Immigration Time Line: Anna Blaszko & Cousins

My paternal grandmother, Anna Blaszko, was 20 years old when she left her parents, sister, and brother in Bastuny (or possibly a longtime Blaszko family farm in Skladance) for a new life in America in 1913. In a journey that took more than two weeks by rail and ship, she apparently traveled alone. Her third-class steamship ticket, which cost about $25, was provided by Wicenty Kulikowski, an older married cousin who had emigrated eight years earlier.

Upon her arrival that October, Anna boarded with Wicenty and his wife, Petronella, in Lowell, Massachusetts, and found work in the Boott Cotton Mill. It appears that Anna’s closest family relationships in the United States were with Wicenty (aka William) and his siblings, particularly his brother Karol (Karl) and sister Aniela (Nellie). Anna’s mother, Teresa Bowszys, and the Kulikowskis’ mother, Ewa Bowszys, were sisters; perhaps these two women fostered strong ties among their children.

It is notable that several other maternal cousins—Martin and Petronella Bowszys and Iwan Bowszys, all from Kiwance—settled in Worcester, Massachusetts, as Anna herself did after her 1916 marriage to Julian Prokopowicz. The extent of her contact with them, if any, is unknown. Similarly, I have no documentation of how close she may or may not have been to her paternal male cousins, Jan, Kasimir, and Andrzej Blaszko of Jatowty, who settled in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The Bowszys and Blaszko links in this migration chain may be weak, their impact on Anna perhaps limited to the general sense of familiar faces disappearing one by one from the towns and farm villages in the Radun area of Lida powiat (county) in Wilno gubernia (province), Russian Poland.

The earliest ship manifests that I have located for the Blaskzo and Kulikowski families date to 1903 and 1904, respectively. Earlier departures may be traced to friends and relatives with different surnames, as in the case of Kulikowski in-law Josef Bedugnis, who joined a Kuczinski stepbrother in Maynard, Massachusetts, in June 1900. Passenger list data extracted for nearly 20 Blaszko, Kulikowski, and Bowszys family members follow.

June 1900 — Josef Bedugnis
Name on manifest: Josef Bedugnis
Relationship: brother-in-law of Kulikowskis
Ship & shipping line: SS Statendam, Holland America
Departure port & date: Rotterdam, May 24, 1900
Arrival port & date: New York, June 4, 1900
Status: age 25, born ca. 1875, single, laborer, not able to read/write
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a, last residence Birona? Kowno?, Russia
Finances: stepbrother paid for passage, has ticket to final destination, has $2
Destination: stepbrother, J. Kuczinsky, Watson? Street, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: none

April 1903 — Stanislaw Blaszko
Name on manifest: Stanislaw Blassko
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Bulgaria, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, March 24, 1903
Arrival port & date: New York, April 10, 1903
Status: age 25, born ca. 1878 in Wilno, single, laborer, able to read/write
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a, last residence Wilno
Finances: paid for own passage, has ticket to final destination, has $10
Destination: cousin [“brother” also written in], Jan Jarobski?, Wilmington, Delaware
Traveling companions: none

June 1904 — Karol Kulikowski (aka Karl Kulick)
Name on manifest: Karol Kulikowsky; Ancestry, Karal Kulikewsky
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Pennsylvania, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, June 3, 1904
Arrival port & date: New York, June 16, 1904
Status: age 18, born ca. 1886 [in Jatowty], single, laborer, able to read/write
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a, last residence Marankowy?
Finances: paid for own passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $4
Destination: brother-in-law, Josef Biadugnis [Bedugnis], Box 523, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: none
Record of detained aliens: Group 41, Number 17, “tel $,” disposition to brother-in-law Josef Biadingus (Bedugnis), Box 523, Maynard, Massachusetts, discharged June 18, 4:30 p.m., 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

April 1905 — Adolf Kulikowski
Name on manifest: Adolf Kulikowsky
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Statendam, Holland America
Departure port & date: Rotterdam, April 15, 1905
Arrival port & date: New York, April 25, 1905
Status: age 22, born ca. 1883 in Jatowsky [Jatowty], married, laborer, able to read/write
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a
Finances: brother-in-law paid for passage, has ticket to Boston, has $11.50
Destination: brother-in-law, J. Baduginus [Bedugnis], Box 523, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: wife, Marianna Kulikowsky, 17

April 1905 — Wicenty Kulikowski
Name on manifest: Wicenti Kulika
Relationship: cousin? (possibly unrelated)
Ship & shipping line: SS Pennsylvania, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, April 7, 1905
Arrival port & date: New York, April 21, 1905
Status: age 18, born ca. 1887 in Wilno, single, laborer, able to read/write
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a
Finances: paid for own passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $10
Destination: grandfather, Josef Kulik, Box 523, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: Osip Safka and Andre Klischowitz, both destination Maynard, Massachusetts

