This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: JacobHaLevi Surnames: Wisniewski, Wiznesky, Trok, Trock Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.wisniewski/191.2.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Yes, I would so most definitely there is a connection then. In order to really find Jewish records (if possible) we would have to find records PRIOR to their emigration to Prussia, probably anywhere from the last 1700's-mid 1800's. There was a Jewish movement in Prussia/Germany called the "Haskala" that called for assimilation, and in most cases, conversion of the Jews to either Catholicism or Lutheranism, and the movement was big. Between 1800-1810 alone 10% of all Jews from Germany converted. Radom, Poland was a huge Jewish center in the east, and it was a place of Jewish learning. They had many many synagogues and yeshiva's, and the city itself in 1900 was about 80-90% Jewish. No coincidence, and I have no doubts there were "church registries" of marriages and baptisms in Glesno, that was typical Haskala. Usually in the east Jews remained Jews, and they knew the sacrifices they would have to make by emigrating west. I was able to look up census records for Trok in I! llinois, and here's what I found: 1880 Federal Census La Salle, La Salle, Illinois Jacob Trock 28 Victor Wiznesky (Jewish spelling btw) 34 Antonia Wiznesky 22 Franziska 2 Thomas 1 Franziska 50 Some of the neighbors that lived around them were: Braseder Bobkiewitz Britt Hoeren Jacoshinsky Job Just Lauch Rothy Shaunesey Sherkirka Walloch The neighborhood looks a lot more Jewish than Polish. 1910 Federal Census Chicago Ward 8, Cook, Illinois Jacob Trock 44 Anestarin 40 Ladis 16 Alz 14 Victor 12 Kiamer 10 Isador 7 Anestarin, Ladis, Alz, and Kiamer look quite Yiddish. Other Trock's and Trok's I found were: Samuel, Herman, Sarah, Amos, Abraham, Chote, Pearl, Max, Hannah, Aaron, David, Ruth, just to name a few, just all in Illinois. What have you heard about the Jewish connection? With all this, and many many other names I found related to Wisniewski's out of Glesno I think it is quite compelling. ~Jacob Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.