Sources and how to read them · Francine’s family overview
Some records follow a household closely without yet connecting it to the direct family line. These comparisons explain the evidence and the remaining questions. A record’s reported date or relationship is kept separate from a conclusion drawn by comparing records.
On this page: Rudy comparisons · Syrowik and Mickiewicz comparisons · The older Walter and Wladyslaw comparisons · Other Wistuba comparisons · Sources
Rudy comparisons
Edward Rudy: childhood and adult records
Edward Rudy, 27, appears in the 1930 South River census with wife Matilda, 23, and daughter Rose. Edward is recorded as New Jersey-born, with both parents born in Hungary. That differs from the Bohemia/Austria-Bohemian wording for the father in the earlier Roder–Rudy candidate household. The 1930 census does not name his parents. [E1] [E6] [E7]
Edward Francis Rudy’s February 16, 1942 registration gives 112 Washington Road, Sayreville, and names Mrs. Matilda Rudy at the same address as his contact. The original reports South River birth and writes the date 9 / 1 / 1902 under month/day/year headings; the index gives September 11, 1902. The card’s name and address match Edward F. Rudy in an August 21, 1942 newspaper list of draft-questionnaire recipients. This is strong adult continuity evidence, while the connection to the earlier childhood household and Joseph S. Rudy remains unproved. The card itself does not state Matilda’s relationship or name parents. [E2] [E3]
A later death index records Edward F. Rudy on January 9, 1974, state file 3422, with death and residence both coded to Sayreville borough. It supplies a precise certificate lead but gives no age, birthday, spouse or parents, so identification with the earlier Edward remains a comparison. [E4] [E5]
Sophie Rudy and the Rhatican family
A February 4, 1923 wedding-party report describes Peter Rhatican third’s recent marriage to Miss [S]ophie Rudy of Sayreville. The bride’s initial is partly obscured, and the article does not give the wedding date or name her parents. [R23a]
Later Social Security applications-and-claims entries for Robert Peter Rhatican and Lawrence Bernard Rhatican each name Peter V. Rhatican and Sophie D. Rudy as parents. These database transcriptions support the Rudy surname of the Rhatican mother; the original applications have not been inspected. Together the records strengthen the comparison with Sophie Rhatican named in Joseph Rudy’s obituary, without establishing Sophie’s parents. [R23b] [R23c] [R23d]
Charles Ruder and Susan Undick
The New Jersey State Archives’ searchable marriage index lists Charles Ruder and Susan Undick in Middlesex County for the filing period July 1891–June 1892, reference Drw 415. 65-R47. This is a promising comparison with Charles and Susan or Susanna in the Roder/Rudy census household. The date range is not an exact wedding date, and the underlying certificate has not been inspected. The index alone does not establish Susan’s maiden name for that family or connect the couple to Joseph S. Rudy. [R24a]
Emil Rudy on a 1918 draft list
In March 1918, Emil Rudy appeared among the alternates for a proposed April 3 Camp Dix contingent from the Third District, headquartered at Sayreville. The newspaper gives no age, address or relatives for him. It provides a local comparison with the census child Emil or Emile, but neither establishes that identity nor proves induction or military service. [R25a] [R25b]
Rudy names in local school reports
Sayreville School No. 2 honor rolls add a glimpse of childhood in the community. The January 1911 roll names Edward and Sophie Rudy in the sub-primary section and Elizabeth Rudy in the fourth- and fifth-year section. The January 1913 roll names Rose in the fourth year and Edward and Sophia in the second year. The names fit the earlier census family, but the reports give no parents or explicit sibling relationships. [R26a] [R26b]
A January 21, 1905 report also describes the rescue of a two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rudy after he fell through ice in Sayreville. The child is unnamed and has not been identified as Edward. [R26c]
Question to explore: Which parent-bearing original connects Joseph’s known siblings Edward and Sophie to the earlier Charles and Susan household?
