Fisher Family Genealogy

CHMIEL, John/Jan

Male 1889 - 1956  (~ 66 years)


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  • Name CHMIEL, John/Jan 
    Birth Zarówka, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    • A lot of conflicting info re Jan/John's birthdate/place.
      Baptism entry from Zdziarzec, Rzeszów, Poland for Johannes states he was baptized on 15 Dec 1889. The feels like the correct date as it is the oldest entry and lists his mother and father's name and address. The address, House No 62 is the same as for his later siblings Stanislaus and Anna.
      Ship passenger list entry for Jan states birthplace as Zarówka, Radomyśl, Galacia, Austria.
      Jan's WW I Draft registration states Sept 28 1888 birthplace as Redomeys , Austria, Poland. Redomeys should read Radomyśl which is the main city close to Zarówka. Galacia, Austria later became part of the Subcarpathian Vovodeship or PolandNote no other Jan/John Chmiel living in New Bedford/Fairhaven at this time.
      Jan's WW II draft registration card lists birthdate as 19 Dec 1890, Mielec, Poland. Can't be a different John Chmiel because the address on the WW II card matches the address in 1940 census for the family and there is only one John Chmiel living in Fairhaven/New Bedford at the time.
      Headstone lists birthdate as 1889 agreeing with baptismal record.
    Christening 15 Dec 1889  Zdziarzec, Mielec Co., Poland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    IMMIGRATION 18 Feb 1910  Ellis Island, New York, New York Co., NY Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    • Arrived on the George Washington from Bremen, Germany,
      Manifest difficult to read.
      Jan appears on line 17. His cousin Piotr on line 16
      Age: 21
      Occupation: farm laborer
      Can read and write
      Citizen of: Austria (now Poland)
      Last permanent residence: Zarówka
      Name and address of friend/relative in country of origin: father, looks like Franciss Chmiel; Zarówka, Radomyśl, Galacia
      Final destination: New Bedford, MA
      Arrived with ticket to final destination.
      Paid for passage: self.
      Arrived with $25.
      Contact and address of destination: Appears to read brother-in-law Jan Gont, ?? Beetle Str., New Bedford, MA. Suspect the correct spelling is Gonet. There are several Gonet's in the 1910 census for New Bedford, MA. A John Gonet, is listed as married, born Austria, living at 443 Front St, New Bedford.
      Description: 5'-8?", fair complexion, brown hair, blue eyes.
      Place of birth: Zarówka, Galicia (now Poland)
    Passenger list of George Washington arriving at New York (Ellis Island) 18 Feb 1910 from Bremen, Germany, page 0551.
    Passenger list of George Washington arriving at New York (Ellis Island) 18 Feb 1910 from Bremen, Germany, page 0551.
    Continues on page 0552.
    Piotr/Peter Chmiel listed on line 16.
    Jan/John Chmiel listed on line 17.
    Passenger list of George Washington arriving at New York (Ellis Island) 18 Feb 1910 from Bremen, Germany, page 0552.
    Passenger list of George Washington arriving at New York (Ellis Island) 18 Feb 1910 from Bremen, Germany, page 0552.
    Begins on page 0551.
    Piotr/Peter Chmiel listed on line 16.
    Jan/John Chmiel listed on line 17.
    SS George Washington
    SS George Washington
    SS George Washington was built in 1907–1908 by AG Vulcan of Stettin, Germany for North German Lloyd. Intended for Bremen to New York passenger service, she was named after the first President of the United States as a way to make the ship more appealing to immigrants who then made up the majority of transatlantic passengers. On her maiden voyage in June 1909, sailing from Bremen to New York via Southampton and Cherbourg, she was the third-largest ocean liner in the world capable of accommodating nearly 2,900 passengers, with 900 divided between first and second class and the balance as third class or steerage. First class accusations were sumptuously appointed.

    She garnered some fame while voyaging to New York in 1912. On the morning of 14 April, the, crew observed a large iceberg as the ship passed south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. After recording the ship's position, the George Washington radioed a warning to all ships in the area. The White Star steamship Titanic, some 250 nautical miles (460 km) east of George Washington's position, acknowledged receipt of the warning, Twelve hours later on 15 April, George Washington received garbled transmissions from the Titanic stating she'd struck the iceberg. Four hours later, Titanic broke apart and sank, killing roughly 1500 of the estimated 2,224 passengers and crew; the most famous maritime disaster to this day.

