FROM JODŁOWA AND RYGLICE
TO BRISTOL AND MERIDEN, CONN.
(AND OTHER POINTS SOUTH AND WEST)
FAMILY CHRONOLOGY
The following is a chronology of my family members' early appearances in the central Connecticut area, as well as in other cities and towns, either in city directories, passenger manifests, the Federal Census, or in birth, marriage and death records. I have copied surnames as they appeared in those records. It will be evident that my grandfather's surname "Świętoń" took many forms in this country: Swienton, Swinton, Swenton, Swientyk, as did my grandmother's surname "Kaczka": Kotches, Koska, and even Kotchkoff.
1890 NEW YORK
Karol Szymanski, who would be known as Charles Szymanski in Meriden, husband of Marya Swiętoń, arrived at New York on 4 FEB. He was a passenger on the SS OBDAM, Rotterdam to New York; his destination - Meriden, CT. (According to a Jedynak relative, Karol Szymanski married Maria Jedynak in May 1890 at St. Laurent Church in Meriden, Connecticut. Maria Jedynak Szymanski died in April 1891, and later in that same year Karol Szymanski married Marya Swiętoń, my grandfather’s cousin.)
1891 MERIDEN
Charles Szymąjski appears in the Meriden City Directory at 90 Olive Street. The 1900 Federal Census records indicate that he emigrated in 1889 (actual date 4 FEB 1890), and his wife in 1888. My mother told me that the Szymąjski family was said to be related to my grandfather, so I assumed that there was a Świętoń connection.
Death records at Meriden City Hall would reveal that Mrs. Szymąjski's maiden name was Marya Świętoń, daughter of Filip Świętoń and Marya Czerkies; Jodłowa baptismal records would subsequently confirm that she was my grandfather's first cousin, once removed.
In the Meriden City Directory and in records at Meriden City Hall, the surname soon became Szymanski. Several Jodłowa natives stayed at the Szymanski household for a time when they first arrived in this country.
1892 MERIDEN
Mary Swinton was married to John Curyło by Rev. Ig. Kost on 30 APRIL 1892; according to Meriden vital records, both were born in Austria. I have not yet been able to gather much information regarding this couple. It is the earliest Świętoń marriage record that I have found in Meriden. Later records of her children would give her maiden name as “Swientyk.”
1893 MERIDEN
Andrew and Martin Swinton appear in the Meriden City Directory, listed as boarders at the home of Charles Szymąjski at 557 No. Colony Street. 1900 Federal census records indicate that Andrew emigrated in 1889, and Martin in 1890. I suspected that Andrew and Martin must have been "my" Świętońs, especially dwelling in the same house as the Szymanski family. Vital records at Meriden City Hall note that Martin Swinton was the son of "George and Aggie." There was no record of Andrew Swinton's father, but using census and vital records, I was able to place his birth date at about 1850.
Following the paper trail backwards to Jodłowa revealed the following: Andrew Swinton was born Andrzej Świętoń, son of Filip Świętoń and his first wife Magdalena Szpak; therefore he was half-brother of Marya Świętoń Szymanski, and also first cousin once removed of my grandfather. Martin Swinton was also born in Jodłowa as Marcin Świętoń, son of Wojciech Świętoń and his second wife Agata Zając; he was my grandfather's uncle.
John Sitko appears for the first time in the Meriden City Directory, described as a laborer, boarding at 557 No. Colony St. Joseph Sitko, laborer, is also listed at the same address.
1894 MERIDEN
There were two Świętoń marriages, both definitely "mine." On 7 JAN 1894 Andreas Swinton married Annie Kowalik (who became well-known as a midwife), and on 20 MAY 1894 John Szitko married Megi Swinton (Magdalena Świętoń), first cousin to Marya (Świętoń) Szymąjski and my grandfather’s first cousin once removed. At some future time I hope to obtain from church records the names of the wedding witnesses.(Anna Kowalik emigrated in 1893, according to a 1902 passenger manifest; she was returning from a visit to Poland). John Szitko/John Sitka and his wife Magdalena would eventually settle in Bristol, where their home hosted many new arrivals from Jodłowa and Ryglice. John Sitko is not listed in the Meriden City Directory for 1894, but Joseph Sitko laborer is listed, and is now residing at 575 No. Colony.
1895 MERIDEN
The Meriden City Directory lists Andrew Swinton, Wallo Swinton, and Charles Szymanski, all at 577 North Colony Street. This is the first City Directory appearance, I believe, of Wałenty/Wallo Świętoń; he would later settle in Bristol, as would Jan Szitko. Wałenty Świętoń was first cousin to Marya Świętoń Szymanski, and first cousin once removed to my grandfather Władysław Józef Świętoń. He never married, and died in 1923. (See 1923 BRISTOL).
