Anthony & Joseph Raczkiewicz Arrive in Quebec, Canada

Remember back on September 18, I told you that my Grandfather left Antwerp, heading to Quebec, Canada? Fifteen days later, on October 2, Anthony and Joseph arrived in Canada. This was in the year 1912 when he was 20 years old. The entries for the two brothers are on lines 7 and 8. The form says they are farm laborers who can read and write. They are from Russia and are Polish. It says they are from Zibaldy (Sabaudia) and Tomaszow is listed as well as their eventual destination of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their father Jan Raczkiewicz is listed. On the second page, you can read that Anthony’s passage was paid by his father and he carried $18 on board. It looks like he had $25 or $35 and it was crossed off. Joseph's passage was paid by his brother and he carried $20 on board. $14 was written first and crossed off. It is possible that Anthony gave some of his money to Joseph for the voyage. The money they had is equivalent to having over $500 each. Their brother Jan is who they were going to and it says he lived on West Division St. in Grand Rapids. That is the only address for the brothers that is NOT on the west side of the river. There is an additional line about who Joseph is going to which I can not read. A description of height, weight, eye color etc. is given but it is not really legible. In Family Search, I found the ship manifest (Vermont, St. Albans Canada Border Crossings, 1895-1954, Roll 320, R214, Bernard-R240.)

Warren Dunes National Park has a brochure printed in Polish

Lorraine Raczkiewicz & her location in old documents

Lorraine Raczkiewicz (my aunt) grew up at 501 Milwaukee Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The first place she lived after marrying John Dykstra, a truck driver, in 1941 would have been the small house in the backyard of her parents’ house. After a few years they lived at 751 First St. NW which would have been right around the corner. Her husband was a livestock buyer at this point and 10 year old younger sister Shirley (my Mother) visited her often. My mother Shirley remembers that Lorraine's friend Virginia lived with her at the beginning of her time on First St. because John was in the service. Virginia and her family lived upstairs in the Raczkiewicz home when Lorraine was a teenager. They moved to 50 Cummings NW in Walker, a short drive outside of Grand Rapids. Lorraine and John lived there the rest of their lives. ***** 1927 City Directory: Grand Rapids, MI 503 Milwaukee Ave NW Anthony (Pauline) Raczkiewicz Lorraine Raczkiewicz, student ***** 1930 Census 501 Milwaukee Ave, owned, value $6500 Anthony: 35, 1895, Age at 1st marriage: 25, Speaks English,language spoken-Polish Tacker at a Tannery Parent’s birthplace: Poland Immigration Year 1913 Naturalization: First Papers Pauline, 26 1904, age at 1st marriage: 17,(Born Pennsylvania, parents in Poland) Lorraine, 8, 1922, attends school Anthony: 4, 1926 Walter Skrobat (father-in-law): 61, 1869, widowed,age at 1st marriage-33, immigration 1900, not naturalized, (parents born in Poland)Speaks English, moulder at a foundry, not currently working, Joseph Raczkiewicz (brother) 37, language spoken-Polish, immigration 1913, not naturalized, veteran of WW ***** 1937 City Directory Raczkiewicz Anthony J (Pauline) tacker h501 Milwaukee av NW -J??m fctywkr r501 Milwaukee av NW -Lorraine P student 4501 Milwaukee av NW -Stanley h501 Milwaukee av NW -Virginia student r501 Milwaukee av NW (According to Shirley Longwell: Virginia lived upstairs, was a friend of Lorraine, when Lorraine moved out to First St., Virginia moved with her since her husband John was in the service) ***** 1939 City Directory: Raczkiewicz Anthony J (Pauline) tacker h501 Milwaukee av NW -Lorraine C student r501 Milwaukee av NW -Stanley h501 Milwaukee av NW ***** 1940 City Directory Raczkiewicz Anthony J (Pauline) tacker h501 Milwaukee av NW -Jos r501 Milwaukee av NW -Lorraine r501 Milwaukee av NW ***** 1940 US Census 501 Milwaukee St. (5 years ago in the same place)Lacquer at a Tannery, wages $1,000 Anthony Raczkiewicz, 44 born Poland, naturalized Pauline, 26, born Pennsylvania Lorraine, 18, born Michigan Anthony, 14, born Michigan Shibley, 4, born Michigan Ronald R. ), born Michigan Joseph Raczkiewicz, brother, 46, born Poland, received wages other than income "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KH3S-PJN : 29 July 2019), Anthony Raczkiewicz, Ward 1, Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids City, Kent, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 86-31, sheet 5A, line 37, family 96, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1898. *****

