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Who is my Biological Grandfather - Background

Brick Walls

Tim Firkowski

Tuesday, 07 January 2014

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I am going to write a series of Blog posts under the Category of Brick Walls. Almost every genealogist will run into problems researching their family. This is due to little, poor or no documentation or inexperience in genealogical research. Many brick walls are solved easily once you know what documents to look for, but there are always those times that a brick wall may linger for years, decades or longer. I have been doing genealogy research since 2002 and I was perplexed on how to find information about my biological maternal grandfather. I had so much other research to do that I had not had much time to dig into this mystery. Before Thanksgiving I found some information that may finally break through that brick wall, and I hope you will join me as I post the steps I take to finally find the answers I seek.

In 1985, when I returned to the US after being married in Germany while I was stationed there in the Army, my mother told me something I had not known. She informed me that the grandfather that I knew was not my biological grandfather. She explained that she had found out accidently when she was young and that it was her mothers wish that us kids did not know about this until we were married. Although I was a bit surprised, it did not really matter to me because I still considered the grandfather that I knew (Jerome KOTCHI) to be my grandfather.

I asked my mother what she knew about her biological father and she said she did not know much. She remembered the name "William BOND" and that he was in the Navy and may have been from Georgia. My mother had found a document when she was younger and had asked her mother about it, but my grandmother (Julitta POISSON) did not want to talk about it. It was not that important for my mother to know her biological father as the father that rasied her was a good and wonderful man and was considered her father.

I remember asking my mother if my grandmother could tell us some more, but I was informed that it was a taboo subject to discuss with my grandmother. Back in the 1940's there was a stigma attached to children being born out of wedlock that it was not discussed openly.

Watch for my next posts where I will elaborate on steps that occured over the years that would provide small clues.

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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).