Dabrowski/Dombrowski's

[valpomike]

Hi group,

As many of you now know, I have been searching for family all over, in Poland, or anyplace. My last name is Dabrowski, but after my grandparents came to the U.S.A. it was changed to Dombrowski. If you have the same name, or know someone who does, please contact me, could be my missing family.
My grandparents, Ferdynand Dabrowski/Dombrowski was born May 30th. 1875, and came from Broszka, Poland, and my grandmother, Maryanna Dabrowski/Dombrowski, was born July 10th. 1887, in Piotrowice, Poland, and her M/N could have been Grabowski. Both came to the U.S.A. some time after 1900, don't know the full date, and lived in Gary, Indiana, until both passed away in 1954. Both area, they came from where near Warsaw.
I tried to check records, when I was in Poland, in 2004, and 2007, even checked church records in both area that they came from without any luck.
I have been searching for any and all, information, for several years.
Every one who could help, have passed away, some years ago, and there are no records.
I want to return to Poland next year, and would love to find any family still there, or here, now.
If you could help, or know someone who can, please advise.
Several others have tried to help without any luck, so far, but I keep trying. Can you help?

Michael Dabrowski

[jkustelski]

Michael,
The Warsaw area is not my area of expertise but when I get a chance I will see if I can find something for you.
A few questions:
Was your family Roman Catholic?
Do you have a better timeframe besides 'after 1900'? This can narrow a few things down. Do you know what port they arrived?
Since you have the names of the towns they were born in, have you ever looked up the Parish records? If not I can definitely help you with that, but you will have to go to the LDS Library to do the ordering/loaning/researching.
Let me know if I can be any help...
Jim

P.S. Thanks to whomever added this subject (I assume it was Bonobo) perhaps we can get some really good stuff going on in here!
Edit: Mike, I see you have looked at some records, I am working on it right now so I can verify you were in the right Parish.
Thanks Bonobo for adding this!

[Bonobo]

Apr 21, 2008 22:34:36 GMT 1 @jkustelski said:

P.S. Thanks to whomever added this subject (I assume it was Bonobo) perhaps we can get some really good stuff going on in here!

Yes, it was me. This genealogy thing is classified as Board which can be created by admins only.

But people may start any thread they wish within existing boards.

I am also ready to create a new board on people`s suggestion, why not?

As for stuff going on in here, I won`t help you much, I am afraid. Genealogy has never been my strong side.

[valpomike]

Jim,

This is all I know, but I am still working on it.

[jkustelski]

Mike,
I could not find Broszka on the Map, there are at least ten Piotrowice' in Poland. I found a Piotrowice Southeast of Warsaw in Woj. Mazowieckie and there is a town called Brzesce that is not too far. Then there is another Piotrowice West of Warsaw in Woj. Lodzkie and there is a town called Boczki that is near.
Can you tell me if either of these is the right places?
In the meantime, I have a database I can check...
Jim

[valpomike]

Sorry, I have no more information. I got this, all I have, from a cousin from her mother's records. But her mother has passed away some years ago.
Thank you for acting so fast.
I hope to find family, so on my next visit to Poland, I hope next year, I can get together with them, and if any in U.S.A. I can E-mail or call them also.

[valpomike]

Jim,

I forgot to say, if there is any cost for this, let me know, so I can send you a check for your service.

[jkustelski]

Mike,
I do not charge people, I simply do this because I have had so much help myself...
Can you tell me where you went to look at Church records?
I have found some Dabrowski's on another database, it looks like these were from near Torun. Dobrzejewice in fact...
Here is the database link, let me know if perhaps one of these marriages might be Ferdynands parents:
www.przodkowie.com/metryki/index.php?lit=0
Maybe they were from Kujawsko- Pomorskie region??
I will check a few more sources and get back to you later...

Jim

[jkustelski]

Mike,
Dabrowski surname distribution map:
www.moikrewni.pl/mapa/kompletny/d%25C4%2585browski.html?utm_source=widget&utm_medium=widget_detail_page

[jkustelski]

Mike,
From what I am seeing, this is the most likely Parish for your ancestry based on what you told me, and it makes the most sense:
Title: Kopie ksiêg metrykalnych, 1808-1885
Authors: Kosciol rzymsko-katolicki. Parafja (Parish) Góra Kalwaria (Piaseczno) (Main Author)

Note Location
Film
Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1808-1818 FHL INTL Film
723230
Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1820-1825 FHL INTL Film
723231
Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1826-1831 VAULT INTL Film
723232
Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1832-1846 VAULT INTL Film
723233
Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1847-1859 FHL INTL Film
723234
Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1871-1880 VAULT INTL Film
2271501 Items 5 - 14

Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1881 VAULT INTL Film
2271501 Item 4

Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1882 VAULT INTL Film
2271501 Item 3

Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1883 VAULT INTL Film
2271501 Item 2

Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1884 VAULT INTL Film
2271500 Item 17

Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1884 VAULT INTL Film
2271501 Item 1

Akta urodzeñ, malzeñstw, zgonów 1885 VAULT INTL Film
2271500 Item 16



Akta urodzen= Christening
Malzenstw= Marriage
Zgonow= Death


This is the Parish for the first one I mentioned in Mazowieckie.
I would go to your local LDS Library and order this film: # 2271501
since you believe Ferdynand was born in 1875. This Parish covers both towns I believe...
Keep in mind that this was in the Russian controlled area of Poland during these times so it is quite possible, and I have seen this before that some of the records may be partially in Russian Cyrillic writing. If that is the case, you may have to have someone translate it for you. This I believe is a good place to start and I wish you success.
Jim

[valpomike]

Jim,

In 2004 on my visit to Poland, I went with a friend who spoke Polish, since he lives in Warsaw, and we checked all the churches in the area, one by one, and had the priest check his records, without any luck.

[valpomike]

Jim,

The sites could be helpful but I don't, read, speak, or understand Polish, so I can not use them.
How do I get information from LDS records?
Both may look like dumb questions, but I am not good on the computer, and old.
If you can get all the information for me, I would be glad to pay you for your time, and work.

[jkustelski]

Apr 22, 2008 4:51:36 GMT 1 valpomike said:

Jim,

In 2004 on my visit to Poland, I went with a friend who spoke Polish, since he lives in Warsaw, and we checked all the churches in the area, one by one, and had the priest check his records, without any luck.

Mike,
Did you check the Parish I am mentioning above?
It is Gora Kalwaria and is southeast of Warsaw...
Jim

[jkustelski]

Apr 22, 2008 4:56:53 GMT 1 valpomike said:

Jim,

The sites could be helpful but I don't, read, speak, or understand Polish, so I can not use them.
How do I get information from LDS records?
Both may look like dumb questions, but I am not good on the computer, and old.
If you can get all the information for me, I would be glad to pay you for your time, and work.

Mike,
Here is the address, phone number, and hours of the LDS Library in Gary, Indiana (assuming you live there)

Griffith Indiana
300 Wirth Rd
Griffith, Lake, Indiana, United States
Phone: [phone]
Hours: T,W 6pm-8:30pm, Th 10am-1pm, 6pm-8:30 pm

You will have to go there and order the microfilm mentioned in the earlier post by film number and the Parish I mentioned in the previous post. Most of these records are in Latin but as stated in earlier post some of it may be in Cyrillic. You should be able to easily make out dates and names and that is the most important part. First of all you need to verify if this is the right Parish and since you already have the birth date you should be able to go right to it on the microfilm. There are usually volunteers at the Library who would be glad to assist you with your research.
It usually takes a few weeks for the film to arrive so you will have to be patient...
Right now I have 3 films myself on permanent loan from the LDS and I have not had the time for over 3 weeks to get there and do research on my own family- so I simply cannot do it.
If this Parish does not work out we'll try something else...
Let me know how it goes.
Jim

[valpomike]

Jim,

Someone, in the past, has checked this LDS information, and only got things as to after they came to the U.S.A.
I am looking for information as to when they lived in Poland, and if there is family still living there, or here in the U.S.A.
Thank you for your time with this.

[gigi]

Hi Mike,

What U.S. records do you have? Do you have the death certificates for your grandparents? They may include info about their parents' names. Also, you may be able to verify your grandmother's maiden name by looking at the birth certificates for their child(ren).

Have you checked any of the U.S. Census records after 1900? They should include info about citizenship (year of immigration, number of years in U.S., naturalization). There are many Dabrowskis and Dombrowskis listed as residing in Lake, La Porte, and St. Joseph, IN in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 U.S. Federal Census records at Ancestry.com. I don't have access to view the actual records (there is a fee to subscribe). Some libraries have subscriptions that you can access at their facility for free.

One other question - did your grandparents anglicize their first names when they came to the U.S.? I haven't seen any records with the first names Ferdynand and Maryanna. However, there are listings in the 1930 U.S. Federal Census for a Fred Dombrowski, born about 1875 - spouse Mary - and a Mary Dombrowski, born about 1891 - spouse Fred - residing in Lake, IN. That seems close to the data you have (the 1891 is a few years off, but that is not uncommon to encounter when doing genealogy research). If you can gain access to Ancestry.com, you can view the actual census record which may tell you more about the year of immigration.

Maybe someone else on this forum has immediate access to Ancestry.com?

Good luck!
gigi

[valpomike]

gigi,


I have both death records, they do not show where they came from, just Poland, and no parents name either.
Everything I have been given is to after they got to the U.S.A. and I want information from life in Poland, and family, if they still have some living there, or here.
Even a payed service, comes up with information here in the U.S.A. only, nothing of Poland.
Thank you, if I get more, I will let all know.

