The Challenging Jagodzinski / Barry Family - Ancestors in 52 Weeks

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

Topic Info:
What would genealogy be without a few challenges. (And yes, this is similar to a theme we had at the beginning of the year. I'm willing to bet you have more than one challenging ancestor -- I know I do!) Who has been a challenge to find? What location is challenging to research?

Honestly, I could have sat here and done a few different areas of the family as I still have brick walls around, but nothing frustrates me more than the Jagodzinski or Barry area of my family. This is my grandmother and her father's side of the family.

Janet Dorothy Jagodzinski Gauquie. Credit J. Gauquie

Using the Jagodzinski (also used Jagodrinski) and Barry as last names
As far as I've been told, my maternal grandmother was born Janet Jagodzinski in May 1911 in Pennsylvania. I have not been able to find her birth entry, certificate or church entry as yet. Her life from 1911 until 1930 is basically a mystery.

I found her father's Declaration of Intention in 1930 and what I think is their entry in the 1930 US census which matches basic information in 1930, but this is it until....

In 1934 and 1935 I found she was living in Newburgh, NY and going by the name of Janet Barry according to some US City Directories. I believe this is her as I've found other information as Janet Barry which I'll get to later.

The highlights above show my grandmother and her sister Pauline living and working at the same place. Credit

I have not found her entry in the NY state marriage index either, but where they married in NY or in Pennsylvania? This is the question...

In the 1940 census, Grandma Janet is married and located with my grandfather, Louis, my uncle and mother and in Newburgh, NY. It backs up she was born in Pennsylvania and she was living in Salisbury Mills, NY in 1935 and on a farm. This farm would have been my great grandfather, Jules Gauquie's, farm I believe (below).

This is the family farm which Janet probably mentioned on the 1940 census about where they were living in 1935. Credit. J. Fitzgerald taken Jan 2019

It wasn't until I ordered in 2 more pieces of information which started to unlock the name confusion information and mystery - but not completely.

I ordered in my grandmother Janet's Social Security Application she filled out (below). There it listed her mother and father reminding you she filled out the form, so she should know who her parents are right? On the form, her father, my great grandfather, was listed as Leo Barry and her mother's name Bernice Ostrzycki. My mother told me her grandfather's name was Appolanus Jagodzinski and her grandmother's name was Bernice but didn't know what her maiden name is/was. Yep I'm confused...who was the correct father? Where they the same?

Janet's Social Security Application. Credit: Social Security Administration

The other form I ordered in was my grandfather Louis' Railroad Board record. On this, he put my grandmother's name down as Janet Barry Gauquie. Interesting as she was actually born as Janet Jagodzinski I was told. I cannot find her birth certificate to find out and I've looked several times, so what's going on?

My grandmother's name on my grandfather's RailRoad Retirement Board application. Credit: RailRoad Retirement Board 

This locked in my grandmother's maiden name as Janet Barry, which then I found the city directories I mentioned above, but as far as I knew my mother told me her birth name was Janet Jagodzinski.

Anyhow, I asked my cousin Jason if our grandmother's name was Barry or Jagodzinski. He didn't know anything about this side of the family and said he'd try to ask his father. My mother had 2 brothers - one had died in California and Uncle Jimmy was still living in New York. Uncle Jimmy is Jason's father. However, no one, not even other cousin's who knew of our grandmother, knew about the last name, so it was an unanswered question.

Earlier this year (2019), we had to go back to New York, and I met up with my uncle and cousin's. As we were talking, he came out with "You know they used the Barry name right?" meaning his mother's family.

My mouth dropped open and I nodded slowly saying I had some idea they did but nothing of proof. Then I asked the one question I wanted to know - why? The answer was as easy as "They were having problems getting employed because of the name so they changed it to get jobs and to sound more American." Standard answer but it was the answer I had come down too, but didn't have any confirmation until then.

