Identity is a powerful concept that shapes humanity’s perspective of the past and constantly re-forms the present moment. Each person experiences a unique amalgamation of memories that becomes a part of the individual’s psyche and identity. From the emergence of Homo sapiens nearly 200,000 years ago, ancestry has remained a vital element to understanding the collective experiences of humanity. When asked the question, “Who are you?”, the answer lies buried in the past of descendants. The actions of these long dead ancestors inexplicably shape the present. In attempting to piece together my own identity by probing into the recorded history of the Berry family, I confronted this question consistently as each new piece of information I discovered
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My grandfather was born in 1923, and his mother (my great grandmother) was Weronika (Veronika) Biernacki. Weronika Biernacki’s maiden name was Karmanska. She was born February 16, 1893 in Konstantinow. The exact location of her birth remains nearly impossible to decipher because Poland as a nation did not exist when she was born, though this town is presumably located within the borders of Poland in the 21st century. My great grandmother died on August 2nd, 1971. My dziadzo’s (Polish word for grandfather) father and my great grandfather was Antoni Biernacki. He was born April 13, 1886 in Swir, presumably another town within the borders of Poland. He died on April 10th, in 1974. My great-grandmother and great-grandfather passed away in England. She died in Melton Mowbray, and he passed away in North …show more content…
My babcia’s (Polish word for grandmother) mother was Anna Lech. Her maiden name was Anna Jasinska and she died in Poland around 1933. My grandmother’s father was Feliks Lech. He passed away in 1962 in England. From these tidbits of information about my ancestry, my mother also revealed to me that my grandparents were deported to different parts of Russia during World War II (they had not met each other yet). Through an incredible stroke of luck, and with the help of a close family friend, church records from a parish in Rudnia Lwa reveal more about my grandmother’s life. In these records, my great grandfather, my babcia’s father had two marriages. Anna Lech was the wife of a second marriage, from which my grandmother was produced. My grandmother had four other
My grandfather was born in 1923, and his mother (my great grandmother) was Weronika (Veronika) Biernacki. Weronika Biernacki’s maiden name was Karmanska. She was born February 16, 1893 in Konstantinow. The exact location of her birth remains nearly impossible to decipher because Poland as a nation did not exist when she was born, though this town is presumably located within the borders of Poland in the 21st century. My great grandmother died on August 2nd, 1971. My dziadzo’s (Polish word for grandfather) father and my great grandfather was Antoni Biernacki. He was born April 13, 1886 in Swir, presumably another town within the borders of Poland. He died on April 10th, in 1974. My great-grandmother and great-grandfather passed away in England. She died in Melton Mowbray, and he passed away in North …show more content…
My babcia’s (Polish word for grandmother) mother was Anna Lech. Her maiden name was Anna Jasinska and she died in Poland around 1933. My grandmother’s father was Feliks Lech. He passed away in 1962 in England. From these tidbits of information about my ancestry, my mother also revealed to me that my grandparents were deported to different parts of Russia during World War II (they had not met each other yet). Through an incredible stroke of luck, and with the help of a close family friend, church records from a parish in Rudnia Lwa reveal more about my grandmother’s life. In these records, my great grandfather, my babcia’s father had two marriages. Anna Lech was the wife of a second marriage, from which my grandmother was produced. My grandmother had four other