Bukowski & Kwiatkowski Research Update: Männlichen Bukowski

This is the second post in the Bukowski & Kwiatkowski Research Update Series. This series will be focused on two Polish immigrants, my 2nd great-grandparents, who settled in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania and their family members.  Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski arrived at Ellis Island 1 May 1895 with three small children - Teo Fila, Catherine and William. The family had sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on the Noorland. The family was very quiet about their past - leaving few clues to where they lived in Poland and why they left. All that was known is that the family resided on the Prussian or German side of the Polish partition. The city of origin for the family was previously unknown. Over the last year collaboration with other researchers, DNA results and newly discovered records have provided additional context to where in Poland the families were living prior to their journey to Ellis Island.

Other Posts in the Series:
9 February 2020: Bukowski & Kwiatkowski Research Update: Teo Fila Bukowski Birth Location Identified
22 February 2020: Bukowski & Kwiatkowski Research Update: Männlichen Bukowski

Bukowski & Kwiatkowski Research Update: Männlichen Bukowski

The first Polish record located for the family of Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski was the birth registration record of their daughter Teo Fila Bukowski. The record was located in the Eastern Prussian Provinces, Germany [Poland], Selected Civil Vitals, 1874-1945 database housed at Ancestry.

The database also included the death record of a son born to Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski. The name on the record is Männlichen Bukowski which translates to a male child.

Infant Boy Bukowski Death Record 
20 Jan 1888
Ryńsk, Poland

The original record as recorded in German:

Nr. 4
Ryńsk am 20ten Januar 1888
Vor dem unterzeichneten Standesbeamten erschien heute, der Persönlichkeit nach bekannt, der Knecht Vincent Bukowski wohnhaft zu Ryńsk, und zeigte an, daß seine Ehefrau Franziska Bukowski geborne Kwiatkowska, katholischer Religion, wohnhaft zu Ryńsk bei dem Anzeigenden, am neunzehnten Januar des Jahres Tausend achthundert und acht und achtzig Vormittags zwoelf Uhr von einem Kinde, welches todt war, männlichen Geschlechts, entbunden worden ist. 17 Druckworte gestrichen.

Vorgelesen, genehmigt und wegen Schreibensunkunde von dem Anzeigenden unterkreuzt. 
+++ Handzeichen des Vincent Bukowski

Der Standesbeamte [signature] 

Zu No. 4 
Nebenstehende Anzeige wird dahin ergänzt, daß die Eltern des todtgeborenen Kindes beide katholischer Religion sind. 

Der Standesbeamte 
In Vertretung 
Kubitza

The German translation provided by German Script Experts:

No. 4
Ryńsk, January 20th 1888

Before the undersigned civil registrar appeared today, personally known, Vincent Bukowksi, a farmhand residing in Ryńsk, and reported that Franziska Bukowska née Kwiatkowska, his wife, of Catholic faith, residing with him in Ryńsk, had given birth to a male child on 19 January 1888 at 12 o’clock at noon, and that the child was stillborn. 17 preprinted words crossed out.

Read, approved, and signed with his mark because the informant is unable to write.
+++ Vincent Bukowski’s mark

The civil registrar
[signature]

Addendum to no. 4
This record is amended to include the information that both parents of the stillborn child are of Catholic faith.

The civil registrar
Deputy Kubitza

Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski Family Group

With the addition of Männlichen or infant boy Bukowski there are eleven recorded children born to Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski:

1. Männlichen Bukowski b. 19 January 1888 in Ryńsk, Poland
2. Teo Fila Bukowski b. 26 March 1889 in Ryńsk, Poland 
3. Catherine M. Bukowski b. 23 November 1891 in Poland
4. William F. Bukowski b. 14 September 1894 in Poland
5. John Frank Bukowski b. 7 December 1897 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
6. Gustave Joseph Bukowski b. 11 February 1899 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
7. Helen Tillie Bukowski b. 13 June 1901 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
8. Clara Tillie Bukowski b. 31 August 1903 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
9. Joseph R. Bukowski b. 4 July 1906 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
10. Josefa Bukowski b. 29 July 1908 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania
11. Edward Bukowski b. 3 February 1911 in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania

Franciska did leave clues that she was the mother of two additional children.