1897 MERIDEN
Magdalena Świętoń arrived in New York on 6 SEPTEMBER. She was going to a Szymanski household, probably that of Charles Szymanski, her brother-in-law. She was a sister of Marya (Świętoń) Szymanski.
1898 NEW YORK CITY
Andreas Kaczka, from Jodłowa, was listed as a passenger on the SS HAVEL, sailing from Bremen in 1898, destination his cousin in Bayonne, NJ (where my family was said to have had relatives). He would settle briefly in Bristol (where his son Stanley was born), return to Poland (where his second child Mary was born) and, according to his naturalization papers, return again to the US in 1905.
On the same page of the above-mentioned passenger list, also from Jodłowa, were Jan Kopacz going to Bayonne, NJ; Eva Muszynska, Jan Muszynski, Anna Bodek, Tekla Podrazik, Marya Muszynska and Piotr Muszynski, all going to Passaic, NJ; and Katarina Kapłon, going to her husband in New York.
1899 MERIDEN
Marriage: Piotro Szpak to Annie Kita at St. Stanislaus Church; this couple eventually settled in Southington, Conn., where they had a farm on Mt. Vernon road. At the time of their marriage, they were both living at 571 North Colony St., the same address as Andrew Swinton. According to my mother, my grandmother visited the farm on occasion, as did Aunt Annie (Świętoń) Kaczka, and also Agatha (Chuda) Kaczka of Meriden. Piotro/Peter Szpak was second cousin to my grandmother Zofia Kaczka, and is also related to other Meriden and Bristol families. (On 24 Sept 1897, a passenger Anna Kita, age 24, arrived on the Columbia from Hamburg; her destination was Centerville, New Jersey. Her age is right to be Anna above who married Piotr Szpak, but no proof.)
From Jodłowa baptismal and marriage records, I found that Aunt Annie (Świętoń) Kaczka and Piotr Szpak were second cousins, related through Franciszek Jędryjas. Records indicate that Annie (Kita) Szpak was the first cousin of Anna (Kowalik) Świętoń.
On 23 AUG the ship Barbarossa, from Bremen, arrived at New York; among the passengers were the following people bound for Meriden: Józef Swiętoń (going to a friend in Meriden), his sister Magdalena (Swiętoń) Sitko (going to her husband John Sitko in Meriden), and Magdalena’s children Marya, age 4 and Anna, age 3, both US-born (going to their father John Sitko in Meriden). Józef Swiętoń would subsequently make two trips to Poland, returning to the United States in 1907 and 1913.
1899 BRISTOL
John Sitka and Valente Swenton both appear in the Bristol City Directory at 152 North Street. John Sitka and his family must have moved to Bristol from Meriden after 23 August, when passenger list shows John’s wife and children coming to him in Meriden.
1900 MERIDEN
John (Jan) Gurtoski, at 19 Cedar St., makes his first appearance in the Meriden City Directory; his son Walter eventually married my grandmother's cousin Magdalena Kita. John died when he was struck by a broken grinding wheel. The 1900 Federal Census records indicate that Jan entered the US in 1894; his wife Rosa (Jaworska) and son Walter would follow in 1898.
On 27 OCT 1900 Martin Swienton married Anna Nowak, who was also born in Austria, daughter of Wincenty and Frances Nowak.
The following people were enumerated in the 1900 Federal Census: Martin Swienton (misspelled “Cwieton) was a boarder in the household of Andrew and Mary Nowak, 116 Willow St.; Andrew Sweaton/Andrzej Świętoń, his wife Anna (Kowalik), and their children Kate, Joseph and John at 571 North Colony Street; Andrew and Peter Kaszika (Kaczka) are listed as boarders at the same address. Charles Smyski (Szymanski), wife Mary (Świętoń), and children Margaret, Edward, and Mary are listed at 575 North Colony Street. At the same address are Paul Papciak, his wife Margaret, and daughter Mary, plus boarders John Kita, age 40, married 20 years, and Gregor Kosek, age 50, married 10 years. I subsequently learned that Paul/Paweł Papciak was born in Chotowa, but was living in Jodłowa when he married Maggie/Magdalena Nowak. I am still trying to pin down the relationships, but there probably is a Swiętoń connection, as Magdalena’s godfather in Jodłowa was Stanisław Swiętoń.
1900 BRISTOL
John Sitko, his wife Maggie (Magdalena Świętoń), and daughter Mary are enumerated in the Federal Census. They indicate 1891 as the year of their emigration.
