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The Bielawa Family
Descendants of Maciej Bielawa, Środa region (south of Pozna
ń)

                                                            (Close up of region: ancestral villages underlined)
 

Please note that my own Bielawa family does not come from Galicia, but from another part of Poland, the region south of Poznań around the town of Środa.

  Therefore, much of the research methodology found on these Galician web pages does not relate to Poznań region, which was historically part of the Prussian or German Partition of Poland.

For more information and research methodology, please visit my page on the Prussian Partition of Poland

 

Basic Family Outline of Maciej Bielawa and His Descendants

 

First Generation

Maciej BIELAWA (circa 1795 - 10 Dec 1829, Brzezie, Winna Góra parish: Pg1, Pg2)  -  Zofia LIS (Bapt. 14 May 1795 – 2 Dec 1858, Brzezie, Winna Góra parish: Pg1, Pg2)

    Married 8 Nov 1812 in Mądre, Mądre parish (Marriage Record Pg1, Pg2)

    (all info matches excpet Maciej’s last name listed as PAZGRAD.  Perhaps step-father or copy error?)

  Antoni 7 May 1814 in Nadziejewo, Mądre parishWritten as BIELAWIAK  (Birth record)
  Jan 11 Jan 1816 in Mądre, Mądre parish.  Written as BIELAWIAK (Birth record)
  Katarzyna 24 Nov 1818 in Humer (now Jeziory Małe), Zaniemyśl parish.  Written as BIELAWIAK (Birth record Pg1, Pg2)
  Zofia  4 Sep 1821 in Mądre, Mądre parishWritten as BIELAWIAK (Birth record)
  Bartłomiej 17 Aug 1824 in Slupia, Środa parishWritten as BIELAWIAK (Birth record)

 

2nd Marriage of Zofia LIS BIELAWA (circa 1795 – 2 Dec 1858: Pg1, Pg2) to Bartłomiej BARTCZAK (circa 1779 - ?)

    Married 12 Jul 1835 in Brzezie, Winna Góra parish (Marriage Record)

 

 

Second Generation

Jan BIELAWA (11 Jan 1816 in Mądre, Mądre parish: Pg1, Pg2  –  19 Oct 1873 in Miłosław, Miłosław parish: Pg1)
Marcianna
SZAŁAPIETA, maiden name ZAWORSKA (9 Jan 1800 in Białe Piątkowo, Winna Góra parish: Birth record
                                                                                        – 14 April 1864 in Białe Piątkowo, Winna Góra parish: Death record Pg1, Pg2)
                                                                                                            (1st marriage of Marcianna ZAWORSKA to Walenty SZAŁAPIETA
                                                                                                           
(circa 1796 - 5 Feb 1841 in Białe Piątkowo, Winna Góra parish)

    Married 31 May 1841 in Brzezie, Winna Góra parish: Marriage Record Pg1, Pg2

  Wojciech 19 Mar 1842 in Białe Piątkowo, Winna Góra parish. (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2)

 

2nd Marriage of Jan BIELAWA to Marianna KIERNIKIEWICZ on 26 Jun 1864 in Winna Góra parish.   (Marriage record Pg1 Pg2, Pg3)

  Marianna 1 Feb 1866 in Rudki, Miłosław parish (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2)
  Katarzyna 10 Nov 1869 in Rudki, Miłosław parish (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2)
  Anna 20 Jul 1870 in Miłosław, Miłosław parish. (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2)
  Agnieszka 21 Dec 1873 in Miłosław, Miłosław parish. (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2)

 

 

Third Generation

First marriage of Wojciech Bielawa

Wojciech BIELAWA (19 Mar 1842 in Białe Piątkowo, Winna Góra parish: Birth Record Pg1, Pg2  – 21 Dec 1914 in Schenectady, New York: Death Record, Obit., Gravesite)
Franciszka
ORZECHOWSKA (2 Aug 1850 in Lipie, Miłosław parish – 10 Dec 1879 in Budziłówko, Biechowo parish)

    Married 1867 in Lipie, Miłosław parish

  Kazimierz 22 Feb 1869 in Lipie,  Miłosław parish (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2) Died 22 May 1878 in Budziłowko, Biechowo parish (Death record)
  Marianna* 15 Mar 1872 in Lipie,  Miłosław parish (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2) Died 9 Aug 1950 in Schenectady, New York (Obit., Gravesite)
  Franciszek** 31 Dec 1874 in Kębłowo, Miłosław parish (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2) known as Frank J. SMITH. Died 17 May 1944 in Syracuse, New York (Death notice, Gravesite)
  Stanisław 5 May 1878 in Budziłowko, Biechowo parish (Birth Record Pg1, Pg2) Died 11 Jul 1878 in Budziłowko, Biechowo parish (Death record)
  Pelagia  13 Nov 1879 in Budziłowko, Biechowo parish (Baptismal Record Pg1, Pg2) Died 6 Jan 1880 in Gorzyce (Death Record, Translation)

                    

 *Marianna BIELAWA married Marek (Marion?) FRANKOWSKI on 16 Feb 1889 in Schenectady, New York (Marriage record)

