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Prussian Poland Civil Registration: Difference between revisions

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==Time Coverage==
==Time Coverage==
Civil authorities in the German territories of Poland began registering births, marriages, and deaths in 1874. The people were required to report all births, marriages, and deaths to a civil registrar (Standesamt).
Civil authorities in the German territories of Poland began registering births, marriages, and deaths on [https://www.lwl.org/westfaelische-geschichte/que/normal/que897.pdf 1 October 1874]. The people were required to report all births, marriages, and deaths to a civil registrar at a civil registration office (Standesamt).


==Language of the Records ==
==Language of the Records ==
From 1874 to 1918, records were kept in German. Some areas were annexed to Poland after World War I, and began using Polish. After 1945, all those areas were annexed and using Polish.
From 1874 to 1918, records were kept in German. Some areas were annexed to Poland after World War I, and began using Polish. After 1945, all those areas were annexed and using Polish.
{{Former German Territories small|right}}


==Information Recorded in Civil Registers (1874-1918/1945)==
==Information Recorded in Civil Registers==
Information recorded in Prussian civil registration records was quite standardized. German forms were used, which required specific details. After 1918, the records followed the Napoleonic records of Russian Poland.
Information recorded in Prussian civil registration records was quite standardized. German forms were used, which required specific details.  
==== Prussian Birth Records (Geburten, akta urodzeń) ====
=== Prussian Birth Records (Geburten, akta urodzeń) ===


Birth records '''usually''' give:
Birth records '''usually''' give:
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Births were generally registered within a day of the child’s birth by the father, a neighbor of the family, or the midwife. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a marginal note, sometimes years later.
Births were generally registered within a day of the child’s birth by the father, a neighbor of the family, or the midwife. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a marginal note, sometimes years later.


==== Prussian Marriage Records (Heiraten, akta małżeństw)====
=== Prussian Marriage Records (Heiraten, akta małżeństw)===


Marriages were often recorded in the parish where the bride lived. After 1874 Prussian law required a civil marriage ceremony in addition to a church ceremony. There may be records for both. Civil marriage records may include more information than the church records. When church and civil records are available, search both.  
Marriages were often recorded in the parish where the bride lived. After 1874 Prussian law required a civil marriage ceremony in addition to a church ceremony. There may be records for both. Civil marriage records may include more information than the church records. When church and civil records are available, search both.  


Marriage registers give:  
Marriage registers give:  
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Supporting documents were often filed by the bride or groom in support of their request to be married. Records proving their birth may have been required at the time, although these papers were probably not kept in the marriage register. Information obtained from supporting documents was often written into the actual marriage record. These documents are usually not microfilmed but might be obtained from a civil registration office.
Supporting documents were often filed by the bride or groom in support of their request to be married. Records proving their birth may have been required at the time, although these papers were probably not kept in the marriage register. Information obtained from supporting documents was often written into the actual marriage record. These documents are usually not microfilmed but might be obtained from a civil registration office.


==== Prussian Divorce Records (Ehescheidungen, akta rozwodowe) ====
=== Prussian Divorce Records (Ehescheidungen, akta rozwodowe) ===


Divorces before the mid-20th century were uncommon. The Catholic Church did not allow divorces, and divorces were discouraged in protestant religions, although some marriages may have been annulled. Civil officials began keeping divorce records with the beginning of civil registration. Records of divorces may contain:
Divorces before the mid-20th century were uncommon. The Catholic Church did not allow divorces, and divorces were discouraged in protestant religions, although some marriages may have been annulled. Civil officials began keeping divorce records with the beginning of civil registration. Records of divorces may contain:
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Often a record of divorce was inserted later as a marginal note in the marriage register.  
Often a record of divorce was inserted later as a marginal note in the marriage register.  


The Family History Library has almost no divorce records in its Polish collection. You may be able to obtain information from divorce records by contacting the courthouse of the town where the divorce took place or the archives serving the area.
The FamilySearch Library has almost no divorce records in its Polish collection. You may be able to obtain information from divorce records by contacting the courthouse of the town where the divorce took place or the archives serving the area.


==== Prussian Death Records (Tote, akta zgonów) ====
=== Prussian Death Records (Tote, akta zgonów) ===


Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records may exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of the death in the town or city where the person died.  
Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records may exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of the death in the town or city where the person died.  
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*the name of a spouse or parents.  
*the name of a spouse or parents.  
Information about parents and birthplace and date of the deceased and other information in a death record may be inaccurate since the informant may not have had complete information.
Information about parents and birthplace and date of the deceased and other information in a death record may be inaccurate since the informant may not have had complete information.
===Polish Records Used After 1918 (Napoleonic Format)===
==== Polish Civil Registration Reading Aids  ====
The following reading aids are designed to help you read a typical birth, marriage, or death entry in Polish civil registration. Since the wording of these records was standardized, it is possible to learn the format, and with careful effort, to read Polish records. 
<br>
When using the reading aids, please note the following: <br>
*Be flexible. Terms and spellings may vary. Information may not always be presented in the exact order shown in the examples. For example, the year may be given before the day of the month or the age may follow the occupation, etc. You must thoroughly familiarize yourself with the format, not just the words.
*It is not uncommon to find double dates given in the entries. When this occurs, the first is the Julian date according to the old Julian calendar. The second is the Gregorian date according to the modern Gregorian calendar used in the world today.
==== Napoleonic Birth Records in Polish  ====
Birth records contain data on:
*the parents' age
*profession
*social standing
*full place of residence
*full date of birth and registration (down to the hour)
'''A.  Place and date of registration of birth. (Place is given with grammatical ending and the date and time of day are written out in Polish.) Use the [[Polish Genealogical Word List|'''Polish Genealogical Word List''']] to read the date. Following are translations of the Polish entries:<br>
----
''Dzialo się&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w wsi&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oporowie&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia trzeciego''<br>It came to pass&nbsp;in village (of) Oporów (on) day third &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(of)<br>
----
''lutego&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; tyziąc&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ośmset&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pięćdziesiątego drugiego roku''<br>February thousand eight-hundred fiftieth –&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; second&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; year (1852),<br>
----
''o godzinie dziewiątego z rana''. . . .<br>at hour&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ninth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in the morning. . . .<br>
----
----
►'''(Prior to the mid-1810s records will start with ''Roku''. This earlier format gives year first, date, time of day, and then the title and often the name of the registrar.)'''<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Roku tysiąc&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; osemsetnego&nbsp;&nbsp; czternastego&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia trzeciego<br>''(of) Year thousand eight-hundred fourteen (1814) (on) day third&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of)<br>
----
*''lutego &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;o godzinie dziewiątego z rana&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; przed Nami Augustynem<br>''February at hour&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ninth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in the morning before us&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Augustyn<br>
----
''Walęckiem proboszcz &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;parafii &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oporowskiej sprawuającym obowiązki<br>''Walęcki&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; priest&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) parish (of) Oporów&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; discharging&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; duties&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of)<br>
----
''urzędnika stanu cywilnego&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; gminy&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oporowskiej powiatu<br>''civil registrar&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) township (of) Oporów district&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of)<br>
----
''Orlowskiej w Departmencie&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Warszawskim''.<br>Orlów&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Department&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) Warsaw
----
----
'''B.  The father of the child presents himself (or the midwife if the child is illegitimate) to report the birth.<br>
----
''Stawil &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;s''i''ę &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Marcin Gorecki okupnik rolnik, &nbsp;lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;cztyrdziesciści<br>''Presented himself Marcin Gorecki tenant&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; farmer, years forty<br>
----
''mający / liczący&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w Czyzeminie zamieszkaly.''<br>having / counting &nbsp;in Czyzemiń&nbsp;&nbsp; residing.
----
----
'''C.  Two witnesses are named with genitive grammatical inflection. Their occupations, ages, and residences are given. (This is sometimes omitted in earlier records.)<br>
----
''w obecności &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Macieja Nowaka lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;trzydzieści pięć mający i<br>''in presence&nbsp; (of) Maciej&nbsp;&nbsp; Nowak&nbsp; years thirty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; five having and (of)<br>
----
''Jana Grabowskiego lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;pięćdziesiąt liczący,&nbsp; &nbsp;obydwóch rolników w<br>''Jan&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grabowski&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; years fifty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; counting, both&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; farmers&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in<br>
----
''Czyzeminie zamieszkałych''.<br>Czyzemiń&nbsp;&nbsp; residing.
----
----
'''D.  The child is presented and the sex is indicated.<br>
----
''i&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; okazał&nbsp;&nbsp; Nam dziecię,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; płci męskiej /''źeńskiej. . . .<br>and showed us&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; child,&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) sex&nbsp; male&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /&nbsp; female. . . .
----
----
'''E.  Place of birth is given with date and time of day. Use the [[Polish Genealogical Word List|'''Polish Genealogical Word List''']] to read the date.<br>
----
''urodzone w &nbsp;Czyzemienie w domu &nbsp;&nbsp;pod &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;numerem trzynastym'', . . . .<br>born&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Czyzemiń&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in house (under) number&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; thirteen, . . . .<br>
----
''na dniu dzisiejszym / wczorajszym / onegdajszym&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; /''<br>on day&nbsp;&nbsp; today&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / yesterday&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / day before yesterday /<br>
----
''trzydziestym&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;grudnia &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/ &nbsp;miesiąca bie''ź''ącego. . . .<br>''thirtieth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) December /&nbsp; month&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; current. . . .<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''roku bieźącego/ przeszłego o godzinie szóstej wieczorem''.<br>(of) year&nbsp; current&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / preceding&nbsp; at hour&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; sixth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in the evening.
----
----
'''F.  The mother of the child is given in genitive grammatical inflection with her age. The record will state if she is the wife of the one presenting himself. If not, the record will state whether she is unmarried. When the mother is married but the father is merely not present, then his name is usually given between the birth date and the name of the mother.<br>
----
''(Urodzone) z&nbsp; &nbsp;jego małźonki Maryanny z Grabowskich / &nbsp;Nowaków''<br>(Born)&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; of his&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; wife&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Maryanna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grabowska&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / Nowak<br>
----
''lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;trzydzieści trzy &nbsp;&nbsp;mającej.<br>''years thirty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; three having.<br>
----
----
►'''(Earlier records, prior to the mid-1820s will usually read differently.)'''<br>
----
''cświadczając, iź&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; jest spłodzone z&nbsp;&nbsp; niego i&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Maryanny<br>''testifying&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that (it) is&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; begotten&nbsp;&nbsp; of him&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and (of) Maryanna<br>
----
z / z domu &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mazurk''ów lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;trzydzieści trzy &nbsp;&nbsp;mającej jego małźonki.<br>''(maiden name) Mazurek&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; years thirty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; three having, his&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; wife.
----
'''G.  Some records will indicate that on this day the christening was performed.'''<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;''Dziecieciu temu na Chrzcie &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Świętym w &nbsp;dniu dzisiejszym odbytym.''<br>(for) child&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; this&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Christening Holy&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; on day&nbsp; today&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; performed.</b>
----
'''H.  The child is given a name.'''<br>
----
''nadane jest Imię &nbsp;Jan Marcin / zyczeniem jego jest nadać mu Imię Ewa''<br>given&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; is&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; name Jan Marcin / desire&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; his&nbsp;&nbsp; is&nbsp;&nbsp; give&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; it&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; name Ewa
----
'''I. The Godparents are named.'''<br>
----
''jego Rodzicami Chrzestnymi byli &nbsp;&nbsp;Alojzy Kowalski &nbsp;&nbsp;i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Elźbieta Adamska.''<br>his&nbsp;&nbsp; Godparents&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; were Alojzy Kowalski and Elźbieta Adamska.
----
'''J. The entry was read and signed by the witnesses or by the priest/rabbi if the witnesses could not write.'''<br>
----
''Akt &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;ten &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;stawającemu i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;świadkom przeczytany został,<br>''Entry this (to the one) present&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and witnesses&nbsp; read&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; was,<br>
----
''Ojciec&nbsp;&nbsp; i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;świadkowie &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pisać nie &nbsp;umieją.<br>''Father and witnesses (to) write&nbsp; not know how.
----
==== Napoleonic Marriage Records in Polish====
Marriage entries are the most informative. Marrying was subject to specific conditions.
*A male below the age of 18 or a female below the age of 15 could not contract marriage. (The emperor could give dispensations in exceptional, important situations).
*A son under 25 and a daughter under 21 had to have their parents' consent; in case of parental disagreement, the father's consent sufficed.
*If the parents were no longer alive or could not be present, then consent was given by grandfathers or, if applicable, brothers or uncles.
*It was impossible to marry a second time without dissolution of the first marriage.
*The wedding had to take place publicly before the civil registrar in the place of residence of one of the newlyweds.
The Code also set forth the obligations proceeding from marriage:
*Newlyweds were obligated to, among other things, live together and support themselves together and to raise children jointly.
*The husband was to protect his wife, his wife was to obey her husband, the wife could not appear in court without her husband's consent (criminal cases were exceptions) except with support of the court.
*The wife could not enter into a second marriage until after 10 months had passed since the previous marriage was dissolved.
*Children did not have the right to demand any estate from their parents, and in accases of parental poverty, were obligated give them support.
'''The majority of records from the period of the Napoleonic Code gave exact birth dates for the couple according to entries from the registers of their home parishes.'''
----
'''A.  Place and date of registration of marriage. (Place is given with grammatical ending and the date and time of day are written out in Polish.) Use the Polish Word List to read the date.'''<br>
----
''Dzialo się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w mieście Olbierzowicach &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia dwódzięstego''<br>It came to pass in place&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Olbierzowice&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (on) day&nbsp; twentieth-<br>
----
