Poland Ancestry Search

The main purpose of our trip to Poland in May of 2018 was to visit the villages of my various ancestors.

Villages visited:

Piorunka: grandfather: Constantine Witiak (b. 6/10/1875) (as well as brothers Peter and Anthony)

Brunary: great grandmother: Elena (Szypski) Basalyga Krenitsky (b. 5/22/1860)

Stawisza: Great grandfather: Gregory Basalyga

Hanczowa: Nicholas Witiak’s family (not related but married Lovie Witiak – daughter of Peter)

Losie (near Nowa Wies) & Slotwiny: great grandfather: George Fatula (I didn’t find him)

Bartna: Constantine Chwalik (Wallick) (b. 5/27/1873) second husband of Rose (Fatula) Witiak Wallick Onufrock Petras

Losie (near Klimkowa): great grandmother: Anna (Fekula) Fatula Havirlak (b. 10/17/1860)

Desznica: grandfather: Peter Tyrpak (b. 10/25/1883) (married Anna Basalyga)

Map of Polish villages visited

History:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemkos  (open this link for more detail)

Our ancestors are referred to as Lemkos. The Lemko region became part of Poland in medieval times.  Lemkos became an ethnic minority as part of the Austria province of Galicia in 1772.  Mass emigration from this territory to the Western hemisphere for economic reasons began in the late 19th century. After World War I, Lemkos founded two short-lived republics, the Lemko-Rusyn Republic in the west of Galicia, which had a russophile orientation, and the Komancza Republic, with a Ukrainophilic orientation.

It is estimated that about 130,000 to 140,000 Lemkos were living in the Polish part of Lemkivshchyna in 1939. Additional depopulation of these lands occurred during the forced resettlement, by communist authorities, initially to the Soviet Union (about 90,000 people) and later to Poland's newly acquired western lands (about 35,000) in the Operation Vistula campaign in 1946-47. This action was a state ordered removal of the civilian population. While a small number of Lemkos returned (some 5,000 Lemko families returned to their home regions in Poland between 1957–1958, (they were officially granted the right to return in 1956), the Lemko population in the Polish section of Lemkivschyna only numbers around 10,000–15,000 today. Some 50,000 Lemkos live in the western and northern parts of Poland, where they were sent to populate former German villages in areas ceded to Poland. Among those, 5,863 people identified themselves as Lemko in the 2002 census. However, 60,000 ethnic Lemkos may reside in Poland today. Within Lemkivshchyna, Lemkos live in the villages of Łosie, Krynica-Zdrój, Nowica, Zdynia, Gładyszów, Hańczowa, Zyndranowa, Uście Gorlickie, Bartne, Binczarowa and Bielanka. 

Our trip:

We arrived in the Piorunka area (first 6 villages) on Sat. May 18.  We drove around the area and realized we needed an English speaking guide.  Found Karolina about 9:30 that evening and she agreed to go with us on the 19th (Sat.)  We met with the priest who serves both Piorunka and Czyrna churches.  He didn't know of any Witiak's, but gave me a list of villagers who lived there prior to 1947.  The name Witiak is listed.  His current church records start from 1947.  

Piorunka Church

We then went to Brunary and visited St. Michael's church and cemetery, found a few Basalyga graves. 

Basalyga grave in Brunary cemetery & David and Karolina in Brunary Church

 Next we drove to Stawisza, found a large monument on the 1947 expulsion.  We asked a local farmer about Basalyga's.   He knew the name and told us of a Basalyga monument further up the road. 