The feeling I felt after my uncle told me the information on the Barry/Jagodzinski last name connection. Credit

One question answered, but many more to go about this family.

Janet Jagodzinski / Barry's father
I had found out about Grandma Janet's mother, Bernice, and had found her HUGE family. I do mean huge and some are still in Pennsylvania and others have moved south for different reasons.

On the other hand Grandma Janet's father, Appolanus Jagodzinski / Barry, is more of a question mark. On Grandma Janet's Social Security Application she put down Leo Barry, which the last name matches if you believe the Barry story above.

Where did the Leo come from? Talking to some other Polish researchers and I found many people with the name Appolanus had Americanized it to Leo. This makes my great grandfather's whole name Americanized now and very common unfortunately.

However, where did he come from? Where is he?

I have very little information on Appolanus I have to admit. I've had the US Immigration Service do searches on him and found a Intention for Naturalization which wasn't completed and in Pennsylvania. Of course the arrested for Robbery which was a mistake and he can't remember anything probably wasn't a good thing. However, it did contain something interesting. It confirmed he was in Pennsylvania and in New York - both places I know my ancestors were.

Appolanus' Declaration of Intention Paperwork from US Naturalisation Service

Appolanus' 2nd page - love the Robbery line above.

Further it contained Alien Cards from the 1940s and early 1950s so I could track where he had lived.

One of the many Address cards Alien's had to fill out until the 1950s. Credit: US Naturalisation Service

I was able to locate another Declaration of Intention in September 1930 where my great grandmother, all great aunts, uncles and grandmother are listed on this paper.

Appolanus' Declaration of Intention paperwork in the 1930s with wife and children listed. Credit

The problem is the information just - stops - until his obituary shows up in 1967 which I had just located in January 2019. He wasn't even listed on his wife's obituary which was interesting but not fully unexpected. My mother told me everytime someone referred to him as a pain and no one wanted him or anything to do with him because he was mean.

As for where he's buried, I found in January 2019, he's buried next to his wife, Bernice in New Windsor, New York.

Where they are buried with my grandmother behind the cross. Credit: J. Fitzgerald Taken 2019

The information he gives out is very little and I can't trace it back at all. I would love to know where in Poland he comes from, but even with using the ship manifest and Declaration of Intentions, it doesn't narrow it down at all to me because there could be many places called the same thing in Poland.

This is what I feel like doing everytime I try to unravel this side of the family. Credit

Janet Jagodzinski's siblings?
This is another huge problem I have. It seems like the surviving sons, stayed in Pennsylvania for some reason. I have no idea why other than they must have wanted to stay close to their mother's side of the family, but have no idea if they had done this. However, talking to the Ostrzycki's, and their ancestors, and they always said that Bernice and her family just disappeared. They used to hear some news when Bernice called, but lost contact once she passed away.

My grandmother's sisters? I found them around the Newburgh area too.
Aunt Honey, or Genevieve who was the youngest sister, was married and had children. My mother and her were very close until my mother left my father.

Aunt Honey, Genevieve Jagodzinski, in her later years. Credit 

Pauline, or Apolonia I think was her formal name listed on the Alien Cards, was the oldest. I know she had married and had children. At least one of these, Alberta, went to school with my father. He says she lives in Florida now, but hasn't told me where or how to contact her. There is very little information on Pauline other than the census information I've been able to find and according to my father.

Wilma, who was the second youngest sister, I found lived with Pauline at one point but went under the name of Vilma which was Americanized name, and she lived in Newburgh, NY as well.

I obtained this information from the 1930 census, which had Bernice as Virginia, Leo Jagodzinski, and the kids which all match the obituaries I had found. And I found Pauline and Vilma on the 1940 census, by then all the kids had up and married and/or moved out like Vilma.

The 1930 Census listing the Jagodzinski's including Leo and ages. Credit: US Government

However, once again, they all disappeared. I know very little information on most. The one I have the most information, but even this is spotty, is Genevieve. I think this is because my grandmother and mother were close, so they stayed in touch until the early 1970s. However, this is only a guess as my father said my mother and Genevieve were always talking on the phone and I can't remember them speaking after my parents divorced in the 1970s.

