Hi Dorothy, I have a membership to Ancestry.com, I don't have the international subscription though. I have worked on my fathers line for about 20 years, fortunately his family line has been here in the states since 1636, I have had little difficulty tracing his line. There were some slight name changes over the years but DNA has settled what part of the clan we descend from. Ellis Island will be of no help to me. My family arrived here in 1882 at that time Ellis Island was being used as an Ammunition storage facility. Ellis Island didn't start receiving immigrants until 1890. I have census records for the family starting in 1900 thru my subscription with Ancestry.com. I was able to online locate newspaper obits for many of my great grandparents immediate family. I however didn't find the obit for Frank my great grandfather. I was able to obtain a copy of these obits thru the local libraries in Wis. where my family members lived. I even have a funeral card for my great grandmother in which a family member saved all these years. I have located on line a record for my great grandparents marriage license but haven't been able to send off for a copy yet. It sounds like I have a lot to go on but as I have stated not knowing the actual spelling has caused serious brick walls. I do have an LDS site about 20 minutes from here but haven't used it in probably 20 years. Unless I can find clues on line I am unable to move forward. What I mean by that is I work for a school dist. and my hours don't allow me to visit the center while they are open. I do have time off in the summer but am unable to get in during that time as that's when everyone else flocks to the center. You have mentioned a couple of sites I haven't tried. I will look into them. Thank you for your suggestions and hopefully I will find a clue, no matter how small a clue is a clue that can only prove or disprove a hunch as very helpful. Thank you, Roberta Hall ----- Original Message ----- From: "D Petraitis" <dorothykp@comcast.net> To: <polandbordersurnames@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 3:27 PM Subject: Re: [PBS] trying to figure out who my polish family was > Roberta, > > It seems you have much information that could lead to further > discoveries. Have you tried Familysearch.org? That is the site of > the Latter Day Saints. Try their International Geanealogical Index. > > Since you have the month, year and port of immigration, google Ellis > Island and try a stearch. Search PGSA.org. Lots of information > there. Join Polish Genealogical Society of America, attend > conferences. They have lots of worhtwhile books listed at their site. > > Your library may have a subscription to Ancestry.com (limited edition) > which you can search from your home computer if you have a library > card. Join a couple of genealogy lists (can be found on rootsweb.com, > search Polish, Poland, Surnames). Ancestry is a good place to search > for census records. > > You have a wonderful start with your current information. What is > the source of your current information? It sounds like starting at > Ellis Island would give you lots more information if you can find > Arrival and Departure Documents. > > Google your closest Mormon Family History Library (LDS). There are > several in the Metro Chicago area. > > Happpy Hunting, > Dorothy > On Mar 15, 2010, at 11:17 AM, roberta hall wrote: > > Hi my name is Roberta Hall. I am a 5th generation Polish American. I > have no Polish heritage left as my family has fully integrated the > American way of life. Only Polish I have left is in my blood, only > wish I knew how to speak the language. > > My ancestor's arrived in the States via the Port of New York in > December of 1882. Their names have been Americanized and based on > documents I have found not one person spelled it the same way. > This is want I have: > 1) My great great grandparents: Joseph Schemenkowski and Mary > Wisnovsky/Wisnewski. > > 1900 W. Kewaunee, Kewaunee Co., Wis. USA > Household # 252 > Scimenkufsky, Joseph b. Dec. 1838 in Polish, Rus. (possibly Brevier?) > Mary (wife) b. Jan. 1847 in Polish, Ger. > Anna (dau.) b. Jun. 1878 in Polish, Ger. > Frank (son) b. Oct. 1879 in Polish, Ger. > Daniel (son) b. Dec. 1883 in Wis., USA > > 2) Frank my great grandfather's marriage license is spelled Franz, > Sieniskowski. He married in Wisconsin in 1901. > > 3) Frank believed he was a citizen of the U.S. based on the papers his > father showed him. I don't have a copy of those papers but Frank was 3 > at the time the family emigrated to the States. As it turned out > Frank was not naturalized at the time of emigration so in 1913 he > filed papers to naturalize. On those papers Frank spells his name > Shenenkowfski. He states he was born in West Prussia, Germany and that > he emigrated thru Bremen in November of 1882 arriving in New York in > December of that same year. He doesn't know the name of the ship. > > 4) Generations of