In the 1900 United States Federal Census Franciska indicated she was the mother of seven children and five children were living. Five children were recorded in the household - Teo Fila, Catherine, William, John and Gustave.

In the 1910 United States Federal Census Franciska indicated she was the mother of eleven children and eight children were living. The eight living children in 1910 include:  Teo Fila, Catherine, William, John, Gustave, Helen, Clara and Joseph.

Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski Family Timeline

The death record for Männlichen Bukowski and the birth record for Teo Fila Bukowski both record Vincent working as a farmhand. The families movements in Poland are noted below.

• About 1886 Poland - Marriage of Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski - exact location is currently not known.
• 19 January 1888 through 2 April 1889 the family is living in Ryńsk, Poland as recorded in death record for Männlichen Bukowski and birth record for Teo Fila Bukowski. 
• 23 November 1891 the family was living in Poland - birth of Catherine M. Bukowski - exact location is currently not known.
• 14 September 1894 the family was living in Poland - birth of William F. Bukowski - exact location is currently not known.
• 1895 Antwerp, Belgium - Port of Departure 
• 1 May 1895 New York, New York - Port of Arrival - Ellis Island 

The unknown child would have been my 2nd great uncle. He was the brother of my great-grandmother Helen Tillie Bukowski. Helen's son Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather.

References:

1. Ancestry.com. Eastern Prussian Provinces, Germany [Poland], Selected Civil Vitals, 1874-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016. 
2. Ellis Island Records, Bukowski, Vincent Manifest: First Name: Vincenty Last Name: Bukowski Ethnicity: Germany Last Place of Residence: Date of Arrival: May 01, 1895 Age at Arrival: 33y Gender: M Marital Status: Ship of Travel: Noordland Port 
3. 1900 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Erie, Erie, Ward 2, 1900 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Bukowski, Vincent 1.
4. 1910 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Erie, Erie, 2nd Ward, 1910 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Bukowski, Vincent. 

New Grandparents Discovered: Ignacy Kwiatkowski & Julianna Kłos

The oldest ancestors previously known on the Bukowski side of the family were Vincinety Frank Bukowski and his wife Franciska Kwiatkowski. The couple arrived at Ellis Island May 1, 1895 with three small children - Teo Fila, Catherine and William. The family had sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on the Noorland.

The family was very quiet about their past - leaving few clues to where they came from or who their ancestors were. All that was known is that the family resided on the Prussian or German side of the Polish partition. A definitive city of where the family was living is currently not known.

Franciska Kwiatkowski & Vincinety Frank Bukowski 

Over the last year Ancestry.com has been working to index and scan copies of the Pennsylvania Death Certificates. Included in the release of information were the death certificates for Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski. Vincinety's recorded "unknown" for the name of his father and "unknown" for the name of his mother.

The death certificate of Franciska Kwiatkowski did reveal clues to the next generation. The names of Franciska's parents are recorded. It is plausible that her husband, Vincinety Bukowski, completed the main sections of the death certificate - recording his wife's parents names in Polish. Note the use of the ł with a stroke. These sections are printed in capital letters with black ink.

The couple's daughter Helen Tillie Bukowski, married to Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. was the informant who signed the death certificate. Helen recorded section 14 and likely 16 as her writing is cursive with blue ink. Helen's handwriting does not match the block script which recorded the names of her grandparents.

Finding the names of Franciska's parents is a major discovery. This is the first definitive link to the next generation of grandparents previously unknown in Europe. The names and locations, if provided by Vincinety Bukowski, would have been likely to have been first hand knowledge. He very likely would have known the names of Franciska's parents - by knowing them personally or from Franciska herself.