Syrowik and Mickiewicz comparisons
Joseph, Bertha and the Kobrzynski household
Two draft records offer Joseph comparisons, with differences still unresolved. The 1917 Joseph Syrowik card reports a March birth in 1896; the handwritten day may be 21 or 25, while the index gives 25. The 1942 card names Joseph Edward Syrwick, born March 25, 1895, and Bertha Kobinski of 19 Water Street, South River, as the person who would know his address. It supplies no relationship to Bertha. The cards also differ in physical description, so the men are not treated as securely identified with each other or with the 1906 passenger. [J1] [J2]
Original censuses place Joe and Bertha Kobinsky at 19 Water Street in 1930 and Joseph and Bertha Kobzynski at that address in 1940. Mary, Irena/Irene and Helen help connect the household across these records and the 1915 Joseph/Bronislawa Kobrzynski group. The ages are not exact: Bronislawa was about 34 in 1915, while Bertha was 50 in 1930 and 62 in 1940. Bertha is recorded as naturalized in 1930 and alien in 1940. The shared address strongly identifies a household to compare with Joseph’s 1942 contact; it does not establish their kinship. [J3] [J4] [J7]
Two separate daughters’ Social Security applications-and-claims index entries name Joseph Kobrzynski and Bertha Syrowik as parents: Helen R Wiltshire, also indexed as Helen R Kobrzynski, and Irene Josaphine Jurewicz, also indexed as Irene Josaphine Kobrzynski. These are database transcriptions; the original applications have not been inspected. Irene’s indexed birth, January 1, 1912 at South River, fits her 1930/1940 ages of 18/28, but conflicts with the 1915 census’s January 1911 birth year. That census also writes age 3. Both statements are retained. [J5] [J6] [J7] [J3] [J4]
Benjamin Robert Kobrzynski’s original May 17, 1941 marriage certificate names his father Joseph and his mother Bertha, but leaves the maternal surname blank. Taken together, the child records strengthen the Bronislawa/Bertha comparison and the reported Syrowik name. No inspected record establishes Bertha as Joseph Serowik’s sister or connects this group to Sophie/Teofila Samuel. [J8] [J5] [J6]
Boleslawa and Blanche: a later household to compare
The 1930 Sayreville census lists Joseph and Blanche Mickiewicz with sons Edward, 21, and Leo, 20. Blanche’s age 39, reported 1906 immigration and first marriage at 16 fit the earlier Boleslawa Mickiwitz household closely. Joseph’s age changes from 28 in 1910 to 52 in 1930, however, and the difference remains unresolved. An original draft-card front for Edward Mickiewicz, reporting birth November 10, 1908, explicitly calls Mrs. Blanche Mickiewicz his mother. Neither record supplies her maiden surname. [B1] [B4] [B2]
An original New Jersey death-index entry records Blanche S. Mickiewicz in October 1958, state file 44957. It gives no exact day and does not establish her identity with the census wife or a relationship to Bertha, Joseph Serowik or Sophie. [B3]
Question to explore: Can original records identify Bronislawa with Bertha, Boleslawa with Blanche, and state how either woman was related to Joseph Serowik or Sophie?