Who were and are these Jagodzinski's? Do they still go by the name Barry or have the reverted back to the name Jagodzinki's?

Last week, I was in a meeting and one person brought up a statement which was "Most of the time people just have to ask and others have a hard time saying no."

I'm now taking the time to ask - Where ARE you??? Please come and talk to me....

Credit

Ancestors in 52 Weeks - Maternal Line Brick Wall - Jagodzinski/Barry

This year's challenge is 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks and is run by Amy Johnson Crow.

The Topic information:
Brick wall is a phrase that strikes fear in the heart of many a genealogist. Who is a brick wall ancestor for you? Who is one that you broke through a brick wall to find? How did you do it? You could also interpret this more literally, like with a family photo of a brick house or an ancestor who was a bricklayer.

One thing I've learned since starting genealogy, is there's just not enough time to do things. I might be concentrating on my maternal line and then my paternal line will start having information available and visa versa. Its been this way ever since. In fact, in the last week, I've had this exact thing happen. My paternal line, though a DNA cousin, had new information she sent to me (Thanks cousin!). Anyhow, I've been concentrating on my maternal line as I've been separating out my tree from my husband's tree on ancestry due to when they did upgrades information went wacky with the names and dates, so I decided to start again which is no small job.

Maternal Line Brick Wall - Jagodzinski/Barry
I would probably say the biggest brick wall I have is my grandmother Janet, and her parents and especially her father. I have found new information in the last few months, but there's more questions than answers mainly.

Usually you start with birth certificates. I have tried finding this for my grandmother (born Janet Jagodzinski but later changed it to Janet Barry) but not to be found. In fact, all of her sister's and brother's I haven't been able to find theirs either. I have found one of their son's death certificate. His name is Stefan Jagodzinski and born on Sept 26, 1915 and died Oct 16, 1916.

His death certificate. Credit

Other than a few documents which list the family (2 Declaration of Intentions, a census where one name had changed and one is missing but all other information is correct) there isn't much on this entire family from the time Bernice/Bronislaw marries until she dies.

My first index search from the NIS gave me this page

and this page. Credit NIS. I love the Robbery mistake and don't remember areas.

Later on in my searches, I found the above paperwork. Credit

I can find her on her father's Declaration of Intention but nothing after that until her obituary.

My great grandmother's obituary which locks in her children's names and places.Credit as above

When I found my great grandfather's obituary in January 2019, this locked in the information even further.

As you can see, the children's names are the same and locks in my great grandmother's name too. Credit

The obituary's locks in everyone and the places.

I had also found on some of my grandmother's documents she's put Jagodzinski Barry in - this includes her social security form, her husband's railway next of kin form - and this started to appear. When I found my great aunt Genevieve's bride index list, her name on this was Barry too.

Notice the Barry on my grandmother's name Credit Social Security Administration

Once again notice the Barry is added after. Credit: Railroad Retirement Board

My oldest Uncle's Social Security Change on his Death Index. Notice his mother's name is Barry. Credit

The last entry on the bottom is for my great aunt Genevieve. Credit

My great aunt Pauline's and Vilma/Valerie's 1940's US Census. They were both Barry's but Pauline married Harold Davis but Vilma still has the Vilma Barry name. Pauline is just as much of a ghost as all the others even after she marries.

It was in January, I found out why they started to go by the name Barry - it was more American than Jagodzinski. My Maternal Uncle Jimmy said this is the reason for the change. I had a feeling this was the case, but he didn't know why they picked that name. I knew the reason because I went looking.

 They took the e out of berry and replaced it with an a. Credit

However, my great grandmother, Bernice, and her side of the family, I can find out information about. The whole family has their lives played out in the newspapers.