    In 1917, George Washington was coverted into a transport ship for WW I. She hauled over 40,000 troops to and from the war and in 1919 and 1920 twice carried U.S. President Woodrow Wilson to France for the Paris Peace Conference ending the war. She returned to passenger service in 1921 until, showing her age, she was retired in 1932. In 1941, the United States Maritime Commission refitted and renamed her the USS Catlin to serve in WW II, but quickly finding her coal-fired engines too slow to protect against submarine attack, she was decommissioned again a year later. George Washington was permanantly retired in 1947. She remained tied to a pier at Baltimore until a fire damaged her in 1951, and she was sold for scrap.

    This link gives General Information provided to passengers of Norddeutscher-Lloyd steamship lines 1888-1889.
    MILI 5 Jun 1917  New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    • WW I Draft Registration Card
      Address: 107 Davis, New Bedford, MA
      Listed as alien vs citizen
      Occupation: Weaver, Whitman Mill, New Bedford, MA
      Family: Wife and 3 children
      Description: tall, medium build, blue eyes, dark brown hair
      Registered same day as cousin Peter
      Card No's are sequential: Peter-27, John-28
    WW I Draft Registration Card: John Chmiel
    WW I Draft Registration Card: John Chmiel
    CENSUS 28 Jan 1920  82 Davis Street, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    • Immigrated 1910.
      Native language Polish.
      Occupation: Weaver, Cotton Mill.
    Census: 1920 U.S. - New Bedford Ward 1, Bristol Co., MA, Roll: T625_685; Page: 46B; Enumeration District: 115; Image: 421
    Census: 1920 U.S. - New Bedford Ward 1, Bristol Co., MA, Roll: T625_685; Page: 46B; Enumeration District: 115; Image: 421
    CENSUS 14 Apr 1930  7 E. Winsor St., Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    • Married age 19.
      Immigrated 1910.
      Native language: Polish.
      Occupation: Weaver, Cloth Mill.
      Living next door to brother Peter's family.
    Census: 1930 U.S. - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA, Roll: 886; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 186; Image: 1058.0
    Census: 1930 U.S. - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA, Roll: 886; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 186; Image: 1058.0
    CENSUS 10 Apr 1940  141 E. Winsor St., Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    • John's brother Peter's family living next door
      Owns home; value $1200
      Highest grade of education: -- (no formal schooling?)
      Citizenship: al (alien, not naturalized)
      Residence 1 Apr 1935: same house
      At work last week of March: yes
      Number or hours worked last week of March: 40
      Duration of unemployment to March: 28 weeks
      Occupation: Weaver, Silk Cotton Mill
      Number of weeks worked in 1939: 24
      Income in 1939: $360
      Income other than wages: no
    Census: 1940 U.S. - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA; Roll: T627_1572; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 3-48
    Census: 1940 U.S. - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA; Roll: T627_1572; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 3-48
    MILI 26 Apr 1942  Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    • WW II Draft Registration Card
      Address: 141 Windsor St, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA
      Personal contact: Mary Chmiel (wife), same address
      Employer: Nonquitt Mill, Bellville Ave, New Bedford, Bristol Co.,MA
      Description: white, 5'7-1/2", 173 lbs, blue eyes, grey hair, light complexion
      Registered same day as cousin Peter
    WW II Draft Registration Card: John Chmiel
    WW II Draft Registration Card: John Chmiel
    CENSUS 8 Apr 1950  Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [10
    • Address: 25A Morgan St., Fairhaven, MA
      Occupation: unemployed (retired)
    1950 US Census: E. D. No. 3-72, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA, p 14
    1950 US Census: E. D. No. 3-72, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA, p 14
    Death 1956 
    Burial Sacred Heart New Cemetery, New Bedford, Bristol Co. MA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Headstone: John Chmiel, Mary Kurgan Chmiel and Frank Peter Chmiel
    Headstone: John Chmiel, Mary Kurgan Chmiel and Frank Peter Chmiel
    Person ID I1448  Main
    Last Modified 30 Sep 2022 

