Days of Christmas Past

 * First taste of snow
 * Christmas in Gardena, CA
 * What's happening with the Immigration papers for Valentine Motyka


* First taste of snow

I believe this photo was taken at mom and dad's cabin in Wrightwood, CA in about 1956.   From left to right..... Mary and Mac McDonald (friends of my parents), my brother Tom, my mom Helen, me Crystal, Bill my dad and possibly Ruth, Mary's sister.  I think I look so much like my mom.  That could be me holding my brother ,Tom, as a toddler.  More similarities are in my brothers daughter, Christian, both her and I both have the same large eyes as children and I see Kyle, my brothers son in Tom's face.   Most likely this was the first time for Tom and I to experience snow. Though I don't remember any of it.  Thank goodness for photos.

* Christmas in Gardena, CA

Now this was me, Crystal, in our Gardena, California home date 1956 ( I would have been 2 1/2).  Notice the train under the tree.  According to my cousin Kendal and my uncle Ken, grandpa Herbert loved trains, he had one in his basement in Garwood, NJ.  Kendal loved trains, dad loved trains and I usually have a train going under my Christmas tree each year.  Maybe grandpa love of trains is due to the fact that Herbert worked for the Jersey Central Railroad as a air brake inspector in New Jersey.

I remember dad had a HO train setup that Tom and I would play with in our Torrance home. I think he would get it down and running around Christmas time.  It had houses and buildings that lite up and streets that Tom and I would drive Tom's Hot Wheel cars on.   Eventually that graduated to an  N-Guage train setup (much smaller than HO)  that he would set up on the pool table. I believe this train setup is still in the garage of my dads,  now brothers house. Maybe someday, now that he's retired, Tom will get it down and running for the grandkids and big kids alike to enjoy again.

* Update of the Immigration Papers for Valentine Motyka

These are the Immigration Papers I ordered 6/26/2015 for my grand father Valentine Motyka.  I found out about him having Immigration Papers when I received my grandmothers Alien Case Files from the National Archives at Kansas City. They stated he was naturalized on July 31, 1927 at Newark, New Jersey.  I was unaware he was naturalized.  So I sent away for the papers hoping it may include informant about him that I did not know.

I had inquired about these papers several times but about 4 weeks ago the response I received ( other than just Pending) was that the Current Status was Pending due to Pending FOIA.  FOIA I found out, states that document(s) found within the requested file contain third party information and is undergoing required FOIA/PA review by the USCIS Genealogy Program. This case is not with the USCIS Freedom of Information Program. So I still wait.

Just checked status again this month and it's still Pending but Pending Closure - "The record responsive to your request has been located, retrieved, duplicated, review and/or FOIA-processed."  So I'm hoping this means I should get it soon. So stay tuned.

I would like to wish all those that read this blog a Happy and Healthy 2016.
Happy New Year everyone.



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The Will of Ezra F. Condit , continued - research of names in Will

In my previous post I transcribed the Will of my GGG grandfather, Ezra Fairchild Condit dated 12 Oct 1882. He willed all his positions to his youngest son, Emmons Nelson Condit.  He died 3 years later on 20 October 1885 at the age of 71yrs, 7 mo.

A few people were mentioned in his Will for future research .....  executor of the Will, Morris B. Lindsley, and two witnesses to the signing of the Will, Henry B. Whiteboure and Edger Williams. Plus I wanted to find out why everything went to Emmons. This is what information I learned.

Morris B. Lindsley b: 1838 was in the real estate and insurance business.  His father, John P. Lindsley was born act. 1812. Which would make John P. about the same age as Ezra F. born 1814.  My take on this is possibly John P and Ezra were acquaintances or friends enough for Morris, being in the real estate and insurance business, knew enough to be executor of Ezra F. Condit's will.

Henry B. Whiteboure - I could not find any information on through Ancestry.com

Edger Williams -  I only found in the 1895 New Jersey State Census as being between the ages of 10-50 and was married to a Mary Williams.

Some information on Ezra Fairchild Condit.