[gigi]

Hi Mike,

Just an FYI...here is the data from the 1930 Federal Census. If this is for your grandparents, you might be able to use the immigration years and marriage info for your Poland search. If not, then perhaps this is another branch of U.S. relatives.

State: Indiana
County: Lake
Township: Calumet

Dombrowski, Fred
Age:55
Age at first marriage: 25
Place of birth: Poland
Father place of birth: Poland
Mother place of birth: Poland
Year of immigration: 1909
Occupation: Burner
Industry: Steel Mill

Dombrowski, Mary
Age: 39
Age at first marriage: 19
Place of birth: Poland
Father place of birth: Poland
Mother place of birth: Poland
Year of immigration: 1907
Occupation: None

Dombrowski, Sophie
Age: 19
Place of birth: Pennsylvania
Occupation: Waitress

Dombrowski, Joe
Age: 18
Place of birth: Pennsylvania
Occupation: Laborer

Dombrowski, Stanley
Age: 16
Place of birth: Indiana

Dombrowski, Chester
Age: 14
Place of birth: Indiana

Dombrowski, Mary
Age: 11
Place of birth: Indiana

Dombrowski, Henry
Age: 8
Place of birth: Indiana

Dombrowski, Pete
Age: 6
Place of birth: Indiana

Dombrowski, Regina
Age: 4 2/12
Place of birth: Indiana

gigi

[valpomike]

gigi,

Thank you, but again, like I said, the only information I can get is after they came here, nothing before, in Poland. All of the children have passed away, and no one has any records. The church my grandparents, could not help, or did not want to. Their death records, just show Poland, and nothing more.
A service sent me a E-mail saying they may be able to help, but need $1,200.00 up front and not sure what they can do, without any refunds, if they find nothing.
I am between a rock and a hard place. What would you do?

Michael Dabrowski

[gigi]

Hi Mike,

I think we all hit roadblocks at one point or another. Your experience with researching records in Poland has been a very challenging one thus far. So, if it were me I would hold off on spending more money on a service to research Polish records and go through all of the information that can be found in the U.S. records first.

1) If you have not yet ordered the LDS film # 2271501 that Jim recommended, I would do so. You mentioned that someone in the past had checked the LDS information and only got information from after your grandfather immigrated. I don't understand how it would be possible to obtain such information from a film that covers Polish parish records from 1871-1880. I would definitely check this film out. It's easy to make the request and very inexpensive (about $5-6 dollars per film), and you may just find your grandfather's birth record!

2) You may want to continue to search for your grandparents' immigration records. I noticed that in the 1930 census the immigration year for your grandparents is not the same. Your grandmother is listed as being 39, first marriage at 19 (20 years earlier) and having immigrated in 1907 (23 years earlier). Your grandfather is listed as being 55, first marriage at 25 (30 years earlier) and having immigrated in 1909 (21 years earlier). So assuming those dates are correct, your grandmother was about 16 when she came to the U.S. Your grandfather was 34 when he immigrated, and his marriage to your grandmother was his second marriage? Did your grandmother come to the U.S. alone or with other family members? What about your grandfather? Immigration records often list the city/town of the immigrant's last permanent residence as well as the name and address of the nearest relative or friend in the county the immigrant is from, so it could be very helpful to find these records.

3) Where were your grandparents married? Do the church records have any additional information? They often mention the place of baptism. In my grandmother's case, she had to obtain a copy of her baptismal certificate from Switzerland for the U.S. church before she could be married there.

Good luck!

gigi

[locopolaco]

yeah, don't discount the LDS. they are anal about genealogy /records.

ellis island has records of all entries. check them.


Nobody in your family knows anything?


dabrowski is somewhat a common name. i think from the great clues on here, you may want to look more into the area SE of Warsaw.

and, genealogy isn't all that big in PL and you probably won't get great help from many people on the ground. of course i hope you get lucky.

keep searching, polish.genealogyforum.eu/ is supposedly a great site.

[valpomike]

gigi,

My grandparents were married in Poland, and came here together. Grandfather was older than Grandmother. Neither was married prior.
They could have lived in Pa. prior to Gary, Indiana. But Pa. has no record, per there mail, return request from me.
I looks to me like many of the records here are, or could be incorrect.
I want to thank you for your time, and I will keep working on this. God Bless you and yours.

Michael Dabrowski

[jeanne]

gigi,

I have a similar problem as Mike. I know lots about my grandparents in USA, but not where they came from in Poland. I want to thank you for suggesting checking marriage records; this is something I have not really pursued, but feel since they needed Baptismal certs. to get married, that this might lead somewhere. I know they were married in Boston. Thanks again for suggesting it.