1901 BRISTOL
The Bristol City Directory lists Andrew and Henry Kotches residing at 30 Lincoln Place; also listed is Andrew Koski (Kaczka?) at Farmington Ave. near Hickory. John Sitko is listed as "rem to Meriden."
1902 MERIDEN
Anna (Kowalik) Świętoń, wife of Andrzej Swinton, arrived at New York on 11 June on board the Bremen, with her children Jan, Józef and Kata, all three born in the US. I assume that she had taken the children to Jodłowa to see their grandparents. (On the next line was Anna Podrazik, 31, single, from Jodłowa, destination her brother-in-law Karol [Osielski} in Schenectady, NY) On the next page of the passenger manifest is Maryanna Kowalik, age 18, going to her brother-in-law Jendrzey Swiętoń on Colony St. (Jendrzey/Andrzej’s wife was Anna Kowalik, daughter of Adam Kowalik and Katarzyna Kita. I believe that Anna and Maryanna Kowalik were half-sisters.) On the line above is Anna Kopacz, age 23, going to her cousin Anna Swiętoń, who was living at 57 No. Colony St.
1902 BRISTOL
Andro Kaczka is listed at 70 Williams St., while Andro and Henry Kachkosky are listed at 126 Williams St. Stanley Kaczka, son of Andrew Kaczka and Agata Chuda, was born in Bristol on 20 JULY 1902; Bristol birth records give his address as 126 Woodland St. John Sitko is listed again in Bristol, at 66 Pond St
1902 NEW BRITAIN
In 1902 Albert Kapłon (George Kapłon in New Britain City Hall records) and Mary Kaczka, both born in Jodłowa, were married at Sacred Heart Church by Rev. Lucian Bójnowski on 12 MAY; one of the marriage witnesses was Stanisław Kapłon. (Wojciech Kapłon was born on 8 Sep 1874, son of Jakub Kapłon and Marya Niegos; Marya Kaczka was born about 1881, daughter of Wojciech and Marya Kaczka) However, I did not find George Kapłon in the New Britain City Directory. I am guessing that bridegroom George Kapłon and his wedding witness Stanisław are the same George and Stanisław Kapłon who are found at 126 Woodland Street in the Bristol City Directory for 1904.
My grandmother’s grandmother was born Katarzyna Kapłon, but I haven’t been able to establish whether the above Kapłon men were related to her.
1903 MERIDEN
Peter Kaczka, brother of Andrew Kaczka, was married to Aniela Markowicz; he will not appear in the City Directory until 1907.
1904 BRISTOL
Joseph Kaczka is listed at 42 Roberts St. He is a mystery, as my family was not aware of anyone of that name living in Bristol; he is possibly a Kaczka relative who moved on to New Jersey (more than one Józef Kaczka settled in Bayonne); or possibly he should have been entered as Joseph Swenton (Józef Swiętoń entered the country on 23 August 1899), brother of Wałenty. Andrew Kaczka is still at 126 Woodland, but Andrew and Henry Kotches have disappeared. "Moik" Kaczka is listed at 126 Woodland, as are George, John and Stanisław "Koplan" (probably Kapłon).
I don't know if the last three people were relatives of mine, but it is a possibility. My grandmother's grandmother was Katarzyna Kapłon (wife of Józef Kaczka), and I get very interested when people of that surname show up in Bristol or Meriden, particularly when they are at the same address as known relatives from Jodłowa. In addition, Andrew Kaczka had Kapłon first cousins in Jodłowa, so I am speculating that the “Kopłan” men at 126 Woodland Street were from Jodłowa also, especially if George Kapłon is the same person who was married in New Britain in 1902.
1904 MERIDEN
Michael Pietras arrived in New York, from Bremen, on or about 27 May according to his declaration of intention. He would marry Anna Kita in 1909, and will make his first appearance in the City Directory in 1910. Stanislaus Duberek married Frances Kita on 14 September. (Marriage records found at Meriden City Hall record Stanislaus Duberek, age 22, as the son of Frank and Kate, both born in Austria; Frances Kita, age 22, was the daughter of William Kita, also born in Austria.) I do not know if Frances Kita was a relative, but Stanislaus was a wedding witness for Peter Szpak and Anna Kita in 1899.