the family follow the Catholic religion. > buried at St. Hedwig Catholic Cemetery > Schemenkowski, Joseph, wife Mary, son Frank his wife Eva, > grand son Louis his wife Sophie, and great grand children Louis and > Regina. Along with son John Wisnicky. > buried in another Catholic cemetery is another of Joseph and > Mary's son's Daniel Sheninkosky. > > The correct spelling of the name is an obvious issue and has made my > search difficult. I have no experience researching in Polish archives > and language would be a problem and I can't read or speak it. > > Can anyone help me, I would really appreciate it. My grandmother has > since passed but she had 8 children resulting in 27 grand children. I > am the only one in the family who is attempting to find our roots. I > have many cousins waiting to see what I can learn. > > Thank you to anyone who can help, > Roberta Hall > Chicago, Ill. > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com > with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and > the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Roberta, You might want to give stevemorse.org a try. I believe he has a search engine for Castle Garden which covers the years 1855 to 1890. If your ancestors came through the Port of New York at that time, it is most likely that they were processed through Castle Garden. Barbara On Mar 15, 2010, at 5:09 PM, roberta hall wrote: > Hi Dorothy, > I have a membership to Ancestry.com, I don't have the international > subscription though. I have worked on my fathers line for about 20 years, > fortunately his family line has been here in the states since 1636, I have > had little difficulty tracing his line. There were some slight name changes > over the years but DNA has settled what part of the clan we descend from. > > Ellis Island will be of no help to me. My family arrived here in 1882 at > that time Ellis Island was being used as an Ammunition storage facility. > Ellis Island didn't start receiving immigrants until 1890. > > I have census records for the family starting in 1900 thru my subscription > with Ancestry.com. I was able to online locate newspaper obits for many of > my great grandparents immediate family. I however didn't find the obit for > Frank my great grandfather. I was able to obtain a copy of these obits thru > the local libraries in Wis. where my family members lived. I even have a > funeral card for > my great grandmother in which a family member saved all these years. I have > located on line a record for my great grandparents marriage license but > haven't been able to send off for a copy yet. > > It sounds like I have a lot to go on but as I have stated not knowing the > actual spelling has caused serious brick walls. I do have an LDS site about > 20 minutes from here but haven't used it in probably 20 years. Unless I can > find clues on line I am unable to move forward. What I mean by that is I > work for a school dist. and my hours don't allow me to visit the center > while they are open. I do have time off in the summer but am unable to get > in during that time as that's when everyone else flocks to the center. > > You have mentioned a couple of sites I haven't tried. I will look into them. > Thank you for your suggestions and hopefully I will find a clue, no matter > how small a clue is a clue that can only prove or disprove a hunch as very > helpful. > > Thank you, > Roberta Hall > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "D Petraitis" <dorothykp@comcast.net> > To: <polandbordersurnames@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 3:27 PM > Subject: Re: [PBS] trying to figure out who my polish family was > > >> Roberta, >> >> It seems you have much information that could lead to further >> discoveries. Have you tried Familysearch.org? That is the site of >> the Latter Day Saints. Try their International Geanealogical Index. >> >> Since you have the month, year and port of immigration, google Ellis >> Island and try a stearch. Search PGSA.org. Lots of information >> there. Join Polish Genealogical Society of America, attend >> conferences. They have lots of worhtwhile books listed at their site. >> >> Your library may have a subscription to Ancestry.com (limited edition) >> which you can search from your home computer if you have a library >> card. Join a couple of genealogy lists (can be found on rootsweb.com, >> search Polish, Poland, Surnames). Ancestry is a good place to search >> for census records. >> >> You have a wonderful start with your current information. What is >> the source of your current information? It sounds like starting at >> Ellis Island would give you lots more information if you can find >> Arrival and Departure Documents. >> >> Google your closest Mormon Family History Library (LDS). There are >> several in the Metro Chicago area. >> >> Happpy Hunting, >> Dorothy >> On Mar 15, 2010, at 11:17 AM, roberta hall wrote: >> >> Hi my name is Roberta Hall. I am a 