Act of respect

When asking for documents to be translated there are several possible Polish translators. One of them, Dorothy, translates for me and Connie Liszewski (wife of my 4th cousin Mike Liszewski) frequently. Dorothy is familiar with the particular database that has records from the region of the Raczkiewicz relatives because she has done family research using it. Occasionally she will translate something she hasn’t seen before. Prenups was an example. When one showed up in a family record, it was the first time Dorothy had ever seen one. Now we have found a handful of them. Another thing Dorothy had never seen related to marriages is called an “Act of Respect.” When marrying under age 25 for men and 21 for women, the person is to “demand, by a respectful and formal act, the advice of their father and mother, or that of their grandfathers and grandmothers when their father and mother are dead.” Dorothy did a little research and determined that Acts of Respect by notaries and permission to marry were a fairly common practice at the time. Acts of respect were short, one-page contracts, concluded between parents or, in the absence of them, the closest relatives and children intending to marry. They were prepared in front of a notary a few days before the wedding. They have a form which pleads for parental blessing. The Act of Respect is from the Napoleonic Code, the first collection of civil law in the Kingdom of Poland. According to Iwona Dakiniewicz, a genealogist from Lodz, it was more cultural than legal in nature. It was a way to formally recognize the effort of the parents in raising them and to thank them for it. Consent was a separate determination. Most of the records do not mention the acts of respect.Apparently only a few of the legal authorities (often the priests) required the act to be implemented. In France, where the Napoleonic Code originated, all marriage records required it. The author’s theory is that Polish families followed the tradition by following the Fourth commandment, “honor thy father and thy mother” so there was not a need for this process. It makes you wonder if there was something out of the ordinary going on in the few cases where one was included. ***** “The Act Uszanowania or Act of Respect” Iwona Dakiniewicz, Lodz Poland, Rodziny, Winter, 2018, p. 3. ***** 2 Feb 1817 5th great aunt An Act of Respect was submitted In Tomaszów, on 1817 2nd February, before the Parish Priest of Tomaszów and official of Civil Records by JanBratkiewicz. He was 19 years old. He submitted an Act of respect to his mother since his father was deceased.. He also needed permission to marry since he was underage and that was provided by his mother.His bride, the “renowned” Miss Jozefa Kurkiewicz, age 15, had both parents’ permission to marry and presented an Act of Respect. These were prepared by the Notary, the banns were announced and, having received no objections to the marriage, according to the 6th Civil Code, they were married. ***** 1st February 1823 (my 4th great aunt) Stefan Dominik Nieszkowski, a 26 ,weaver, lived with his mother as his father Michał Nieszkowski , a bailif's/land steward servant had been dead for a long time. He presented an Act of Respect, drawn up in Tomaszów on 24th January by the notary of the county of Tomaszów, addressed to Teresa Nieszkowska , his mother. He married Agnieszka Wiciejewska, a servant in Tomaszow, whose parents Jakub Wiciejewski, potter and Marianna nee Plebanski, were deceased. ***** 7 Feb 1817 The groom, Konstanty Kurkiewicz, 29 , son of Paweł Kurkiewicz and deceased Maryanna née Pasko, presented an Act of Respect to his father from the public notary in Tomaszów. The bride, Apolonia Jabłońska, 15, presented an Act of Respect from the public notary in Tomaszow to her parents Jan Kurkiewicz and Franciszka née Wiciejowski,

Lorraine Raczkiewicz Born September 29, 1921

When Lorraine Raczkiewicz (my aunt) was born on September 29, 1921, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, her father, Anthony, was 28, and her mother, Apolonia, was 19. Her parents were married a year earlier in September of 1920. She was their first child. They lived at 315 Gunnison SW. Anthony worked as a cabinet maker. His brother Joe, who also worked as a cabinet maker, lived with them.