Death Certificate for Franciska Kwiatkowski

To learn how to translate the Polish names I did some searching and located the website PolishOrigins.com. This website has a very helpful forum section with folks that can assist with Polish translations.

Elzbieta Porteneuve at the forum graciously assisted me. She translated the names and provided the following helpful information:

2. FULL NAME: Frances Bukowski

// Her Polish given name was Franciszka. Franciszka Bukowska//
5a. If married, widowed, or divorced HUSBAND or WIFE of: Vincent Bukowski
// Her husband's Polish given name was Wincenty. Wincenty Bukowski// 
9. BIRTHPLACE: POLAND
10. NAME-of-FATHER: Ignatz Kwiatkowski
// Her father's Polish given name was Ignacy. Ignacy Kwiatkowski 
// Her name at birth was Franciszka Kwiatkowska//
11. BIRTHPLACE-of-FATHER: POLAND
12. MAIDEN NAME-of-MOTHER: Juliana Kłosuwna
// Her mother’s maiden name was: Julianna Kłos // 
//The Polish suffix -ówna (same spelling as -uwna) is used to indicate “daughter of”, daughter of Kłos//
13. BIRTHPLACE-of-MOTHER: POLAND

To understand the family connections the descendant chart below shows the relationship between myself, my paternal grandfather Arthur Murosky to our grandparents Ignacy Kwiatkowski & Julianna Kłos. Ignacy Kwiatkowski & Julianna Kłos would be my 3rd great grandparents and great-grandparents of my grandfather.

Ignacy Kwiatkowski & Julianna Kłos

Ignacy Kwiatkowski & Julianna Kłos have over 230 known descendants. These are all the descendants of Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski. Ignacy is the second Kwiatkowski  ancestor to be discovered. Julianna is the first Kłos ancestor to be discovered. Hopefully in time more can be learned about these previously unknown grandparents.

The death certificate provided some other details including the Polish translation for both Vincent as Wincenty. This aligns with the Polish spelling "Wincenty" that can be found on Vincent's tombstone.

The Polish translation of Franciska Kwiatkowski is Franciszka Kwiatkowska.

The death certificate also indicates that Franciska was ill from April 10, 1936 until her death July 30, 1936 with chronic nephritis with edema. This likely indicates Franciska was suffering from a type of kidney disease.

The photo of Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski is from the Helen Tillie Bukowski Collection. Photographer Unknown. Editing and digital restoration by Michelle M. Murosky.

Ignacy Kwiatkowski & Julianna Kłos are my 3rd great-grandparents. Their daughter Franciska Kwiatkowski is my 2nd great grandmother. Franciska is the mother of my great-grandmother Helen Tillie Bukowski. Helen's son Arthur Murosky is my paternal grandfather.

References:

1. Ellis Island Records, Bukowski, Vincent Manifest: First Name: Vincenty Last Name: Bukowski Ethnicity: Germany Last Place of Residence: Date of Arrival: May 01, 1895 Age at Arrival: 33y Gender: M Marital Status: Ship of Travel: Noordland Port
2. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Record for Frances Bukowski. 
3. PolishOrigins Forum 
4. Find A Grave. Memorial Number: 99322509 Record for Wincenty (Vincent) Bukowski 

Murosky Family - New Relatives Discovered

Recently the Ancestry.com databases were updated to include the more than 2 million Pennsylvania Death Certificates from 1906-1924. The database included information on several Bukowski family members I knew of. The database included information on several Bukowski relatives that were previously not known. Tragically, many of these were children who died young.

Existing family members with new information:

George Murosky was the son of my great grandparents Helen Tillie Bukowski and Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. George was born June 1, 1918 and died June 2, 1918. The cause of death indicates he was premature. Helen would have been 17 when George was born. He was buried in Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

On George's death certificate his name is recorded as George Moraswki. His father signed the death certificate as Antoni Morawski.