''siódmego &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;listopadu &nbsp;&nbsp; roku&nbsp; tysiąc &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; osiemset &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; sześcdziesiątego''<br>seventh (of) November year&nbsp; thousand eight-hundred sixtieth-
----
''czwartego, &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; o &nbsp;godzinie dziewiątej &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; rano. . . .<br>''fourth (1864) at hour&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ninth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (in) morning. . . .
----
----
►'''(Prior to the mid-1820s, records will start with ''Roku''. This earlier format gives year first, date, time of day, and then the title and often name of the registrar. See birth format for an example.)'''
----
'''B.  In most records after the mid-1820s two witnesses are named, usually with genitive grammatical inflection. Their occupations, ages, and residences are given. (Caution: In some cases the groom and bride present themselves at this point in the entry. In such cases the witnesses will be noted in the Summation.)'''<br>
----
''Wiadomo &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;czyniemy źe &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;w przytomności &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;świadków&nbsp; Tomasza<br>''Knowingly (we) affirm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that in presence&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) witnesses&nbsp; Tomasz<br>
----
''Kolczaka mularz &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;trzydzieści i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Piotra Studzińskiego''<br>Kolczak&nbsp;&nbsp; bricklayer years thirty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and Piotr&nbsp; Studzińki<br>
----
''szewca &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;lat &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; trzydzieści sześć mających, obydwóch w Olbierzowicach<br>''shoemaker years thirty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; six&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; having,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; both&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Olbierzowice<br>
----
''zamięskałych.'' . . .<br>residing. . . .<br>
----
----
►'''Sometimes:'''<br>
----
''Stawiłi się. . .''(Names of witnesses as above, without grammatical endings.)<br>They appeared. . .
----
'''C.  In most records prior to the mid-1820s and sometimes later, the groom and bride will present themselves. Information will be given as in D below, usually without the instrumental grammatical inflection. If the couple appear together with a witness or official, then the instrument inflection may be required because of the preposition ''z".'''<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Stawiłi&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ludwik Jan Kowalski, &nbsp;lat. . . . etc., a<br>''(They) presented themselves Ludwik Jan Kowalski, age. . . .etc., and<br>
----
''Panna &nbsp;&nbsp;Tekla Tokarska,&nbsp; lat. . . . etc.''<br>Maiden Tekla Tokarska, age. . . . etc.<br>
----
►'''Sometimes:'''<br>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Stawil &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rabin Hersz Sztajn wraz &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;z &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Starozakonami<br>''(He) presented himself Rabbi Hersz Sztajn together with Jews<br>
----
''Szmulem Litmanem, lat. . . . , &nbsp;&nbsp;a &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Panna Ruchlą Dawidowiczowną, &nbsp;lat. . . .<br>''Szmul&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Litman,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; age. . . . , and maiden Ruchla Dawidowiczowna, age. . . .
----
'''D. Statement of marriage. If marriage took place on a day different than the day of registration, it will be stated here.'''<br>
----
''Na dniu dzisiejszym / wczorajszym zawarte &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;zostało Religijne''<br>On day&nbsp;&nbsp; today&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / yesterday&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; accomplished was&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Religious<br>
----
''Małźenstwo między. . . .<br>''Marriage&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; between. . . .
----
'''E. Names of bridegroom and bride are given. Because the preposition ''między''requires instrumental grammatical inflection, their names and all words describing them will have grammatical endings. For the groom, everything will end with –''m''. For the bride, everything will end with –''ą.''Information given will vary. Age, previous marital status and residence are almost always given. Very often the entry will also give place of birth. (In early records prior to the mid-1820s this is often accompanied by a statement that the age and birthplace are confirmed by an extract from the parish register of the birthplace.) Most records give the names and residence of parents of the bride and groom. Other information that may be given would be exact birth date, names of previous marriage partners, etc. The order in which information is given can vary, but the groom is always first with information pertaining to him, followed by the bride and all information pertaining to her.<br>
----
''między&nbsp;&nbsp; Ludwikiem Janem Orlikiem / Kowalskim młodzianem / kawalerem /<br>''between Ludwik &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jan &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Orlik &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/ Kowalski &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;bachelor &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/ bachelor &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/<br>
----
''wdowcem kowalem / profeszyi &nbsp;&nbsp;kowalskiej w Kaczkowiznie zamieszkałym. . . <br>''widower&nbsp;&nbsp; smith&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / profession smith&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Kaczkowizna residing. . .<br>
----
''urodzonym w Gostynie z &nbsp;/ synem &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;niegdyś / zmarłego Tomasza i<br>''born&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in Gostyn of /&nbsp; son&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) the late / deceased Tomasz&nbsp;&nbsp; and (of)<br>
----
''Justyny z Pinkowskich &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;małźonków &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Orlików podług<br>''Justyna&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pinkowska &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;a married couple (named) the Orliks&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; according to<br>
----
''złoźonej&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; przed&nbsp; Nami metryko&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; wyjęty&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; z&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ksiąg&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; kościoła<br>''submitted before us&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; certificate extracted from book&nbsp; (of) church at<br>
----
''Gostyńskiego lat. . . . etc. &nbsp;a &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Panna &nbsp;&nbsp;Tekla Tokarska&nbsp; / wdowa po Józefie<br>''Gostyn&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; age . . . etc. and maiden Tekla Tokarska / widow of&nbsp; Józef<br>
----
''Gadzińskim zmarłym &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia. .&nbsp; / przy matce &nbsp;&nbsp;zostającą, Córka. . .''<br>Gadziński&nbsp;&nbsp; deceased (on) day. . ./ with mother staying,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Daughter (of). . .<br>
----
►'''(Information is given for the bride similar to that given for the groom.) '''
----
'''F. As marriages must be preceded by three banns (announcements in the church) the dates of the banns are given, written out in Polish. Some records also state who gave permission for the marriage.<br>
----
''Małźenstwo to &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;poprzedzily &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; trzy &nbsp;&nbsp;zapowiedzie &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w&nbsp; dniach<br>''Marriage&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; this preceded&nbsp;&nbsp; (by) three announcements on days<br>
----
''dziesiątym, siedmnastym, i&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dwódziestym czwartym&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; listopadu&nbsp; roku<br>''tenth,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; seventeenth, and twenty-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; fourth&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) November year<br>
----
bie''źącego w parafia. Zezwolenie&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; małźenstwa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ojca<br>''current&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in parish. Permission (for) marriage&nbsp;&nbsp; (by) father (of)<br>
----
nowoza''ślubionego&nbsp; i&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; rodziców&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; nowozaślubionej.<br>''groom (newlywed) and parents&nbsp; (of) bride (newlywed).
----
'''G.  Summation: This includes a statement that there were no objections to the marriage. Sometimes it includes a renaming of the witnesses with an occasional mention of relationship to the bride or groom. Finally, it concludes with a statement, as in birth and death records, that the entry was read to witnesses and that they signed or did not sign, depending on their ability to write.'''
==== Napoleonic Death Records in Polish====
Death records contain description of the family relationships of the witnesses appearing, exact time and place of death, place of birth and parent's names. If the deceased was married, then the names of his or her spouse and of all living children were given. The cause of death was usually omitted if the person died of natural causes; it was given if the person died as a result of an accident, e.g., drowning, a fall, or fire. Information given in the death record depended on the knowledge of the witnesses who came to report the death.
----
----
'''A.  Place and date of registration of death. (Place is given with grammatical ending and the date and time of day are written out in Polish.) Use the [[Polish Genealogical Word List|'''Polish Genealogical Word List''']] to read the date.'''<br>
----
''Działo się&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; w parafii Źychlińskiej w roku tysiąc&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; osemset<br>It came to pass in parish Źychlin&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; in year thousand eight-hundred<br>
----
''czterdziestiego&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dnia trzeciego &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;marca &nbsp;o &nbsp;godzinie. . . . etc.''<br>forty (1840)&nbsp; (on) day&nbsp; third&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) March at hour. . . . etc.<br>''
----
►(Prior to the mid-1820s records will start with ''Roku''. This earlier format gives year first, date, time of day, and then the title and often name of the registrar. See birth format for an example.)
----
'''B.  Two witnesses present themselves to report the death. Their occupations, ages, and residences are given.'''<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Stawiłi &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; się &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Marcin Cieślak,&nbsp; parobek &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;lat. . . . &nbsp;&nbsp; i''<br>(They) presented themselves Marcin Cieślak, farmhand age. . . . and<br>
----
''Mateusz Czerwiński,&nbsp;&nbsp; formal&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; lat. . . .<br>''Mateusz Czerwiński, farm-wagon driver age. . . .
----
'''C.  The witnesses testify concerning the death, including the place (given with grammatical ending) and the date and time of day when the death occurred. Use the [[Polish Genealogical Word List|'''Polish Genealogical Word List''']] to read the date.<br>
----
''i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;oświadczyłi iz &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;dnia pierwszego &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; marca / wczorajszego<br>''and (they) testified&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; that (on) day&nbsp; first&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; (of) March / yesterday<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''roku bieźącego, o&nbsp; godzinie&nbsp; ósmej w wieczor,&nbsp;&nbsp; w wśi &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Dębicach. . . .<br>''(of) year&nbsp; current,&nbsp;&nbsp; at hour&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; eight&nbsp; in evening, in village Dębice. . . .
----
'''D. Name of deceased is given with varying amounts of information. Age and occupation are almost always given. Other information often given would be parents, birthplace, survivors, etc.<br>
----
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ''Umarł / &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Umarła Józef Cieślak&nbsp; lat . . . .&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;licząc[y/a], syn /<br>''(He) died &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;/ (she) died &nbsp;&nbsp; Józef Cieślak years . . . . counting,&nbsp;&nbsp; son /<br>
----
c''órka&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; niegdyś&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; / wspomianego&nbsp; Marcina i&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Wiktoriyi z<br>''daughter (of) deceased / forementioned Marcin and Wiktorya<br>
----
''Czerwińskich &nbsp;&nbsp;małonków &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Cieślaków; urodzony w<br>''Czerwińska&nbsp;&nbsp; a married couple (named) the Cieślaks; &nbsp; born &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;in<br>
----
''Prusach / w&nbsp; tej&nbsp; wśi &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;roku . . . . gdziei&nbsp; i &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;z &nbsp;&nbsp;kogo urodzony''<br>Prussia&nbsp; / in this village (in) year. . . .&nbsp; when and of whom born<br>
----
''niewiadomo. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zostawił / zostawiwszy po &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;sobie &nbsp;&nbsp; owdowiałą źonę<br>''unknown.&nbsp; (He) has left / leaving&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; after himself widowed&nbsp; wife<br>
----
Agat''ę / owdowiałego meźa&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mikołajo / etc.<br>''Agata / widowed&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; husband Mikołaj&nbsp; / etc.
----
----