Left:  Basalyga Monument 1905 - Stawisza:  Alexander and M. Basalyga.  In the past there were 2 homes in the background.
Right:  Stawisza Monument to those expelled in 1947.  Rough translation "You were expelled from your native land, but the Lemko region could not break out of your heart.  On June 12, 1947 all residents of the Lemko village of Stawisza (123 families a total of 652 people) were expelled from their land"

We drove to Hanczowa, and took some pictures, then on to Losie (near Nowa Wies) There is another Losie village which we visited later.  The cemetery was in poor condition.  The online church archives had shown Witiak’s lived here.   After about 4 hours riding around we went to Slotwiny, our last stop.  We met a woman coming out of the Slotwiny cemetery, told her who I was and what I was looking for.   She said that there were Witiak and Fatula graves here.  Also, she knew a person related to a Witiak.  She called this person and he asked to meet with us the next day.

Slowitny Cemetery & Josef Witiak's grave 

David Witiak with Ola, Bogdan & Barbara Kopyscianski

On Sunday morning Joanne and I went to church in Piorunka for the 9 AM service and then to Brunary for their 11 AM service.  These are the churches that the Witiak’s and Szypski’s attended, respectively.  Both churches are now of the Roman Catholic Rite; they were full with many standing outside to hear the service on outdoor speakers.  That evening we met with Bogdan Kopyscianski, wife Barbara and daughter Aleksandra (Ola) who is 17 and speaks pretty good English.  Bogdan's parents were Jan Kopyscianski and Irena Soroka (Brunary).  In 1947 they were sent west. Bogdan was born in 1956 and in 1957 they moved back to Krynica-Zdroj.  Jan's sister, Janina, married Josef Witiak (8/19/1914- 11/30/1975). Josef & Janina shared a home with the Kopyscianski  family until their deaths.  (Not sure if we are related to Josef.  We need to know his father’s name.)

On Monday we stopped at Losie (near Klimkowka), found graves for Fekula.  Stopped at a local museum.  They had a list of villagers, prior to 1947:  Fekula was listed.  A young man working at the museum said he is the only member of his school class remaining in their village.  The other young men in his class moved to Ireland or England, for work.

Losie (near Klimkowka)

We next went to Bartre.  Found a few Chwalik graves.  While walking the cemetery I noticed the lid of one grave was pushed back and there was music coming from it.  Peeked in and found a guy white-washing the walls.  I said hello, he jumped.  He then climbed out (Joanne missed the picture).  I met another guy and he told me Steven Chwalik lived up the road and across the creek.  Went to the house, but he wasn't home.  We checked into our new hotel, in Jaslo, and found a new guide (another Karolina) for Tues.

Bartne Church and grave of Maria (1897-1966 & Nicholai (1895-1982) Chwalik

On Tues. we went to Desznica and Jaworse looking for Tyrpak’s.  We stopped at the Desznica church which was rebuilt after the original burned.  As we drove in, the priest was getting into his car to leave.  Karolina and I caught his attention and he got out and spent about 30 min showing us the inside of the church and relaying some history.  

Desznica Church

We found a few Tyrpak graves.  Next we went to Jaworse, where several Tyrpak’s had lived (about 1K from Desznica).  At the end of the paved road we saw a woman in the yard and we stopped.  She knew the name Tyrpak, took us to an Orthodox cross in the woods (no visible names).  She said that in 1947 there were 30 homes in that area.  Five of these homes were Tyrpak's.  She then said there was another cross, with names, about 1/2 mile up the dirt road, near Tyrpak hill.  Off we went.  I walked into the woods, the 3 ladies waited on the road (fear of snakes).  The grave was for Demetri and Maria Tyrpak 1909.  This local woman also knows a man, who was 17 (in 1947) and was sent to Ukraine during the expulsion.  He knows everyone who had to leave.  He comes back to Jaworse about once a year.  She will give him my contact info.

Desznica Cemetery

The local woman took Karolina and us to the cross in the woods.  Demetri and Maria Tyrpak 1905.

We found Poland to be very clean and neat.  The people couldn't have been nicer or more helpful.  There weren't many old houses.  The newer houses were mostly cinder block construction with stucco.

The rolling countryside reminded us of the Pocono mountains in Pennsylvania

Joanne enjoying a nice lunch in Krynica