On 1 November of that year, Jan Świętoń, age 45, arrived in New York on the Friedrich d. Grosse from Bremen, his last place of residence being Jodłowa; his destination was listed as his brother Marcin Świętoń at 577 Colony St. in Meriden, Conn. I believe that part of this information is incorrect. While Marcin did have a half-brother Jan (my great-grandfather), I have found no evidence that my great-grandfather ever came to this country, even briefly. And more to the point, Jan Świętoń, half-brother of Marcin Świętoń, was residing in Ryglice. There are two other possible candidates: 1) Jan Świętoń, born in 1860, son of Michał Świętoń and Anna Chuda, the father of my Aunt Annie (Świętoń) Kaczka; I have no information that he was in the United States, but he was the right age, and a cousin of Marcin Świętoń; 2) Jan Świętoń, born in 1857, son of Filip Świętoń and his first wife Magdalena Szpak, brother of Andrzej Świętoń and cousin of Marcin, was also close enough in age.]
On 15 August Maryanna Swienton, age 28, arrived at New York on the Hamburg, from Hamburg; her destination was her brother-in-law Karoł Szymanski (I have yet to find Maryanna’s relationship to Karoł Szymanski; it is possible that she is a half-sister of Marya Swiętoń Szymanski; I will search the Jodłowa records at some point). Traveling with her was a child, Helena Wuck, also from Jodłowa, who was going to her mother Maria Wuck in Meriden.
1904 BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY
The sacramental register of the Church of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Bayonne records the marriage, on 23 AUGUST, of John Kita, son of Marcin Kita and Zofia Kaczka, to Maria Kita, daughter of Wałenty Kita and Marya Baszczyk; the parish register does not indicate their place(s) of birth, but the civil records indicate that bride and groom were born in Galicia. Jodłowa baptismal records indicate that John/Jan Kita was born there, son of Marcin Kita and Zofia Kaczka, which makes John Kita a first cousin of Andrzej Kaczka, who settled in Meriden.
1905 MERIDEN
John Chudy makes his appearance in the City Directory at 65 Veteran St.; he is a brother of Agata Chuda (wife of Andrew Kaczka); his first child Helen was born at Meriden on 19 November. Andreas (Andrew) Kaczka arrived at New York for the second time, returning from Poland on 01August. On the same manifest page is Ignacy Chudy, going to his brother Jan Chudy in Meriden.
1906 BRISTOL
Zofia Świętoń, my grandfather's sister, born in Ryglice, arrived at New York on 10 JULY, having sailed on the Kaiser Wilhelm II from Bremen; her destination was her "brother Wałenty Świętoń" in Bristol, Conn. This is an error; it should probably have read "brother Stanisław Świętoń." According to the 1920 census, Stanisław Świętoń entered the US in 1906, evidently arriving before the June arrival of his sister Zofia.
On the same passenger list was Władysław Malinoski, going to his brother Wałenty in North Tonawanda, NY. On the same page were others from Ryglice: Władysław and Bronisława Groch, husband and wife, going to Michigan City, Indiana (Władysław Groch immigrated in 1903, arriving at New York on the Barbarossa from Bremen, destination Michigan City, Indiana. On the same manifest page, also from Ryglice, were Stefan Pawlik, bound for Pennsylvania, and Tadeusz Pawlik, bound for Michigan City, Indiana); and Zuzana, Maria and Malia B[R]ojan, also going to Michigan City. Władysław Groch was Zofia Swiętoń’s first cousin.
1906 MERIDEN
Agata Kaczka, with children Stanisław (born in US), and Marianna (born in Poland) arrived in New York on 03 JUNE on ship Trave from Bremen, destination her husband Andrew in Meriden. It is possible that Anna Kita, my grandmother’s first cousin, arrived in Meriden during this year, as 1920 census gives 1906 as her year of immigration. On 14 SEPT a son Stanley was born to Marcin and Anna (Nowak) Swiętoń.
1907 BRISTOL
Józef Swiętoń entered the U.S. for the second time on 02 June, a passenger on the Badenia from Hamburg; traveling with their uncle were Andrzej Swiętoń and his sister Anna, children of Jan Swiętoń and Agata Stręk. They were bound for the home of Wałenty Swiętoń. (Also on the passenger manifest was Wojciech Król, native of Kowalowy, bound for the home of his brother-in-law Karoł Szymanski in Meriden.) On 11 MAY Anna Kaczka, my grandmother’s sister, arrived in New York on the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria from Hamburg. She was the first member of my grandmother's immediate family to emigrate. Zofia (my grandmother), Jan and Stanisław would follow later.
1907 MERIDEN
Peter Kacka, brother of Andrew Kaczka, makes his first appearance in the City Directory at 35 Willow St. On 02 JUNE passenger Wojciech Krol, from Kowalowy (near Jodłowa), arrived at New York on the Badenia from Hamburg. Age 41, married, he was going to his brother-in-law Karol Szymanski on Colony St. in Meriden. Stanley Swenton, young son of Marcin Swiętoń and Anna Nowak, died on 27 JULY of cholera infantum. He was not quite a year old.
