Liber Copulatorum (Book of Marriages). 1933, Entry Number 7. Text in Latin, translated by Stephen J. Danko. 

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record for Piotr Dańko and Katarzyna Chruścicka .  The record, translated from the Latin, states:

Number: 7
Date: June 1, 1933
House Number: Not provided
Groom: Piotr Dańko, son of Jakub Dańko and Zofia Głowacz, born June 28, 1898
Religion: Catholic
Age: 35
Marital Status: Unmarried
Name of Bride: Katarzyna Chruścicka, daughter of Marcin Chruścicki and Anna Klimak, born March 20, 1905
Religion: Catholic
Age: 28
Marital Status: Unmarried
Witnesses: Antoni Chruścicki and Tomasz Gerek
Banns Read: May 14, May 21, and May 25, 1933
Priest: [Ceued Młynarski]

After examining the Birth and Baptismal Record and the Marriage Record for Piotr Dańko, some interesting facts are apparent

1 .  Piotr was born one year before his father died
2 .  My grandfather, Michał, married my grandmother just a few months after Piotr was born
3 .  Piotr was only about seven years old when my grandfather left for America
4 .  World War I was waged all around Poland in the years when Piotr was growing up
5 .  Piotr and Katarzyna were married in the Second Polish Republic, a country formed after over a hundred years of the Polish Partitions
6 .  Six years after Piotr married Katarzyna, Poland was invaded by both Nazi Germany and Russia

My cousin told me that Piotr and Katarzyna died in England .  The emigration to England is a story about which I’ll have to ask more questions.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Descendants of Józef Dańko

Posted on November 1, 2006 by Steve

I’ve been able to trace my Dańko ancestors as far back in time as the Parish Records were maintained (the late 1700’s) .  Since I’ve blogged about these records for several months now, I thought it would be useful to publish the family history with links to the various records that I’ve already discussed.

This history does not include information on living individuals.

Descendants of Józef Dańko

Generation No. 1

1. JÓZEF DAŃKO was born about 1717, and died 26 Oct 1787 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Child of JÓZEF DAŃKO is:

2. i. WOJCIECH DAŃKO was born between 1770 – 1772; died 28 Dec 1853, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Generation No. 2

2. WOJCIECH DAŃKO (JÓZEF) was born about 1769 – 1772, and died 28 Dec 1853 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. He married (1) MARIANNA JEDLIŃSKA 11 Nov 1793 in Dubiecko, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of WOJCIECH JEDLIŃSKI .  She was born about 1771 – 1772 and died between 1816 – 1818. He married (2) ROZALIA CHRUŚCICKA 06 Jul 1818 in Dubiecko, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of JÓZEF CHRUŚCICKI. She was born about 1796 in Galicia, Austria-Poland and died before 1854.

Children of WOJCIECH DAŃKO and MARIANNA JEDLIŃSKA are:

i. PAWEL DAŃKO, baptized 01 Jul 1796, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; probably died before 1799, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

3. ii. PAWEL DAŃKO, baptized 04 Jan 1799, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died 31 Jul 1850, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

iii. WIKTORIA DAŃKO, baptized 06 Dec 1800, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

iv. ROZALIA DAŃKO, baptized 10 Aug 1804, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

v. MACIEJ DAŃKO, baptized 01 Jan 1808, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

vi. STANISŁAW DAŃKO, baptized 07 May 1810, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

vii. MICHAŁ DAŃKO, born 22 Sep 1816, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Children of WOJCIECH DAŃKO and ROZALIA CHRUSCICKA are:

4. viii. ANDRZEJ DAŃKO, born 16 Dec 1819, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

ix. MARIA DAŃKO, born 27 Mar 1822, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

x. JAN DAŃKO, born 12 Nov 1824, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

xi. JAKUB DAŃKO, born 23 Jul 1827, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

xii. WIKTORIA DAŃKO, baptized 27 Jul 1830, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

xiii. ANNA DAŃKO, born 26 May 1833, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Generation No. 3

3. PAWEL DAŃKO (WOJCIECH, JÓZEF) was baptized 04 Jan 1799 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died 31 Jul 1850 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. He married ZOFIA SZYMAŃSKA 20 Nov 1825 in Dubiecko, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of ANDRZEJ SZYMAŃSKI and ANNA UNKNOWN. She was born about 1808.

