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Sherlock's Genealogical Adventures

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Letter from Russia to USA - A Three Year Journey!

Polish Genealogy

Tim Firkowski

Monday, 12 March 2012

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4 Comments

Friday I went to get the mail and saw an envelope from another country. This is not uncommon as I have family in 22 countries around the world. What made this letter much different from all others I had ever received is that it was from Russia. My excitement started before I ever opened the envelope, because I was already suspicious as to the sender.

I have known for years about Firkowski family in Russia and had addresses. For many years now, I have sent cards out to those in Russia at Christmas time and never received anything in return. I was not going to give up in hopes that someday I would receive a response. THAT DAY ARRIVED!

I waited until I was in the house to open the letter, but even before I opened it, I was giddy as a schoolboy! Upon opening the letter, I found 3 pieces - 1 letter in English (with a note in cancelation1

Russian at the end) dated 23 February 2009, 1 letter in Russian dated 24 February 2012 along with the front of an envelope dated 12 March 2009.

The letter in English explained that this woman was a the widow of a man from Berestechko, Ukraine (at one time Poland). I was VERY familiar with this town, because there are many family groups around the world with the same ancestral point with no conclusive data to join them all together. Supposedly the records are gone from the church. She was able to supply a few pieces of information that may hold the key to bring at least some more of the family together even though she downplays what she knows as anything significant. As researchers we all know that sometimes the smallest bit of information can reap the greatest rewards.

Seeing the different dates on the letter and the copy of the original envelope and picking out some things she wrote in Russian I soon came to realize what had happened. She had written my address wrong (actually it was not even my address, but some information from the business card I had sent her). The mail obviously did not get to me and was returned. I have no idea how long it had spent in Postal limbo land, but she finally resent the letter 3 years after the original had been sent. So now the 3 year journey of this letter is complete & a lesson can be learned - NEVER GIVE UP!

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About the author

Tim Firkowski

I have been doing genealogy research since 2002 & have worked full time as a Professional Genealogist since 2008. I specialize in Polish and American-Canadian Genealogy. As a member of APG, I was the 2010/2011 President of the New England Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists (NEAPG). I have Certificates of Completion for studies in "Foundations of Forensic Genealogy" and "Advanced Forensic Genealogy Techniques". I have been a volunteer librarian at the local Family History Center, and a genealogy research consultant at “Ask the Expert” Ancestry Road Shows. I have traveled to Poland numerous times & researched in churches and archives. At conferences and special events, you may find me dressed up in my Sherlock Holmes outfit, or my Kujawy (the folk costume from the region in Poland where my ancestors came from).

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Comments 4

Guest - Cathi Desmarais on Monday, 12 March 2012 04:33

Don't keep us in suspense! What did the letter say?!

0 Reply

Tim Firkowski on Monday, 12 March 2012 04:43

Cathi, I am waiting for full translation of the Russian portion of the letter.

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Guest - Heather Wilkinson Rojo on Monday, 12 March 2012 07:44

Tim, I had a query for the curator in a Honolulu museum house. Five or six years later, and two curators coming and going, the new curator went through the files, read my letter and sent me documentation that my 4x great aunt lived in the house. This solved a 30 year old brickwall for me, and I found a whole new branch of the family, including my 5x great grandparents and more. Patience pays off! I also found a good excuse to visit Honolulu!

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