1908 BRISTOL
Szczepan Kwiatkowski married Anna Kaczka on 24 OCTOBER. He will make his first appearance in the City Directory in 1911. Anna Kita, first cousin of Anna Kaczka, was a wedding witness.
1909 MERIDEN
Martin Swinton and his wife Anna Nowak both died of TB in 1909, Martin in February, and Anna in December. Their son Stanley had died in 1907 at age 10 months, and son John would die in 1918, at age 19, of a fractured skull received in a bicycle accident.
Annie Kita, first cousin of my grandmother, married Michael Pietras on 23 NOVEMBER. She was the first of the Kita sisters to emigrate; Magdalena and Josephine would eventually follow.
1909 BRISTOL
Zofia Kaczka, my grandmother, arrived at New York on 14 JUNE; her destination was her married sister Anna Kwiatkowska at 25 Williams Street. [Other passengers from Jodłowa on the same page of the passenger list were: 1)Ludwig Mikrut, 33, married, going to Brooklyn; 2) Anna Baranowska, 18, single, going to address of Jacob Kos, 80 Meadow St., Bayonne, NJ; 3) Jędrzey Baranowski, 32, married, destination Bayonne, NJ; 4) Antonio Podraza, 16, to Meadow St., Bayonne, NJ; 5) [Marg] Bawiec, to brother Stanislaus in Chicago; and 6) Leon Klaczkowski/Kozlowski, to brother Józef in Chicago] My grandfather Władysław Świętoń, whom she would eventually marry, arrived in New York on 28 DECEMBER; his destination was his brother Stanisław Świętony, "52 Purdy St., Port Chester, NY." It is probable that the destination should read "Pardee" St., Bristol, Conn.
1910 MERIDEN
Michael Pietras, already married to Anna Kita, appears in the Meriden City Directory for the first time, at 42 Pine Street; Magdalena Kita, sister of Anna, arrived in New York on 26 MAY; her final destination was her "brother-in-law" Michael Pietras at 42 Pine Street.
The 1910 Federal Census enumerates the following people: the family of Jan Gurtowski (wife Rose, and children Walter, Mary, Ellen, Edward and Joseph) at 91 Olive Street; Peter Kaczka, wife Nellie and daughter Mary at 35 Willow Street; the Charles Szymanski family (wife Mary, and children Maggie, Walter, Mary, John, Joe, and Wilson) at 575 North Colony Street; the Andrew Swinton family (wife Anna, children Catherine, John, Charles and Anna at 112 Britannia Street.
On July 25, passenger Wojciech Stręk arrived at New York on the Finland from Antwerp; his destination was his [sister??] Mary Szymanska at 57 Colony St.; the passenger manifest noted that he had a wife Marya in Jodłowa.
1910 BRISTOL
Stanislau Swienton, my great-uncle, married Apollonia Kołek on 27 SEPTEMBER. He will eventually appear in the Bristol City Directory in 1921. Ksawery Zygman married Maggie (Magdalena) Swenton, sister of Anna (Świętoń) Kaczka, on 3 SEPTEMBER. Jan Kaczka, my grandmother's brother, arrived at New York on 16 JUNE; he was going to his brother-in-law Stefan Kwiatkowski, residing on Williams St., in Bristol, Conn. Anna Świętoń, who would eventually marry Jan Kaczka, and who was a cousin of my grandfather Władysław Józef Świętoń, arrived at New York on 20 MARCH according to her naturalization records. (Although several family members were living in Bristol at the time of the 1910 census, I have so far found NOBODY. The handwriting is very difficult to decipher, so my first line-by-line reading was unsuccessful. The enumerator was also having obvious trouble with the Polish language. I will try again, but am not very hopeful.)
1911 MERIDEN
Andro (Andrew) Kaczka makes his first appearance in the Meriden City Directory. He had lived previously in Bristol, returned to Poland/Austria, and is now in Meriden. On 28 February, Andrew Swinton was struck by a train, and evidently died instantly. His widow Anna (Kowalik) Świętoń married again on 23 JANUARY 1924; her second husband was Francis Podgorski.
1911 BRISTOL
Stefan Katkowski (Kwiatkowski), who in 1908 had married Anna Kaczka, my grandmother's sister, makes his first appearance in the Bristol City Directory. John Swientyk, who was not previously listed in Bristol, is noted as having removed to Meriden. Józef Swientyk is listed with his brother Wałenty Swientyk (Swienton) at 42 Roberts Street.
