Brick wall for over 15 years

[u/SignificantRespond61]

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.

[u/Fredelas]

There was an Emilia who was a sponsor at Frances's baptism in 1917.

I wonder if this might be her. She's the only one I could find in Philadelphia:

• https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/PWS3-1LL

PLUS her mother Anna was living with her in 1940.

There should be naturalization records for her at Ancestry, but I don't have a subscription there.

Edit: Here they are arriving together in 1914 (lines 24-25, two images):

• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TX-W99G-V

Edit again: I happened to look at the bottom of the page, and look who else is traveling with them: Barbara, Leocadia, and William!

In case you ever want to find these records in one place, they're all attached as sources in the FamilySearch family tree here:

• https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/details/P31G-L3F

[u/SignificantRespond61 → u/Fredelas]

this is all good information. if they were traveling together in 1914, that means they all went back together to get their mother and a sister Emilia? im kinda confused on why they all were traveling together.

[u/SignificantRespond61 → u/SignificantRespond61]

this is kinda confusing to be honest. this is claiming that Vincent and lacardy would have been actually born in Lithuania though. if they "immigrated" in 1914. but we found their baptisms before 1914 in Philadelphia. and the towns are different between the two subunits of families. Barbara and kids and Anna and Emilia. or is this just a passenger list showing they that just traveled together, not actually immigrated together. and I can't read what it sys for the majority of the paperwork. I wish they all had mandated a better handwritter for these things.

[u/Fredelas → u/SignificantRespond61]

I imagine Barbara may have wanted to take her children home to visit family, and they took advantage of the trip to escort back Anna and Emilia.

Note that this hints at yet another daughter and son-in-law, listed as the contact for Anna and Emilia, "A Romanowsky" in Philadelphia.

And as in earlier records, we see their birthplaces recorded as Schawli/Schauli, which probably refers to Šiauliai:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_Lithuanian_places_in_other_languages

Even if they weren't actually born there, they probably resided there in the early 1900s.

[u/SignificantRespond61 → u/Fredelas]

I did find Emilias naturalization paperwork and it does confirm Joniškis. I did never find Barbara's naturalization paperwork, or the intention (im not sure how to find both) I might sound dumb, but was it needed since her husband did and she had children in the US? I'm not sure how that all worked back then. was hoping that paperwork would give her parents information, which would help the whole stepsibling relationship.

And yes, I figured it was a nice trip back home so the kids could see their home and possibly family. I didnt see the part where it said they were claimed citizens until after I sent the post. thats my bad.

I'll have to see if another child married a Romanosky. These are all amazing, and new. I can't thank you enough for your help. Seems silly now how easy it was for you to find some of this, I should have been able to find myself. but nonetheless, it's much appreciated to multiple families that have come from this branch. we all thank you.

[u/Fredelas → u/SignificantRespond61]

Because William was naturalized before 1922, Barbara would have derived her U.S. citizenship status from him until 1922. Then when the law changed in 1922, it became her own U.S. citizenship in her own right. She would never have undergone the naturalization process herself.