Anna (Dubiel) Wawrzusiszyn Born September 29

Anna (Dubiel) Wawrzusiszyn 2nd cousin Birthday

The Second Battle of Tomaszow

2nd part of Battle of TL ***** The battle can be divided into two phases - from 19 to 20 September and from 21 to 26 September. They are often referred to in French sources as the First and Second battle of Tomaszów, respectively.”

Quotes

“The point is to see the movie of your life as a coherent storyline rather than a series of isolated frames. When you do that, you make more sense of what you need to carry with you for the next step in the journey, and what you can safely, comfortably, and confidently leave behind.” ***** “To set a path for the next phase of your life, you have to know where you came from. You have to know your own story.” ***** Life Reimagined: Discovering Your New Life Possibilities, October 1, 2013 by Richard J. Leider (Author), Alan M. Webber.

Marissa Peterson's birthday is September 24

Act of respect

When asking for documents to be translated there are several possible Polish translators. One of them, Dorothy, translates for me and Connie Liszewski (wife of my 4th cousin Mike Liszewski) frequently. Dorothy is familiar with the particular database that has records from the region of the Raczkiewicz relatives because she has done family research using it. Occasionally she will translate something she hasn’t seen before. Prenups was an example. When one showed up in a family record, it was the first time Dorothy had ever seen one. Now we have found a handful of them. Another thing Dorothy had never seen related to marriages is called an “Act of Respect.” ***** When marrying under age 25 for men and 21 for women, the person is to “demand, by a respectful and formal act, the advice of their father and mother, or that of their grandfathers and grandmothers when their father and mother are dead.” ***** Dorothy did a little research and determined that Acts of Respect by notaries and permission to marry were common practice at the time. Acts of respect were short, one-page contracts, concluded between parents or, in the absence of them, the closest relatives and children intending to marry. They were prepared in front of a notary a few days before the wedding. They have a form which pleads for parental blessing. ***** The Act of Respect is from the Napoleonic Code, the first collection of civil law in the Kingdom of Poland. According to Iwona Dakiniewicz, a genealogist from Lodz, it was more cultural than legal in nature. It was a way to formally recognize the effort of the parents in raising them and to thank them for it. Consent was a separate determination. ***** Most of the records do not mention the acts of respect.Apparently only a few of the legal authorities (often the priests) required the act to be implemented. In France, where the Napoleonic Code originated, all marriage records required it. The author’s theory is that Polish families followed the tradition by following the Fourth commandment, “honor thy father and thy mother” so there was not a need for this process. ***** It makes you wonder if there was something out of the ordinary going on in the few cases where one was included. ***** “The Act Uszanowania or Act of Respect” Iwona Dakiniewicz, Lodz Poland, Rodziny, Winter, 2018, p. 3. ***** 2 Feb 1817 5th great aunt An Act of Respect was submitted In Tomaszów, on 1817 2nd February, before the Parish Priest of Tomaszów and official of Civil Records by JanBratkiewicz. He was 19 years old. He submitted an Act of respect to his mother since his father was deceased.. He also needed permission to marry since he was underage and that was provided by his mother.His bride, the “renowned” Miss Jozefa Kurkiewicz, age 15, had both parents’ permission to marry and presented an Act of Respect. These were prepared by the Notary, the banns were announced and, having received no objections to the marriage, according to the 6th Civil Code, they were married.

Commercial district in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the 1950’s

Commercial district in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the 1950’s near where Anthony lived ***** https://www.facebook.com/groups/264767850370094/permalink/1841674489346081

Grand Rapids Westside police precinct in 1927

Westside police precinct in 1927 ***** https://www.facebook.com/groups/264767850370094/permalink/1837902863056577

Battle of Tomaszow Lubelski began 18 September 1939

Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski “The Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski took place from 18 September to 20 September 1939 near the town of Tomaszów Lubelski. It was the second largest battle[2] of the Invasion of Poland (Battle of Bzura was the largest) and also the largest tank battle of the campaign. It resulted in the surrender of Army Krakow on 20 Sept. 1939.[3] The battle can be divided into two phases - from 19 to 20 September and from 21 to 26 September. They are often referred to in French sources as the First and Second battle of Tomaszów, respectively.” ***** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Tomasz%C3%B3w_Lubelski ***** https://worldhistoryproject.org/1939/9/17/first-battle-of-tomaszow-lubelski ***** Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski This video shows the beginning of the conflict that resulted in Franciszek Raczkiewicz’s (my great uncle) death four years later. Piotr --age 42, Frank --age 35, Boleslaw --age 33 Jan was back in Poland near Poznan --age 51 if still alive It is about the Battle of Tomaszów Lubelski which occurred 18 September to 20 September 1939. According to the Youtube post, it was the second largest battle of the Invasion of Poland and also the largest tank battle of the campaign. It resulted in the surrender of Army Krawko on 20 September 1939. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCejwWM2N1E