June 1905 — Kasimir Blaszko
Name on manifest: Kasimir Blaschko
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Patricia, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, June 3, 1905
Arrival port & date: New York, June 16, 1905
Status: age 25, born ca. 1880 in Yatowtey [Jatowty], single, laborer, able to read/ not able to write, Lithuanian
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a; last residence Jatowty, Wilno gub.
Finances: paid for own passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $7
Destination: brother, Stanislaw Blaschko, 200 Park? Street, Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Traveling companions: brother, Jan Blaszko

June 1905 — Jan Blaszko
Name on manifest: Jan Blaschko
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Patricia, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, June 3, 1905
Arrival port & date: New York, June 16, 1905
Status: age 20, born ca. 1885 in Yatowtey [Jatowty], single, laborer, able to read/write, Lithuanian
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a, last residence Jatowty, Wilno gub.
Finances: paid for own passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $10
Destination: brother, Stanislaw Blaschko, 200 Park? Street, Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Traveling companions: brother, Kasimir Blaszko

June 1905 — Wicenty Bowszys
Name on manifest: Wicenty Bankschis
Relationship: uncle
Ship & shipping line: SS Patricia, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, June 3, 1905
Arrival port & date: New York, June 16, 1905
Status: age 32, born ca. 1873, married, laborer, able to read/ not able to write, Lithuanian
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a; last residence Skladanzi [Skladance], Wilno gub.
Finances: paid for own passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $6.25
Destination: nephew, Karol Kulikowski, Box 323, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: Stanislaw Waschko [Blaszko], last residence Skladanzi; Jan Waranowski, 20, single, last residence Skladanzi, original destination brother-in-law Aleksandr Bokczinowicz?, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, changed to “NYC, Pol Soc”

June 1905 — Stanislaw Blaszko
Name on manifest: Stanislaw Waschko
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Patricia, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, June 3, 1905
Arrival port & date: New York, June 16, 1905
Status: age 23, born ca. 1882, single, laborer, able to read/ not able to write, Polish
Physical description: n/a
Contact in last permanent residence: n/a; last residence Skladanzi [Skladance], Wilno gub.
Finances: paid for own passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $6.25
Destination: originally uncle, Adam? Jodisz, 306 Millbury Street, Worcester, Massachusetts; changed to “NYC, Pol Soc”
Traveling companions: Wicenty Bowszys, last residence Skladanzi; Jan Waranowski, 20, single, last residence Skladanzi, has $1.50, original destination brother-in-law Aleksandr Bokczinowicz?, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, changed to “NYC, Pol Soc”


April 1909 — Boleslaw Kulikowski
Name on manifest: Boleslav Kulikowski
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Pennsylvania, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, April 10, 1909
Arrival port & date: New York, April 24, 1909
Status: age 17, born ca. 1892 in Jatowty, single, not able to read/write
Physical description: 5’7”, brown hair, brown eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: father, Vincenty Kulikowski, Jatowty, Wilno
Finances: father paid for passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $5
Destination: brother, Karol Kulikowski, 888 B…ton? Street, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: Viktor Iwaszka, 25, Lopatyczki, father Adam Iwaszka, destination Karol Kulikowski, Maynard, Massachusetts
Record of Detained Aliens: Group 2, Number 16; cause of detention “to tel for $,” RRE, brother Karol, Box 885, Maynard, Massachusetts, discharged April 26, 4:30 p.m., 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

June 1909 — Martin & Petronella Bowszys & infant son Josef
Name on manifest: Ancestry, Cartin, Petronella, & Josef Bowschis
Relationship: cousins
Ship & shipping line: SS Amerika, Hamburg-American
Departure port & date: Hamburg, June 2, 1909
Arrival port & date: New York, June 12, 1909
Status: Martin, age 21, Petronella, 30, Josef, 3 months; all born in Kiwance; married; Martin, farm laborer, not able to read/write
Physical description: Martin, 5’5”, light hair, blue eyes; Petronella, 5’, brown hair, brown eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: father-in-law [i.e., Petronella’s father], Wincenty Jodzis, Kiwance, Wilno
Finances: paid for own passage, have no tickets to final destination, have $4.50
Destination: brother, Piotr Bowschis, 485 Melburre [Millbury] Street, Worcester, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: none obvious, but several others on page have Worcester destination
Record of Detained Aliens: Bowsckis, Martin, wife, and child; cause of detention “tel $,” RyE, to brother Peter, 481 Millbury Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, discharged June 14, 3:30 p.m., 4 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
Previously in U.S.: Martin & Petronella, 1903-08, in Worcester, Massachusetts