1912 BRISTOL
Andro Swiontyk (Andro Henry Swinton) appears in the Bristol City Directory for the first time, at 66 Pond Street. He is a brother of my great-aunt Anna (Świętoń) Kaczka. He emigrated in 1907.
Anna (Kaczka) Kwiatkowski, my grandmother's sister, whose residence was Bristol, died on 23 September at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford; cause of death was typhoid fever. My grandmother cared for Anna's son Edward Kwiatkowski (born in 1911), until Szczepan married Magdalena Przystas on 6 FEB 1913. According to my mother, Szczepan proposed first to Grandma, but she wasn't interested; she had planned to work for a while in the U.S., and then return to Poland. Mom said that Grandma had received, and rejected, more than one marriage proposal. However, my future grandfather proved to be the successful suitor.
Stanisław Kaczka, age 18, Grandma's brother, arrived at New York on 22 MAY on the SS Friedrich der Grosse; his destination was his brother Jan Kaczka at 19 Pardee St. in Bristol. On the same ship were the following people from Jodłowa: 1) Antonio Szpak, age 40, bound for Bayonne, New Jersey; I believe he may be the same person as Anton Szpak who settled in Southington, Conn. on his brother Peter's farm; the ages correspond; 2) Władysław Kos, age 17, bound for Bayonne, New Jersey (The following marriage was recorded at the Church of Mt. Carmel in Bayonne, NJ on 29 OCT 1917: LADISLAUS KOS to SOPHIA MACIAG. Ladislaus was 22 yrs. old, baptized in Jodłowa, the son of Jan Kos and Maria Orlop. Sophia was 19 yrs. old, baptized in Niemadówka, Galicia, the daughter of Jakub Maciag and Angela Nowinska); and Jan Sambora, age 21, whose destination was his friend Jan Kaczka at 19 Pardee Street, Bristol, Conn.
1913 MERIDEN
Joseph Chudy, brother of John Chudy, and brother-in-law of Andrew Kaczka, appears in the Meriden City Directory for the first time, at 32 Yale Ave. (Joseph Chudy married Mary Borek on 31 January 1906 in Meriden, Connecticut; they had a son Stanislaus Chudy whose birth (18 Nov 1906) is registered in Southington, Connecticut. Another son Anthony was born in Southington in May 1911, and died in November 1911 in Meriden. According to family members, Joseph Chudy went to work in the Pennsylvania coal fields, possibly around Glassport.) John Swienton, widower, married Mary Koszyk; I do not know if John was related to "my" Swentons. I have no information regarding his parents. The name John Swinton does not appear in the Meriden City Directory until 1919 when John Swinton, son of Andrzej and Anna Świętoń, appears at 243 Pratt St., his mother's residence. In Bristol, John Swientyk appears in 1911, with the notation "removed to Meriden."
Josefa Kita arrived in New York aboard the President Lincoln from Cuxhaven, Hamburg, Germany on 27 NOV; her destination was her sister Magdalena Kita in Meriden, Connecticut. She does not appear in the City Directory until 1927.
1913 BRISTOL
Leon Świętoń, my grandfather's brother, arrived at New York in 1913; destination was his brother Stanisław Świętoń, at 25 Williams St., Chicago, Illinois (I believe that CHICAGO was an error; Wałenty Świętoń had lived at 25 Williams St. in Bristol). Piotr Świętoń arrived at New York on 27 JUNE; his destination was his brother Andr Świętoń at 66 Pond St., Bristol, Conn.
On 02 JULY Józef Swiętoń arrived at New York on board the Friedrich der Grosse, form Bremen, returning from his second trip back to Poland. He was bound for his brother Wałenty Swiętoń on 42 Roberts Street.
1914 MERIDEN
Magdaleine Kita, my grandmother's first cousin, married Walter Gurtowski on 28 OCTOBER.
1914 BRISTOL
John Koska (Kaczka), my great uncle, brother of my grandmother Zofia Kaczka, appears in the Bristol City Directory for the first time, at 31 Pardee Street, although he entered the country in 1910. He married Anna Świętoń on 23 SEPTEMBER.
1915 MERIDEN
Walter Gurtowski, who married Magdalena Kita (my grandmother's first cousin), makes his first appearance in the City Directory, at 109 Ann Street. He worked in the silver factories in Meriden, where he learned to be an engraver, later transferring this skill to glass.
1915 BRISTOL
Joseph Koska (prob. Kaczka) reappears in the City Directory, at 40 Roberts St. As noted before, his relationship to my family is unknown.
