Quote:
Originally Posted by Aktungbby
Probably because so many fled here with little time for paperwork! Of the three lines I've traced, no one came willingly. My great grand mother left the 'Ozarks' of Bavaria at the turn of the century and knew when to do so. Married in the temple in Brooklyn, she lost track of the rest of the Koenigs back in the fatherland-disappeared as of 1945. History is often written by the timely bugger-outers not just the winners.  |
Alot of people fled here out of desperation and were more than happy to leave Europe behind, they never thought their past as important, only their future.
My family arrived under duress.
The term WOP for italians applied to my family, it means "without papers"
No bull. Alot of Irish arrived the same way, and were equally as despised, must be why we get along so well here in the states to this day,.
My last name was changed. They accepted it out of gratitude. A new name a new start. That was a mere 90 years ago.. I always found that amazing.
I ould love to be able to go back further, but Ellis Island was not too stringent on record keeping.