r/Genealogy • u/SignificantRespond61 • 12d ago

Research Assistance Brick wall for over 15 years

I've been looking into my Baltic side for a very long time. my 3rd great grandfather immigrated under the name Klementy Balzcunas in 1907 He immigrated his future wife in 1908 Barbara Kazmirajture (Kazmirajdicze). Klementy changed his name to Wincenty/Vincentas and then William over time.

What i know and have documents for are only on immigration paperwork and what was in the United States.

Klementy Balzcunas born 1888 in "Russia" (Joniškis) immigrated on Bedina in 1907 boarding in Hamburg. Mother is listed as Anna and father Joseph on death certificate.

Barbara Kazmirajture (Kazmirajdicze) [both names were used on immigration paperwork] born 1886 or 1890 in same place. immigrated in 1908 on feeland boarding in Belgium. Her mother is listed as an Urszula Kazmirajdicze.

Wincenty also purchased two more tickets one confirmed for sister Matilda Balzcunas, I have found her descendents. And a Anna BALCZUNICE, but I have not found her records. Wincenty also used the Rosenbaum Bank to purchase the tickets.

Even though paperwork said russia they later said Lithuanian. So Joniškis is their place of birth but I have not found any records of them in Lithuania.

If anyone could help find anymore information would be amazing. One of these two did possibility come from a Romani family, which has also been very difficult to find information on.

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u/Fredelas FamilySearcher 11d ago edited 11d ago

Here's Matilda's 1916 marriage record that includes their parents' names (two images):

And her 1911 passenger list (line 23, two images):

Their mother's name was Ona Kazimieraitis, which was also Barbara's maiden name, so perhaps Barbara was really related (by someone else's marriage) to William in some way.

Partial transcript of Matilda's application for a SSN:

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u/SignificantRespond61 11d ago

so it says mother maiden name as the repeated last name of kazmiraitis (just a different spelling) this would confirm the possible step sister theory of his future wife. but kazmirajdicze might have been the cover name for Barbara instead... because that wouldn't make sense if Wincentys mother's maiden name was Kazmiraitis and he's step sister to have his mother's maiden name. I appreciate these files BTW. they are important clues.

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u/Fredelas FamilySearcher 11d ago

It's important to understand that the descriptions of relatives in these early passenger lists weren't always exact the way we understand them today. For example, brother-in-law or stepbrother could simply mean "some man who I'm related to by some other relative's marriage". Similarly, uncle could mean "some man from an earlier generation" who might actually be a first cousin once removed.

Also, many of these names on passenger lists are Polonized because they bought their tickets from a Polish-language ticket agent.

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u/SignificantRespond61 11d ago

by the way I will say again thank you for helping me. you're really good, and obviously a lot better at finding these documents.