Hi List, Having returned from Poland I must say that finding church records was a lot easier, or I was lucky. E.g. My mother was born in Warsaw, lived near St Stanislawa church., grandmother buried in Powazki cemetery abt 1934, ggrandmother lived in Gniezno, mum went to church at St Michal when with ggm. This info I got from Mum before she died. In Warsaw visited St Stanislawa church -no records, all sent to the Catholic Seminary University in Dewajtis St. Took a taxi to Dewajtis St, with very limited Polish eventually found the building in the complex, managed to convey the year and church, bingo found gmothers death records, being brave I then asked for records of birth for mum's year, bingo, found mums birth, alas gmum and gdad never married. Mum registered under gmothers name, side note added five years later changes her name to gdads ,( presumably so that she could go to catholic school). This info unlocked the reason for the family fued. Found out that most Warsaw church records are held at Dewajtis St Next went to Powazki Cemetery, no records held prior to 1945, all destroyed. Must say this is the most beautiful cemetery that I have ever seen. Went to Gniezno, to St Michal, saw a nun arranging flowers at the altar, church gates shut, called her over and said "sukam Babcha" she immediately took me over to the office, called another nun who searched the records, found gmothers birth. Gave me a photocopy of the record. No charge, so I gave her 50zl (abt 25$) All other records at Archives in Gniezno. Went to Archives, assistant can speak little English, full day search, found, ggmothers death , birth, marriage And a lot of related family. Paid her for another days search as we had to leave to go to Warsaw. All documentation is being posted to us. Cost of search was 30zl per hour, but well worth it. Some of the books were that old that only the researcher was allowed to touch them. Also the Archives is like Fort Knox, electronic doors, buzzers, and you get locked into a room. Moral of story is that if you can afford to take a trip to Poland do so, even armed with little information it is surprising how far you can go. -----Original Message----- From: poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Lynnjoni@aol.com Sent: Thursday, 28 August 2008 8:52 AM To: poland-roots@rootsweb.com Subject: [POLAND] Surname Searching Hi Liz, The names my husband is searching for are Przybylski, Wasilewski, and Flott. Thanks for asking. Joni

Wal, And you did all that not knowing a lot of Polish but ate least making an attempt. Good for you! Debbie Annie & Wal wrote: > Hi List, > Having returned from Poland I must say that finding church records was > a lot easier, or I was lucky. E.g. > > My mother was born in Warsaw, lived near St Stanislawa church., > grandmother buried in Powazki cemetery abt 1934, ggrandmother lived in > Gniezno, mum went to church at St Michal when with ggm. This info I got > from Mum before she died. > In Warsaw visited St Stanislawa church -no records, all sent to the > Catholic Seminary University in Dewajtis St. > Took a taxi to Dewajtis St, with very limited Polish eventually found > the building in the complex, managed to convey the year and church, > bingo found gmothers death records, being brave I then asked for records > of birth for mum's year, bingo, found mums birth, alas gmum and gdad > never married. Mum registered under gmothers name, side note added five > years later changes her name to gdads ,( presumably so that she could go > to catholic school). > This info unlocked the reason for the family fued. > Found out that most Warsaw church records are held at Dewajtis St > > Next went to Powazki Cemetery, no records held prior to 1945, all > destroyed. Must say this is the most beautiful cemetery that I have ever > seen. > > Went to Gniezno, to St Michal, saw a nun arranging flowers at the altar, > church gates shut, called her over and said "sukam Babcha" she > immediately took me over to the office, called another nun who searched > the records, found gmothers birth. Gave me a photocopy of the record. > No charge, so I gave her 50zl (abt 25$) All other records at Archives > in Gniezno. > Went to Archives, assistant can speak little English, full day search, > found, ggmothers death , birth, marriage > And a lot of related family. Paid her for another days search as we had > to leave to go to Warsaw. All documentation is being posted to us. Cost > of search was 30zl per hour, but well worth it. Some of the books were > that old that only the researcher was allowed to touch them. Also the > Archives is like Fort Knox, electronic doors, buzzers, and you get > locked into a room. > > Moral of story is that if you can afford to take a trip to Poland do so, > even armed with little information it is surprising how far you can go. >

Hi Debbie, Yep, but my Polish improved dramatically as my brain remembered my native tongue as mum taught me. First time I was able to speak it over 40yrs. My wife couldn't speak a word, my new found cousin could speak only a few words of English, but both got on like a house on fire and chatted incessantly being able to convey conversations. Also we met Ewa K and her husband and had a wonderful time with them. Regards Wal -----Original Message----- From: poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:poland-roots-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Debbie Greenlee Sent: Friday, 29 August 2008 12:22 PM To: poland-roots@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [POLAND] Surname Searching Wal, And you did all that not knowing a lot of Polish but ate least making an attempt. Good for you! Debbie