Children of PAWEL DAŃKO and ZOFIA SZYMAŃSKA are:

i. MARIANNA DAŃKO, born 13 Dec 1826, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

ii. SZYMON DAŃKO, born 17 Oct 1829, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

iii. KATARZYNA DAŃKO, born 22 Sep 1832, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

iv. PAWEL DAŃKO, born 19 Jan 1835, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

v. AGNIESZKA DAŃKO, born 06 Jan 1838, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

vi. TOMASZ DAŃKO, born 07 Dec 1840, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

5. vii. JAKUB DAŃKO, born 02 Jul 1843, Tuligłowy, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died 15 Mar 1899, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

viii. JADWIGA DAŃKO, born 09 Sep 1847, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

4 . Â ANDRZEJ DAŃKO (WOJCIECH, JÓZEF) was born 16 Dec 1819 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. He married JADWIGA PANOWSKA, daughter of MARCIN PANOWSKI.

Children of ANDRZEJ DAŃKO and JADWIGA PANOWSKA are:

 i. ROZALIA DAŃKO, born 01 Sep 1847, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Generation No. 4

5. JAKUB DAŃKO (PAWEL, WOJCIECH, JOZEF) was born 02 Jul 1843 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died 15 Mar 1899 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. He married (1) AGNIESZKA SOWA 18 Jul 1870 in Dubiecko, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of MACIEJ SOWA and KATARZYNA JACHOWA, who were married 28 May 1844 in Dubiecko, Galicia, Austria-Poland. She was born 06 Jan 1855 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died between 20 Jun 1895 – 03 Sep 1896 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. He married (2) ZOFIA GŁOWACZ 03 Sep 1896 in Dubiecko, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of JAN GŁOWACZ and ZOFIA SZYMAŃSKA. She was born 15 Dec 1870 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Children of JAKUB DAŃKO and AGNIESZKA SOWA are:

6. i. MICHAEL JACOB DAŃKO, born 22 Sep 1877, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died 02 Jan 1953, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

ii. JÓZEF J. DAŃKO, born about 1880.

iii. WOJCIECH DAŃKO, born 18 Sep 1882, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

7. iv. MARY AGNES DAŃKO, born 12 Jan 1884, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died 18 Sep 1975, Fairlawn Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.

v. JAN DAŃKO, born 18 May 1886, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

vi. KATARZYNA DAŃKO, born 21 Feb 1887, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

8. vii. MARCIN DANKO, born 11 Dec 1890, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

viii. JULIANNA DAŃKO, born 20 Jun 1895, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

Child of JAKUB DAŃKO and ZOFIA GŁOWACZ is:

9. ix. PIOTR DAŃKO, born 28 Jun 1898, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died England, United Kingdom.

Generation No. 5

6. MICHAEL JACOB DAŃKO (JAKUB, PAWEL, WOJCIECH, JÓZEF) was born 22 Sep 1877 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died 02 Jan 1953 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America. He married MARIANNA DZIURZYŃSKA 14 Aug 1898 in Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of JAN DZIURA and MAGDALENA JARA who were married 16 Sep 1875 in Dubiecko, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. Marianna was born 14 Aug 1881 in Sielnica, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died 08 Sep 1969 in St. Peter’s Hospital /Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America

Children of MICHAEL DAŃKO and MARIANNA DZIURZYŃSKA are:

i. SOPHIA MARY DAŃKO, born 12 Jan 1901, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died 06 Oct 1977, Albany, Albany Co., New York; married CLARK GIBSON, between 12 Jan – 19 Jun 1923; born 20 Jun 1894, Fairfield, Franklin Co., Vermont, United States of America; died 19 Jan 1984, Guilderland Center Nursing Home /Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America.

ii . KAROL DAŃKO, born about 02 Apr 1902, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died before May 1909, Galicia, Austria-Poland.

iii. JOHN JOSEPH DAŃKO, born 02 May 1905, Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland; died 30 Dec 1962, Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America; married ALICE HARRIET EUGENIA CHARRON, 27 Jun 1935, Ste. Maries Church /Cohoes, Albany Co., New York, United States of America; born 01 Oct 1904, Cohoes, Albany Co., New York, United States of America; died 25 Sep 1992, St. Peter’s Hospice /Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America.