The older Walter and Wladyslaw comparisons
These records concern an older Walter Samuel candidate, separate from elder Frank’s young son Walter. A 1920 Elizabeth census records Walter, 29, as a married boarder at 147 Inslee Place, with immigration in 1908. An April 14, 1928 return manifest records Wladyslaw Samul, 37, wife Wladyslawa and two daughters, giving their home as “146 Jensly Plais, Elizabeth, N.Y.” The address may refer to the same street, but the house number and state differ. Wladyslaw’s prior U.S. stay begins with an uncertain 1909; his wife’s is 1920–1927. These differences remain open. [S2] [S3]
A Sayreville household offers stronger continuity from 1930 through 1950: Walter’s ages progress 37, 47 and 57, and Viola’s 36, 46 and 56, with overlapping children. The household is on Morris Avenue in 1930, at 167 Marsh Avenue in 1940 and 112 Marsh Avenue in 1950; no street-renaming or house-renumbering explanation has been established. Viola’s citizenship reports also differ: naturalized in 1930, alien in 1940 and “No” in 1950. These records support following one later household, while its identification with the passenger family remains unresolved. [S4] [S5] [S6]
The 1930 and 1940 censuses identify Stanley as Walter’s father. His 1930 age is best read as 55, with 53 also possible; in 1940 it is clearly 65. A November 26, 1928 manifest names a widowed Stanislaw Samul, 62, joining son Wladyslaw in “Sayrevell, Midlesex, N.Y.” The father–son pattern and destination are promising, but the age difference is substantial. That passenger reports birthplace Koziol and last residence Kozlo; those places are not established origins for elder Frank. [S4] [S5] [S7]
Walter’s April 26, 1942 registration adds another conflict: it writes age 50 and birth November 15, 1881. The year has not been changed to make it fit the age. The card gives 167 Morris Avenue and names Mrs. Viola Samuel as his contact. A separate 1917 Wladyslaw/Wladyslow Samul registration reports November 7, 1890 and Prussa/Prussia Poland, with wife and one child unnamed. It remains a separate comparison. [S8] [S10]
A 1912 marriage-index entry names Wladys Zyszkowske and Waldek Samul, state file 31329. The original index gives no month, place or parents. It is a lead for testing the later couple, rather than proof of Viola’s maiden surname; a 1912 New Jersey marriage would also need reconciliation with the wife’s reported U.S. stay beginning in 1920. [S9] [S3]
An earlier May 6, 1902 passenger list records Stanisl Samul, 35, going to Franciszek Samul? in Sayreville. A faint “br” or “bro” annotation probably means brother, but the reading is uncertain. The passenger’s last residence reads Korzen?, and the 1902 arrival differs from the 1928 man’s reported prior U.S. stay of 1905–1908. These men and the known elder Frank are not merged. [S11] [S7]
Question to explore: Can a parent-bearing marriage or naturalization record connect the later household to the passenger family without setting aside the age and immigration conflicts?
Other Wistuba comparisons
Two Charles and Mary households
A 1910 newspaper summary records Charles and Mary Wistuba of Sayreville transferring property to their son Charles Wistuba and his unnamed wife. The 1915 state census separately lists a younger Charles Westuba, born in August 1885, with Mary, Minnie and Annie. These records help distinguish generations, although the census group has not been conclusively identified as the parties in the transfer. [W16a] [W16b]
A 1919 death notice names Minnie Westuba as the daughter of Charles and Mary Westuba and dates her death to August 25. The accompanying report calls her ten years old and places her parents on Embroidery Street, Sayreville. This is a useful comparison with the younger census group, not proof of its identity or a connection to William and Mary Wistuba. [W16c] [W16d]
Charles Constant and Gustave
Two June 1914 reports name Charles Constant Wistuba of South River and his fourteen-year-old son Gustave during a school-attendance dispute. A parallel Times report calls the father a Sayreville resident and spells the son’s name Gustav. The mother is unnamed. These reports remain comparisons with the earlier census family; they do not establish William’s parentage. [W17a] [W17b] [W17c]
Julius Vestuby in 1913
The Daily Home News of January 10, 1913 reports the death of Julius Vestuby, age 25, son of Charles Vestuby. It says he died on Tuesday night, implying January 7. The next day’s paper reports his funeral and interment in “the Parlin cemetery.” No mother is named. This may help explain the Julius in the earlier candidate household, but the identity has not been proved. [W18a] [W18b]
A Mathilda birth-index candidate
The Middlesex County birth index lists Mathilda Wisctuber on March 24, 1902, with 8126 in its page column. The date is compatible with Tillie’s March 1902 birth reported in the 1915 census, but the index names no parents and does not establish that they were the same person. The birth certificate remains unexamined. [W19a] [W19b]
August: a conflicting later record
New Jersey’s 1986 death index records August C. Wistuba’s death on October 30, age 96, with birth written as 02/02/90. The age and date imply 1890, whereas the child August in the candidate Charles and Mary census household was recorded as born in 1900. The discrepancy remains unresolved, and the later entry has not been identified as the census child. [W20c] [W20d]
Two different 1916 marriage files
Two 1916 entries in New Jersey’s bride index pair Mary Turbak with William Fric and Mary Furtak with William Fritz. Both carry state file 12241, strongly suggesting two index versions of one marriage. The Mary Turbak and William Wystuba entry carries a different file, 40322. File 12241 cannot be substituted for file 40322 when tracing Mary Wistuba. These indexes give no parents, exact wedding date or place. [W30c] [W30d]
Question to explore: Can birth, marriage or death records distinguish the two Charles and Mary households and connect these children to the earlier census family?