I have recently discovered that my grandfather's Polish name (first and last) was probably translated to German when he boarded the vessel in Germany to come here. I'm working on that now and have found two possibilities that might be him, so I'll keep working at it. But every little clue I uncover helps.

[valpomike]

This is a very hard job, but you must stay with it, and it will take much time, but it is well worth it, I hope, in the end.

[gigi]

Mike and Jeanne,

Have either of you obtained naturalization records for your ancestors? If you can find the first papers - the "declaration of intent" - they may contain such data as year of birth, country of birth, and month and year of immigration to the U.S. as well as port of entry. The second papers are the "petition for naturalization". Once these second papers are signed the alien receives a certificate of citizenship. This process takes a minimum of 5 years. The "declaration of intent" is usually filed after residing in the U.S. about two years, and the "petition for naturalization" is filed about three years later (the applicant must have resided in the U.S. for five years minimum to submit the "petition for naturalization").

I now have the "petition for naturalization" for my gggrandfather (in which I have noted he renounces his allegiance to the Emperor of Germany). Unfortunately, I do not have the "declaration of intent", which is what I really need to find now. I did not realize how much data could be found in the naturalization records (I now have both sets of documents for my Swiss gggrandfather, so I can see how much more data the "declaration of intent" has for genealogy purposes.

It may be worth looking into!

gigi

[jeanne]

gigi,

I was lucky enough recently to discover my grandfather's naturalization records. I found the Declaration of Intent, Petition for Naturalization and even the Oath of Allegiance. I was very excited when I found them, only to be frustrated. Place of origin on all three was listed as 'Poland.' I already knew his approx date of birth, year of immigration, year married and some other information from the 1930 census. I just cannot find what town he came from, but I am hopeful that researching marriage records might reveal some info. I'll keep plugging away. Thanks for the input, though. I appreciate it!

[jkustelski]

Jeanne,
I have been down that road myself with the declaration of intent and naturalization records only to find that my ancestor said 'Bavaria'. Well Bavaria is a big place but since they had a fairly uncommon last name I looked at modern surname distribution. This narrowed it down a lot and I knew my ancestor was from only one or two areas in Shwabia. As a last resort, I wrote to the State Archives in Augsburg and they sent me his papers from when he filed for immigration. These papers not only mentioned the town he was from, they had a description of him, his religion, his occupation, military service and birthdate and place of birth.
From there I ordered the LDS films for that town and I now have this family back to the 1730's.
If you can narrow your search down like this perhaps you can write to some archive center in Poland. Bo would probably help to write the letter since it should probably be in Polish (if you don't speak or write it.)
Another thing to look at is perhaps see if there is a family bible somewhere in your family, sometimes this helps...
Jim

[HQY786D]

I hope this question does not seem to be an ignorant one. I admit I have much to learn about the historical territorial divisions of Poland and the subsequent rulers. I am wondering - would the section of the Petition for Naturalization that states, "I do absolutely and entirely Renounce and Abjure forever, all Allegiance and Fidelity to every Foreign Power, Prince Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly to the ________ of ________ whose subject I was." data listed in an ancestor's naturalization records also be a source of data for helping to pinpoint where in Poland he or she came from? For example, prior to 1918 wouldn't it be common for the second blank to contain Germany, Austria, or Russia? It would still be a large area of Poland to work with, granted, but if the researcher doesn't have any information about the province, city, etc. it may at least be a starting point or work well in tandem with another tool, such as the surname distribution that Jim suggested (especially if the surname is a more common one)?

Just curious - for those of you who are researching your ancestors and have naturalization documents - is Poland listed on the documents you have, or another country?

gigi

[gigi]

Oops on the guest name. I guess that will teach me not to post replies at 10:14pm...

gigi

[jeanne]

May 5, 2008 2:09:09 GMT 1 @jkustelski said:

Jeanne,
I have been down that road myself with the declaration of intent and naturalization records only to find that my ancestor said 'Bavaria'. Well Bavaria is a big place but since they had a fairly uncommon last name I looked at modern surname distribution. This narrowed it down a lot and I knew my ancestor was from only one or two areas in Shwabia. As a last resort, I wrote to the State Archives in Augsburg and they sent me his papers from when he filed for immigration. These papers not only mentioned the town he was from, they had a description of him, his religion, his occupation, military service and birthdate and place of birth.
From there I ordered the LDS films for that town and I now have this family back to the 1730's.
If you can narrow your search down like this perhaps you can write to some archive center in Poland. Bo would probably help to write the letter since it should probably be in Polish (if you don't speak or write it.)
Another thing to look at is perhaps see if there is a family bible somewhere in your family, sometimes this helps...
Jim

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the input. I don't think my grandfather would have filed immigration papers. He was smuggled out of Poland in a barrel to avoid conscription into the Russian Army. Also, no family Bible that I know of.