1916 MERIDEN
Michael Piertas (Pietras), who married Anna Kita, my grandmother's first cousin, makes his first appearance in the City Directory, at 109 Ann St.
1916 BRISTOL
Walter Świętoń, my grandfather, who arrived in Bristol in 1910, makes his first appearance in the City Directory, at 9 Conlon Street. He married Zofia Kaczka on 16 FEBRUARY.
1917 BRISTOL
Adam Kita makes his appearance at 44 Irving Street; I do not know if he is my relative, but I am “collecting” Kitas who appear in Bristol or Meriden, information to be filed for possible future reference. Leo Swienton, brother of my grandfather, makes his first appearance in the Bristol City Directory at 41 Conlon Street. Stanley Kaczka, my grandmother's brother, drowned in Birge's Pond on 1 AUGUST.
The Connecticut military census of 1917 (not the draft registration) lists my grandfather Walter Swinton at 24 Curtiss St., his brother Stanley at 163 Burlington Ave., brother Leo at 25 William St., and a mystery man, Michel Swinton, single, age 35, at 40 Roberts St. He is not my grandfather's brother, based on a list provided by the parish priest of Ryglice, nor does he appear in the city directory. (However, 40 Roberts Street was the residence of Maggie (Świętoń) Sitka, my grandfather's cousin. My first hunch is that Michel Swinton was a relative. If anyone has knowledge of a "Michael Swinton" who was briefly in Bristol, I would be grateful for more information.)
1918/19 BRISTOL
We now have two men named Wałenty Swienton listed in the Bristol City Directory: one at 19 Wooding Street, and another at 25 Williams St. Walenty Swienton on Wooding Street should probably be Walter Swenton, my grandfather, who is listed as living at that address in the 1920 census.
1920 MERIDEN
The 1920 Federal Census enumerated the following people in Meriden: Anna Swinton (widow) and children John, Carl and Anna at 243 Pratt Street; Josephine Kita, servant, at 4 Washington Heights; her sister Magdalena Gurtowski, husband Walter, daughters Florence and Evelyn at 23 Gear Avenue; her other sister Annie Pietras, husband Michael, children Adeline, Irene, and Raymond at 44 Akron Street; and John S. Chudy, wife Katherine and daughter Helen at 104 South Colony Street.
1920 BRISTOL
I have located the following people in the 1920 Federal Census: my grandfather Walter Swenton, his wife Sophie, their first two children, and Grandpa's brother Leo Swenton at 19 Wooding Street; Grandpa Swenton's brother Stanley J. Swenton, his wife Apolinaria (Kołek), and their first two children at 163 Burlington Avenue; also at the same address, but as a boarder in the household of Joseph Kusack was Sophie Swenton, Grandpa Swenton's sister. My great uncle John Kaczka, his wife Annie (Swenton), and their first child are enumerated at 41 Conlon Street. (I had the most trouble finding my grandfather Walter Swenton in the 1920 census; using the Soundex, I coded his name two ways, Świętoń and Swenton; I looked for first names WALTER, WŁADYSŁAW, and LADISLAUS. I found him simply by luck. I was idly looking, line by line, through streets in his neighborhood, and decided to find Wooding. On my first attempt I went quickly through the surnames, and could not find him. A second closer reading produced Walter WINTON and family, right where I had expected to find him.)
1921 BRISTOL
John Samborski (Sambora?) appears in the City Directory, at 68 Williams Ave.; he is possibly Jan Sambora who came to his friend Jan Kaczka in 1912. Stanley Swienton, brother of my grandfather Walter Swenton, makes his City Directory debut at 19 Wooding St. He arrived in 1906 and was married in 1910.
1921 MERIDEN
Andrew Kaczka, residing at 48 Willow Street, was naturalized on 29 JUNE; on the same day Michael Pietras, husband of my grandmother's cousin Anna Kita, was also naturalized. He was residing at 44 Akron Street.
1922 BRISTOL
Peter Świętoń, brother of Anna (Świętoń) Kaczka, appears for the first time, at 25 William St., the residence of my great-uncle Stanley Swienton. Leo Swienton, Stanley’s brother, is noted as having removed to Easthampton, Mass. According to my mother, he went to Massachusetts for a period of time to work in the tobacco fields.
1922 MERIDEN
On 20 September sisters Stefania Stręk, age 11 and Eugenia, age 9, arrived at New York aboard the Berengaria from Southampton; their destination was their aunt Mrs. M. Muskes (Margaret Szymanski Muskus), 575 No. Colony St.
1923 BRIDGEPORT, CONN.
Andro Henry Swinton (b. Andrzej Swiętoń), my grandfather's cousin, residing at 35 Booth Street in Bridgeport, was naturalized on 23 FEBRUARY.