1814 - born in New Jersey
1834 -  20 - married to Phebe K Cobb
1835 -  21 - birth for first son - Asa F.
1839 -  25 -birth of second son - Ezra W.
1850 -  35 -census - lists his occupation as a shoe maker in the Township of Caldwell, Essex, NJ
1852 -  37 -birth of fourth son - Emmons Nelson
1860 - 45 - Fed Census shows him in the Township of Caldwell, Essex, NJ, real estate = 1500
1867 - 52 - Newark City Directory showed him living at 47 Bleecker as a turner
                     Note: this is also the year his wife Phebe died
1869 - 54 - living at 47 Bleecker, Newark NJ as a turner
1870 - 55 - living at 79 Bleecker, Newark NJ as a turner
                    Note: he was living with his second son, Ezra W.(31) and so was Emmons Nelson(18)
                           somewhere between 1860 and 1870 he seems to have lost everything
1871 - 56 - living at 79 Bleecker, Newark NJ as a turner
1872 - 57 - living at 79 Bleecker, Newark NJ as a turner
1874 - 59 - living at 20 School st, Newark NJ as a spoke turner
                    Note: this is Asa F.'s address - Ezra F. is now living with his first son
1876 - 61 - living at 77 Wilsey, Newark NJ as a spoke turner
                     Note: this is also Asa's address - Ezra is still living with his first son
1877 - 62 - living at 276 Bank, Newark NJ as a spoke turner - not sure who lives here besides Ezra
                      Note: Ezra F is diagnosed with Psoriasis which he lived with for 8 more years
1880 - 65 - Fed Censes has Ezra F living at 36 Charlton St., Newark, NJ
                      Note: Exra F is "living at home" with Asa F.  (not working)
1882 - 66 - wrote up a Will
1883 - 68 - Death of first son, Asa F (48 yrs)
                      Note: this is when he must have moved in with Emmon Nelson
1885 -71 - Death of Ezra Fairchild Condit
               - New Jersey State Census has Ezra living with Emmons wife (Harriet Squire) and
                      5 children but Emmons is not listed with them
               - because of Asa's death in 1883, Ezra W and Emmons were the only relatives left

Summary


               -1867 to 1869 Ezra F.  lived at 47 Bleecker, Newark
               -1870 to 1872 Ezra F.  lived with his son Ezra W. at 79 Bleecker, Newark
               -1874 to 1880 Ezra F.  lived with his son Asa at 20 School, 77 Wilsey,  276 Bank and
                      36 Charlton St., Newark
               - 1882 Ezra F.  wrote up his will for his estate to go to only his son Emmons Nelson Condit
               - 1883 - 1885 Ezra F lived with Emmons Nelson till his death
             
I want to make note here that Ezra F's second son, Ezra W.  by trade was a carpenter from 1867 - 1872 in Newark, NJ and was in the insurance business from 1882 - ?  in New York.  In 1895 he was an agent for Manhattan Life Insurance Co.

So Asa died and Ezra W. was living and working in New York,  Emmons Nelson was the only son left to take care of Ezra F. He is the only one named in the Will.

Ending note - I researched to find out what a turner/spoke turner was and the only thing I came up with was a person that turned wood to make spokes for wagons.  They did travel by wagons in those days. I suppose when Ezra F lost his estate ( or maybe when Phebe died) he had to go back to work at the age of 52 and worked as a spoke turned till 1880 age 65.

The Will of Ezra F. Condit

Will of Ezra F. Condit - my Great, great, great grandfather

In the name of God ?: I Ezra F. Condit of the Township of Caldwell in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and hereby revoking all former wills, do make publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say, First: It is m will and I do order that all my just debts and funeral expenses be duly paid and satisfied as soon after my death as conveniently can be. Second: I do constitute and appoint Morris B. Lindlsey of Caldwell Township as Executer of this my last Will and Testament.  Third: I give, desire and bequeath all my Estate both real and personal, whosesoever situated, to my son Emmons N. Condit now of the Village of Verona, in this Township, and my motive for so doing, and thereby excluding my other children for any participation in my Estate, is because he has for course of time past taken exclusive care of me in sickness and in health and furnished me with a comfortable living and it seems to me right and proper that I should show m appreciation to this his care by making him my sole heir.  In Witness Thereof, I the said Ezra F. Condit have hereunder set my brand and seal the Twelfth day of October, in the ear of our Lord, eighteen hundred and eighty-two.

                                                                                    Signed:           Ezra F. Condit

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Ezra F. Condit as and for his Last Will and Testament, in the presence of us, both being present at the same time at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other,  leave hereunto subscribed out names as witnesses.

            J.E. Williams

            H. B. Whiteboure

                        Both of Caldwell Township

Essex County as J Edgar Williams one of the witnesses to the annexed writing, purposing to be the last Will and Testament of ;Ezra F. Condit   the Testator therein names, deceased, being duly sworn on this oath, says that he saw the said Testator sign an seal the said annexed writing and he publish, pronounced and declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament. That at the time of the doing thereof said Testator was of sound dispensing mind, memory and understand, as for as this deponent knows and as he fairly believes : that Henry B Whiteborue the other subscribing witness thereto was present at the same time with this despondent, and together with him subscribed his name therto as a witness in the presence of the Testator and of each other at the request of the Testator, and that said Testator died more than 10 days ago.