==Indexes==
==Indexes==
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Civil registration records are kept at the local civil registration office (Urzd stanu Cywilnego) in each town or city. You must therefore determine the town where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. Your ancestor may have lived in a village that was part of the civil district of a nearby larger town. In large cities there may be many civil districts.  
Civil registration records are kept at the local civil registration office (Urzd stanu Cywilnego) in each town or city. You must therefore determine the town where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. Your ancestor may have lived in a village that was part of the civil district of a nearby larger town. In large cities there may be many civil districts.  
===To find the town for the civil registration office:===
===To find the town for the civil registration office:===
*Use [https://mapa.szukacz.pl/ '''mapa.szukacz'''] to find the province, area, commune, and postal code of the town. Enter the town name in the "place" field in the right sidebar and click "Show". All information will appear at the bottom of the right sidebar. <br>
*Use [https://mapa.szukacz.pl/ '''mapa.szukacz.pl'''] to find the province, area, commune, and postal code of the town. Enter the town name in the "place" field in the right sidebar and click "Show". All information will appear at the bottom of the right sidebar. <br>
*Use [http://Kartenmeister.com '''Kartenmeister'''] to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia
*Use [http://Kartenmeister.com '''Kartenmeister'''] to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia
=== Online Indexes to Civil Registration Records  ===
=== Online Indexes to Civil Registration Records  ===
====Jewish Record Indexes====
====Jewish Record Indexes====
If searching for a Jewish ancestor, select&nbsp;the database&nbsp;[http://jri-poland.org/ "Jewish Records Indexing - Poland"] which is a good starting point.&nbsp; The database has approximately four million records and can be searched in several ways, such as entering a surname and a town name.&nbsp; Due to spelling errors, a "Sounds Like" search is usually more productive than an "is Exactly" search.&nbsp; The results are sorted by the location of the event and by the source of the data.&nbsp; "LDS"&nbsp;indicates that the records have been microfilmed and are available at the Family History Library.&nbsp; For these records, the database frequently contains the record number and film number, so the records can be found easily.&nbsp; "PSA" indicates that the records are available from a branch of the Polish State Archives.&nbsp;
{| style="float:right;
|-
|{{MormonLDSRemoval}}
|}
If searching for a Jewish ancestor, select the database [http://jri-poland.org/ "Jewish Records Indexing - Poland"] which is a good starting point. The database has approximately four million records and can be searched in several ways, such as entering a surname and a town name. Due to spelling errors, a "Sounds Like" search is usually more productive than an "is Exactly" search. The results are sorted by the location of the event and by the source of the data. "LDS" indicates that the records have been microfilmed and are available at the FamilySearch Library. For these records, the database frequently contains the record number and film number, so the records can be found easily. "PSA" indicates that the records are available from a branch of the Polish State Archives.  