Andrzej Kaszucki died Sept. 18 1861

Andrzej Kaszucki (my third great grandfather) was likely a very respected man. When his daughter was married in 1885, when he was 53, he was listed as a burgher in the city of Tomaszow. He wouldn’t have been a grand burgher, a hereditary title reserved for the magnates. He would have been a minor burgher, as he worked in the middle class as a furrier, carrying on the tradition of his father who came from Uhnow, Galicia, Austria from a family of furriers. His family was of the Greek Catholic tradition up to his granddaughter Katarzyna’s marriage to my great grandfather Jan Raczkiewicz. ***** Another way that respect can be seen is in the way he was a witness or declarant for deaths and births of people besides his own children. On June 25 1821 at 8am, his niece Marianna Kaszucka (daughter of Teodore & Teodora.) Wojciech Kudlicka was born in the house of Jan Samalski (#425.) On June 28 at 10pm, Andrzej went with another furrier and presented himself to a priest at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church and confirmed her birth. ***** As their father, he did this for all of his children. For instance on April 7 1824 at 7pm, he and Rafal Laswicki, a carpenter and Mikolaj Niedźwiedź, went from his father-in-law’ Maciej Wiciejwski’s house #27, where Nicholas was born the day before at 11am and made sure the birth was registered. ***** Another time he was a declarant or witness was on June 18, 1827 at 10 a.m., when along with his brother Fedory, 36, he was a witness for their other brother Fidora's death. Fidora died the day before at noon. Andrzej and the brother who was the other witness were both furriers. The 25 year old brother who died mid-day was a shoemaker and left behind a widowed wife Maryanna nee Mirowski. ***** When he died at age 62 on 18 September 1861 at 2a.m., his friends and family returned the favor. His son Jozef and another furrier, Mikolaj Tracznaki went two days later on 20 September at 4pm and presented themselves and confirmed his death.

Anthony & Joseph Raczkiewicz Leave Antwerp September 18, 1912

“You can have more than one home. You can carry your roots with you, and decide where they grow.” Hanning Mankell When Katarzyna Kaszucka (my great grandmother) said goodbye to 19 year old Antoni, it was likely that she was never going to see him again. He was journeying to the United States for a better life. Her oldest son had left two years earlier and now two more sons were leaving. The remaining six children were ages six to seventeen. Her husband Jan was still alive (and would be for three more years.) Anthony sailed with his 21 year old brother Jozef from Antwerp, Belgium on September 18, 1912. The voyage was 99 years ago. Anthony would have had to leave home in Sabaudia (near Tomaszów Lubelski, Poland) much earlier to get to the ship in time for the departure. With 700 miles of travel to get to Antwerp, some of it by rail, it would have taken at least several days to get there. Older brother John left Tomaszow Lubelski two years earlier. He sailed from Hamburg, Germany in February of 1910 at age 21. Mary traveled much later in October of 1923, traveling like Anthony and Joseph from Antwerp to Canada and then to the U.S. Katarzyna was 39 years old when Jan left, 41 years old when Joseph and Anthony left and 52 when Mary left. She was likely still in her 50s when Jan, her oldest son returned to Poland.