            Signed:  Nov. 7, 1885     before me:    J E. Williams

Citation:

New Jersey Surrogates Court, Essex, New Jersey , Wills, Vol C2, 1885, 1886; image 367 (189 of 329): for Ezra F Condit 1885, “New Jersey Wills and Probate Records 1794-1902”; index database w/digital images, Ancestry.com ; accessed 7 Sep 2015; recorded 31 Oct 2015

What I've digested or have brought forth questions from this document .

     1. Who is Morris B. Lindsley - Executor of Ezra F. Condit's will? He must have been a
                good friend.
     2. Who is Henry B. Whiteborue - witness to signing of Will by Ezra F Condit 
     3. Who is Edgar Williams - also a witness to the signing of Ezra Condit's Will.
     4.  In 1850 Ezra , age 35, owned his home valued at $800 and was a shoe maker(1850 
               census)
          In 1860, at the age of 45, he was a butcher, real estate value of $1500 and personal 
               property of $200 (1860 census)
          In 1870, age 55,  he was living with his son Ezra W. and his family. (1870 census)
          In 1880, age 66, he was living with another son Asa F and family (1880 census)

What happened between 1860 and 1870 that would have him living with his sons?  His wife, Phebe K. (Cobb) Condit died in 1867. I wonder if her death had something to do with it?  And what happened to his home, valued at $1500 between 1860 and 1870?
     5. And if he lived with both his sons, Ezra W and Asa F why did he leave his entire estate to his youngest son, Emmons Nelson Condit?

Ezra Fairchild died 20 October 1885 at the age of 71 yrs, 7 mo, of a heart disease and psoriasis which he had for 8 years (death cert.)

More digging is required.


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My GGGG Grandfather Hiran Condit and Family/Valentine Motyka papers search update

     A few weeks back Ancestry.com posted some new records - New Jersey Wills and Probate Records 1656-1999.  I found a few, not many, wills here.  Two that interest me , the first was Lucinda Condit. She was  married to Ellis Freeman Condit - brother to Ezra Fairchild ( my GGG grandfather). Their father was Hiran Condit (1787-1844) and mother, Rhoda Corby (1788- ?). And the second was Ezra Fairchild Condit (1814-1885). Both still needing transcription (next months post).

     I pulled down my Hiran Condits binder and found I hadn't much information on his family.  I then pulled out my "The Condit Family - Decendants of John Cunditt" book and found many family members that were not in my family tree.  The following is a list of "cousins" added.

     Hiran Condit (1787-1844) married Rhoda Corby (1788 - ?) - they had 5 children
        1. Ellis Freeman Condit (1811-1887) married Lucinda Corby (1811-1881) - they had 9 children
             1. Mary Louise Condit (1831-1916) married Marcus C Kent (1830- ?) - they had 7 children
             2. Rhoda Condit (1834-1836)
             3. Abigail Condit (1837-1904) married George Brenner (1837-1899) - they had 2 children
             4. Zadoc Condit (1839-1924) married Sarah Jane Meger (1844-1912) - they had 3 children
             5.  Maria E. Condit (1842-1944)
             6. William Condit (1844 - 1913) married Emily Hedden (1848 - ?) - they had 1 child
             7. Maria Elizabeth Condit (1846-1913) married Marsena C. Canfield (1836-1910) - they had
                  4 children
             8. Marcus E. Condit (1849-1850)
             9. Ellis F. Condit (1852-1893) married Matilda Smith (1854-1912) - they had 8 children
     2. Phebe Condit (1813-?) married Andrew Bedford (?-?)  they had 1 child
             1. Abby (?-?)
     3. Ezra Fairchild Condit (1814-1885) married Phebe K Cobb (1814-1867) - they had 5 children
             1. Asa F. Condit (1835-1883) married Susan Keefer (1840-1883) - they had 7 children
             2. Ezra W. Condit (1839- ?) married Susan L Courter (1839-?) - they had 1 child
             3. Asa E. Condit (1849-?)
             4. Emmons E. Condit (1849- )
             5. Emmons Nelson Condit (1852-1903) married Harriet E. Squier (1850-1902) - they had 8
                  children - Notes from the " Condit Family" book - "Emmons Nelson Condit was born May
                  4, 1852 in Newark, N.J. where he spent the early years of his life. He was fond of music  
                  and had great lend as a singer.  When a young man he was soloist in the Methodist
                  Episcopal Church in Newark, of which he was a member.  Mr. Condit came of " old
                  Methodist stock" and was a zealous Christian and an earnest advocate of temperance.  On
                  Jan. 28, 1872, he married Harriet E. Squire, of Madison, NJ born May 10, 1850. After his
                  marriage they resided in the " Old Condit Homestead" of his grandfather, still standing,
                  over one hundred was old, between the first and second mountains in Verona, NJ.  Here he
                  lived with his wife and children, and devoted his life to his family and home.  Mr. Condit
                  was a master mechanic and was well known in all the suburban towns.  For two years
                  before her death Mrs. Condit was a patient sufferer from malignant sickness, from
                  which she died July 16, 1902. Although he loved his children dearly, his deep devotion to
                  his wife was stronger, an after nine months of deep sorrow he suddenly and quietly passed
                  away April 8, 1903, to the great sorrow of those who were left."
     4. Hannah Condit (?-?) married ? Abel (?-?)
     5. Harriet Condit (1821-?) married Aaron Perry (?-?)