===Online Records===
===Online Records===
__NOTOC__
  This course will demonstrate how to use these sources.
====Finding Aids====
Poland  finding aids have been created by a variety of state, church, society, and private organizations.  Their goal is to inform what records exist and the repositories that hold them. Each finding aid has a different focus--a particular religion or geographical area or archive or collection.  Be sure to search all that apply to your ancestors. Remember that churches often produced civil registration records. The church records might have been destroyed, but copies had been sent to the government and still exist. So we search for both church records  and civil registration records.
*[http://baza.archiwa.gov.pl/sezam/pradziad.php?l=en '''The PRADZIAD Database'''] A database that comprises information on parish and civil registration registers preserved in all branches of the Polish State Archives and some Roman Catholic diocesan and archdiocesan archives. Gives location of specific records and address of archives.
*[https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/en/strona_glowna/ '''Szukaj w Archiwach''' ] Search page for church records and civil registration at the National Archives. Links directly to scans.
*[https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/results?count=20&placeId=1927187&query=%2Bplace%3A%22Poland%22 '''FamilySearch Catalog for Poland''']  Microfilms (all will eventually be digitized, many are now) of the FamilySearch records.
*[[Baptist Church Records in Poland|'''Baptist Church Records in Poland''']]
*[https://www.parafie.genealodzy.pl/ '''Parafie.genealodzy.pl'''], Parish inventory, address list of current parishes.
*[https://agoff.de/?p=714 '''AGOFF,'''] an organization dedicated to finding missing records of Prussia.
*[http://www.christoph-www.de/kbsilesia2.html '''Silesia Findbuch,''']  Comprehensive list of Silesian church records by parish, their location, and links to online records
*[http://westpreussen.de/pages/forschungshilfen/kirchenbuecher.php '''Family Research in West Prussia, Inventory of Church Records,'''] listed by county (kreis), find the kreis for your town in Meyers 1871 Gazetteer.
* [http://www.westpreussen.de/cms/ct/Standesamtsregister/bestandsverzeichnis.php? '''Family Research in West Prussia, Inventory of Civil Registration Records,'''] organized by county (kreis). Find the kreis in Meyer's 1871 Gazetteer.
* [http://www.ptg.gda.pl/index.php/certificate/action/main/ '''PTG (Pomorskie Towarzystwo Genealogiczne)''']  Online indexes to birth, marriage and death records for the Pomeranian area.
* '''Pommerscher Greif e. V.,''' Association for Pomeranian Family and Local History. 
**[https://www.pommerscher-greif.de/kirchenbuch-online-qdb.html '''Finding aid tool for church records''']
**[https://www.pommerscher-greif.de/Standesamt-online-qdb.html '''Finding aid tool for civil registration''']
*[https://www.genealogiawarchiwach.pl/ '''Genealogia w Archiwach''',] Torun and Bydgoszcz State Archives, mostly in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian area.
*[http://www.agad.gov.pl/inwentarze/testy.html '''BaSia''',] indexing for  Greater Poland and Kuyavian-Pomeranian
====Searchable Databases====
*[http://www.szczecin.ap.gov.pl/ '''National Archives in Stettin'''] [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/8/84/Stettin_tutorial_update2.pdf Tutorial]
*[http://www.szczecin.ap.gov.pl/ '''National Archives in Stettin'''] [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/images/8/84/Stettin_tutorial_update2.pdf Tutorial]
*[http://www.pommerscher-greif.de '''Pommerscher Greif e. V., Association for Pomeranian Family and Local History'''].
*[http://www.geneteka.genealodzy.pl/ '''Geneteka'''] [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Geneteka_database Instructions]
::Go to Forschung > Famillienforschung > Standesamt online or Kirchenbuch online > Find your Kreis >Parish
*[http://www.ptg.gda.pl '''Pomerania Genealogical Association'''] Indexing project.
::Go to "PomGenBase". > Search "PomGenBase". > Select  "Christenings", "Marriages", or "Deaths”" > Use drop-down menu to see list of locations. > Select a locality or search in all localities. > Restrict your search using "Years". > Enter at least a "Surname". > Change "Search Method" to "similar". > Click "Search".
*[http://www.szukajwarchiwach.pl '''Szukaj w Archiwach'''][https://s3.amazonaws.com/ps-services-us-east-1-914248642252/s3/research-wiki-elasticsearch-prod-s3bucket/images/3/35/1-Polish_State_Archives-Instruction.pdf Tutorial] The Polish Archives
*[http://www.geneteka.genealodzy.pl/ Geneteka] [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Geneteka_database Instructions]