    Father CHMIEL, Antoni/Antonius,   b. Poland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother SKOWRON, Helena 
    Relationship Birth 
    Family ID F451  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family KURGAN, Mary/Marya,   b. Abt 1891, Dąbrowice, Kutno Co., Łódź Voivodeship, Poland Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1963 (Age 72 years) 
    Marriage 8 Aug 1911  New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location  [11, 12
    • Jan's surname Chmiel is spelled incorrectly in typed transcription
      Residence of each at time of wedding: New Bedford, MA
      Lists occupations for both Jan and Mary as "Mill operative"
      Performed by E. A. Uminski, Priest, New Bedford, MA
      Recorded 22 Apr 1911
    Marriage Record: Jan Chmiel and Marya Kurgan
    Marriage Record: Jan Chmiel and Marya Kurgan
    Marriage Record: Jan and Marya Chmiel 1911
    Marriage Record: Jan and Marya Chmiel 1911
    Children 
     1. CHMIEL, Eugene/Eugenius John,   b. 26 Feb 1912, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 4 Feb 1978, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years)  [Birth]
     2. CHMIEL, Frank Peter,   b. 15 May 1914, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1945 (Age 30 years)  [Birth]
    +3. CHMIEL, Stella Mary,   b. Jan 1917, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location  [Birth]
     4. CHMIEL, Helen M.,   b. 3 Sep 1920, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1994 (Age 73 years)  [Birth]
     5. CHMIEL, Stephen Anthony,   b. 5 Jul 1923, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 Jun 2016, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 92 years)  [Birth]
    +6. CHMIEL, Louis Joseph,   b. 22 Nov 1927, Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Feb 2009, Mattapoisett, Plymouth Co., MA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F447  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 30 Sep 2022 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - - Zarówka, Subcarpathian Voivodeship, Poland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChristening - 15 Dec 1889 - Zdziarzec, Mielec Co., Poland Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsIMMIGRATION - 18 Feb 1910 - Ellis Island, New York, New York Co., NY Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 8 Aug 1911 - New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMILI - 5 Jun 1917 - New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 28 Jan 1920 - 82 Davis Street, New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 14 Apr 1930 - 7 E. Winsor St., Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 10 Apr 1940 - 141 E. Winsor St., Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMILI - 26 Apr 1942 - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCENSUS - 8 Apr 1950 - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Sacred Heart New Cemetery, New Bedford, Bristol Co. MA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S492] Poland, Tarnow Roman Catholic Diocese Church Books, 1612-1900, 15 Dec 1889, Vol 1860-1902 (Reliability: 3).

    2. [S481] Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920, (Familysearch.org), 31 Aug 1918, Entry No 3737, Digital Record no 005421151, Image No 00341 (Reliability: 3).

    3. [S174] WW I Draft Registration Cards 1917-1918, (Ancestry,com), 5 Jun 1917, Form 1459 No 418 (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S450] WW II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1947, (Ancestry.com), 26 Apr 1942, Serial No. U18 (Reliability: 2).

    5. [S301] Passenger lists of vessels arriving at New York (Ellis Island), (The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. (www.ellisisland.org)), 18 Feb 1910, George Washington, 18 Feb 1910, p. 0551 and 0552, line 17 (Reliability: 3).

    6. [S297] Census: 1920 U.S. - New Bedford, Bristol Co., MA, (Ancestry.com), 28 Jan 1920, Roll: T625_685; Page: 46B; Enumeration District: 115; Image: 421 (Reliability: 3).

    7. [S298] Census: 1930 U.S. - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA, (Ancestry.com), 14 Apr 1930, Roll: 886; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 186; Image: 1058.0 (Reliability: 3).

    8. [S354] Census: 1940 U.S. - Fairhaven, Bristol Co., MA , (Ancestry.com), 10 Apr 1940, Roll: T627_1572; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 3-48 (Reliability: 2).

    9. [S450] WW II Draft Registration Cards 1940-1947, (Ancestry.com), 26 Apr 1942, Serial No U18 (Reliability: 3).

    10. [S543] 1950 US Census, Massachusetts, (Ancestry.com), 8 Apr 1950, E. D. No. 3-72, p 14 (Reliability: 3).

    11. [S481] Massachusetts State Vital Records, 1841-1920, (Familysearch.org), 8 Aug 1911, p 41 No 738 (Reliability: 2).

    12. [S544] Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, (Ancestry.com), 1 Aug 1911, p 115, line 738 (Reliability: 3).