Swiercz Research Summary 17-Apr-2010
Hello,
I would like to summarize the information that I have found on my Swiercz connection in Zakrzewo, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland. The connection was through the marriage of Tomasz Swiercz and Rozalia Nowak. Most of the dates and information are based on second hand information that I’ve gathered, due to gaps in the Straszewo church records that are available through the LDS. Most of the summaries point to estimated dates.
Here are the key events:
- Marriage of Tomasz Swiercz and Rozalia Nowak – between 1880 – 1883
- Birth of Józef Swiercz – between 1882 -1883
- Death of Tomasz Swiercz – May 13, 1883
- Marriage of Michał Tobiasz and Rozalia Swiercz nee Nowak – October 18, 1885
- Arrival in America – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – Józef Swiercz – between 1904 – 1906
- New York Passenger List – Jan Tobiasz – August 16, 1909
- 1910 US Census – Milwaukee, Wisconsin – April 16, 1910
From the records that I’ve found, I’ve been able to piece together a probable time line of events, but not definite or as detailed as I’d like.
After the marriage of Tomasz and Rozalia, they gave birth to a son named Józef. Then after the death of Tomasz in 1883, Rozalia would raise Józef alone until she married Michał Tobiasz in 1885. Józef immigrated to America around 1906 and then settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He wrote or notified his family about the opportunities in Milwaukee. In 1909, Jan Tobiasz left Zakrzewo and went to join Józef in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The brothers would initially live together as boarders at 891 Twelfth Avenue.
Source Citation: Year: 1909; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_1317; Line: 8; .
Source Citation: Year: 1909; Microfilm serial: T715; Microfilm roll: T715_1317; Line: 8; .
Along line 8, on page 44, of this passenger list, the information listed for Jan Tobiasz is as follows:
- 20 years old
- Polish
- last residence: Raksewo (should be spelled: Zakrzewo)
- nearest relative in Russian Poland: friend – Wojciech Nowak, relation: no relation (this was an inaccurate statement based on the records I’ve found)
- destination: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- who paid for passage: step-brother (should be half-brother?)
- relative or friend you are joining: step-brother Józef Swiercz, address 959 10th Avenue, Milwaukee
- height – 5’6″, hair -brown, eyes – grey
- place of birth: Straszewo, Russia
According to the 1910 US Census, Józef Swiercz arrived in America in 1905. Józef was born about 1885. He listed his birth place and his parents birth place as Russian Poland. Józef spoke Polish and could read. He was a laborer at a foundry. Also listed as boarders living at 891 Twelfth Avenue, Milwaukee, were Jan Tobiasz and Adalbert Nowalk (Wojciech Nowak?), both worked as laborers at a foundry.
My next step to find more information about Józef is to search for a marriage record in one of Milwaukee’s Polish parishes after 1910. I will definitely keep my a look out for this record or any other records that may provide more detail about Józef Swiercz.
Best Regards,
Al
