This was the first sustained exchange between two men sharing the same name, the same surname, and overlapping family geography—but not yet a clear understanding of how they were related. What began as a tentative outreach quickly became a collaborative reconstruction of family memory spanning Lisbon Falls, Queens, and multiple generations of Johns and Andrews. The correspondence unfolded in mid-2020 and became one of the earliest confirmations that the Elcik story extended well beyond a single branch.
At a Glance
- First Contact: July 15, 2020
- Primary Surname: Elcik
- Medium: Facebook Messenger and Email
- Role in Project: Early collaborator; New York lineage anchor
Correspondence Log
Contact #1 — July 15, 2020, 7:20 AM — Facebook Messenger
John Elcik (FL):
Would you or a member of the family be interested in some ancestry research I’m doing? I have a real mystery to solve and could use another person’s opinion. It could be fun. I can provide additional details, and there is no obligation after you see the question and analysis I have done. Warmest regards, John.
P.S. If you prefer email for this, my address is johnelcik@msn.com.
Contact #2 — July 16, 2020, 1:42 PM — Facebook Messenger
John Elcik (NY):
Hi John. I would be interested! I know there must be some relation between us since the last name Elcik is not common, and our relatives came from Lisbon Falls. If there’s anything I can do to help with the research or anything you want to show me, probably the best way to reach me is at my work email, since I am always at work. I also don’t mind you using Facebook Messenger.
Contact #3 — July 18, 2020, 7:32 AM — Facebook Messenger
John Elcik (NY):
My grandfather, Andrew Elcik, was born in Lisbon Falls on a farm in 1911. He eventually settled in New York City and raised his family in Queens. My father, also named John Elcik, recently passed away. His brother Andrew is still alive and lives on Long Island. I know there is a very direct relationship here.
John Elcik (FL):
I’m going to use email, as I don’t know how to attach documents to Messenger. I’m sending two emails initially. The first will include five documents to read in order. The second will be an invitation to access the family tree on Ancestry.com. Please don’t feel any pressure to respond right away.
Over the next several exchanges, both men worked carefully to untangle multiple generations of Johns and Andrews, correcting early assumptions and aligning timelines related to immigration, naming conventions, and Ellis Island arrivals.
Contact #4 — July 18–19, 2020 — Facebook Messenger
John Elcik (NY):
My great-grandparents arrived in the early 1900s and settled in Lisbon Falls, Maine. According to the family tree, you are confusing my father with my grandfather. My father was John Elcik, born in 1943 and died in 2018. My grandfather was Andrew Elcik, born in Lisbon Falls in 1911 and died in 1995. I was born in 1965 and am also named John Elcik.
John Elcik (FL):
There are a lot of things you had correct. My great-grandfather, John Elcik, did die in 1962, so you have that right. I have more information to send, but I need to organize it first.
John Elcik (NY):
Because of a lack of work in Maine during the Great Depression, my grandfather Andrew moved to New York City around 1932 and settled in Queens. He married Jeannie Pascarella and worked for Bryer’s Ice Cream for forty years. My father and uncle later settled on Long Island.
Contact #5 — July 19, 2020, 3:05 AM — Facebook Messenger
John Elcik (FL):
Curiosity killed the cat; satisfaction brought it back. Can you point me to a relatively current picture? Who is Nicholas?
John Elcik (NY):
Nicholas is my son, born in 2001. Katherine is my daughter, born in 2005. My wife is Deborah Elcik (Polak), born in 1968. Whose picture would you like?
The conversation concluded with shared humor about identical names, generational overlap, weddings, and the persistent confusion caused by Facebook photos.
Contact #6 — July–August 2020 — Email Follow-ups
In subsequent emails, John (NY) confirmed that the surname was originally spelled Ilcik in Europe, clarified Slovak origins within the former Austria-Hungarian Empire, shared family photographs, verified gravestone details, and expressed willingness to pursue DNA testing. These follow-ups reinforced the direct connection between the New York and Maine Elcik families.
Why This Contact Mattered
This exchange transformed a tentative outreach into one of the first confirmed bridges between geographically separated Elcik branches. It validated Lisbon Falls as a shared origin point, corrected key generational assumptions, and demonstrated how collaborative dialogue—not just records—advances genealogical truth.