So to total this up..... I added 56 new cousins to my CONDIT family tree this month of September 2015.  And the family grows.

               ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATE to Valentine Motyka's Immigration papers.
     It has been over 90 days since I sent my request and money for a Search for Valentine Motyka's Immigration papers or any other papers in his folder to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services. On the 28 Sept, 2015 I sent an email requesting reason why.  They responded saying " Please note that the Index Search request processing is operation on a a delay but we are working to complete all requests as soon as possible." So who knows when this will come about.  I'll keep you posted.



Thank you for visiting this blog.  If you have a comment please fill free to leave it at the end of this post.

Did any of my relatives get to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary? / Searching for Emily Klauss Clolery

ANNIVERSARIES

I subscribe to a blog post called Genea-musings and every Saturday night he posts a challenge.  One of the challenges this month I decided to accept.  " Which of your ancestors have celebrated a Golden Wedding Anniversary - 50 years of marital bliss?" Since I knew my parents, Bill and Helen Condit, were married more than 50 years, made me wonder if any other relatives of mine had also.  This is what I found.

Samuel Condit (1696-1777)  and Mary Dobbs (1698-1755) - married in 1722 = 33 years

Jonathan Condit (1736-1823) and Jemima Condit (1736-1812) married in 1758 = 54 years

Isaac Condit (1759-1829) and Phebe Baldwin (1976-1835) married in 1781 = 48 years

Ezra Fairchild Condit (1814-1885) and Phebe Cobb (1814-1867) married in 1884 = 33 years

Aza F. Condit (1835-1883) and Susan Keefer (1840-1887) married in 1834 = 33 years

Ezra Adolphus Condit (1863-1948) and Ernestina Oertel (1866-1905) married in 1892 = 13 years

Herbert H G Condit (1894-1982) and Elsie M Maile (1897-1972) married in 1916 = 56 years

Wilbur H Condit (1919-2011) and Helen M Motyka (1924-2004) married in 1948 = 56 years

        a few other relatives, other than Condit's and their married years...

George Oertel (1827-1910) and Louisa Baeyer (1838-1900) married in 1857 = 43 years

Walenty Motyka (18921967) and Mary Leszczak (1891-1978)  married  in 1916 = 51 years


What I learned in this challenge was I had a few missing birth/marriage/death dates which I filled in. Plus how hard would it have been in the mid 1700s to early 1800's to have been married for  54 years. Amazing. And then I found out that my paternal grandparents, Herbert and Elsie Condit were married the same year as my maternal grandparents, Walenty and Mary Motyka, 1916. Both sets of grandparents got to celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary along with my parents.



FINDING EMILY KLAUSS CLOLERY (daughter to Ann Leszczak Klaus)

Seaside Heights 1940 - Emily Klauss, Ann Leszczak Klauss, Mary Motyka, John J. Klauss and Jeanne Klauss (photo by Helen Motyka), New Jersey

I haven't had much success in finding records about Ann Leszczak Klauss.  What I know is Ann Leszczak, sister to Mary Leszczak Motyka, was born in Poland (1930 Census states she immigrated in 1921 at the age of 17, but I have been unable to locate any records). Ann married John J. Klauss in 1926. They had three children. Emily born 1927, New Jersey, Jeanne born 1932, New Jersey and John J. born 1936 New Jersey.  1930 Census has them all living in Newark, NJ and the 1940 Census in Irvington, NJ.  I do not have a death date for either Ann or John. More research to do.

I moved on to Emily Klauss., 1st daughter. Thinking that maybe she might still be alive and I could contact her for more information about her mother.  This is the information I found.