Death certificates? Well, I've been trying to get my grandparents (all of them) certificates for years, but NY is really awful for dealing with. My maternal cousins (Hi out there!) are currently working on trying to get our grandmother Janet Gauquie's death certificate but the state and county are playing off against each other and causing us more headaches. Yes, we have her Social Security Death Index information, but even that isn't helping.

Credit

At least I was able to find out where my great grandparents and grandmother are buried and I was able to visit them in January 2019.

My great grandparents (front) my grandmother (back). Picture on left back unknown. Credit. J. Fitzgerald

After looking for years, I found my grandmother and her parents. My brother (on top of the headstone as he had just died thus why I look like something ran me over) and I went to visit January 2019. Credit: J. Fitzgerald

Voting and My Ancestors

As the 2016 Presidential election is coming to a close (Finally! Cheers all around the world are heard), I thought I'd take a look back at who was running when my ancestors could vote in the United States.

If you've been reading this blog, you would know my ancestors come from Europe - Almost all of Europe. On my maternal side, we have Denmark, Belgium/France, and Poland. On my paternal side, I have Poland/Russia and Germany.  That's quite a bit of Europe when you think of it! However, when were they allowed to vote for Federal voting? Who was running in those years? Let's see what I found...

Maternal side:

Gauquie - France/Belgium area - Started to vote about 1899 in the USA. This is from my great grandfather's (Jules or his correct name Joannes Julius) naturalization papers:

Excerpt from Jules' Naturalization Papers

He believed he could vote due to his father becoming a US Citizen on 28 March 1898. This is due to what was/is known as "derivative" citizenship. This citizenship "was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens. This also meant that an alien woman who married a U.S. citizen automatically became a citizen. (Conversely, an American woman who married an alien lost her U.S. citizenship, even if she never left the United States.) From 1790 to 1940, children under the age of 21 automatically became naturalized citizens upon the naturalization of their father." The question then remains, why didn't he get citizenship then as it was his father. Why he didn't obtain it this way was because he was over the age of 18. When he became 18, he was technically an adult and had to renounce his citizenship from Belgium. 

Excerpt from Jules' Naturalization Papers

I thought it was very interesting that he admitted to voting in elections and even holding an office from another section of his naturalization papers(below). 

 He says he had been voting since about 1899. The problem with this is there were NO elections in 1899, so I'm more inclined to believe it was the 1900 election he voted in.


Also, the statement of "and hold office in the Town of Blooming Grove, NY" is very interesting as I have looked online for documents/newspapers for this area for elections, but cannot find anything. This is an area I will have to research next time I go back to visit.

So who would have he had to choose from in the election of 1900?
This is one of the things when I was in school and we went over different presidents, and I thought, why do I need to know this crap? So what? It happened and its over. Well, now as I'm researching this, many of that crap, as I termed it, has been coming back to me. Then add it to my family history and WOW. 

Taken from Wikipedia

 This was a surprising find as NY was in red - it was Republican state. Since I can ever remember, its always been referred to as a Democrat state, so it was a shock to me. The next shock was to find out who McKinley's running mate was - Teddy Roosevelt!

Taken from Wikipedia

 Yes, you are reading it correctly! Teddy Roosevelt was Governor of NY. I am thinking this is most likely who my great grandfather voted for - but I could be wrong. I haven't been able to find any voting lists.

Annie's naturalization certificate in 1924.

Larson - Denmark - My great grandmother, Annie/Anna, was naturalized in 1924. She arrived in the USA in 1892, but at this point women could not vote yet. She was married in 1896 to my great grandfather, Jules.

The 19th Amendment which gave ALL AMERICAN women the right to vote did not get ratified until 18 August 1920. After this point, they were allowed to vote if they were Americans. However, if you remember "derivative" citizenship term from above.  This citizenship "was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens."

