Dzien Dobry!

One of the main Polish immigrant lines I am researching is WOZNIAK in Buffalo NY. As in Poland, WOZNIAK is a very common name in the Buffalo area. I want to start trying to find records from Poland, and perhaps trace back into further generations. I know next to nothing about Polish geography.

The primary name I am investigating is ANDRZEJ (ANDREW) WOZNIAK (1868-1929), my great-grandfather. I believe he was born in the POZNAN (POSEN) region, but I don't know anything more specific. According to US census information, he emigrated to the US between 1888 and 1891. In the 1900 census, I found him, his wife, plus their first three sons (including my grandfather STEPHEN). Also listed at the same address are ANTON WOZNIAK (1824-after 1908) and MARY (maiden name unknown, 1840?-bef 1910). I believe they are my gr-gr-grandparents. In the 1900 census, MARY stated she had 10 children, 5 who were still living (they also say they were married 50 years in 1900, but she gives her birth year as 1840, meaning she married at age 10!). I have found some WOZNIAK immigrants at the Castle Garden web site, who arrived in New York 6 May 1887, on the SS Taormina (some of the information matches what is in the 1900 census). They are ANTON WOZNIAK (age given as 50, last residence SACKAWA-IA), MARG.(likely MARY, listed as age 48), AGNES (age 19), and STANISLAUS (age 17). There are also several WOZNACKs (with a C) on the SS Taormina manifest, but I don't know if they are related. I believe STANISLAUS actually may be my gr-grandfather ANDRZEJ. But I don't have enough information to confirm any of this. I also have no further information on AGNES WOZNIAK.

ANDRZEJ WOZNIAK married ANTONINA __ (1870-1906), my gr-grandmother, in Buffalo in 1895, but I don't know her maiden name, so I can't do any further research. He married a second time, c. 1907, to KATARZYNA ___ (1878-1937). Her maiden name is also unknown to me, but she was the widow of MICHAEL BORKOWSKI. In summary, I want to find out who the nine siblings of ANDRZEJ WOZNIAK are, and the maiden names of his wives. Some members of the family defected from the Roman Catholic Church to the Polish National Catholic Church in Buffalo, and I understand there was some family estrangement as a result. Once I can start researching Polish records, perhaps I will learn if I am related to any of the numerous Wozniaks in the Buffalo NY area.

There are also some mysteries in my paternal grandmother's family. STANISLAUS BOROWICZ (1867-1950) emigrated in 1892 or 1893, but I cannot find any manifest information. His wife, MARYANNA BARANCZAK (1868-1935), likely emigrated in 1892, according to census data. Their marriage was in Buffalo 12 Feb 1895. They were members of Saint John Kanty RC Church in Buffalo, and I was able to get more information by browsing church records on LDS microfilm. STANISLAUS BOROWICZ gives his birthplace as BILOWITZ, which I think is now in the Czech Republic. MARYANNA BARANCZAK's birthplace is listed as WITKOWO. From their 1895 Buffalo church marriage record, I found that their parents were FRANCISZEK BOROWICZ and MICHALINA MICHALCZAK, both of LOPIENNO, and CATHERINE PAWELA and the late JOHN BARANCZAK, birth places in Poland unknown. I did find the marriage info for FRANCISZEK BOROWICZ/MICHALINA MICHALCZAK at the Poznan Project website.


Thank you for any hints or information for me regarding the next steps I should take in my research.

/Mark WOZNIAK, Tonawanda NY (mwozniak@wbfo.org)