Genealogy / Domkoski or Dabkowski - In search of my Grandfather's history [21]

Thank you so much. This is very helpful; I really appreciate it.

Genealogy / Domkoski or Dabkowski - In search of my Grandfather's history [21]

Thank you, my great, great grandfather was definitely Jerzy Dąbkowski, and my great grandfather had his name Anglocized into John Domkoski. However, I can't find them on any passenger lists with dates that make sense.

Genealogy / Domkoski or Dabkowski - In search of my Grandfather's history [21]

Thank you. The name was definitely Dąbkowski, and my great grandfather's name changed to Domkoski in the US. One of his sons uses Domkuski; but the other two children use Domkoski. We're not sure what happened, but we think the brother's name was misspelled Domkuski when he was in the service, and he just left it. I've been in touch with my second cousin--his father was my grandfather's brother, and he and his children use Domkuski as their last name. The name confusion is making my genealogy research a bit challenging.

Merged: Searching for my roots in the former "Russian Poland"

I am thrilled that I will be traveling to Poland in March. I will visit Warsaw, but I would also like to visit the region where my family came from, but I'll have to figure that out between now and then.

My great grandfather was born Jan Dabkowski in 1889, but I don't know where. He was buried John Domkoski in Spring Valley, Illinois. The family members who are still alive know that he was "from Poland" and my aunt remembers that they spoke Polish in their home all the time when she visited them. However, none of the remaining family members know anything about where he was born. One remaining relative, the niece of my great grandparents, remembers that her mother helped put packages together to send to John's sister who was still in Poland, but she was so young she doesn't remember the sister's name or where she lived in Poland. I suspect that I still have family living in Poland, (descendants of the sister) but I don't know where.

John (Jan) immigrated to the US in either 1908 or 1909 (I have conflicting information) to join his brother, Charles, 12 years his elder, who had immigrated 1897 and Charles' wife, Helen Pierschola, who immigrated in 1902. The 1910 census says that all three of them were born in "Russian Poland" and their native language is Polish; it also indicates for all three that the birthplace of both parents is "Russian Poland." The 1920 census says that John and his parents were born in "Russia" and their native language is Polish. But, in the 1930 census, he indicates that his birthplace and the birthplace of his parents is Poland. His native language is Polish. The only clue I've had regarding place is a post card from family in Pisz, apparently sent sometime in the late 1940s.

I started trying to figure out what part of current-day Poland was once part of Russian Poland. This led me to Congress Poland. What I read indicated that the capital was Warsaw, and that Congress Poland included the Kalisz Region, Lublin, Lodz, Masovia, Podlasia, and Swietokrysic voivodeships of Poland. I tried to look at a map, but it was in Russian, and it was difficult for me to read. I found another site about the "Russian Pale" and if I'm reading it right, it indicates Kielce, Kalisz, Lomza, Lublin, Piotrkow, Plock, Radom, Siedlce, Suwalki, and Warsaw are the current parts of Poland that would have been in "Russian Poland" in 1889 when my great grandfather was born there, and in 1908 or 09 when he left. Does this seem right? Can I focus on searching for Dabkowski's in these regions? So far I've searched church records from Lublin, Radom, and Siedlce. There are plenty of Dabkowskis, but they're not the right ones.

I'm looking for any insights that can help me narrow down where my great grandfather came from. Thanks!

Genealogy / Domkoski or Dabkowski - In search of my Grandfather's history [21]

Thank you, Harry. I do know that Pisz wasn't part of Russian Poland, it's just where the family who sent my family a postcard/photo lived. The postcard came from "Your loving Wierzbicka family" in Pisz, so that's one place I know I had family. My great grandfather and his brother indicate that they're from "Russian Poland" in the census. I guess it's not such a great clue after all.


I appreciate the advice, but I am presenting at a conference in Dubrovnik and will be in Poland on my way home, so I can't change the dates. I'll be there in the second half of the month. I don't mind cold and snow; I live in the Pocono Mountains and today is 9 degrees and snowy. I'm sure Poland is more beautiful in the spring, but I'll just be happy to be there. Hopefully, in the future, I can plan a trip in a more temperate time of year.

I was planning to take the bus from Warsaw to Pisz for a day or two, but perhaps I'll consider Lublin based on your high recommendation.

Thank you for the information!

Travel / Hotel or Apartment? Best budget option for accommodation in central Warsaw (I don't speak Polish) [8]

Thank you. I see that no one thinks the apartment on my own is a great idea, so I'll focus on hotels. I kind of like waking up to breakfast prepared for me anyway :-) I looked at the MDM, and it may be just perfect for me. I appreciate the advice.

If I may, would someone fill me in on tipping culture in Poland. Do you tip the cab driver, the waitress, etc? And if so, what is a typical %? Thank you so much for the help.

Genealogy / Domkoski or Dabkowski - In search of my Grandfather's history [21]

Thank you! I can give you the information I have on my family in the US whose name started out as Dabkowski. It would be amazing if we are related. I'm in Poland right now. I head home to the US tomorrow. I have learned a lot on this trip and really enjoyed myself. You can email me directly at doctor.burnside@gmail

Thanks again for the help.


Harry, I wanted to let you know I lucked out on the weather. It's been absolutely beautiful!

I was very excited, but as I looked at the record, I realized these can't be my great, great grandparents because Jan Dąbkowski, my great, grandfather was born in 1889. These look like deaths in 1888 :-( It's too bad because this is the general area where I believe their from.