However, she found in 1923, my great grandfather, Jules, was NOT a US citizen, which in turn, made her NOT a US citizen. This put her in the same area as Jules, was she voting? If so, then she probably started about the same as Jules. If not, then when she became a US Citizen in 1924, she could then vote without a problem.

So who would have he had to choose from in the election of 1924?

New York State was still Republican which still shocks me a bit because growing up it seemed like NY was a Democratic state forever. Apparently not.

Taken from Wikipedia

Now I'm curious, out of the people running for office, I wonder who Annie would have voted for? Was she like my mother, who told me years ago she voted for the other person in an election because she knew who my father voted for? Did she vote or did she choose the same person as she knew her husband wanted? Sadly, we'll never know, but its fun to speculate what she would have voted for.

Jagodzinski/Berry - Poland - Appolanus or Leo Barry/Berry is a very interesting person and very much a ghost. He was born, as far as I can tell as Appolanus Jagodzinski in Poland. Then in his late teens, he left Poland for the US and arriving in 1905. Over the years, he changed his name a few times as far as I can tell to Leo Berry/Barry (Leo was American for Appolanus and Berry/Barry was probably due to his family perhaps maybe being berry farmers in Poland). The Jagodzinski name has a few spelling changes as well. Appolanus did fill out an Alien Registration form in 1930 which is just before World War 2. He never naturalized to a US Citizen.

Now I have to ask - could he have voted? I had to go looking and found my way to Wikipedia that states "By 1900, nearly one-half of the states and territories had some experience with voting by aliens, and for some the experience lasted more than half a century.^[12]" Later the explanation goes on to say "In 1931, political scientist Leon Aylsworth noted: "For the first time in over a hundred years, a national election was held in 1928 in which no alien in any state had the right to cast a vote for a candidate for any office – national, state, or local."^[16]" I did find in 1776-1804 NY did allow everyone to vote - both legal and illegal.

When I read through Appolanus' Alien paperwork, he does admit to having an offense (being arrested) for a Robbery in PA.  What really makes me laugh is he can't remember too much about the offense. Hmm have something to hide?

A part of Appolanus' Alien paperwork

Again I ask - Could he have voted? I found the following out: "In 48 states (all but Maine and Vermont) and in the District of Columbia, citizens lose the right to vote upon conviction of a felony; in at least a handful of states, the right is also lost upon conviction of a misdemeanor. All 48 states (and the District of Columbia) also provide mechanisms by which these citizens may seek to regain their voting rights, though some processes are much more viable than others." from the American Civil Liberties Union.

In fact, when I went to vote, it says right on the top of the forms I have to fill in the following;

Excerpt from a form in the 2016 NY election - note (c) condition

So yes, you cannot vote if you've been convicted of a crime. Do I think this stopped Appolanus from voting? Somehow I think he still voted, but I cannot prove or disprove this.

Ostrcyki/Ostrzycki/Ustrzycki - Poland/Russia - My 2x great grandparents and great grandmother arrived in the US in 1903. My 2x great grandfather, Stanislaw, was naturalized in 1920. However, if you remember "derivative" citizenship term from above.  This citizenship "was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens." This meant all by his oldest child, Charles, were automatically US citizens on the same day he was sworn in. Charles later on would go to fill out his own paperwork for citizenship.

1920 Excerpt from Stanislaw's naturalization papers

So who would have he had to choose from in the election of 1920?

Taken from Wikipedia

These relatives lived in PA, but it is still a Republican state as you can tell by the map above. I'm not sure on who he would have voted for but it would have been interesting.

Remember his wife, Valerie or Walerja, could have voted as well! Why? The 19th Amendment which gave ALL AMERICAN women the right to vote did not get ratified until 18 August 1920. After this point, they were allowed to vote if they were Americans. However, if you remember "derivative" citizenship term from above.  This citizenship "was granted to wives and minor children of naturalized men. From 1790 to 1922, wives of naturalized men automatically became citizens." As, Valerie or Walerja, was handed her American citizenship because of her husband's oath he took. Remember because of the same laws, all their children, but Charles, were US Citizens.