Sources and evidence
The source descriptions distinguish original records from indexes. Some links require a subscription.
[E1] 1930 U.S. census, South River borough, Middlesex County, New Jersey, ED 12-121, sheet 7B, April 8, lines 98–100; NARA T626, roll 1369, archive leaf 391. Original census image inspected. Open source.
[E6] 1900 U.S. census, New Jersey, Middlesex County, South River borough, enumeration district 68, sheet 11A, June 13, lines 12–17; printed page 190A; NARA T623, roll 985; Internet Archive image n381. Original image checked. The household is recorded as Roder; the youngest daughter’s name has a Lizzie/Lissi reading uncertainty. Birth months and years are reported, with no exact birth days. Original census image inspected in existing research. Open source.
[E7] 1910 U.S. census, New Jersey, Middlesex County, South River borough, enumeration district 52, sheet 31A, May 4, family 479, lines 19–27; printed page 323; NARA T624, roll 898; Internet Archive image n650. Original image checked. The household is recorded as Rudy; both spouses are in their first marriage, reported as nineteen years. The birth and language wording does not identify a town or establish a modern nationality. Original census image inspected in existing research. Open source.
[E2] Edward Francis Rudy, Selective Service registration, February 16, 1942; RG 147, New Jersey, box 567, serial T341, order T10983; Ancestry collection 2238, record 301649754, images 44025_02_00063-01160 and -01161. Original registration card, both sides inspected; database transcription compared. Original image 1 · Original image 2 · Database entry.
[E3] “More Questionnaires Sent By Board To Draft List Men,” The South Amboy Citizen, August 21, 1942, printed p. 5, PDF p. 6. Original newspaper page inspected. Open source.
[E4] New Jersey Department of Health death index, 1974, P–Z, printed p. 0712, archive leaf 89: RUDY EDWARD F, state file 3422, death and residence codes 1260, January 9, 1974. Original death-index image inspected. Open source.
[E5] Place Codes for NJ Department of Health Indexes, 1949–1984, copied at the New Jersey State Archives; p. 8, row 330: 1260, Middlesex, Sayreville, Boro. Historical locality-key copy inspected. Open source.
[R23a] The Sunday Times, New Brunswick, February 4, 1923, printed p. 11, “Wedding Party Given at the Rhatican Home.”. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[R23b] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007, Ancestry record 26787209, Robert Peter Rhatican. Database-derived index of historical application/claim data; original application unexamined. Database entry.
[R23c] U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007, Ancestry record 42670041, Lawrence Bernard Rhatican. Database-derived index of historical application/claim data; original application unexamined. Database entry.
[R23d] “Joseph S. Rudy” and separate RUDY death notice, The Daily Home News, May 20, 1963, p. 14. Original newspaper page inspected from a ProQuest research copy. The death notice supplies the exact death date; burial language announces arrangements. The obituary does not state an age. Link access may require a library subscription; no newspaper scan is reproduced here. Original newspaper page inspected in existing family research. Open source.
[R24a] New Jersey State Archives, Marriage Records, 1867–1900, searchable index: Charles Ruder / Susan Undick; Middlesex County; July 1891–June 1892; Drw 415. 65-R47. Official online index transcription; not a visually inspected marriage certificate. Open source.
