Genevieve, also went by the name of Jean, was my paternal grandmother.
Credit: US Immigration Services Naturalization document
Genevieve/Genowefa Wojtkowski Schmitz
She was born in Ciechanowiec, Poland (was in Russian control when she was born, but not when she left nor when she filled out her citizenship papers) on August 10, 1910.
She was the first child of Adam Wojtkowski and Maryanna Slepowronska as stated in her 1943 citizenship papers she filed even though she was a US citizen due derivative rules due to her father becoming a US citizen before she was an adult.
Taken from her 1943 Citizenship papers
In fact, in a rare statement from someone in Jean's tiny town, they mentioned about when she was born.
Taken from Czeslaw / Chester Wojtkowski sworn statement for Jean's citizenship paperwork
on March 20, 1943 in Union, New Jersey.
I was shocked to find the above information as usually you don't get this much detail. It sounds like my grandmother's birth was quite an event for the tiny town.
The disheartened part was when I was researching the events in her life, they were vast even in the 10 years she spent in this region of Poland. At this point in history, Poland didn't exist. it wouldn't exist again until the end of World War 1.
Credit: GoogleEarth
When she was born, this part of Poland was under Russian rule. Can you imagine having to learn Polish and then having to learn Russian as well?
April 1912, the Titanic sinks in the Atlantic Ocean.
February 1913, her father and some distant cousins, leave Poland for the USA upon the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria.
September 1913, according to newspaper articles there is damage to spring wheat crops. Because of this there is no volume of wheat crops expected. This is a huge blow due to Jean's paternal grandmother owning a flour mill in the town. This is according to statements within Jean's parents' marriage document. Flour is a major product in Poland, so I imagine this had a huge impact on what they were allowed to eat.
July 1914, World War 1 or the Great War started. Where they were located, was right along the Eastern Front. I do know when I was growing up, when my grandmother Jean spoke of Poland, she always referenced the Gestapo and the Zeppelins flying overhead. On top of being repressed by Russia, she now had to learn German and accept the directions the Germans gave to her and the family.
The above would be attested later on by my father, who said that his grandfather (Jean's father) would sit and curse towards the Russians. I could understand that from the many readings like above.
This is the area Jean lived in.
1917 - 1922 was the Russian Civil war. Remember they are part of Russia at this point. There were references to the cheka, which was the Bolshevik Secret Police, who carried out repressions of Red Terror. The Red Terror could have been many things but no matter, it was all terrible.
As you can see, her life was hell and she was only 7 years old. If you look at the map below, they were living between Wilno and Brest-Litovsk which was directly on the line of the fighting. Could it have been now where they went and stayed with Jean's aunt and family in Malkinia?
When World War 1 ended on November 11, 1918 Poland was reestablished. This was done by the Treaty of Versailles which was signed. This didn't signify the end of the fighting, but at least Poland was back and much of the fighting ended. The fighting that didn't end was the land grab which was happening around Poland. This was due to the way the treaty was written as it didn't actually quantify where Poland's land masses were actually defined which prolonged fighting in the area.
February 1919 started the Polish-Soviet War which began which had Russia and Ukraine against the Polish Republic which it still contended as its lands even though the treaty says differently. They wouldn't agree to the signing unless the definition on where Poland's land mass is was taken out.
I'm not sure directly when Jean and her mother went to live with their family in Malkinia. I do know they did though because of paperwork. Talking to my father's cousin, who still lives in Poland, the family was really close and watched out for each other.
We agreed Jean and her mother would have attended the wedding of her sister, Zofia/Sofia, which took place in 1919.
What isn't talked about is how they got from Malkinia to Danzig/Gdansk as it's a long way to walk. Then add in fighting due to the Polish Russia war in the area and a 10 year old and nearly 40 year old getting there.
Credit: GoogleEarth - The Red pins was the fighting going on while they went from Malkinia to Danzig (yellow pins)
Do do know by August 1920, they were living in the same town and area as they put this area down as their last residence in Poland. We believe the family probably lived together for protection.
Credit: Ellis Island (row numbers 7 & 8 on list)
However, due to the fighting, I believe the ship was delayed leaving because the port was closed and was probably the first ship out after it opened. My grandmother always said it was the last ship out before the closed the port. The newspaper tells it differently. If you look at the date on the manifest it says the 28 or 29th which aligns up with the newspaper. However, it does not align up with what my grandmother told us.
It doesn't matter what date they left its just that they DID leave. They arrived in the Port of NY on September 19, 1920 as per the manifest at the port of arrival. They met up with her father when they got off of the ship.
Credit: Ellis Island
For someone who born into difficult circumstances and times, the events in just the first 10 years of my grandmother's life was extraordinary. To live through a World War, countless wars, needing to learn 3, and soon to be 4, languages, food shortages, as a young girl her father going off to get a start in the USA and finally leaving the only land she knew of all as she had just turned 10 year old.
Most people today would be pressed just by even half of one of these things, as shown by the selflessness of protesting about putting something on their face because of a virus which could kill you or others. It really does boggle the mind when you put today into perspective of what my paternal grandmother went through against that.
My Quest
When I started to get closer to finding out exactly where my grandmother came from in Poland and when I found out exactly when she left Poland for the US, I wanted to be back on Polish soil either just before on or the day my grandmother and great grandmother left.
However, due to COVID-19, and closed borders, this quest will just have to wait. Where I live, Australia, has closed its borders basically going in and out unless you are returning. I respect the work our emergency services have done and don't want to create more problems by going some place which will still be there after everything has returned to safe levels.
An added bonus is if I'm able to meet up with my father's cousin who's the ancestor of the 1919 marriage I listed above.
Besides, if I know my grandmother she would probably kick my butt if I put myself into probable harm like that. She was that type of woman as you can tell by just how much she survived before she was 10.
As soon as its safe, and we can afford it, I plan on going back to my grandmother, and our ancestors, home of several generations.
More information:
I've started a page for Jean. However, I haven't had time to add to it.
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