Wow!!

This is a special day. A few weeks ago, I decided to forge ahead and try to research my mother’s father, Adam Douglas (Dobrovolskis), born in Lithuania and arrived in the U.S. with his sister in 1914. I only had 2 documents that might be clues. But, they were in Lithuanian, or Russian, or something.

I joined the Lithuanian Rootsweb list many years ago, figuring that I might educate myself about Lithuanian history and research. Thanks to that list, there were a couple of consistent recommendations for researchers in Lithuania. Since traveling to Lithuania is not currently in my budget, I decided to try one of the researchers to see if there was any evidence that might be available. The remarkable Sigita agreed to undertake the research, and translated the papers, which were a birth record for one Casimir Dobrovolskis and a school record for my grandfather. It did give a starting point.

Tonight, a document arrived in my email box. It is a marriage record for Adam’s parents, which documents their marriage date, village AND THEIR PARENTS’ NAMES. I wish I could show you, but it is a .pdf and not a jpeg. But here is the translation:

Marriage Record of Jonas Dobrovolskis to
Petronele Urnikaite (Urnikas) on 1892 y .

On 16th of February, 1892 In Roman Catholic
church in Alsedžiai Rev.Juozas Dargužas, the
pastor of this church after triple announcements
blessed a matrimony of a peasant of Alsedžiai
vicinity 25 years old Jonas Dobrovolskis from
Šašaičiai village in Kalvarija parish ( he was a
son of Jonas Dobrovolskis and Pranciška
(Francis), nee Gintvainyte (Gintwojn) to a
peasant of the same vicinity 22 years old
Petronele Urnikaite from Platakiai village in
Alsedžiai parish (she was a daughter of
Kazimieras Urnikas and Ona, nee Labžintyte
(Labžintis). Witnesses were- Pranas Urbonas,
Julijonas Urnikas and others.
Translation from Russian language

Wow, indeed!

The Good Earth?

It is a happy coincidence that the topic for the Carnival of Genealogy this month requests submissions about our ancestors' connection to the land. Today is the 88th anniversary of my maternal grandparents' wedding, and both were tied to the land, but in different ways.

I could write about my grandmother, Mary (Wychulis) Douglas. She always had a garden in her back yard...grew the best tomatoes I can remember. But I've written about Grandma Douglas before.

Today, I want to write about my grandfather, Adam Anthony Douglas. He was born in 1895 in Lithuania and immigrated to this country in 1914. He made his living by working for many, many years as a coal miner near Old Forge, Pennsylvania. I remember my grandmother talking about how he would come home from work completely black in coal dust, except for the white of his eyes. As an adult, I visited a Pennsylvania coal mine exhibit that allowed us to go down into a coal mine and demonstrated the harsh conditions of the miners. At one point, the guide turned out the overhead lights...it was a black that I have never experienced before or since. I can imagine that the little lights on their hats didn't allow for much visibility.

But the Grandpa I remember was not at all bitter about the experience. He moved to Washington D.C. after WWII and worked for the DC transit company repairing buses. I remember him coming home from work and sitting with me in his chair, reading the funny papers. I still have that chair.
Grandpa passed away in May of 1956, a casualty of the black lung disease that claimed many.

I'm proud to be a coal miner's (grand)daughter!

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

This lovely lady is my grandmother, Mary Marcella (Wychulis) Douglas. Today would be the 111th anniversary of her birth. I was named for her (actually for both my grandmothers, as they had the same first name.....pretty convenient!), and she has a special place in my heart. She is one of my ancestors that I had the very special privilege to know personally.

Grandma was born February 5, 1898 to Jacob and Anna Wychulis, two immigrants to Pennsylvania from Lithuania who came to this country between 1888 and 1895. Mary grew up in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, the fourth oldest of eight children. She met my grandfather, Adam Anthony Douglas, who had immigrated from Lithuania in 1914, and they were married in St. Casimir's Church, Pittston, Pa, on May 23, 1921. This is a photo of their marriage certificate.

St. Casimir's must have been a Lithuanian church, as their names have a Lithuanian spelling, Dobrovolskas (Douglas) and Vaiciulis (Wychulis). I remember Grandma telling a story on herself about when she and Grandpa were dating. One night she wanted to go out with another fellow and so she told Grandpa she couldn't go out with him. Who should she meet when she was walking home with her date, but Grandpa. She said he was pretty mad. I guess he forgave her.

Grandpa died in 1956 and Grandma lived until 1984. Grandma always regretted not having more education. I remember that for a while, Grandma was one of the cafeteria ladies, making lunch at a high school in Alexandria, Virginia, where she lived. But mostly, I remember Grandma coming to stay with us when my dad was stationed away from the family. Since there were 6 kids in my family, I know how much mom must have appreciated the help. Here is a picture taken about 1958 of Grandma and some of her grandchildren. I'm the cute one, second from the right with the donut braid on top of her head.

I know how much I appreciated having her to talk to. She used to say, “Be a good girl, Mary Lou. Study hard, and help your mother.” She was a devout Catholic, and I remember her “saying her rosaries” every day. Also, watching her “stories” every day.....she introduced me to “Search for Tomorrow” and “Guiding Light” when they were 15 minute episodes. I watched “Guiding Light” for years.

Now that I'm a “Nana”, I think about her often. Her family was the center of her life. Her life wasn't big, and she probably didn't think it was very special.

But it was special to me.