Emily Klauss born 1927, NJ lived in Newark at the age of 3 and Irvington, NJ at the age of 13.  She married at 26 to Kenneth E Clolery in 1953 (marriage info came from divorce record) . Had at least one child , Pamela Ann Clolery, in 1953, Hennepin, Minnesota (Minnesota Birth Index).  Next I find them on a City Directory living in Arcadia, CA. And divorcing in Los Angeles in 1971. The last record I have is a Family Search Public Record Index stating that Amelia A Klaus was living in Maple Shade, NJ in 1993-2009 (she would be about 66 - 82).  Still I don't have a death date if in fact she is deceased. There is an address in Maple Shade, NJ, I might just write a short letter and see if it comes back.

Her husband, Kenneth, remarried to a Emilie Freda Flintrap Pusch in 1996 .  He lived and died (2002) in North Palm Beach, FL.  Also this is where their daughter Pamela Ann Clolery Zoeliner was also living, Florida (1992-1996 US Public Records Index). Pamela might be a good contact , if I can find a more recent address than 1996.



If you have any comments or questions please put it at the bottom of this post.  Please, let me know someone is ready my blog.

Crystal Condit Gomley

July 31, 2015

So far I have not gotten any results back from my search request from USCIS.gov for Valentine Motyka (1892-1967) file. But then the website did say to give them 90 days to retrieve the file.  According to Mary Leszcczak Motyka's affidavit" Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petitions" Valentine Motyka was naturalized on this date, July 31, 1927, 88 years ago today.

                                                       Wilbur Herbert Condit 1919-2011

Also on this date 74 years ago, July 31, 1941 my father Wilbur Herbert Condit enlisted into the Arm.  Many years ago, when he was alive, I had asked him about his time in the Army.  This is some of what he told me.
       " I spent a year in basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey. I was then sent to Aberdeen, Maryland.  I was trained in ordinance-mechanical. I serviced aircraft guns. From Maryland I was shipped to California where I lived in tent in Burbank until housing in Torrance (Normandie and Torrance Blvd) was built.  I would work out at Point Dune assisting the military as they trained for war.  I remember going down to Torrance Beach and watching planes with attached parachutes being shot at by ground crews."

Another thing he remembered while in Torrance was how him and few of his buddies would sneak into downtown Torrance to go to the bars. If a car came down Torrance Blvd. they would all duck behind bushes to hide.  I guess none of them were ever caught.

At one point dad told me he had a Rainbow badge on the shoulder of his uniform.  I looked into this and found the 42nd Infantry Division that wore the Rainbow badge on their shoulder sleeve.   After being deactivated after WWI this division was activated again on 14 July 1943 then overseas November 1944 in the campaigns of Rhineland, Central Europe and is still currently headquartered at the Glenmoore Armory in Troy, New York with the New York National Guard(1).  On April 29, 1945 this 42nd Rainbow Division liberated a major sub-camp of Dachau, the first concentration camp established by Germany's Nazi regime.(2)  The Dachau camp system grew to include nearly 100 sub-camps which were mostly work camps located throughout southern Germany and Austria. My dad remembers being there in Austria. "People were very skinny.  They wore the blue and white stripped uniforms that hung from their thin bodies and were scrounging around for food.  There were piles and piles of bodies. As they walked around the liberated camp the prisoners would wave and thank them."

(1) Wilipedia, 42nd Infantry Division (United States)
(2) hppt://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/dachau-liberated

After the war Wilbur H Condit met Helen M Motyka back in New Jersey,  got married , traveled to Southern California for an aerospace job. Bought their first home in Gardena,  California, eventually moving to Torrance, where they lived till their dying day.

AncestryDNA results comparisons / Mary Leszczak's arrival on the SS Potsdam?????

Another HOT month in Redding, California.  Was 120  deg. in our backyard yesterday.  A good reason to stay inside and do some genealogy research.

I have recently decided to change computer programs for my genealogy.  I'm going to reenter my family information from Reunion10 for Mac to RootsMagic.  RootsMagic has so many helpful videos, webinars and a Facebook page for help of all kinds.  I can't find that with Reunion.  So my goal is to reenter all the records I have ( vitals, census, directories, photos, etc) by individual into RootsMagic . Plus RootsMagic is synced with FamilySearch so I get a lightbulb in RootMagic when a new record is found in FamilySearch. My goal is to get every record, research note, photo I have of a person into RootsMagic. Everything in one place.    I'll let you know how this goes.


Now for the AncestryDNA results for Crystal Condit Gormley (myself), Thomas Condit (my brother) and Kenneth Condit (my uncle, brother to my father, Wilbur Condit).

