Trying to locate my grandparents names, where to start the search?

ivonashaverThreads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Aug 29, 10 ♀	Aug 29, 10, 15:15 #1
I'm trying to locate the names of my paternal grandparents. Any suggestions where to search? Thanks, Ivona

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Aug 29, 10, 16:42 #2
ivonashaver: I'm trying to locate the names of my paternal grandparents we need more info. what do you already know ? Where have you looked ? if you offer nothing then i'm afraid we can't help. i'm a little confused though. your paternal grandparents would have the same surname as u, yes/no.

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Sep 2, 10, 14:48 #3

My grandfather would have the same last name; but I need my grandmother's maiden name and both of their first names.

I'm trying to apply for my Polish passport. I have contacted a lawyer, at no cost at this time, and they have said that I cannot use my mother's side because she married. What confuses me is that she married a Pole, although they married in Sweden after they were both deported by German authorities in 1950. The lawyers are saying that according to Polish law her status is irrelevant. So they want to go through my father's side and are requesting his birth certificate and his parents names.

Just trying to find a site to look has proven very frustrating.

Any suggestions?

JK_TXThreads: - Posts: 34 Joined: Aug 27, 10 ♂	Sep 2, 10, 15:08 #4
Do you know where they were married? Is it possible to ask your Father?

WroclawThreads: 77 Posts: 7,404 Joined: Apr 1, 06 ♂ [Moderator]	Sep 2, 10, 15:46 #5
ivonashaver: My grandfather would have the same last name; but I need my grandmother's maiden name and both of their first names. your father's birth certificate should have: name of father and name of mother (and possibly her maiden name).

PeterThreads: 5 Posts: 296 Joined: Mar 31, 07 ♂	Edited by: Moderator Sep 14, 10, 17:19 #6
ivonashaver: So they want to go through my father's side and are requesting his birth certificate and his parents names. Give some background as to your father's history, where he came from, military service (if any), relatives, etc.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08 ♂	Sep 16, 10, 00:38 #7
What are the names?

baniorThreads: - Posts: 6 Joined: Sep 18, 10 ♂	Sep 19, 10, 11:37 #8
Check your grandparents' personal documents. You will find their names and surnames there.

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Sep 19, 10, 16:19 #9

Ivonashaver....I can understand the frustration, Ive experienced the same thing on a house purchase because your mother married they look into your fathers line.

If you know where and when your father was born, get a copy of his birth cert. this will have your granddads full name, and your grandmothers maiden name. From there you could check army records to see if perhaps he served in the forces, and these record hold a lot of information.
As sugested look into your Grandads things you could find a Aliens Registration Book when he arrived in Sweeden, or perhaps when he arrived in England, these have date and place of birth registered in them.
The big problem is Polish authorities demand original copies (so get two or three when ordering).These will have to be translated by a sworn translator in Poland, they did not accept translations from a English Buero.

Its a long and difficult road and you may ask yourself.......Why do I want a Polish passport?

Good Luck........

ivonashaverThreads: 1 Posts: 2 Joined: Aug 29, 10 ♀	Sep 24, 10, 14:06 #10
Where do contact for his birth certificate? The only information I have is his name, date of birth and city of birth.

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Oct 24, 10, 03:30 #11

I am trying to get a copy of my father's birth certificate. He was born in eastern Poland in 1921 (now Belarus)

I have just received an email from a guy named Tadek who posts on rootspoland and he has given me this information.

Archiwum Glowne Akt Dawnych
ul. Dluga 7
00-263 Warsaw
Poland

tel/phone: (48-22) 831-54-91 do 93, 635-45-32
fax: 831-16-08
Email: sekretariat@agad.gov.pl
website - www.agad.archiwa.gov.pl

I emailed them on 21/10 asking for correct procedure to obtain birth certificate/details and as yet, have no reply.

tygrysThreads: 2 Posts: 404 Joined: Dec 28, 07 ♂	Oct 24, 10, 06:03 #12
you should email again, preferably in Polish. You should write and call them also, but do it in Polish if possible because they can get busy sometimes.

ZedThreads: - Posts: 304 Joined: May 25, 10 ♂	Oct 24, 10, 06:13 #13
LOL. You sent it on 21/10 and you expect an immediate answer. Just chill. It's an office. If they do not respond in three weeks from 21 Oct., call them and inquire!

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Oct 24, 10, 10:56 #14

Thanks, I'll keep this in mind. While I can read and speak a lot of Polish I learnt it by ear after being adopted by Polish people at age 10 and have no formal lessons so would have to source some help to write to the records office.

I'm not expecting immediate answers just posted the date of my email so ivonashave can see how recently it was sent. I'd be happy with any answer at all if and when it comes and am in no hurry.

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Oct 24, 10, 12:21 #15

slinkkyhypo
You say that you were adopted by Polish people - do be careful with that - as these people are officially your parents - as I understand it is these peoples' father that you are trying to search for. The adoption makes a lot of difference.

I am not sure that your biological father and mother (and their parents) will be taken into account, as they are NOT officially your parents. You must get a good lawyer and enquire into this.

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Oct 29, 10, 11:05 #16

slinkyhypo:

I emailed them on 21/10 asking for correct procedure to obtain birth certificate/details and as yet, have no reply.

You need to prove you are related. Without such info you will not get any response. Also there is fee involved. If you ask to research the costs will be higher than if you indicate the person was born within X amount of years and a certificate is required the fee will be lower. As some information is on line if you provide the place of birth I will check for you whether there is anything on microfiche.

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Nov 20, 10, 07:53 #17

thanks caprice 49 I haven't been on the site for a while as have been away for business.

The year of birth for my Polish dad Stanislaw Milewski is 1921 and the name of the town is Waskowice (which is now Belarus) brith date is either 1st June or 21st June , a bit of confusion after the war as different paperwork shows the two dates.

terri if you're still about, there was never any formal adoption paperwork as my biological mother would not sign it (my father died when I was 6) so I just ended up living with them and calling them mum and dad. It is my Polish dad's birth certificate I'm after.

My dad has a sister still alive in Poland so maybe she would be able to get the information as I'm assuming only original paperwork willl be accepted as proof of relationship.

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Nov 20, 10, 10:54 #18

The biggest problem for you is that Belarus is not Poland and you may have to search there.

If you have the surname/name and town where his sister lives in Poland there maybe a chance that someone from the family may just happen to have some documents which may help you further.
...you did not make yourself clear re 'the adoption' so I assumed this was formal, but what you really did was to live with people who looked after you.
Only original paperwork is accepted, however, there maybe a chance that if someone is willing to give a sworn statement in front of a solicitor, (this is the very slimmest of chances) they may just accept that - but it would have to be directly from the sister. Make some moves to trace her.

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Nov 24, 10, 14:13 #19

slinkyhypo:

the name of the town is Waskowice (which is now Belarus

I have discovered that some records from parts of Poland that are no more, are held in the National Archives in Warsaw.
Email: archiwum@warszawa.ap.gov.pl
Address: Archiwum Państwowe m. st. Warszawy
ul. Krzywe Koło 7
00-270 Warszawa

Also check out this website: www.archiwa.gov.pl
There is an English version if you don't speak Polish

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