Andrzej Dubiel's Birthday is September 16

Happy birthday to Andrzej Dubiel! (my newly found 2nd cousin)

Memes

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1700259116868803/permalink/3066483173579717 ***** https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTwigsGenealogy/posts/3855821027816517 ***** https://www.facebook.com/groups/prussiangenealogy/permalink/2800093273637585 ***** https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTwigsGenealogy/posts/3990640444334574 ***** https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTwigsGenealogy/posts/3986095614789057 ***** https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTwigsGenealogy/posts/4015433685188583 ***** https://www.facebook.com/groups/GenealogyJustAsk/permalink/4215860125131307 ***** https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTwigsGenealogy/posts/4031320566933228

Vincent Halloren Died September 11, 2001 in 9/11

Marie Halloren (my newfound 2nd cousin, granddaughter of Mary Kufta) is a 9/11 widow. Her husband Vincent Halloran was one of the brave firefighters who lost their lives that day. Thank you, Vincent, for your service. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/vincent-halloran-obituary?pid=128619 (Vincent’s obituary

Paulette Longwell's birthday is September 10

Vacation in Gdansk

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gda%C5%84sk?fbclid=IwAR36fWhDKzrA7HSZ3pRSiACzi3wcXBbxFCrm5QP1wGDir1RcW2jelEFh6xg wiki ***** https://www.facebook.com/IlovePoland966/posts/381061986722928 ***** https://www.facebook.com/IlovePoland966/posts/380059523489841 ***** https://www.facebook.com/BestInTravelGroup/photos/a.416341291852695/2114899851996822

Jozef Kurkiewicz born September 8, 1815

It is very likely that Jozef Kurkiewicz (3rd great grandfather) was baptized but the birth record does not reflect it. Most of the records list the birth and baptism dates as well as the Godparents except those I have found between 1810 and 1826. Civil registration of births, marriages and deaths were initiated according to the Code of Napoleon on May 1rst, 1808. After Russia gained control in 1815, this practice continued. Priests were responsible for civil registrations from 1808 to 1825. Afte 1826, the civil records reverted to church records but kept the same format. Jozef was born at 5 o’clock in the evening on September 8, 1815. His parents were Antoni, 32 and Marianna nee Kiszczynski, 28. He was born in house #60 in Tomaszow like his sister Jagnieska was three years earlier. The witnesses were Maciej Wyszynski, 42 & Maxym Zawalksi, 43.

Happy birthday to Bogusław Wojciech Dubiel August 29

Bogusław Wojciech Dubiel 2x cousin

Maria (Dubiel) Wawrzusiszyn's birthday is September 8

Maria (Dubiel) Wawrzusiszyn' s birthday 2nd cousin

Blazej Wisniowski and Marianna Cyronska Wedding Banns September 7, 1823

I told you before that Błażej Wisniowski (my 4x great grandfather) was in a bit of a hurry after his wife Jagnieszka Szcześnicka died. He ended up engaged--that fell through--and then he ended up marrying about a year after Jagniewska’s death. Today on September 7, 1823--nearly 200 years ago--the Parish priest of Tomaszów, clerk of the civil records in the Administrative district of Tomaszów, Tomaszów County , Province Lubelskie put on the main door of the community house at 12 o'clock midday and announced for the first time the intention of Błażej and Miss Marianna Cyrońska to marry. Marianna was a 25 year old laborer who lived with her mother and whose father was deceased. Blazej was 55 years old and had previously worked as a potter but was working as a gravedigger. . Obviously something happened and things fell through. Instead, Blazej and Anna Adamczyk married May 9 1824 at 6:00 p.m. She was a 41 year old maiden, daughter of deceased parents Błażej Adamczyk and Katarzyna nee Fuss, who had been peasants in Wólka Łosiniecka. Anna was living and working in Tomaszow as a servant. Marianna died 16 years later at the age of 42. She never married. Image: By Jonata - Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6982232