[R25a] The Daily Home News, March 23, 1918, p. 1, “Tentative List of Draftees Who Will Leave Here for Dix on April 3rd.”. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[R25b] The Daily Home News, March 23, 1918, p. 2, continuation, “Third District Men,” “Alternates.”. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[R26a] Daily Home News, February 15, 1911, printed p. 6, “Sayreville School’s Roll of Honor”; January roll. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[R26b] The Daily Home News, February 14, 1913, “Pupils Present Every Day”; January roll; archive viewer position 8 of 20, printed numeral unconfirmed. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[R26c] New Brunswick Home News, January 21, 1905, South River column under “Suburban”; archive viewer final/page 8, printed numeral unconfirmed. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[J1] Joseph Syrowik, 1917 draft registration, Middlesex County, New Jersey, board 3; NARA M1509; Ancestry collection 6482, record 32501079, image 005218896_04286. Original registration image inspected; database transcription compared. Original image 1 · Database entry.
[J2] Joseph Edward Syrwick, draft registration, April 27, 1942; RG 147, M1986, New Jersey fourth registration; Ancestry collection 1002, record 7328896, images 2wwii_2274070-4300 and -4301. Original registration, both sides inspected. Original image 1 · Original image 2.
[J3] 1930 U.S. census, South River, ED 12-122, sheet 24A, April 16, lines 35–40: Joe and Bertha Kobinsky, 19 Water Street. Original census image inspected. Original image.
[J4] 1940 U.S. census, South River, ED 12-177, sheet 4B, lines 61–67; NARA T627, roll 2363: Joseph and Bertha Kobzynski, 19 Water Street. Original census image inspected. Original image.
[J7] New Jersey State Census, 1915, South River, ED Second: sheet 27B, June 19, lines 97–100, continued on sheet 28A, June 21, lines 1–8. Two original census sheets inspected and independently checked. Original image 1 · Original image 2.
[J5] Helen R Wiltshire [Helen R Kobrzynski], U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007, Ancestry collection 60901, record 21525117. Administrative database index inspected; original application not inspected. Database entry.
[J6] Irene Josaphine Jurewicz [Irene Josaphine Kobrzynski], U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936–2007, Ancestry collection 60901, record 16238298. Administrative database index inspected; original application not inspected. Database entry.
[J8] Virginia marriage certificate 8848, clerk 556, Norfolk, May 17, 1941: Benjamin Robert Kobrzynski and Margaret Alice Payne; Ancestry collection 9279, image 43067_162028006073_0451-00071. Original marriage certificate inspected. Original image.
[B1] 1930 U.S. census, Sayreville Borough, ED 12-108, sheet 15A, May 3, lines 42–50: Joseph and Blanche Mickiewicz; Ancestry image 4660921_01098. Original census image inspected. Original image.
[B4] 1910 U.S. census, Sayreville, ED 43, sheet 24B, April 29, lines 75–85: Joseph Mickiwitz household. Original census image inspected. Original image.
[B2] Edward Mickiewicz, young-men’s draft registration, RG 147, box 446; Ancestry collection 2238, record 301642653, image 44025_02_00049-02784. Original registration front inspected. Original image.
[B3] New Jersey death index, 1958, H–N: MICKIEWICZ BLANCHE S, state file 44957, month 10, year 58; Ancestry collection 61260, image death_index_1958_h-n-00259. Original death-index image inspected. Original image.
[S2] 1920 U.S. census, Elizabeth City, Ward 1, Union County, ED 61, sheet 7B, January 5, line 31: Walter Samuel, boarder in Alexander Serafin’s family 157, 147 Inslee Place. Original census image inspected and independently checked. Original image.
[S3] S.S. Lituania passenger list, New York arrival April 14, 1928, list 10, lines 2–5; NARA T715, roll 4246, images 0340–0341. Two original manifest pages inspected and independently checked. Original image 1 · Original image 2.
[S4] 1930 U.S. census, Sayreville, ED 12-108, sheet 12A, April 30, dwelling 205, family 215, lines 20–25: Walter and Viola Samuel. Original census image inspected; age qualification retained. Original image.
[S5] 1940 U.S. census, Sayreville, ED 12-154, sheet 3B, April 4, family 52, lines 55–60, 167 Marsh Avenue. Original census image inspected and independently checked. Original image.