5th generation Polish American. I >> have no Polish heritage left as my family has fully integrated the >> American way of life. Only Polish I have left is in my blood, only >> wish I knew how to speak the language. >> >> My ancestor's arrived in the States via the Port of New York in >> December of 1882. Their names have been Americanized and based on >> documents I have found not one person spelled it the same way. >> This is want I have: >> 1) My great great grandparents: Joseph Schemenkowski and Mary >> Wisnovsky/Wisnewski. >> >> 1900 W. Kewaunee, Kewaunee Co., Wis. USA >> Household # 252 >> Scimenkufsky, Joseph b. Dec. 1838 in Polish, Rus. (possibly Brevier?) >> Mary (wife) b. Jan. 1847 in Polish, Ger. >> Anna (dau.) b. Jun. 1878 in Polish, Ger. >> Frank (son) b. Oct. 1879 in Polish, Ger. >> Daniel (son) b. Dec. 1883 in Wis., USA >> >> 2) Frank my great grandfather's marriage license is spelled Franz, >> Sieniskowski. He married in Wisconsin in 1901. >> >> 3) Frank believed he was a citizen of the U.S. based on the papers his >> father showed him. I don't have a copy of those papers but Frank was 3 >> at the time the family emigrated to the States. As it turned out >> Frank was not naturalized at the time of emigration so in 1913 he >> filed papers to naturalize. On those papers Frank spells his name >> Shenenkowfski. He states he was born in West Prussia, Germany and that >> he emigrated thru Bremen in November of 1882 arriving in New York in >> December of that same year. He doesn't know the name of the ship. >> >> 4) Generations of the family follow the Catholic religion. >> buried at St. Hedwig Catholic Cemetery >> Schemenkowski, Joseph, wife Mary, son Frank his wife Eva, >> grand son Louis his wife Sophie, and great grand children Louis and >> Regina. Along with son John Wisnicky. >> buried in another Catholic cemetery is another of Joseph and >> Mary's son's Daniel Sheninkosky. >> >> The correct spelling of the name is an obvious issue and has made my >> search difficult. I have no experience researching in Polish archives >> and language would be a problem and I can't read or speak it. >> >> Can anyone help me, I would really appreciate it. My grandmother has >> since passed but she had 8 children resulting in 27 grand children. I >> am the only one in the family who is attempting to find our roots. I >> have many cousins waiting to see what I can learn. >> >> Thank you to anyone who can help, >> Roberta Hall >> Chicago, Ill. >> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com >> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and >> the body of the message >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Thank you Barbara, I will give that a try. :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barbara Karwowski" <barbarakarwowski@comcast.net> To: <polandbordersurnames@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 4:23 PM Subject: Re: [PBS] trying to figure out who my polish family was > Roberta, > You might want to give stevemorse.org a try. I believe he has a search > engine for Castle Garden which covers the years 1855 to 1890. If your > ancestors came through the Port of New York at that time, it is most > likely that they were processed through Castle Garden. > Barbara > On Mar 15, 2010, at 5:09 PM, roberta hall wrote: > >> Hi Dorothy, >> I have a membership to Ancestry.com, I don't have the international >> subscription though. I have worked on my fathers line for about 20 years, >> fortunately his family line has been here in the states since 1636, I >> have >> had little difficulty tracing his line. There were some slight name >> changes >> over the years but DNA has settled what part of the clan we descend from. >> >> Ellis Island will be of no help to me. My family arrived here in 1882 at >> that time Ellis Island was being used as an Ammunition storage facility. >> Ellis Island didn't start receiving immigrants until 1890. >> >> I have census records for the family starting in 1900 thru my >> subscription >> with Ancestry.com. I was able to online locate newspaper obits for many >> of >> my great grandparents immediate family. I however didn't find the obit >> for >> Frank my great grandfather. I was able to obtain a copy of these obits >> thru >> the local libraries in Wis. where my family members lived. I even have a >> funeral card for >> my great grandmother in which a family member saved all these years. I >> have >> located on line a record for my great grandparents marriage license but >> haven't been able to send off for a copy yet. >> >> It sounds like I have a lot to go on but as I have stated not knowing the >> actual spelling has caused serious brick walls. I do have an LDS site >> about >> 20 minutes from here but haven't used it in probably 20 years. Unless I >> can >> find clues on line I am unable to move forward. What I mean by that is I >> work for a school dist. and my hours don't allow me to visit the center >> while they are open. I do have time off in the summer but am unable to >> get >> in during that time as that's when everyone else flocks to the center. >> >> You have mentioned a couple of sites I haven't tried. I will look into >> them. >> Thank you for your suggestions and hopefully I will find a clue, no >> matter >> how small a clue is a clue that can only prove or disprove a hunch as >> very >> helpful. >> >> Thank you, >> Roberta Hall >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "D Petraitis" <dorothykp@comcast.net> >> To: <polandbordersurnames@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 3:27 PM >> Subject: Re: [PBS] trying to figure out who my polish family was >> >> >>> Roberta, >>> >>> It seems you have much information that could lead to further >>> discoveries. Have you tried Familysearch.org? That is the site of >>> the Latter Day Saints. Try their International Geanealogical Index. >>> >>> Since you have the month, year and port of immigration, google Ellis >>> Island and try a stearch. Search PGSA.org. Lots of information >>> there. Join Polish Genealogical Society of America, attend >>> conferences. They have lots of worhtwhile books listed at their site. >>> >>> Your library may have a subscription to Ancestry.com (limited edition) >>> which you can search from your home computer if you have a library >>> card. Join a couple of genealogy lists (can be found on rootsweb.com, >>> search Polish, Poland, Surnames). Ancestry is a good place to search >>> for census records. >>> >>> You have a wonderful start with your current information. What is >>> the source of your current information? It sounds like starting at >>> Ellis Island would give you lots more information if you can find >>> Arrival and Departure Documents. >>> >>> Google your closest Mormon Family History Library (LDS). There are >>> several in the Metro Chicago area. >>> >>> Happpy Hunting, >>> Dorothy >>> On Mar 15, 2010, at 11:17 AM, roberta hall wrote: >>> >>> Hi my name is Roberta Hall. I am a 5th generation Polish American. I >>> have no Polish heritage left as my family has fully integrated the >>> American way of life. Only Polish I have left is in my blood, only >>> wish I knew how to speak the language. >>> >>> My ancestor's arrived in the States via the Port of New York in >>> December of 1882. Their names have been Americanized and based on >>> documents I have found not one person spelled it the same way. >>> This is want I have: >>> 1) My great great grandparents: Joseph Schemenkowski and Mary >>> Wisnovsky/Wisnewski. >>> >>> 1900 W. Kewaunee, Kewaunee Co., Wis. USA >>> Household # 252 >>> Scimenkufsky, Joseph b. Dec. 1838 in Polish, Rus. (possibly Brevier?) >>> Mary (wife) b. Jan. 1847 in Polish, Ger. >>> Anna (dau.) b. Jun. 1878 in Polish, Ger. >>> Frank (son) b. Oct. 1879 in Polish, Ger. >>> Daniel (son) b. Dec. 1883 in Wis., USA >>> >>> 2) Frank my great grandfather's marriage license is spelled Franz, >>> Sieniskowski. He married in Wisconsin in 1901. >>> >>> 3) Frank believed he was a citizen of the U.S. based on the papers his >>> father showed him. I don't have a copy of those papers but Frank was 3 >>> at the time the family emigrated to the States. As it turned out >>> Frank was not naturalized at the time of emigration so in 1913 he >>> filed papers to naturalize. On those papers Frank spells his name >>> Shenenkowfski. He states he was born in West Prussia, Germany and that >>> he emigrated thru Bremen in November of 1882 arriving in New York in >>> December of that same year. He doesn't know the name of the ship. >>> >>> 4) Generations of the family follow the Catholic religion. >>> buried at St. Hedwig Catholic Cemetery >>> Schemenkowski, Joseph, wife Mary, son Frank his wife Eva, >>> grand son Louis his wife Sophie, and great grand children Louis and >>> Regina. Along with son John Wisnicky. >>> buried in another Catholic cemetery is another of Joseph and >>> Mary's son's Daniel Sheninkosky. >>> >>> The correct spelling of the name is an obvious issue and has made my >>> search difficult. I have no experience researching in Polish archives >>> and language would be a problem and I can't read or speak it. >>> >>> Can anyone help me, I would really appreciate it. My grandmother has >>> since passed but she had 8 children resulting in 27 grand children. I >>> am the only one in the family who is attempting to find our roots. I >>> have many cousins waiting to see what I can learn. >>> >>> Thank you to anyone who can help, >>> Roberta Hall >>> Chicago, Ill. >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com >>> with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and >>> the body of the message >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >>> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' >> without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > POLANDBORDERSURNAMES-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message