=== Records at the FamilySearch Library  ===


=== Records at the Family History Library  ===
The FamilySearch Library has microfilmed the civil registration records of many towns in the former Prussian areas of Poland. The specific holdings of the FamilySearch Library are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog. To find civil registration records in the FamilySearch Library, search in the Place section under:  
 
The Family History Library has microfilmed the civil registration records of many towns in the former Prussian areas of Poland. They are rarely available more recently than about 1890 because the&nbsp; microfilming of records less than 110 years old is restricted. The specific holdings of the Family History Library are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog. To find civil registration records in the Family History Library, search in the&nbsp;Place section under:  


POLAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION  
POLAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION  
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POLAND, (COUNTY), (CITY) - CIVIL REGISTRATION  
POLAND, (COUNTY), (CITY) - CIVIL REGISTRATION  


The library’s collection continues to grow. Do not give up if records are not available yet. The FamilySearch Catalog is updated annually. Check it again every year for the records you need.
The library’s collection continues to grow. Do not give up if records are not available yet.


===Writing for Records===
===Writing for Records===
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The present location of records depends on the age of the record book. Records more recent than 100 years are generally in local civil registration offices, and older ones are in state archives.  
The present location of records depends on the age of the record book. Records more recent than 100 years are generally in local civil registration offices, and older ones are in state archives.  
====To find the address of the civil registration office:====
====To find the address of the civil registration office:====
Addresses and contact information for Polish Civil Registry Offices can be found [https://archiwum.mswia.gov.pl/pl/form/148,Adresy-USC-w-Polsce-Addresses-of-Civil-Registry-Offices.html here].
Enter the name of the '''commune''' or filter by the województwo and powiat to see a list of all the civil registry offices in the area.
Another option is to do a google search:
{|
{|
|-
|-
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*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]
*[[Polish Genealogical Word List]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
*[[German Genealogical Word List]]
===Word-by-Word Reading Aid===
*[https://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2016/06/03/civil-registrations-search-nearly-3-million-brand-new-german-records/ German Civil Registration]
*Reading Polish Birth Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Assignment.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland_Birth_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
*Reading Polish Marriage Records - [[Media:1-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland_Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Marriage_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
*Reading Polish Death Records - [[Media:1-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Instruction.pdf|Instruction]], [[Media:2-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Activity.pdf|Activity]], [[Media:3-Poland-Death_Records_in_Paragraph_Format-Answer_Key.pdf|Answer Key]]
*[[Polish Civil Registration Reading Aid]]