                                                                                                              Crystal   Tom    Ken                              
East Europe - Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria,                   45%     36%     4%
                       Russia, Hungary, Slovenia, Ukraine, Belarus,
                       Moldova, Lithuonia, Latvia, Bosnia

West Europe - Primarily in Belgium, France, Germany,                        29%    49%      24%
                        Netherlands, Switzerland, Luxembourg,
                        Liechtenstein. Also found in England,
                        Denmark, Italy, Slovenia, Czech Republic

Scandinavia - Primarily found in Sweden, Norway, Denmark                  5%      7%      22%
                      Also found in Great Britain, France, Germany,
                      Netherlands, Belgium, The Baltic States, Finland

Ireland - Ireland, Wales, Scotland. Also found in France, England          6%       5%     23%

Great Britain - England, Scotland, Wales.  Also found in Ireland,           4%       -          8%
                        France, ,Germany,  Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands,
                        Switzerland, Austria, Italy

Italy/Greece - Italy, Greece                                                                          4%      2%      14%

Finland/Northwest Russia                                                                            4%      -            1%

Asia                                                                                                               2%     <1%        -

Caucasus                                                                                                        1%                  1%

Liberian Peninsula                                                                                          -       <1%        -

European Jewish                                                                                             -          -         3%
                                                                                                                   ___________________
                                                                                                                     100%  100%   100%
Bold indicates the countries of which I know of heritage.
Wales or England is where John Cundit  (Condit) immigrated from.
Germany is where the Maile family immigrated from.
    Uncle Ken mentioned at my last visit in May, that his grandfather, Gottfried Maile spoke
    French.  He said he spoke English, German and French.  I'll have to ask my cousin Jerelyn Toath
    about this.  She may know. Maybe we've got some French relatives too.
Poland, Austria is where the Motyka, Leszczak, Naperiracz families are from.


 The continuation of Mary Leszczak Motyka's A-file.

On an affidavit" Statement of Facts for preparation of Petition"dated 22 Aug 1956 Mary Motyka stated she travels to New York with her cousin Matthew Bakowski coming to see Mary Bakowski in New York.  They had traveled on the SS Potsdam arriving 3/10/1908.

I have not found many passenger lists for the SS Potsdam. I could not find a Leszczak listed at all.  I did found one Matthew Bakowski b: 15 Aug 1884, Galicia, Poland in the 1920, 1925, 1930 and 1940 Federal US Census for Manhattan, New York. He was married to a Mary Bakowski about the same age. They had a son, Henry Bakowski born about 1908. On the 1930 Census it states that Matthew arrived in the US in 1909.  Mary Leszczak Motyka listed it as 1908.

I've looked EllisIsland.org, Ancestry.com, and FamilySeach.org , 1908, 1909, thinking if I could find Matthew on the passenger list then Mary Leszczak Motyka would be there too.  But to no avail.  I Have found nothing. But I will keep searching.

On another note: On Mary Leszczak Motyka's affidavit" Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition" dated 22 Aug 1956 she states she was married to Valentine Motyka on 22 Oct 1916 in New York. He was naturalized on July 31, 1927 at Newark, NJ.  Certificate # 2477707.

I could not find his naturalization papers on-line but I did find where I could request a Index Search (USCIS.gov) for Valentine Motyka.  This would include his C-file ( Certificate of Naturalization) and any other records that exist on him. Once these are found they will contact me to see what records I would like copied.  I never knew my grandfather got his Naturalization papers so it will be interesting to see if there is any new information for me about him or his parents.


If you have any questions or comments please leave a comment at the end of this post.

Crystal Condit Gormley








                       




   

My Condit Family Tree / Motyka A-file

Welcome back.

A month has past and I have been thinking about this blog.  It's called Condit Family Finds but I also want to write about my mothers side of the tree.   My mother, Helen, was a Condit for 56 years but I don't know too much about her side, the Motyka side, of the family.  So I've decided to post what I know and what I've found  concerning the Condit's along with new discoveries about the Motyka's.  This way I can cover both sides of the family tree in the same blog.


Let me introduce you to my Condit Family Tree.


 My father:  Wilbur Herbert Condit        b: Mar 1919  d: Aug 2011
                     m: Helen Mary Motyka        b: Feb 1924     d: Aug 2004


My Grandfather:  Herbert H George Condit        b: Sep 1894     d: Oct 1982
                      m:  Elsie Margaret Maile        b: May 1897     d:Jul 1972


  My Great Grandfather:  Ezra Adolophus Condit        b: Mar 1893     d: Nov 1948
                      m:  Ernestina (Tillie) Oertel        b: Jan 1868     d: Dec 1905


My 2nd Great Grandfather:  Asa F. Condit          b: Jun 1835     d: 1883
                      m:  Susan Keefer        b:1840     d: possibly 1887


My 3rd Great Grandfather:  Ezra Fairchild Condit        b: Dec 1787     d: Feb 1829
                      m:  Phebe K Cobb        b: 1814     d: 1867


My 4th Great Grandfather:   Hiram Condit        b: Dec 1787     d: 1844
                      m:  Rhoda Corby        b: Dec 1788     d: ?