iv. STATIA FRANCES DANKO, born 13 May 1910, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 21 Oct 1979, Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America; married ALFRED ALOYSIUS IWANIEC, SR., 29 Sep 1934, Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America; born 24 Sep 1914, Mount Vernon, Westchester Co., New York, United States of America; died 11 Sep 1964, Albany, Albany Co., New York, United States of America.

v. BRONISLAWA DANKO, born 03 Jan 1912, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 13 Jan 1913, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

vi. MICHAEL JOHN DANKO, born 13 Sep 1913, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 19 Nov 1981, 15 Marion Avenue /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; married JEAN BARBARA SKOWRONSKI, 12 Jul 1952, St. Marys Church /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; born 31 Mar 1917, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 18 Oct 1996, Memorial Health Care /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

vii. BERTHA THERESA DANKO, born 28 Oct 1915, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 29 Jul 1978, The Memorial Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; married GEORGE EDWARD JOSEPH MCGINN, 20 Oct 1934, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; born 23 Sep 1908, Fredericton, York Co., New Brunswick, Canada; died 21 Mar 1981, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

viii. MARY THERESA DANKO, born 07 Oct 1917, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 05 Jan 1986, Hahnemann Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; married (1) NISHAN JOHN MOORADIAN, 25 Sep 1942, 118 Elm St. /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; born 04 Dec 1910, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 07 Jun 1990, The Medical Center of Central Massachusetts – Memorial /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; married (2) OSCAR YOUSOUFIAN, 17 May 1950, Auburn, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; born 16 Mar 1898, Erzeroum, Armenia; died 02 Jun 1973, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

ix. JOSEPH JOHN DANKO, SR., born 02 Sep 1919, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 05 Jul 1991, Medical Center of Central Massachusetts – Hahnemann /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

7. MARY AGNES DAŃKO (JAKUB, PAWEL, WOJCIECH, JÓZEF) was born 12 Jan 1884 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died 18 Sep 1975 in Fairlawn Hospital /Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America. She married PAUL GOLIŃSKI 04 Oct 1915 in Barre, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America, son of JAN GOLIŃSKI and MARIA DARAŻ. He was born 15 Dec 1888 in Sliwnica, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died 22 Feb 1968 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

Children of MARY DAŃKO and PAUL GOLIŃSKI are:

i. VICTORIA THERESA GOLINSKI, born 19 Jul 1916, Barre, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 23 Oct 1998, St. Vincent Hospital /Millbury, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

ii. PAWEL GOLINSKI, born 14 May 1924, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America; died 15 May 1924, Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, United States of America.

8. MARCIN DAŃKO (JAKUB, PAWEL, WOJCIECH, JÓZEF) was born 11 Dec 1890 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland. He married TERESA BAL 22 May 1919 in Dubiecko, Galicia, Austria-Poland, daughter of JAKUB BAL. She was born about 1897 in Galicia, Austria-Poland.

9. PIOTR DAŃKO (JAKUB, PAWEL, WOJCIECH, JOZEF) was born 28 Jun 1898 in Nienadowa, Powiat Przemyski, Galicia, Austria-Poland, and died in England, United Kingdom. He married KATARZYNA CHRUŚCICKA 01 Jun 1933 in Dubiecko, Powiat Przemysl, Województwo Lwowskie, Second Polish Republic, daughter of MARCIN CHRUŚCICKI and ANNA SLIMAK. She was born 20 Mar 1905, and died in England, United Kingdom.

The links are to posts in this blog that describes an original source with primary information about the event described .  Many of the dates and places in the family history are based on secondary information, meaning that I may have obtained the date of birth of an individual from a Marriage Record, for example, rather than from a Birth and Baptismal Record.

I will update this blog entry with additional links as I add more images of original documents.

Posted in Daily Journal, Dańko | Comments Off on The Descendants of Józef Dańko

The Birth and Baptism of Piotr Dańko

Posted on October 31, 2006 by Steve

I previously wrote that my Great Grandfather Jakub Dańko was married twice .  His first marriage was to Agnieszka Sowa, my great grandmother .  After Agnieszka’s tragic death, Jakub married Zofia Głowacz .  Two years after this second marriage, Zofia bore Jakub a son, Piotr .  Piotr’s record is number 53, the second record on page 238 of the parish register .  Like other church records in Galicia, these records were maintained in Latin in a columnar format.