Jozef Raczkiewicz Naturalized in the US September 6, 1918

By September 6, 1918, Józef Raczkiewicz (my great uncle) had a Certificate of Naturalization in the United States. He had previously immigrated to the United States in 1913 with his brother Antoni (my grandfather.) The two brothers went to Grand Rapids where their oldest brother Jan had already settled. My mother had a copy of Jozef’s Certificate of Naturalization. It was issued from the Circuit Court of Calhoun County in Battle Creek, Michigan. Battle Creek is 65 miles from where he lived in Grand Rapids and it is unlikely that he owned a car. At the time “Joe” lived at 327 Gunnison Avenue in Grand Rapids with his oldest brother Jan. Joe was 24 years old and described as 5 foot 5 ¾ inches tall, with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. When he originally came to the U.S., the immigration record listed him as a 20 year old farm laborer who could read and write. My Mom (his niece) could remember him always reading the newspaper. She didn’t remember him ever working but I found work records for him beginning in 1914 when he was a tacker at Kiefer Tanning Co., in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The last listing for employment was as a cabinet maker in 1928. My mother was born in 1936 and she didn’t think he had ever worked. She thought she remembered it was due to epilepsy or something similar as the result of military service. I can find his draft registration for WWI and WWII and one reference to his military service without any details and one reference to a pension. Also, the 1930 census refers to him as a veteran of the world war. He was not working at that point. So I am pretty sure he was in the service somewhere between 1928 and 1930 and then never was able to work again. Joe never married and lived with either his brother Jan or his brother Anthony. Jenny Katula, who also emigrated from Poland, is someone Joseph hung around with. My mother remembers her name as “Katula” but it might be the Sagauska who was a witness along with Joe in Anthonys’ marriage. Jenny lived near the railroad tracks near Seward.

Anthony Raczkiewicz married Apolonia Skrobat September 6, 1920

Anthony J Raczkiewicz (my grandfather) married Apolonia Skrobot (my grandmother) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on September 6, 1920. Reverend C Skory performed the marriage and Joseph Raczkiewicz and J. (Juuie?) Sagauska are listed as witnesses. Joseph was Anthony’s older brother and I think J. Sagauska was “Jennie” who my mother remembered was a long term friend of Joseph. The record says he was 25 years old but I know he was 27 since I have now seen his translated birth certificate. Apolonia (Pauline) was 18 according to the records but with a birthdate of April 1904, she was actually 16 ½ years old. This might explain the later confusion where family members thought she would “lie” about her age and claim to be younger than she was. (In the 1930 census, she claims she was 17 when married. The marriage document indicates 18. Birth dates vary . . . ) At the time of the marriage, Anthony was a cabinet maker. Pauline traveled from Oil City, Pennsylvania to Grand Rapids with a friend to visit relatives. She met and married Anthony Raczkiewicz while on the visit. Her wedding dress, veil and bouquet were very elaborate. She told her family the wedding gown was featured in the window of Wurzburg’s Department Store in downtown Grand Rapids. She bought and wore the matching shoes even though they were the wrong size and pinched her feet. Anthony’s last name and his father’s last name are spelled Ratkiewicz on this document.

Family Words Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBcjAiSNEtE

Funny Sayings and Memes

https://polandunraveled.com/top-7-funniest-polish-sayings-expressions/?fbclid=IwAR0cIybi-lNl1KyeB1TKcmSMKfInES_CPPj5a_MmEgwCcLpKz1za8lfLntU ***** https://www.facebook.com/TwistedTwigsGenealogy/posts/3996952410370044 ***** https://www.facebook.com/groups/1700259116868803/permalink/3066483173579717

Irene Kufta married September 4, 1948

A lifelong resident of Muskegon, Michigan, where she was born, Irene Kufta married Albert “Al” Mastee on September 4, 1948. Al and Irene were devoted members of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church and enjoyed traveling and sitting outside on their porch. They had two children, Diane Murphy and David Mastee. Irene was the middle of three daughters born to Frank Kufta and Mary nee Raczkiewicz.

Sept 1914 wars nearby Tomaszow Lubelski

There was fighting outside the area the family lived in 1914 during World War 1. The brothers Piotr, Frank and Boleslaw were only ages 15, 8 and 6. Jan, Joe and Antony were in the US and were 26, 23 and 21. Registering for the World War I draft occurred on the same day for all three brothers-- June 5, 1917 -- in Precinct 9, Ward 1 of Grand Rapids, Michigan. *****Polish Legions were being formed within the Austrian Army. ***** In 1915, Russian Poland was occupied by the central powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria). ***** https://epdf.pub/historical-dictionary-of-poland-historical-dictionaries-of-europe.html ***** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomasz%C3%B3w_Lubelski. ***** https://www.historiaregionu.org/opisy?lang=pl ***** https://www.historiaregionu.org/bitwa-pod-lubycza-9-10-09-1914?lang=pl