  Children:    
  Mary 14 May 1890SSDI - 21 Feb 1977 (Obit., Gravesite)  
  Jennie 23 Dec 1892SSDI - 3 Nov 1984 (Obit.) married Richard GRIFFITHS on 14 Jun 1924 in Colesville NY (Marriage Rec.)
  Anna 20 Feb 1893SSDI - 6 May 1982 (Obit., Gravesite) married name LOPUSZYNSKI / LOPUS
      daughter Dorothy LOPUS circa 1914 - 25 Dec 1995  (Obit.)  
Estelle / Stella / Stefania circa 1895 -
  Minnie 18 Jun 1896SSDI - 12 Apr 1972 (Obit., Gravesite)  
  Frank G. HALTUREWICZ 21 Jul 1905SSDI - 24 Nov 1969 (Obit.) married Stephanie Mary ROGOWICZ

   

 **Franciszek Bielawa often used the name Frank J. SMITH throughout his life

First Marriage
Frank J. SMITH
(aka BIELAWA) married Mary KAISER (Apr 1877 - 1910 or 1911) on 18 Jan 1899 in Gardiner, Ulster county, New York (Marriage record)

  Children:    
  Frank Joseph Smith 8 Oct 1899SSDI
-2 Feb 1975 in Long Beach CA (Death record)
married Dorothy Leland WADLEIGH on 11 Dec 1920 in Seattle WA (Marriage record)
married Helen Lenore CALVIN married in Indiana and renewed vows on 7 Jul 1972 in Long Beach CA (Marriage record)
Helen Agnes Smith  29 Apr 1901SSDI  in Shawangunk, Ulster county, NY
-11 Jan 1981 in Albany NY  (Gravesite
married Joseph Edward O'SULLIVAN on 6 Jun 1919 in Albany NY (Marriage record)
  Edward James Smith 9 Jul 1902  in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, NY (Birth record)
-18 Nov 1977 in Albany NY (Obit., Gravesite)
married Genevieve Agnes MCCLUNE on 23 Dec 1932 in Albany NY (Death notice, Gravesite)
  Estelle (Stella) Gertrude Smith 12 Feb 1904 in Ossining, Westchester county, NY (Birth record )
-11 Oct 1969 in Albany NY (Obit., Gravesite)

Notice: This is an important obituary, because it links the families/step-siblings together!
married Joseph R. DEGEORGE on 22 Jan 1927 in Albany NY (Marriage record) (Obit.)
married Joseph W. DUPREY (Gravesite)
  Eleanor Mary Smith 14 Jul 1907SSDI  in Ballston Spa, Saratoga county, NY
-26 May 1974 in Albany NY (Obit., Gravesite)
married Walter T. BARNETT on 28 Jan 1931 in Albany NY (Marriage license Pg. 1 Pg.2) (Death Notice, Obit.)

 

Second Marriage
Frank J. SMITH
married Anna SNIECINSKA, sometimes listed as SAMINSKA, on 22 Feb 1911 in Albany, New York (Marriage record)
                                     
(29 Sep 1878 - 15 Jan 1963, Albany NY) Death, Obit., Church Death Pg.1, Pg. 2, Gravesite  

  Children:    
  Joseph Francis Smith 2 Jan 1913SSDI in Albany NY
13 Oct 1971 in Albany NY (Obit.)
married Catherine RAIBLE
Stanley Stephen Smith 10 Mar 1915SSDI  in Albany NY
15 Oct 1972 in Schodack Center NY (Obit., Gravesite)
married Bevery Ann DUGAN on 27 Aug 1949 in Albany NY(Marriage record)
married Jeanne Marie LACROSS (who later married Albert J. Rizzo)
  Anna Smith 17 Jul 1917 in Albany NY
16 Oct 2014 in Germantown, Washington county, WI (Obit.)
married George R. MILLER
married Gustave HENSCHEL
  Pauline Smith 17 Jul 1917  in Albany NY
1 May 2005 in Albany NY (Obit., Gravesite)
married William J. BRUSTLE on 30 Jun 1936 in Albany NY (Death notice)
  Mary Smith 26 Nov 1919
7 Mar 1982 in Schodack Center NY (Obit., Gravesite)
maried Clifford J. FITZGERALD (Gravesite)

 

Third marriage
Frank J. SMITH
married Marianna SMOLINSKA (circa 1890 -  9 Jul 1948 in Albany NY (Death record, Obituary, Gravesite

(formerly Mary BRADTKE/BRADKE married to Johann/John BRADTKE (Marriage record), later married Vincent GENTILE

Notice: this is an important Obituary (from The Knickerbocker News, Albany NY, 9 Jul 1948) since it connects Mary Smolinska to Bradtke, Smith and Gentile! 
The address listed in the obituary is the same address found on the military headstone application of Frank J. Smith (known as SHMIT in the military)!  (The Shmit name, service dates, rank, company and regiment all match paperwork in possesion of Frank J. Smith's grandson Frank.)

