Penny, I have some info that may or may not be connected to your Franz Gajtkowski. You did not give any personal info about him. In my family tree I have: Alexander Gutouski, age 17 (born 1888), departed Bremen, Germany, and arrived Apr 1905 Baltimore, Maryland, on the ship Chemnitz. His last residence was Slawisk? Russia. He was Polish. His destination was Fayette, Pa. Friend's name was Uncle Franciszek Gusky, Fayette City, Pa. (ancestry.com has his friend indexed wrong. They indexed his friend as Lawraitis Feliks, who was the next line down.) On the same ship, same date, was Stanisl. Drosdowski (indexed as Hamsil, not Stanisl.). Also from Slawisk? Russia. He was Polish. Friend's name was indexed as Wiktor Andizejewis, Fayette City, Pa. Again, the friend was indexed wrong (next line down). He was going to his cousin Franciszek Gusky, Fayette City, Pa Alexander Gutowski settled in Wisconsin. His WWI draft card states: Alex Gutoski, born Nov. 1, 1888 Buraly? Lomza, Poland; Russia There is a family tree on ancestry.com (not mine) that states the same Alex was: Alexander GUTOWSKI b: 29 Sep 1886 in Gutki, Russia (Poland). This family tree has his son Frank married to the same person I have in my family tree, Dorothy Kurowski, who was a niece to my husband's grandfather. http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:3073603&id=I601309660 Hope this helps, Ruth Pokorny ----- Original Message ----- From: "Penny Ruckle" <penny.ruckle@yahoo.com> To: <poland-roots@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 7:51 PM Subject: [POLAND] Can the Group Help? I am still searching for my elusive Grandfather Franz Gajtkowski. I have found everything I can about him here in Philadelphia, PA, USA. He is listed as being from Prussia or Prussia/Poland on every document I find for him in the USA. However, I cannot find him in Poland and I have spent a lot of time and money searching. 1. At this point I am concentrating on areas of Poland that would butt against Russia. Is there a possibility that he lived so close to Russia that the family church was in Russia and not Poland? 2. My mother told me that Franz had a brother Valentine who was conscripted in the Russian Army. How do I go about looking for records or is looking for the town Franz was born in first, the way to go? I know nothing else about Valentine. That was the only time I ever heard about him. I don't know if he survived his time in the Russian army or died while in the army. 3. I also think that my grandfather was living on manorial lands. Reason: My mother said that the male children in Poland who lived on the Pon's (spelling?) land, were taught to read and write and were taught a trade. Franz could read and write Polish and was a blacksmith by trade. I am planning on going to our main library in Philadelphia to meet with a man I have gotten to know well. He works in the Map Department and has helped me many times in locating areas that have changed countries, names, etc. I am going to ask him the same questions and try to find maps for 1861 (the year my grandfather was born, and prior maps. My thoughts are that I may find some town that have now been searched. I also mention that in addition to Polish, my grandfather spoke German and I am assuming that is because he was raised in Prussia and not "Poland." (We all know it was Poland with a fake name!) Any help that anyone can give would be appreciated. I am most anxious to learn how to access manorial records. Thank you. *********************************