Grala Family History: Ship's Log

Bronislaw was 18 when he first saw Ellis Island in 1909. I've imagined that he must have he felt the same mixture of exhilaration and relief as that recalled by an Italian immigrant in the book Ellis Island:

"Passengers all about us were crowding against the rail. Jabbered conversation, sharp cries, laughs, cheers and a steady rising din filled the air. Mothers and fathers lifted up their babies so that they too could see. Off to the left the Statue of Liberty, looming shadowy through the mist, brought silence to the decks of our ship. This symbol of America ... this enormous expression of what we had all been taught ... was the inner meaning of this new country we were coming to. It inspired awe in the hopeful immigrants." (Click on the picture of Ellis Island!)

Searching for family members among the immigrants who crowded against those rails has been a quest that began over 20 years ago. Back then, one had to travel to libraries, squint at microfilm readers, write away for a vital document and wait patiently for its arrival ... often to receive a letter saying no record could be found! Today, the internet [particularly sites like Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and EllisIsland.org] gives us fast access to genealogical records and more, making research easy, fun and instantly gratifying!

A file has been created at EllisIsland.org where you can view actual ship manifests for our family members. Please contact me for access information. Names as indicated below are as they appear on the manifests:

April 13, 1905 Maryanna Grala arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Rhein. She was going to her brother Josef Grala in Pittsfield, MA.

May 22, 1909 Bronislaw Grala arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Kaiserin Auguste Victoria which departed from Hamburg, Germany. This ship was the largest in the world until the Lisitania. Ship's manifest indicated that he was going to his brother-in-law, Josef Krsynowski, in Housatonic, MA. UPDATE: Actually Joseph Krzynowek, the brother of Stanley who married Maryanna Grala [see Maryanna Grala].

December 28, 1910 Teofila Rogowska [Bronislaw's 1st wife] arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Rijndam which departed from Rotterdam, Holland. Ship's manifest indicated that she was going to her brother-in-law, St. Horonzy, in Housatonic, MA. May 12, 1912 Maryanna Boguslawska [Bronislaw's 2nd wife] arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Amerika which departed from Hamburg, Germany. Ship's manifest indicated that she was going to her uncle, Stanislaw Boguslawski, in Tariffville, CT.

Early 1921 Bronislaw and Maryanna moved the family back to Baba, Poland about 3 months after the birth of their daughter Hedy. Shortly thereafter Bronislaw's brother, Francizek, sent his wife and children to join them. Franciszek stayed behind as he was attending night school to become a U.S. Citizen. [NOTE: Record not yet found online.]

September 13, 1922 Rosalja, Frank, Helena and Genowfa returned to the U.S., arriving in New York aboard the S.S. Polonia which departed from Danzig, Poland. Ship's manifest showed they were going to Franciszek at 22 Grove St., New Britain, CT.

April 23, 1928 Bronislaw returned to the U.S. ahead of his family, arriving in New York aboard the S.S. Frederick VIII which departed from Copenhagen, Denmark. Ship's manifest showed that he was going to his brother Franciszek in New Britain, CT.

August 24, 1930 Bronislaw Jr. and Helena were the first to be reunited with their father. They arrived in New York aboard the Hellig Olav which departed from Copenhagen, Denmark and were coming to their father at 25 Silver St., New Britain, CT.

May 15, 1934 Marjanna, Antoni, Stanislaw, Jadwiga and Eugenjusz arrived back in New York aboard the S.S. Kosciuszko which departed from Gdynia, Poland.

January 15, 1939 Bronislawa and her daughter Eugenia boarded the S.S. Stefan Batory in Gydnia, Poland and arrived back in New York. They were headed to her parents at 40 Gold St. in New Britain. Her husband Frank, who was in the Polish army, stayed behind and was not reunited with his family until 9 years later.

January 17, 1948 After 9 long years, Franciszek Niedbala is reunited with his wife Bronislawa and daughter Eugenia. He departed from Gydnia, Poland and arrived in New York aboard the S.S. Stefan Batori. Frank was the last of our family members to leave the Baba homestead.