Child:
Chester Peter Smith 19 Nov 1929 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, NY (Baptismal record, Birth record, SocSecAppl)
-23 May 1975 in Albany NY (Obit.)
married Genevieve RAY in 1960

Children of Mary Smolinska and John Bradtke/Bradke were John Stephen (1915-1942), Mary (Catherine Anna Stacia?) (1917-?), Joseph Frank (1920-1987), Anthony August (1923-2009), Josephine Rose (1924-), and Elizabeth Anne (1925-1925)

 

Searching for my grandfather's half-brother Franciszek Bielawa (Frank Smith) required A LOT of help from several wonderful cousins.  A sincere thank you to my "new" cousins Frank Smith, Bob McDermott, Pam Webber and Linda Miller, for all your important help in connecting the descendants of Franciszek Bielawa, aka Frank J. Smith (1874-1944)!  All I was going on was a family story about my grandfather having a half-brother who changed his name to Smith.  It took a long time of research, letter writing to multiple states, many trips to the New York State Archives and Library in Albany, and lots of wrong turns and deadends before I finally tracked his 11 children born across 5 New York counties, and, according to census records, his family residences in 8 different New York counties between 1890 and 1944!

 

Second marriage of Wojciech Bielawa

2nd marriage of Wojciech BIELAWA to Balbina HOFFMANN (14 Apr 1852 in Mikuszewo, Czeszewo parish: Birth record Pg1, Pg2  
                                                                                            14 Dec 1935 in Schenectady, New York: Pg1, Obit., Gravesite)

    Married 9 Feb 1880 in Lipie, Miłosław parish  (Marriage records: Church record Pg1, Pg2Civil record Pg1, Pg2, translation)

  Parents of Balbina Jan HOFFMANN (also known as HOCHMAN)  ca 1821
- 17 Jul 1866 in Czeszewo, Czeszewo parish (Death record Pg1, Pg2)
    Marianna NOWICKA  14 Aug 1822 in Mikuszewo, Czeszewo parish (Birth record full page, close-up)
- 29 Dec 1868 in Czeszewo, Czeszewo parish (Death record Pg1, Pg 2)
    Married 15 Jul 1849 in Czeszewo parish (Marriage record Pg1, Pg2)

 

  Walenty Born 2 Feb 1881 in Gorzyce, Biechowo parish  (Birth records: Church record Pg1, Pg2close up pg1, pg2Civil Pg1, translation)
    Married 28 Jan 1911 to Mary SZCZYGIEŁ in Amsterdam, New York  (Marriage records: Church record; State record Pg1, Pg2)
    Died 12 Apr 1945 in Amsterdam, New York  (Death recordObit.; Gravesite)
     
     
  Jan Born 17 Jun 1883 in Lipie,  Miłosław parish  (Birth records: Church record Pg1, Pg2Civil record Pg1, translation)
    Died 6 Jul 1883 in Lipie, Miłosław parish  (Death records: Church record Pg1, Pg2Civil record Pg1, translation)
     
     
  Rozalia  Born 2 Aug 1884 in Lipie, Miłosław parish  (Birth records: Church record Pg1, Pg2Civil record Pg1, translation)
    Married 4 Feb 1905 Leon OLSZEWSKI in Schenectady, New York  (Marriage record.   
                                       Note: this is a special marriage record; it is the one and only record that led me back to find the Bielawa family in Poland.  Rosalia Bielawa's birthplace is listed as "Ks. Poz. Miłosław", meaning "Kingdom of Prussia - Miłosław"
    Died 10 Sep 1954 in Schenectady, New York  (Gravesite)
     
     
  Stanisław (Stephen)  Born 20 Sep 1888 in Schenectady, New York 
    Married 9 Nov 1912 to Stanisława (Sadie) STASZAK  (Marriage record Pg1, Pg2, Pg3)
    Died 27 Jul 1939 in Schenectady, New York  (Death record,  Death notice Gravesite
Very important obituary that lead to discovery of half-siblings! This is the only obituary of the siblings that lists Frank Smith.
)
     
     
  Jozefa (Jennie)   Born Jun 1889 in Schenectady, New York 
    Married 7 Nov 1908 to Roman MATUJZA  (Marriage record Pg1, Pg2, Pg3)
    Married 29 May 1920 to Wacław PRĄTNICKI  (Marriage record Pg1, Pg2, Pg3)
    Died 12 Apr 1971 in Schenectady, New York  (Gravesite)
     
     
  Jan (John)  Born 1 May 1892 in Schenectady, New York   
    Married 26 Sep 1914 to Rozalia (Rose) SZYPURA (SZCZYPURA)   (Marriage record Pg1, Pg2)
    Died 14 Nov 1948 in Schenectady, New York  (Death record, Obit., Gravesite)


Probate record of Wojciech Bielawa, which lists all of his living children from both wives!

 

 

 

See much more on the descendants of Wojciech Bielawa and Balbina Hoffmann

 

Here are some maps showing our ancestral villages: 

  Miłosław region
  Środa region
  Środa region in German


   
   

   

 

 

 

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