===How-to Guides===
===How-to Guides===
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===Lessons===
===Lessons===
*[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/90 '''Reading Polish Handwritten Records''']
*'''[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/german-paleography-seminar-introduction German Paleography Seminar - 10 classes]'''
**Lesson 1: Polish Letters
*[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/german-paleography-seminar-introduction German Paleography Seminar] - Lessons on German Handwriting
**Lesson 2: Polish Words and Dates
*Old German Script
**Lesson 3: Reading Polish Records
**[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-part-1 Part 1]
*'''Reading German Handwritten Records'''
**[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-part-2 Part 2]
**[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/38 Lesson 1: Kurrent Letters]
**[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/old-german-script-german-church-and-civil-records-part-3 Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)]
**[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/39 Lesson 2: Making Words in Kurrent]
*'''Reading Russian Handwriting'''
**[https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/40 Lesson 3: Reading Kurrent Documents]
**[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/reading-russian-documents-the-russian-alphabet Reading Russian Documents: The Russian Alphabet]
*'''Old German Script'''
*'''Additional Russian Paleography Classes'''
**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/375 Part 1]
**[http://www.russianforeveryone.com/RufeA/Lessons/Introduction/Alphabet/Alphabet.htm Russian for Everyone: The Russian Alphabet]
**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/377 Part 2]
**[https://www.sggee.org/research/rus_translate/Cyrillic_Handouts.pdf SGGEE Cyrillic Handout.pdf] for months and numbers in Russian cursive.
**[https://familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/426  Part 3 (German Church and Civil Records)]
*'''Latin in German Church Records'''
**[https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/lessons/latin-for-genealogists Latin for Genealogists]


===Other Translation Resources  ===
===Other Translation Resources  ===
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{{H-langs|en=Poland Civil Registration- Vital Records|pt=Polônia, Registro Civil - Registros Vitais}}
[[pt:Polônia, Registro Civil - Registros Vitais]]
[[Category:Poland Civil Registration]]
[[Category:Poland Civil Registration]]
[[Category:Civil Registration]]
[[Category:Civil Registration]]

Latest revision as of 18:01, 21 May 2024

Prussian Poland Wiki Topics
Flag of Prussia (1466-1772) Lob.svg.png
Beginning Research
Record Types
Moderator
The FamilySearch moderator for Poland is Pysnaks and Sonja


Definition

  • Civil registration is the vital records (records of births, marriages, and deaths) made by the government. Civil registration records (zapisy cywilne) are an excellent source for information on names, dates, and places of births, marriages, and deaths.
  • Legally, civil records were to be kept by state officials. Because there were not enough state officials, the clergy were frequently appointed as civil registrars. The clergy were required to make civil copies of birth, marriage, and death records. These are known as "civil transcripts of church records" (see Poland Church Records).
  • Because the church was involved in early civil registration, it is difficult to clearly distinguish between civil registration and church records.

In 1795, the old Kingdom of Poland was conquered and divided among Russia, Austria, and Prussia. Civil registration coverage varied for each part of Poland controlled by Russia, Prussia, or Austria. This article covers information about civil registration in the Prussian-controlled part of Poland. For the other parts of Poland, see:

West Prussia (Westpreussen)Pomerania (Pommern)East Prussia (Oustpreussen)BrandenburgPosenGalicia (Austrian PolandSilesia (Schlesien)Russian PolandPoland 1815-1918.png

Time Coverage

Civil authorities in the German territories of Poland began registering births, marriages, and deaths on 1 October 1874. The people were required to report all births, marriages, and deaths to a civil registrar at a civil registration office (Standesamt).

Language of the Records

From 1874 to 1918, records were kept in German. Some areas were annexed to Poland after World War I, and began using Polish. After 1945, all those areas were annexed and using Polish.

North SchleswigMemelFree City of DanzigFree City of DanzigPomeraniaUpper SilesiaSilesiaHultschiner LaendchenPosenWest PrussiaPosenWest PrussiaSouthern East PrussiaSilesiaNorthern East PrussiaHultschiner LaendchenPomeraniaSilesiaAlsace-LorrainePomeraniaMalmedy-EupenAlsace-LorraineAlsace-LorraineCountries formerly in Germany.png


Information Recorded in Civil Registers

Information recorded in Prussian civil registration records was quite standardized. German forms were used, which required specific details.

Prussian Birth Records (Geburten, akta urodzeń)

Birth records usually give:

  • the child’s name,
  • sex,
  • date and place of birth,
  • and parents’ names.

They sometimes give:

  • the age of the parents,
  • occupation of the father, and
  • marital status of mother.

Births were generally registered within a day of the child’s birth by the father, a neighbor of the family, or the midwife. Corrections to a birth record may have been added as a marginal note, sometimes years later.

Prussian Marriage Records (Heiraten, akta małżeństw)

Marriages were often recorded in the parish where the bride lived. After 1874 Prussian law required a civil marriage ceremony in addition to a church ceremony. There may be records for both. Civil marriage records may include more information than the church records. When church and civil records are available, search both.

Marriage registers give:

  • the date of the marriage,
  • the names of the bride and groom, and
  • the names of witnesses.

They often include:

  • the bride’s and groom’s ages,
  • birthplaces,
  • residences,
  • occupations, and
  • parents’ names.

In cases of second and later marriages, the records may include names of previous partners and their death dates. Often a note is made whether a parent or other party gave permission for the marriage.

Supporting documents were often filed by the bride or groom in support of their request to be married. Records proving their birth may have been required at the time, although these papers were probably not kept in the marriage register. Information obtained from supporting documents was often written into the actual marriage record. These documents are usually not microfilmed but might be obtained from a civil registration office.

Prussian Divorce Records (Ehescheidungen, akta rozwodowe)

Divorces before the mid-20th century were uncommon. The Catholic Church did not allow divorces, and divorces were discouraged in protestant religions, although some marriages may have been annulled. Civil officials began keeping divorce records with the beginning of civil registration. Records of divorces may contain:

  • information on family members,
  • marital history,
  • property,
  • residences, and
  • dates of other important events such as the children’s births.

Often a record of divorce was inserted later as a marginal note in the marriage register.

The FamilySearch Library has almost no divorce records in its Polish collection. You may be able to obtain information from divorce records by contacting the courthouse of the town where the divorce took place or the archives serving the area.