Florence Murosky was daughter of my great grandparents Helen Tillie Bukowski and Anthony Harry Murosky, Jr. Florence was born March 28, 1922 and died June 6, 1922. The cause of death indicates she was premature at 7 months gestation.. She was buried in Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

On Florence's death certificate her name is recorded as Florentina Murawski. The father's name indicates Antoni Murawski but is signed by Anthony as Anthony Muroski - a shift in spelling closer to what we see today. Note the handwriting between the recordings of the two names is different.

Both of Helen's children do not have a tombstone because my great grandparents did not have the money to purchase a stone for their graves. Helen's daughter Rita indicated her mother went often to see the graves of her deceased children.


New Relatives Discovered:

Frank Murosky is a previously unknown child to my 2nd great grandparents Anthony Murosky Sr. and Eva Zielinski. Frank was born June 18, 1907 and died October 26, 1907.  The cause of hisdeath is listed as intestinal obstruction. He was buried at St. Agnes Cemetery, Forest City, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Frank's name is recorded as Frank Moroski. His fathers name is recorded as Anthony Moroski. His death certificate is significant as it is the first recorded instance of Eva's surname. The birth certificate indicates the family was from Russia, in 1907 Lithuania was part of Russia.

Raymond Chanis is a previously unknown child to John Chanis and Margaret Murosky, my 2nd great aunt. Raymond was born November 4, 1917 and died August 10, 1918. The cause of death indicates he died from Gastroenteritis. He was buried in St. Anthony Cemetery, Forest City, Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

On Raymond's death certificate Margaret's name is recorded as Margaret Muraski.

References:

1. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Bukowski Family - New Relatives Discovered

Recently the Ancestry.com databases were updated to include the more than 2 million Pennsylvania Death Certificates from 1906-1924. The database included information on several Bukowski family members I knew of. The database included information on several Bukowski relatives that were previously not known. Tragically, many of these were children who died young.

Existing family members with new information:

Teo Fila Bukowski, my 2nd great aunt, was the oldest sister of my great grandmother Helen Tillie Bukowski. We always knew that she died after giving birth to her last child. Her death date was previously unknown. Her death certificate was included in the data base, she died on January 22, 1915. She died due to complications from her pregnancy. Her baby, listed as Baby Gaczkowski,  boy died the day after he was born January 18, 1915. The death certificate indicates the baby was born prematurely. Both mother and son were buried at Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Richard Pietrzak was the son of my 2nd great aunt Clara T. Bukowski and her husband Stanley Pietrzak. Clara T. Bukowski was the great grandmother Helen Tillie Bukowski's younger sister. Richard was 5 months old when he died from colitis and meningitis. He was buried October 4, 1924 in Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania

On Richard's death certificate Clara is recorded as Clara Bukowska, using the Polish form of the surname.

New Relatives Discovered:

Josefa Bukowski is a previously unknown child to my 2nd great grandparents Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski. Josefa was born July 29, 1908 and died January 11, 1909. The cause of her death is listed as acute indigestion. She was buried at Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

Edward Bukowski is a previously unknown child to my 2nd great grandparents Vincinety Frank Bukowski and Franciska Kwiatkowski. Edward was born February 11, 1911 and died February 12, 1911. Edward was 9 days old when he died of gastroenteritis and bronchitis. He was buried at Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania.

What is most significant about both death certificates for these previously unknown children is it lists the surname for Franciska. Previously the name Kwiatkowski had not been located in any historical records

Baby Bukowski, was born to Gustave Joseph Bukowski and Elsie Gaczkowski. Gustave was my 2nd great uncle and the brother of my great grandmother Helen Tillie Bukowski. Baby Bukowski was a female born stillborn January 10, 1924. She was buried at Trinity Cemetery, Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. Her death certificate provided the surname of her mother, Elsie, which was previously unknown.