Again, she lived with her family in PA, but it is still a Republican state as you can tell by the map above. I'm not sure on who she would have voted for or if she would have voted at all. I know their one child, Lottie or Laura, was later to go on to push for Democrats in this area, so maybe her mother and/or father could have something to do with it? 

Paternal side: 

Wojtkowski - Poland/Russia - This was my great grandparents and grandmother on my father's side. My great grandfather arrived in the US in 1913. I believe he was too worried about making enough money to get his wife and child out of Poland and to the US before starting on becoming a US citizen. My grandmother and great grandmother arrived in New York in September 1920 - Just after the 19th Amendment became law. My great grandfather naturalized in 1925, my great grandmother in 1934 and then my grandmother followed in 1943.

What was so interesting about this, was even though my grandmother because a US citizen when her father took his oath through the "derivative" citizenship laws, my grandmother decided she wanted to take the oath and not just have it handed to her.

So who would have he had to choose from in the election of 1925/1928?
As he would have missed voting in the 1924 elections, my great grandfather, Adam's, next election he could vote in would be 1928. 
 

Taken from Wikipedia

As he was a small business owner by now, I believe he would have voted Republican in New Jersey, which is where they settled when the arrived in the US.

So who would have she had to choose from in the election of 1934/1936? 
My great grandmother, Marianne or Mary, would have voted I believe. She would have loved and been proud to do it after growing up the way she had been in Poland/Russia.

Her citizenship would have fallen between elections. The first election she would have been able to vote in would be 1936.

Taken from Wikipedia

I have notice NJ and NY are both democratic at this time. This must be when NY has become a traditional democratic state.




So who would have she had to choose from in the election of 1943/1944?

My grandmother would have to wait until 1944 to vote which was the next federal election.

Taken from Wikipedia

I still remember her telling me when I was growing up, to hold firm to the US citizenship and make sure you respect the right to vote. There are other people in the world that do not get this right and you MUST exercise it.

It wasn't just the words that were spoken which have stuck with me over the years. It was the fire and emotion she put behind them. Now, upon researching her background, I can understand why she cherished these rights and freedoms - because while in Poland/Russia, she never had them. This is what she was trying to tell me all those years ago.


Schmitz - Germany - My grandfather came to the US in 1926 and he was in his late teens. In 1926 he filed his Declaration of Intention for US Citizenship. However, he resubmitted another Declaration of Intention in 1930. He married my grandmother, Jean, in 1934 and had a son later in the same year. He was finally naturalized in 1939.

My grandfather's citizenship certificate

So who would have she had to choose from in the election of 1940?

He did not have to wait long before he could vote for the US President as you can see by the graphic below.

Taken from Wikipedia

However, I do not believe this was his motivator to become a citizen. World War 2 was already raging across the world and people who were of German origin, such as himself, would have been under increased scrutiny of the government. I believe this is his reasons around becoming a US citizen.

My Conclusion

Unfortunately, most people from Europe probably felt the same way as many as my ancestors - they never had the right to vote or a say in what was being done in their home country. What a great place to come to so you COULD have a say.

However, over the past many number of elections, US citizens, such as myself, are becoming much more disenchanted with what we are finding in our elected officials. The 2016 US Presidential race is one of the best examples of what NOT to do.

Everyone is complaining about who the nominees are (tomorrow is the election), what they are not, what Congress and The House of Reps are and are not doing. This includes myself. Not many people are very happy with what we are being served in the US for people to run the place.

I think its high time there has to be someone, with the knowledge, background, and COURAGE to stand up and fix the damned place. The truth would be good, but sometimes people are better off not knowing due to outside influences.

I hate to say it but NONE of the people who were put up as choices, fit this criteria. This is what the US has to fix - the nominees - before we can actually make a great choice. This election is just not it unfortunately. I can only imagine what my ancestors would do/say if they could see the state of the country today.