Birth and Baptismal Record for Piotr Danko

The Birth and Baptismal Record for Piotr Dańko

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Piotr Dańko 1898 .  Translated from the Latin, the record states that:

Page: 238
Number: 53
Birth: June 28, 1898
Baptism: June 29, 1898
House Number: 207
Name: Piotr Dańko
Religion: Catholic
Sex: Boy
Legitimacy: Legitimate
Father: Jakub Dańko, son of the married couple Paweł Dańko and Zofia née Szymańska
Mother: Zofia Głowacz, daughter of the married couple Jan Głowacz and the deceased Maria née Szymańska
Godparents: Jakub Sowa, farmer, and Zofia daughter of Jan Bal, farmer
Priest: Father Tomasz [Kaprinowicz]
Midwife: Katarzyna Kijanka

Jakub married Zofia when he was 53 years old and Zofia was 25 .  Piotr was born when Jakub was 55 and Zofia was 27 .  Jakub died less than a year after Piotr was born.

Before the name of Zofia’s mother there is an abbreviation “p.d.”, which probably stands for “post delictam”, indicating that Zofia’s mother was deceased at the time of Zofia’s marriage.

I imagine that Zofia probably remarried after Jakub’s death.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Dańko, Szymański | Tagged | 2 Comments

The Dańkos of Kraków

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Steve

I received a surprise in my email today – a message from my half-second cousin Piotr Dańko in Kraków!

If you listened to the recent Genealogy Guys Podcast from October 23, 2006, you’ll know that Drew Smith interviewed me over the telephone and we discussed, among other things, my trip to Poland in 2000 .  Drew asked me if I had met any of my relatives still living in Poland, and I told him that, although I met some of the Dańkos in Nienadowa, nobody there thought I was related to them.

In the end, there was a suggestion that I might be related to a Dańko living in Kraków.

I remember that my Aunt Helen told me that my Great-Grandmother Agnieszka Sowa fell while picking cherries and died .  My Great-Grandfather Jakub Dańko then married Zofia Głowacz and the couple had a son .  Further, one of the descendants of this line went to live in Kraków.

When I received the email from Piotr Dańko today, he provided me information that convinced me that he is descended from this line, the marriage of Jakub Dańko and Zofia Głowacz .  This makes us half-second cousins .  Jakub Dańko is our common ancestor – he is a great grandfather to both of us .  However, we are half-cousins, because we have different great grandmothers.

I’m looking forward to exchanging information with Piotr .  This is the first contact I’ve had with any relatives still living in Poland.

I’ve included in today’s post a photo of my grandfather, Michał Dańko .  My grandfather Michał is the half-brother of Piotr’s grandfather .  I don’t know the date of this photo .  I guess it was taken on Henchman Street in Worcester, Massachusetts in the 1930s or 1940s.

Michael Danko on Henchman Street

Michał Dańko (Michael Danko)

Thanks to my cousin, Marguerite Martin, for providing me with this photograph.

Posted in Daily Journal, Dańko | 2 Comments

The Birth and Baptism of Teodor Niedziałkowski – 1839

Posted on October 30, 2006 by Steve

Between the births of my Great-Great Grandfather, Wojciech Niedziałkokwski, and his sister Małgorzata was the birth of their brother Teodor (Theodore) on 19 January 1839 in Mosaki-Godacze.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Teodor Niedziałkowski - 1839

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Teodor Niedziałkowski - 1839

Click on the image for a higher resolution view of the document. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Teodor Niedziałkowski .  Translated from the Polish, the record states that:

5. Mosaki Godacze

This happened in the church-owned village of Krasne on the 8th / 20th day of January 1839 at three o’clock in the afternoon .  Antoni Niedziałkowski presented himself, owner of a part, living in the village of Mosaki Godacze, age 30, in the presence of Andrzej Niedziałkowski, owner of a part, living in the village of Rukle, age 22, likewise Paweł Milkowski, owner of a part, living in the village of Godacze, age 32, and he showed us a male child born in the village of Godacze yesterday at seven o’clock in the morning, born to his wife Karolina Milewska, age 28; At Holy Baptism performed this day, the child was given the name Teodor, and his Godparents were the above mentioned Andrzej Niedziałkowski and Domicela Milewska – This document was read aloud to the declarants and witnesses who cannot write –

Reverend Józef Bonikowski
Pastor of the Krasne Parish

The Godparents, Andrzej Niedziałkowski and Domicela Milewska, may be relatives .  As of yet, I don’t know how they might fit into the family tree.