Current Catholic Church in TL & Hisotry

Here is a link to the current Catholic church website for Tomaszow Lubelski: https://diecezja.zamojskolubaczowska.pl/parafie/parafia-zwiastowania-najswietszej-maryi-panny-sanktuarium-mb-tomaszowskiej-tomaszow-lub ***** The website also includes information about the history of the church. ***** Historical view ***** The parish was established in 1621. The present wooden parish church was built in 1727. The original one was founded in 1627 by the ordinate Tomasz Zamoyski. Rebuilt in 1727 and renovated after the destruction of World War I and II. In 1832, it was consecrated by Bishop Józef Marceli Dzięćlski. Church of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tomaszów, is one of the most valuable monuments of sacred wooden architecture in Poland. There is a miraculous painting of Our Lady of the Scapular in the temple. The church has a log structure on a brick foundation. It was built on a rectangular plan with a straight-ended presbytery and a wooden choir. The façade is crowned with two square towers topped with cupolas. The interior of the church is decorated with elements of the 18th-century polychrome on the nave walls, the rood beam and the choir sill. There are marbling on the pillars and cornices. Extremely valuable elements of the equipment are: a baroque rood beam with a crucifixion group from the first half of the 17th century and a pulpit, a stone baptismal font, rococo stalls and confessionals. The mannerist main altar dates back to the 17th century. In its lower part there are relics of St. Felix and the miraculous image of Our Lady of the Scapular. ***** The cult of Our Lady in Tomaszów, venerated in the image of Our Lady of the Scapular, dates back to the 17th century. According to sources, an unknown person placed the painting in 1652 in the chapel of St. Wojciech, located in Przedmieście Lwowskie. From the sandy hill on which the chapel stood, the place was called "na Piaski". The chapel was in the place where the townspeople of Tomaszów, in 1636, erected a statue as an expression of the extraordinary presence of God, where "pious persons ... saw unusual light, processye by Angels, burning candles and torches in the air, as signs that she chose this place for herself. for the apartment of the Blessed Virgin Mary ". The image of the Mother of God quickly found publicity as famous for its graces. The Swedes retreating from Zamość in 1656 destroyed the chapel and took the image of the Mother of God to a military camp. A Swedish soldier was carrying the painting under the saddle, but when his horse fell, he tore it in anger and abandoned it. ***** The desecrated painting was found and taken home by two noblewomen from Tomaszów. With time, they moved to Lviv, and placed the image of the Tomaszów Lady in the furrier chapel of the Latin cathedral in Lviv. Soon, votive offerings followed him. After a few years, when the chapel destroyed by the Swedes was rebuilt in Tomaszów (1662), the townspeople asked for the miraculous painting to be returned. Ultimately it happened thanks to the support of Archbishop Wojciech Koryciński. The image of the Mother of God returned to its former place, and in the furrier's chapel, silver votive offerings remained as evidence of his presence there. The image of Our Lady of Tomaszów left the chapel again in 1672. In the face of the threat from the Turkish army, the townspeople took the painting to the Zamość fortress, from where it returned after the war to the parish church, and then to the chapel in Piaski. ***** In view of the growing cult of the image, a brick church was built in the years 1721-25 in Tomaszów's Piaski in order to provide better service to pilgrims. Its founder was the castellan of Kiev, Józef Potocki, who was asked to save his life during the war riots in front of the Tomaszów painting of the Mother of God. In 1727, Trinitarians were brought to Tomaszów and they settled at the church in Piaski. The monks looked after the place of worship of Our Lady of Tomaszów and St. Adalbert until the dissolution of the redemption in 1783. After the dissolution of the order, the church furnishings together with the miraculous image of Our Lady of Tomaszów were transferred to the parish church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where it remains to this day. The year 1994 was extremely important in the history of the Tomaszów Sanctuary, which was proclaimed the Year of Our Lady of Tomaszów in the Zamość-Lubaczów diocese. At the request of Jan Śrutwa, Bishop of Zamość-Lubaczów, who came from the parish of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the centuries-old cult of Our Lady of the Scapular in Tomaszów Lubelski was confirmed by the "papal brief" of John Paul II on February 2, 1994, allowing the solemn coronation of the image. The miraculous image of Our Lady of Tomaszowska was crowned on July 17, 1994. The act of coronation was made by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Józef Kowalczyk. The ceremony took place with the participation of 23 bishops and over 60,000 believers (also from Ukraine).