Note some of these death certificates indicate the deceased were buried at the Old Polish Cemetery. The Old Polish Cemetery was originally the cemetery for St. Stanislaus Church. The cemetery is known today as Trinity Cemetery.

References:

1. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Two Common Ancestors: Richard McDonald & Robert Haggerty

Three Common Ancestors: Lynam, Richard McDonald Robert & Haggerty

[June 27, 2014 Update] Two Common Ancestors:  Richard McDonald & Robert Haggerty

This is a great example of how these connections started with family stories. The release of the Pennsylvania Death certificates was extremely valuable. The certificates showed one connection was false, verified a second and located a potential third.

Over the last year I had the opportunity to connect with Benjamin Patrick Norris my 3rd cousin 2x removed.

What makes the connection with Benjamin so unique is that we share three two common ancestors which are discussed below. Over the last several months Benjamin has been able to provide additional details about the Lynam, McDonald and Haggerty families.

Common Ancestor 1: Unknown Lynam 

Benjamin and I both descend from the children of an unknown Lynam who was born in Ireland.

• Bejamin descends from Edward Lynam, his 2nd great grandfather. 
• I descend from Bridget Lynam, my 4th great grandmother. 

[June 27, 2014 Update]
The release of the Pennsylvania death certificates has disproved the my connection. My 4th great grandmother is Bridget Dunn. Her name was recorded on the death certificate for her son Michael McDonald.

A new research connection Cary Christopher had also researched the McDonald family. He discovered David McDonald and Bridget Dunn's marriage record in Dunbyrne, Kildare, Ireland:

"David McDonald to Brit (Bridget) Dunn on 7 May 1825 at village of Dunbyrn, witnesses Michael and Margaret Dunn"

Cary also located the baptism records for two of David and Bridget's children in Kildare, Ireland:

Richard McDonal, parents Davy and Biddy, sponsors John Kene(sic) and Nel McDonald, residence (of parents) Grange
Baptism: 29 January 1826

August 6, 1827:  James McDonald, parents David and Biddy, sponsors William & Nelly Dunn, residence (of parents) Grange

Common Ancestor 1: Richard McDonald

Benjamin and I both descend from Richard McDonald born in Ireland.

• Benjamin descends from Ellen McDonald, his 2nd great grandmother.
• I descend from David McDonald (1803-1880), my 4th great grandfather. 

[June 27, 2014 Update]
Benjamin's 2nd great grandfather Edward Lynam married Ellen McDonald. Family tradition has it that the Lynam and McDonald families may have traveled together from Ireland. Richard McDonald settled in Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania with his son and David. The release of the Pennsylvania death certificates verified this link. Ellen is recorded as Ellen McDonald on the death certificate of her son Edward Lynam.

Common Ancestor 2: Robert Haggerty

Our second common ancestor and our closest ancestor is Robert H. Haggerty (1805-1880).  Robert was born in Sugar Creek, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas H. Haggerty and Anna McElroy. Robert married Rebecca M. Easly (1801-1881)

• Benjamin descends from Robert Haggerty's son James, (1842-1843) his great grand father who was born in Farmington, Clarion, Pennsylvania 
• I descend from Robert's daughter Anna (1845-1927) who married Michael McDonald (1839-1923) (my 3rd great grandparents), son of Bridget Lynam and David McDonald.

[June 27, 2014 Update]

Common Ancestor 3:  Dunn????

The story that Benjamin had was that two siblings from one family married two siblings of another family - making him a descendant of both families. This connection was originally thought to be Lynam and McDonald. As explained above Lynam is no longer plausible. However the Pennsylvania Death Certificates provided another clue - Richard's great grandmother was Anna Rafferty. She married Richard Lynam. Anna's mother is recorded as Elizabeth Dunn born in Ireland. Perhaps with more research we will be able to determine if Elizabeth Dunn is a sister of Bridget Dunn.

References:

1. Benjamin Patrick Norris
2. Cary Christopher
3. Ancestry.com. Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
4. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.