My 5th Great Grandfather:   Isaac Condit        b: Jul 1759     d: Feb 1829
                      m:  Phebe Baldwin        b: Oct 1760    d: Nov 1835


My 6th Great Grandfather:   Jonathan Condit        b: Oct 1736     d: Aug 1823
                      m:  Jemima Condit        b:   ?      d: ?


My 7th Great Grandfather:    Samuel Condit        b: Dec 1696     d: Jul 1777
                     m:  Mary Dodd       b: Nov 1698     d: May 1755


My 8th Great GrandfatherL   Peter       b: 1670     d: 1714
                      m:  Mary Harrison     b: 1673     d: 1761


My 9th Great Grandfather:   John Condit (Cundict)        b: 1653    d: 1713


That's my tree in a nut shell.  More about each of them in future posts.

Now for a DNA update.  I met with my brother, Tom Condit, and my uncle Ken Condit while in Southern California this month and administered their DNA test, sealed them and off in the mail.  I checked Ancestry.com the other day and they have both been received and I should get the results in 6 to 8 weeks.  Now there is a future post.


                    Now for my Motyka Family Tree


1. Walenty Motyka       b: 1892   d: 1967
               m: Mary Leszczak       b:1891   d: 1978

2.  Pawel Motyka        b: 1876     d:?
               m: Maria Napieraez     b: ?     d:?


Like I said, I don't know much about the Motyka side. So welcome to my journey of discovery.

In my last post I stated that I requested and received my grandmother, Mary Leszczak Motyka's, Alien Case File from the National Archives at Kansas City. This is what the 24 photocopied pages contained.

     Date stamped Sep 19, 1940 is the Alien Registration Form #1950932.
 It states that Mary Motyka , entering the US as Mary Leszczak (Maiden) was born on 22 Feb 1891 in Jaraslaw, Czelatyce, Poland.  She was a polish citizen.  She measured 5'2", weighing 136 lbs with grey hair and blue eyes.  She arrived in New York City on 3/10/08 upon the S.S. Potsdam.  She has lived in the US for 32 years (which calculates to being age 17 when she arrived). She was a housewife living at 374 Elm St., Newark, Essex, New Jersey.  She was married with 3 children and belonged to the Polish American Falcons - Newark, N.J.    Signed by Mary Motyka

     Date stamped Feb 3, 1942 is an Address Report Card - Alien Registration #1950932.  This postcard was mailed to Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Alien Registration Division, Washington,  DC.
It states Mrs Mary Motyka last address was 374 Elm Street, Newark, New Jersey is now living at 574 Grove Street, Irvington, New Jersey.  Dated November 1941. Signed Mary Motyka

     Dated Jan 8, 1951 is a Address Report Card #1950932
Stating Motyka, Mary registered under the name Mary Motyka is living at 457 14 Av, Irvington, New Jersey, county of Essex. She was born Feb 22, 1891 and is National of Poland.  Signed Mary Motyka

     Dated 7/16/56, Al 950 932 App.gp, District Newark.NJ - Application for Immigration and Naturalization Service.  There is a FBI - Identification Division copy, a FBI - Investigative Division copy, a File Copy, a Washington Field Office Copy and a Chief, and a Investigations Section copy
These all copies of the same form that states Mary Motyka was for 2/2/1891 in Poland. Her maiden name is Mary Leszczak.  Her parents names are Michael Leszczak and Marcella Leszczak. She is 5'3"( she was 5'2" in 1940) weighting 138 with grey eyes (notice the eye color change from the 1940 form too), grey hair, white complexion with two moles on chin.  Residence of last five years is 457 14th Ave., Irvington, New Jersey.  From 1948 to present.  Spouse's name is Valentine Motyka born 10/27/1892 in Poland. Organizations she belongs to it the Falcons-104A .
The FBI-Identiciation Division form has a stamp on it " FBI Fingerprint Record A-4 Attached". Plus there is a photo of Mary Motyka with the application.