Prussian Death Records (Tote, akta zgonów)

Death records are especially helpful because they may provide important information on a person’s birth, spouse, and parents. Civil death records may exist for individuals for whom there are no birth or marriage records. Deaths were usually registered within a few days of the death in the town or city where the person died.

Early death records generally give:

  • the name, date, and place of death.

After 1874 they usually included:

  • the age or date of birth and
  • sometimes the birthplace,
  • residence,
  • occupation,
  • cause of death,
  • burial information,
  • informant’s name (often a relative), and
  • the name of a spouse or parents.

Information about parents and birthplace and date of the deceased and other information in a death record may be inaccurate since the informant may not have had complete information.

Indexes

The use of the Polish civil registers is further simplified by the indexes that usually accompany them. Indexes were prepared on a yearly basis. The birth, marriage, and death records were each indexed separately. The index is usually found immediately after the records indexed. In some cases the separate birth, marriage, and death indexes are grouped together at the end of the year’s records.

The indexes vary in quality. In some cases they are incomplete or missing entirely. Usually they are alphabetical by surname, but in some cases, they are alphabetized by first name or they may be chronological rather than alphabetical. Spellings in the indexes may differ from those in the actual entries. The indexes usually refer the reader to an entry number – sometimes to a page number. Researchers should realize that, although these indexes are a great help, one should not rely on them completely because some entries may be inaccurately indexed or not indexed at all.

Locating Civil Registration Records

Civil registration records are kept at the local civil registration office (Urzd stanu Cywilnego) in each town or city. You must therefore determine the town where your ancestor lived before you can find the records. Your ancestor may have lived in a village that was part of the civil district of a nearby larger town. In large cities there may be many civil districts.

To find the town for the civil registration office:

  • Use mapa.szukacz.pl to find the province, area, commune, and postal code of the town. Enter the town name in the "place" field in the right sidebar and click "Show". All information will appear at the bottom of the right sidebar.
  • Use Kartenmeister to find the Polish and German province, county, Catholic parish, Lutheran parish, and Standesamt (civil registration office), if the town was in the area of Poland once controlled by Prussia

Online Indexes to Civil Registration Records

Jewish Record Indexes

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The usage of "Mormon" and "LDS" on this page is approved according to current policy.


If searching for a Jewish ancestor, select the database "Jewish Records Indexing - Poland" which is a good starting point. The database has approximately four million records and can be searched in several ways, such as entering a surname and a town name. Due to spelling errors, a "Sounds Like" search is usually more productive than an "is Exactly" search. The results are sorted by the location of the event and by the source of the data. "LDS" indicates that the records have been microfilmed and are available at the FamilySearch Library. For these records, the database frequently contains the record number and film number, so the records can be found easily. "PSA" indicates that the records are available from a branch of the Polish State Archives.

Online Records

 This course will demonstrate how to use these sources.

Finding Aids

Poland finding aids have been created by a variety of state, church, society, and private organizations. Their goal is to inform what records exist and the repositories that hold them. Each finding aid has a different focus--a particular religion or geographical area or archive or collection. Be sure to search all that apply to your ancestors. Remember that churches often produced civil registration records. The church records might have been destroyed, but copies had been sent to the government and still exist. So we search for both church records and civil registration records.

Searchable Databases

Records at the FamilySearch Library

The FamilySearch Library has microfilmed the civil registration records of many towns in the former Prussian areas of Poland. The specific holdings of the FamilySearch Library are listed in the FamilySearch Catalog. To find civil registration records in the FamilySearch Library, search in the Place section under:

POLAND - CIVIL REGISTRATION

POLAND, (COUNTY) - CIVIL REGISTRATION

POLAND, (COUNTY), (CITY) - CIVIL REGISTRATION

The library’s collection continues to grow. Do not give up if records are not available yet.

Writing for Records

Birth, marriage, divorce, and death records may be found by contacting local civil registration offices or archives in Poland. To protect the rights of privacy of living persons, most modern records have restrictions on their use and access. You may have to prove you relationship to the person in the record, and that they are deceased.

The present location of records depends on the age of the record book. Records more recent than 100 years are generally in local civil registration offices, and older ones are in state archives.

To find the address of the civil registration office:

Addresses and contact information for Polish Civil Registry Offices can be found here. Enter the name of the commune or filter by the województwo and powiat to see a list of all the civil registry offices in the area.


Another option is to do a google search:

1. Google: urzad stanu cywilnego
with the name of the commune.

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2. From the list of hits,
find the official page of the
URC (urzad stanu cywilnego).
Click on the link.

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3. Find the e-mail address.

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How to Write the E-mail

Write your request in Polish whenever possible. Information about how to write to local civil registration offices in Poland is given in Poland Letter Writing Guide.

Writing to Archives

  • Use PRADZIAD to see which archive might have copies of the civil registers or parish registers. Archive addresses are given by clicking on "More" under AKCJA.

Reading the Language of the Records

Word Lists

The language of the records depends on the controlling government. Most of Poland was part of Austria until 1918, and church records are in Latin. The parts of Poland which belonged to Prussia (Germany) used German until they were ceded back to Poland (after World War I or II). Records in parts of Poland controlled by Russia can be in either Russian or Polish.

Word-by-Word Reading Aid

How-to Guides

For areas of Poland that were once part of Russia:

Lessons

Other Translation Resources

Translating Napoleonic style Polish records (typically in Polish before 1867 but also Russian Cyrillic between 1867 and WW I) can be daunting for the average person. A number of resources are available to help with this, both on line and in books.

  • In Their Words: A Genealogist's Translation Guide to Polish, German, Latin and Russian Documents. Volumes I & II by Jonathan D. Shea and William F. Hoffman. See LangLine for ordering information. (Volume I is Polish -> English; Volume II is Russian -> English; both contain a lot more translation resources than just the church records.)
  • A Translation Guide to 19th Century Polish Language Civil Registration Documents by Judith R. Frazin.
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