Tuesday, May 20, 2014

"YES!" Moments!

After connecting with another cousin online (I love meeting new cousins online!---if you follow this and are related, definitely contact me!), I did a new search last night for death certificates of a few family members. And, "YES," some new Pennsylvania records had been released and uploaded to Ancestry.com.  I found the death certificate of my great-great grandfather, Harry (Hryc/Gregor) Turenchalk among these newly indexed records.  The great part about it is that the certificate included his father's name and at least a clue to his mother's name!  I love the moments when I make a "new" discovery!  I didn't have this information before---so it was a great "hoorah" for me.  Unfortunately most of the records in the region he came from in Poland were destroyed during WWII, so I am not sure how much further I can go, but I am now hopeful that someone somewhere has a family bible or similar record that holds his father's name! 

Harry (Hryc/Gregor) Turenchalk was born in about 1868, most likely in Jablonki, Podkarpackie, Poland. His parents were John and Nste (likely a nickname for Anastacia---I am researching this still).  In 1898, he came to the United States for the first time aboard the ship, "Hercynia" which departed from Hamburg and docked at Ellis Island.  He died in Green, Indiana County, Pennsylvania on April 7, 1919.  His death certificate states he died of from "influenza" with a contributory cause of "bronchial pneumonia."  He is buried at St John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, Dixonville, Green Twp, Indiana Co., Pennsylvania.

Death Certificate of Harry Turenchalk, 1868-1919.

2 comments:

  1. I am truly excited for you, yes, any new link with the world through family is wonderful.I did my DNA, but not too much success, I message people but not too many responses. Keep on searching, what a wonderful mystery our families are. Lots of luck, don't see any connection so far. We are so fortunate to have wonderful photos as well.

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  2. Forgot to identify myself. Stephanie Kosko Paul, Mom's maiden name was Kuzma/Gress. GPap Kuzma was from Austria, Dad Kosko was from Kosice, Slovakia. Still searching. I now live in Baldwin, Pa, 6 miles out side of Pittsburgh, PA. Born & raised in Munhall, PA. I was the unknown message ahead. So new to this, still.

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