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| Ship "Estonia" which Vasil (Basil) used to cross the Atlantic in 1911 |
Several of Kozakiewicz members moved to the USA as they were part of the great wave of migration from Europe, escaping Tsarist Russia and pursuing economic opportunities in the New World.
Here I post notes on three siblings that have moved to the US from Dziahilna in 1911-1912: Michal (Mike), Vasil (Basil, William), and Adelia (Ewdakia). Two siblings – Joseph and Maria – stayed in Dziahilna.
Vasil (Basil, William, Vasilly, Wassilÿ) (1888–†1953)
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| Ship's manifest, record #9 |
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| Baptism record #56 |
First to travel to the US was the oldest brother Vasil. He was born in Dziahilna in August 1888 to parents Konstantin and Sophia and baptised in in the Orthodox Church in Kojdanow. In 1911 he departed from Libau on a ship "Estonia" and arrived in New York on March 7, 1911. In the ship manifest his name spelling was corrupted to "Wassilÿ Kasakewitz", but family relation field states home "Dziahilno" and closest relative "mother Sophia Kozakewitz". He traveled on the steamer with 25$ in his pocket and with two compatriots from Dziahilno: Pawel Kalesnik and Olga Sliskaja.
In various documents, his name took different forms: Basil, Wassily, Wasil, Vasily, William), so did the last name. From the records it seems that his descendants adopted a shorten version of the family name – Kase.
Wasil died in 1953 and found his resting place at East Ridgelawn cemetery (New Jersey, US). Thanks to Derek M. for the photo of the gravestone.
Michael (Mihal, Mike) Kozakiewicz (1892–†1957)
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| Michael's birth record, #39 |
Soon after Vasil left to the new country, two of his siblings followed him. Michel was born in Dziahilna and baptised in Orthodox Church in Kojdanow in May 1891. He arrived in the US on a ship Czar on May 30th 1912 with his sister Adelia (or Ewdokia, see below). His name in the ship manifest was slightly distorted by the clerk "Michail Kasakewicz".
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| Ship's manifest, see record #18 |
In the US his name appears on a lot of documents as "Mike". He got married to Helena Lipnik in 1923 and petitioned to become an American citizen in 1923. Some of his descendants adopted a shortened family name – Kozak. Mike died in 1957 and found his final resting place at Maryrest cemetery in New Jersey, US.
Adelia (Ewdakia, Evdokia) (1894 – ?)
Adelia came to the US with her brother. She was born in July 1894 and as her siblings was baptised in the Orthodox Church in Kojdanow. Her name is somewhat of a mistery: all official documents state that it as Ewdokia, but all family members referred to her only by an endearing nickname Adelia. On the 30th of May 1912 she arrived to NY with her brother Mike (see above). After that her traces disappear: it was not possible to find any record of her in the US. Likely she used a different form of her first name and after marrige used a different last name too. Perhaps records of her will be found in the future. |
| Baptism record #47 |
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| Ship's manifest, record #7 |
Others
There were at least two more Kozakiewicz that moved to the US: Warwara and Dominikia. They were cousins to Mike, Vasil, and Adelia. Their records still need to be uncovered.
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| Ship's manifest, see record #9 |