[S6] 1950 U.S. census, Sayreville Borough, ED 12-246, sheet 15, household 152, lines 21–28, 112 Marsh Avenue; NARA roll 5128. Sheet started April 6, separately checked April 9. Original census image inspected and independently checked. Open source.
[S7] S.S. Polonia passenger list, New York arrival November 26, 1928, list 11, line 1; NARA T715, roll 4389, images 0047–0048. Two original manifest pages inspected and independently checked. Original image 1 · Original image 2.
[S8] Walter Samuel, fourth-registration card, April 26, 1942; NARA RG 147, M1986; Ancestry collection 1002, record 6790516, images 2wwii_2274044-4418 and -4419. Original registration card, both sides inspected. Original image 1 · Original image 2.
[S10] Wladyslaw/Wladyslow Samul, 1917 draft registration, Middlesex County board 3, card S; Ancestry collection 6482, record 32500176, image 005218896_03382. Original registration image inspected. Original image.
[S9] New Jersey brides marriage index, 1910–1914, T–Z: ZYSZKOWSKE WLADYS / SAMUL WALDEK / state file 31329 / year 12; Ancestry collection 61253, image 46999_543888-00360. Original marriage-index image inspected and independently checked. Original image.
[S11] S.S. Bremen passenger list, New York arrival May 6, 1902, line 30, Stanisl Samul; Ancestry collection 7488, image NYT715_273-0322. Original manifest image inspected and independently checked. Original image.
[W16a] Daily Home News, July 13, 1910, printed p. 10, “Real Estate Transfers Throughout County.”. Original newspaper page; summary of a deed, not the deed. Open source.
[W16b] New Jersey State Census, 1915, Middlesex County, Sayreville, Charles Westuba group; Ancestry collection 61558, image 48182_554658-00381. Original census image. Original image.
[W16c] The Daily Home News, August 26, 1919, front page, “Auto Kills Little Girl at Sayreville.”. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W16d] The Daily Home News, August 26, 1919, printed p. 2, Westuba death notice and continuation. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W17a] The Daily Home News, June 23, 1914, front page. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W17b] The Daily Home News, June 26, 1914; archive viewer position 7 of 16, printed page numeral unconfirmed. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W17c] New Brunswick Times, June 26, 1914; archive viewer position 8 of 14, printed page numeral unconfirmed. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W18a] The Daily Home News, January 10, 1913, printed p. 12, Sayreville column. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W18b] The Daily Home News, January 11, 1913, printed p. 8, Sayreville column. Original newspaper page. Open source.
[W19a] Index of Births in New Jersey, 1902–1906, Middlesex County, geographic index reel 10, Internet Archive leaf 314. Original historical index image; not a birth certificate. Open source.
[W19b] New Jersey State Census, 1915, Middlesex County, Sayreville, Mary Westuba group, Tillie entry; image 48182_554658-00311. Original census image. Original image.
W20c. New Jersey Department of Health, Annual Death Index, 1986, printed p. 1137, left row 55; Internet Archive leaf 396. Original historical death-index image; not a death certificate. The birth date is written 02/02/90 and the age is 96; identification with the census child remains unproved. Source
W20d. 1900 U.S. census, New Jersey, Middlesex County, Sayreville Township, Sayreville Village, ED 61, sheet 13B, June 21, lines 73–81; NARA T623, roll 985; Internet Archive leaf 122. Original census image, previously inspected for the candidate household. The household surname is uncertain. Only the 1900 birth year is used in this comparison. Source
W30c. New Jersey marriage index, brides, 1915–1919, T–Z, Internet Archive leaf 100. Original historical index image; not a marriage certificate. File 12241 (Fric) is distinct from file 40322 (Wystuba); the index gives only the year. Source
W30d. New Jersey marriage index, brides, 1915–1919, F–H; Ancestry collection 61253, image 48618_b428658-00131. Original historical index image; not a marriage certificate. File 12241 and year 1916 match the Turbak/Fric index entry; the original certificate has not been inspected. Source
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