     Date stamped Aug 10, 1956 is Application To File Petition For Naturalization
Alien Registration Mary Motyka No. 1950932
In the Court in Newark, NJ Mary Motyka living at 457 14th Ave, Irvington, Essex, NewJersey  desired to file a petition for naturalization.  She has lived from 1948 to 1956 at 457 14 Ave, Irvington, NJ. Is a Housewife. Married once. Husband married once. Never has been in an insane or similar institution. Has never had a mental disorder. Belongs to the Falcons - 104A organization. Filed Income Tax in 1955.
                                Statement of Facts for Preparation of Petition
Mary Motyka living at 457 14Av, Irvington, Essex NJ, housewife. Born Feb 22, 1891 in Czelatyce, Poland.  5'3", 138lbs, 2 mole on chin. Citizen of Poland.  Married Valentine on Oct 22, 1916 in New York, NY. He was born Nagnajow, Poland on Oct 27, 1892. He entered the US at New York on March 10, 1911. He was naturalized on July 31, 1927 at Newark, NJ Certificate # 2477707 (I was unaware of this and have been unable to locate so far).  They have 3 children.  Stanley Motyka born NY on Aug 7, 1917 now living in Chicago, ILL.  Henry Motyka born Newark on Jan 30, 1921 now living in Paterson, NJ. Helen Condit born Newark on Feb 9, 1924 now living in Gardenia, Cal. (notice the spelling of Gardena). Mary entered New York under the name of Mary Leszczak on Mar 10, 1908 on the Rotterdam or Potsdam (I believe its the Potsdam from Rotterdam). Her fathers full name is Michael Leszczak. Her Mothers name is Marcella Leszczak. She immigrated to the US with a person named Matthew Bakoskwi - cousin, going to New York to see Mary Bakoswki.  (Written on the bottom of this form is a statement.  "No arrival Postdam or Rotterdam at New York on March 1908". with a stamp UNABLE TO VERIFY) (So far I haven't been able to locate it either).

     A letter to Mary Motyka dated October 22, 1956 from 1004 Broad St., Newark, NJ
States that from the information furnished to there office they were unable to locate a record of evidence of her lawful admission into the United States.  Unless she could supply them with more information she would have to apply to have a record of her legal admission created under the provisions of Section 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

     Not sure if this is where it ended for Mary to obtain her naturalization papers or not.  Included in this batch of 24 photocopied pages were 2 letters to a Mrs. Maria Motzka living at 200 West Prospect Street, Waldwick, New Jersey.  They stated if she wanted to bring her case up-to-date she needed to submit a new application and be refingerprinted. I don't have any information of Mary and Valentine ever being at this address.  Not sure if this letter got into the wrong folder. There is another letter from Mary Motzka to a Mr. Tornberg but the signature of Mary Motzka is a lot different than Mary Motyka's on all the other forms.  I think I will just assume these two letters got filed into the wrong place. They just don't seem to fit.

For future research I need to:
      -find Mary Leszczak arriving into New York on the S.S. Potsdam
     - look for Valentine Motyka's naturalization papers
     - find out who Mary's cousin Matthew Bakoskwi who was traveling with her on the Potsdam
     - find out who Mary Bakoswki is living in New York
     - what is the organization Polish American Falcons that Mary Motyka belonged to

I've got my work cut out for me.

Please come back next month to see what other treasures I've uncovered.

Please leave a comment at the bottom of the page and any suggestions you may have for me on about this post or future posts.







                       







       

Welcome to the first Condit Family Finds blog post.

30 April, 2015

Welcome to my new blog, the Condit Family Finds.  I'm glad you stopped by.

 In my blog I plan to post everything I am doing in my genealogy family research. Instead of sending emails to family members to explain what I've found, I will be posting all of my "finds" here on the last day of each month. Then it will be my families' choice to follow these blogs if they wish.

Names I will be researching are Condit, Motyka, Leszczak, Maile, Oertel. Others will be added as research expands.

For my first blog I want to share with you my DNA results from AncestryDNA.

East Europe is from the Polish/Austria side of the family (Motyka, Leszczak).
West Europe is from the German side of the family (Maile).
Scandinavian - who knows where this came from????

What I read into this is that I received more DNA from my mom's side of the family, Helen Motyka Condit, then from my dad's side, Wilbur Condit.  I have the results attached to my Ancetry.com tree.  And with that I have one shared ancestor, my 6th Great Grandfather, Captain. Jonathan Condit who fought in the Revolutionary War, plus 16 4th cousins who's trees are either not public or I need to visit their trees to find the matching ancestor on Ancestry.com.  Lots of work to be done here. And then my Uncle Ken Condit and my brother, Tom Condit have agreed to be DNA tested next.  It will be interesting to see what their results are.

Interesting don't you think?

Next month I will be posting about my grandmother, Marie (Mary) Leszczak Motyka. I sent away for her A-file ( alien file) from the National Archives.  A-Files contain all records of any active case of an alien not yet naturalized as they passed through the United States immigration and inspection process.  I will post what I find so make sure you come back next month.

If you have any questions or comments please leave a comment at the end of the post.