July 1911 — Kasimir Blaszko
Name on manifest: Kasimir Blashko
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Kursk, Russian American
Departure port & date: Libau (Liepaja), June 20, 1911
Arrival port & date: New York, July 3, 1911
Status: age 30, born ca. 1881 in Jadowty [Jatowty], married, farm laborer, not able to read/write, Lithuanian
Physical description: 5’7”, blond hair, blue eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: Weronika Blashko, Jadowty, Wilno gub.
Finances: paid for own passage, has ticket to final destination, has $20
Destination: cousin Jan Blasko, Box 888, Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Traveling companions: Andzej Shuromsky, 50, married, farm laborer, Lithuanian, contact Anna Shuromska, Skladanze, destination brother Jan Zuromski, 40 Central Street, Central Falls, Rhode Island

July 1911 — Adolf Kulikowski
Name on manifest: Adolf Kulikowsky
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Kursk, Russian American
Departure port & date: Libau (Liepaja), June 20, 1911
Arrival port & date: New York, July 3, 1911
Status: age 27, born ca. 1884 in Jatowty, single, farm laborer, not able to read/write, has not been in U.S. previously
Physical description: 5’6”, brown hair, brown eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: [father] Wincenty Kulikowski, Jatowty, Wilno
Finances: paid for own passage, has ticket to final destination, has $20
Destination: brother, Wincent Kulikowsky, Box 885, Maynard, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: Andzej Shuromsky, 50, married, farm laborer, Lithuanian, contact Anna Shuromska, Skladanze, destination brother Jan Zuromski, 40 Central Street, Central Falls, Rhode Island
Notation: 1-267526 9/29/39

July 1911 — Andrzej Blaszko
Name on manifest: Andrey Blaschko
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Lituania, Russian American
Departure port & date: Libau (Liepaja), June 20, 1911
Arrival port & date: New York, July 16/17, 1911
Status: age 17, born ca. 1894 in Yatowtey [Jatowty], single, farm laborer, not able to read/write, Lithuanian
Physical description: 5’6”, dark hair, dark eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: Andrej Blaschko, Jatowty, Wilno gub.
Finances: paid for own passage, has ticket to final destination, has $4
Destination: brother Jan Blaschko, Box 888, Carbondale, Pennsylvania
Traveling companions: none
Notation: 2-1013409 10/22/42

April 1913 — Aniela Kulikowska (marr: Nellie Zowalki)

Name on manifest: Ancestry, Anelia Kolikopkaja
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Columbia, Anchor Line
Departure port & date: Glasgow, April 12, 1913
Arrival port & date: New York, April 22, 1913
Status: age 17, born ca. 1896 in Wilenska (Wilno), single, farm servant, can read/write
Physical description: 5'4", dark brown hair, brown eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: father Wikenty Kulikowsky, Krasnoe [Krasne folwark]
Finances: paid by friend, has ticket to final destination, has $10
Destination: friend [brother] Karol Kulikosky, 19 River St., Maynard, Mass.
Traveling companions: none

October 1913 — Anna Blaszko
Name on manifest: Anna Blaschko
Relationship: founded family when married Julian Prokopowicz in August 1916
Ship & shipping line: SS Caronia, Cunard
Departure port & date: Liverpool, October 7, 1913
Arrival port & date: New York, October 15, 1913
Status: age 20, born ca. 1893 in Bastuny, single, servant, able to read/write
Physical description: 5’4”, dark hair, brown eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: mother, Teresa Blaschko in Bastuny, Kowno [Wilno]
Finances: cousin paid for passage, has no ticket to final destination, has $25
Destination: cousin W. Kulikowsky & wife, 148 Lakeview Street, Lowell, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: none
Record of Detained Aliens: Group 10, Number 11, “tel $,” disposition RRE to cousin Wincent Kulikowsky, 148 Lakeview Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, discharged October 16, 4 p.m., 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Notation: 1-344918 4/5/41

April 1914 — Iwan Bowszys
Name on manifest: Iwan Bowshis
Relationship: cousin
Ship & shipping line: SS Russia, Russian American
Departure port & date: Libau (Liepaja), April 3, 1914
Arrival port & date: New York, April 19, 1914
Status: age 21, born ca. 1893 in Kiwontz [Kiwance], single, farm laborer, not able to read/write
Physical description: 5’6”, dark hair, brown eyes
Contact in last permanent residence: father, O. Bowshis, Kiwontz, Wilno
Finances: paid for own passage, has ticket to final destination, has $25
Destination: brother-in-law, L. Nadeirs?, 35 Stebbins Street, Worcester, Massachusetts
Traveling companions: none