The name of Teodor’s mother is Karolina Milewska, which is the same as the mother of Małgorzata .  Wojciech’s mother was reported as Katarzyna Milewska, but this may be an error on the part of the priest .  I’ll have to check the records of Wojciech’s siblings who were born before Wojciech and see what those records say.

I was actually surprised to find this record among the digital images I brought back from one of my trips to Salt Lake City .  I knew Wojciech had a brother Teodor who died young, but I didn’t realize I had made a copy of the record of Teodor’s birth!

This record extended over two pages in the parish register .  For convenience, I spliced the two pieces together .  You can tell where I spliced the images because there is a white space extending across the record where the splice was made.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

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Jane Niedzialkowski Danko's Gravestone

Posted on October 28, 2006 by Steve

I’ve been working all day on the genealogy classes I’m taking through the National Institute for Genealogical Studies / University of Toronto, so I didn’t have much time to blog .  Nonetheless, I thought I’d at least post a photo.

My mother died in 1980 in Albany, New York, and is buried in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery .  I took the following snapshot while I was in Albany in July.

Gravestone for Jane Danko

The flowers around the gravestone are rather tame this year .  My sisters, my father, and my cousins keep the flowers watered all through the growing season, so the area is usually full of color even when the grass is brown and dry.

Although you can’t read the inscription from the photograph, the stone reads:

DANKO
SORROW IS NOT FOREVER
LOVE IS

FRANCIS J . Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â                   JANE A.
    1924 -                                      1922 – HIS WIFE – 1980

The grave is located within Our Lady of Angels Cemetery at St. Francis Shrine – A, Row D, Grave 8.

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The Birth and Baptism of Małgorzata Niedzialkowska – 1840

Posted on October 27, 2006 by Steve

My Great-Great Grandfather Wojciech (Albert) Niedziałkowski was born in 1836 .  His sister Małgorzata (Margaret) was born in 1840.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Małgorzata Niedziałkowska - 1840

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Małgorzata Niedziałkowska - 1840

Click on the image for a higher resolution image. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Małgorzata Niedziałkowska .  The record, translated from the Polish, states:

55. Mosaki Godacze

This happened in the village of Krasne on the 7th / 19th day of July 1840 at seven o’clock in the afternoon .  Antoni Niedziałkowski presented himself, age 28, owner of a part, living in Mosaki Godacze, in the presence of Kilian Slaski, age 27, and Józef Grabowski, age 40, both living in the inherited part of Mosaki Godacze, and he showed us a female child, declaring that she was born in Mosaki Godacze the day before yesterday at two o’clock in the afternoon, born to his wife Karolina née Milewska, age 30; At Holy Baptism performed this day, the child was given the name Małgorzata, and her Godparents were the above-mentioned Kilian Slaski and Maryanna Rykowska .  This document was read aloud to the declarants and witnesses who are unable to write.

Reverend Józef Bońkowski, Pastor of Krasne

SOURCE:  Roman Catholic Parish of St. John the Baptist, Krasne, Poland. Księga Urodzonych Parafii Krasne (Book of Births of the Krasne Parish). 1840. Page 28, Entry Number 55. FHL INTL Film 0702793, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Text in Polish, translated by Stephen J. Danko.

The record states that Małgorzata was born “the day before yesterday”, so she was born on July 17, 1840 .  My experience with the Birth and Baptismal Records in Poland tells me that this was unusual .  Parents usually brought their newborn children to be baptized on the day the child was born or the day after .  I have no explanation why the family waited two days for the baptism.

When Wojciech was born in 1836, the village in which my ancestors lived was called Godacze .  When Małgorzata was born in 1840, the same village was called Mosaki Godacze.

And notice the given name of the first witness:  Kilian .  This is not exactly a common Polish name, but it isn’t particularly rare, either .  In any case, the origin of the name is Irish.

Copyright © 2006 by Stephen J. Danko

Posted in Milewski, Niedziałkowski | Tagged | 2 Comments