dbray6714
26 Feb 2015
Genealogy / Last name History or help please: BREJ surname [20]
Hello Again... I'm back with more info and Yes, more questions.
Here's what I have determined since I last asked if anyone had any information of Brej's from Poland.
My Grandfather's name was: Wojciech Brej b:1890 (changed to George Bray sometime between 1908-1917).
His parents were: Jozef Brej and Anna Gombienna (sp) or possibly (Anna Porembski).
George immigrated with his younger brother (Lawrence) sometime before 1908 because I have a Western Union wire from him to a Michael Brej in Dobrynia dated 1908 from Iron Mountain/Hurley, Michigan.
The story goes that George's and Lawrence's real parents died and they were sent to be raised by an Aunt on a farm (I'm assuming in Dobrynia) whom they hated and they ran away - George making several unsuccessful attempts to come to US before he finally succeeded with Lawrence. They made their way to Iron Mountain, MI where they worked in an Iron Mine. Lawrence was engaged to a Victoria Kowalkowski but was killed in a mining accident and George married Victoria instead.
Later in life (1960's), George received letters from Janina Brej still in Dobrynia talking about land that George was owed as of the result of some death in the Brej family. The letters reference a Pawal Brej as well as Michal Brej. Apparently my grandfather received many of these types of letters over the years but they have been lost and I only have 1 in my possession through which these names appear.
So - if any of this is familiar to anyone or if you have any information that could help me, I would very much appreciate hearing from you.
dbray6714@yahoo
Thanks,
Don
Hello Again... I'm back with more info and Yes, more questions.
Here's what I have determined since I last asked if anyone had any information of Brej's from Poland.
My Grandfather's name was: Wojciech Brej b:1890 (changed to George Bray sometime between 1908-1917).
His parents were: Jozef Brej and Anna Gombienna (sp) or possibly (Anna Porembski).
George immigrated with his younger brother (Lawrence) sometime before 1908 because I have a Western Union wire from him to a Michael Brej in Dobrynia dated 1908 from Iron Mountain/Hurley, Michigan.
The story goes that George's and Lawrence's real parents died and they were sent to be raised by an Aunt on a farm (I'm assuming in Dobrynia) whom they hated and they ran away - George making several unsuccessful attempts to come to US before he finally succeeded with Lawrence. They made their way to Iron Mountain, MI where they worked in an Iron Mine. Lawrence was engaged to a Victoria Kowalkowski but was killed in a mining accident and George married Victoria instead.
Later in life (1960's), George received letters from Janina Brej still in Dobrynia talking about land that George was owed as of the result of some death in the Brej family. The letters reference a Pawal Brej as well as Michal Brej. Apparently my grandfather received many of these types of letters over the years but they have been lost and I only have 1 in my possession through which these names appear.
So - if any of this is familiar to anyone or if you have any information that could help me, I would very much appreciate hearing from you.
dbray6714@yahoo
Thanks,
Don