2016-07-05 Theodore Suhaka

My paternal grandfather's name was Samuel Suhaka. When he arrived at Ellis Island, New York, on May 30, 1914 his name was recorded on his immagratiom papers as Sergey Suchacka. On the same immigration documents, it is recorded that he came from Minsk (spelled Mynsk), Russia, and that he came from the village of Grava. The same Ellis Island documents say he had a wife still living in Minsk, and that wife's name was Anna Suchacka. Later on, as recorded on his USA citizenship application papers, it is recorded that In the early 1930's my grandfather had a son (a half brother to my father who none in the family knew anything about) whose name was Steven (Stephen?). I know neither his wife first wife Anna, nor his son Steven, ever came to the United States, and that means we could have living relatives in Belarus. This possibility is very exciting to me and my family! In addition, his citizenship papers also say my grandfather's parents were named Samuel Suhaka and Marie Malriwayka (maiden surname). Other important information of obvious importance to consider is that he was born on September 18, 1888; that he was an educated man who could read and write fluently in his native language; that he taught Russian-American children how to read and write Russian in a so-called "Russian School" (he got in trouble for flying the flag of the Soviet Union in front of the school house); that he was 'absent without leave' from the Russian army when he somehow escaped to Hamburg, Germany, where he came to America on a ship called the Kaiserin Agusta Victoria; that he was a local secretary for a US chapter of the Imternational Workers Order (a communist fraternal organization). It would be truly wonderful if you folks could help us learn more about my Grava ancestry and the possibility of living relatives. Thanks so very much for all your help.адказаць

2019-11-02 Васіль Манкевіч

You are on the right track: there were a lot of people with this last name in Grava (Грава). I have found records of them in WW1 and WW2 databases. They spelled their last name in various form: Сугако, Сугаков, Сучака, Сучако, Сучак. It was a large clan, they were living there and in nearby villages. You can start your research by requesting a copy of Samuel Suhaka birth certificate from National Historical Archive of Belarus (niab.by/newsite/en/our-services) or requesting a full genealogical inquiry. Good luck! адказаць