Mikolaj Rak from Carpatho-Rusyn, Lemko Villages in Jaslo County

Hi,
I'm new here - just found you. I've been researching my father's genealogy very actively for the past few years, having (finally!) discovered that it was not Ukrainian, Polish, or "white russian," as he tried to explain it over the years, but Carpatho-Rusyn. My grandfather, Mikolaj Rak, emigrated from the village of Wola Cieklinsa, near Pielgrzymka, in 1892 and never returned (he feared being drafted). He was a Lemko, which is one of the three main sub-groups of the Carpatho-Rusyns.

I recently found a website that I believe contains information about the area from which my grandfather emigrated - it's beskid-niski.pl/ I believe the primary language of the site is Polish, which I unfortunately do not yet speak. Can anyone who does check this site out for me and let me know if there is an english-speaking version of it? Or if there is a way for me to post a note there asking participants on the site to contact me? I would love to communicate with folks who either live in/around the area or who have good knowledge of it. I am also hoping to track down any living descendants of my grandfather's two sisters who both married men named Dziama - their last known whereabouts was Borislav, Ukraine.

Thanks a lot!
Rakky

nice heritage. I looked at the site you are mentioning,
no english there. have you seen this one lemko.org?

Hi, bruno,
Oh, yes - I'm well acquainted with lemko.org. Thank you. It is an excellent site - not well organized, but full of great information.

Rusyns In and From Poland - Lemkos, Boykos, Hutsuls

I did a search on this site usng the term "Lemko" and there were about 50 hits, most of them from about 5 different topics. Rather than try to contact each person who indicated a Rusyn heritage individually (which isn't always possible anyway), I thought it might be a better idea to set up a new topic for those of us with Rusyn blood, so we can assist each other with any research, questions, or whatever - I think it would be nice just to have a place to swap stories about our ancestors and be among one another.

My father's parents both emigrated to America from (then Austrian) Lemko villages which are now in southeast Poland - my grandfather from Wola Cieklinska, near Pielgrzymka in Jaslo County, and my grandmother from Wysowa, near the border in Gorlice County. I grew up in Albany County, NY, USA, and now live a couple of hours south of there - but most of my 15 siblings live much closer to my parents.

So how do other members of this site feel about having a topic just for those of us with Rusyn heritage?

I have some Lemko in me, too. The topic 'Kocielko surname' has most of my info about that side. I, too, am hoping to find relatives who can provide more insight. I was lucky to find a few already.

VERY lucky! I am envious, I must say. Congratulations.
What County were your relatives from?

Mine were from Rzeszow County, I believe. The village was Lubno, Dynow commune. A distant relative in Poland gave me info about her family, but I haven't been able to connect hers to mine. My second cousin explained my family's connection to Russia. I haven't, though, been able to connect my great-grandfather Wasyl "Basil"Kocielko to the other Kocielkos/Kociolkos who immigrated from Lubno. I know of possibly two sisters - Malanka and Tekla, as well as a nephew - Nestor.

I hired a Polish genealogist to research the archives for the records of my fathers' parents - would you like her contact information?

That might be my only choice now. I wrote to the church in Lubno back in December, but I haven't gotten a reply yet. A professional would probably be the best option. I appreciate this.

Koach,
Her name is Iwona and you can reach her at genealogy@pro.onet.pl.

Thank you so much for the email address.

You're very welcome. Good luck with your research!