1923 BRISTOL
On 11 FEBRUARY, Walenty Swiętoń died of asphyxiation; according to my mother, he came home from work, put on water for tea, but fell asleep. Water boiled over and extinguished the pilot light. Leon Swienton, my great-uncle, married Sophie Wrzesmiewski on 16 APRIL.
1924 BRISTOL
John Joseph Kaczka, my great uncle, residing at 60 Williams Street, was naturalized on 23 April; he was at that time father of two children. Aunt Annie, his wife, would be naturalized a few years later.
1924 MERIDEN
Anna Swienton, widow of Andrzej Swienton, married Francis Podgorski on 23 JANUARY.
1924 TERRYVILLE
Stefan Kwiatkowski now appears in the Terryville Directory.
1925 BRISTOL
Stefan Kwiatkowski is noted as having removed to Thomaston.
1926 MERIDEN
Magdalena Swienton, sister of Marya Świętoń Szymanski, died on 3 OCTOBER.
1927 BRISTOL
Anna (Świętoń) Kaczka, my "Aunt Annie," was naturalized on 23 MARCH; her family was still residing at 60 Williams St.
1927 MERIDEN
Josephine Kita, first cousin of my grandmother, and sister of Anna (Kita) Pietras and Magdalena (Kita) Gurtowski, appears at 655 Broad Street. Stella Strenk (Stręk), niece of Magdalena Świętoń who died in 1926, appears in the City Directory at 571 North Colony St.
1928 MERIDEN
Peter Kaczka, residing at 37 Willow St., was naturalized on 17 AUGUST.
1929 BRISTOL
Peter Swinton, residing at 11 Alder Street, was naturalized on 28 FEBRUARY.
1931 MERIDEN
John Kita, father of Anna, Magdalena, and Josephine, appears for the first time in the City Directory, at the home of his daughter Anna Kita Pietras.
1934 MERIDEN
Josephine B. Kita is noted as having removed to Terryville. "Aunt Josie," as I called her, eventually settled in the Boston area.
REMARKS
I have chosen to end the chronology at this point. There are several people included who may be related, but I have yet to gather sufficient information: Adam Kita in Bristol; John Kita and Paul Papciak who were enumerated in the 1900 census in Meriden; "Moik" Kaczka who appears once in Bristol in 1904; Michał Świętoń who was enumerated in Bristol in the 1917 military census; Frances Kita who married Stanislaus Duberek in Meriden in 1904; and Jan Świętoń who came to his brother[?] Marcin in the same year. I will be busy for some time to come.
I had hesitated at first to begin this article, because I would have liked to produce a "finished product," to be able to say "There, now it's finally done." Wishful thinking!! So I will make it clear that my research is on-going, that the above information is incomplete, and that I welcome any additional family information.
Margaret Jenkins,
Meriden, Connecticut
January 2004
YEAR OF IMMIGRATION
CHILDREN OF JAN ŚWIĘTOŃ AND BRONISŁAWA AGNIESZKA PAWLIK
Stanisław Świętoń 1906 (census record)
Zofia Świętoń 1906 (passenger list)
Władysław Świętoń 1909 (passenger list)
Leon Świętoń 1913 (passenger list)
CHILDREN OF JÓZEF KACZKA AND MARYA WARZECHA
Anna Kaczka 1907 (passenger list, probably correct)
Zofia Kaczka 1909 (passenger list)
Jan Kaczka 1910 (passenger list)
Stanisław Kaczka 1912 (passenger list)
CHILDREN OF JAN ŚWIĘTOŃ AND AGATA STRĘK
Andrzej Świętoń 1907 (passenger list)
Magdalena Świętoń 1907 (passenger list)
Anna Świętoń 1910 (passenger list)
Piotr Świętoń 1913 (passenger list)
CHILDREN OF MICHAŁ ŚWIĘTOŃ AND ANNA CHUDA
Magdalena Świętoń 1890 (1910 census)
Wałenty Świętoń ???? (by 1895; appears in Meriden City Directory)
Józef Świętoń 1899 (passenger list)
CHILDREN OF FILIP ŚWIĘTOŃ AND MARYA CZERKIES
Marya Świętoń 1888 (1900 Federal Census Records)
Magdalena Świętoń 1897 (passenger list)
CHILDREN OF JAN KITA AND MARYA WARZECHA
Anna Kita 1906 (re 1920 census)
Magdalena Kita 1910 (passenger list)
Józefa Kita 1913 (passenger list)
| Sullivan/Swieton HOME | Return to Polish Links page |