Tag: St. Cyril

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Catholic Churches


Mon 8/17/2020 12:20 AM

There were two Catholic churches in Lisbon Falls: Holy Family and St. Cyril. Also, there were two cemeteries: St. Cyril and Mt. Calvary. We think Mt. Calvary is the Slovak cemetery. Jack’s mom and dad are at St. Cyril, and most of your relatives as well.

There were many Slovak and French families in town, but their religion was Catholic. Jack’s family went to Holy Family Church, which was considered the Slovak church. Gert was Slovak, and Norman was French.

In talking with Jack, he thinks families decided which cemetery they wanted to be buried in, possibly depending on which church they attended. Hillside was considered the Protestant cemetery, mostly of Protestants, but some Catholics buried there.

It may be a matter of mixed religions within families or couples wanting to get buried together. We honestly don’t know the answer to that.

Either this clears it up or makes it more confusing. I’m going with more confusing!!!

Again, it’s past my bedtime,

Beth

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I’m Still Here


Fri 10/2/2020 12:36 AM

John,

To give you an update on what I’ve been doing. I’ve been back to St Cyril and Calvary cemeteries and taken more pictures and have imported them to my pictures folder. I’ll put those and others on the flash drive you sent me and send it back to you.

I talked to Eugene Elcik today, and he will come to our house and help me figure out some of the Elcik questions I have. I told him about you and what you’re doing, and he seemed very interested. He remembered the Durham Elciks and that they moved to NY. I told him all except George, who married Anna Gamache. He remembers both of them. I’m anxious to get together with him.

I’m also waiting to hear back from Marilyn Keamy (her maiden name was Karkos). She knows all the people in the Karkos family picture and will identify who is who.

Sorry, it’s been a while since I’ve sent any correspondence. We’ve been very busy with family stuff, and at the end of the day, I’m too tired to think about much of anything. That plus going to cemeteries wears me out. I think I’m done taking pictures…for now at least.

Will keep you posted,

Beth

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The Pelcarsky Puzzle

Wed 11/25/2020 3:22 PM

Beth,

Yesterday I received documents and photos from Elizabeth May (Adams) Shute.  I am over the moon, happy with what she has provided.  Most of the information is related to the Skillin branch of the family, which will take time to bring into the MyCousins tree.

Where Are My Great-Grandparents Buried?

So far, her notes on the Elcik branch resurfaces one huge question, i.e., where are my Great-grandparents buried?  John Paul Elcik, Sr. (06 NOV 1866-24 MAY 1941) and Mary Pelcarsky (16 NOV 1870-23 AUG 1936)?

John Elcik, Jr. (20 FEB 18996- 31 MAR 1963) in St. Cyril is my Grandfather, and he is married to Mary A. Gertrude Byrus (5 NOV 1990-18 APR 1951). We have the benefit of a photo.

Could father and son both be buried in St. Cyril Cemetery?  I’m beginning to think so.

Who Is Mary Polscoke? 

Elizabeth’s notes identify two different individuals:

  • Maria Anna Parcheky (16 NOV 1870-23 AUG 1936); Born in Austria, died in Lewiston and buried in St. Cyril’s Cemetery. Elizabeth shows Maria as being married to John, Sr. (06 NOV 1866-24 MAY 1941).
  • Mary Polscoke (28 SEP 1887-13 AUG 1951, Born in Austria, and buried in Calvery Cemetry. Elizabeth shows Mary as being married to John, Jr. (20 FEB 1886-31 MAR 1963)

[The first record is my Great-Grandmother. She and my Great-Grandfather are buried in St. Cyril Cemetery. We have only recently found the gravesite, but we know have pictures. – Dr. John P. Elcik, Editor]

While it is comforting that we have the same birth/death dates for Mary Pelcarsky as she does for Maria Anna Parcheky, the question remains, what is the real spelling for John Sr.’s wife (her maiden name)? Mary Pelcarsky, Maria Anna Parcheky, or something else? And who is Mary Polscoke?

What is the Correct Spelling for My Great-Grandmother’s Maiden Name? 

As you know, I have documents where surnames other than Pelcarsky were used, but I discounted them as the narrative of George F. Karkos (taken from his wife Anna Elcik) seemed the more creditable.

  • Polscoke is the spelling of John Elcik, Jr’s mother on his 20 FEB 1896 birth, Maine Vital Records.
  • Pelchascay is John Elcik, Jr’s mother on his marriage to Mary Byrus (sic), Maine Marriage Index.
  • Palcsak is Mary Elcik’s mother upon her 4 OCT 1915 wedding to John Dutko, Maine Marriage Index.
  • Pelesaky is Michael J. Elcik’s mother on his 1 AUG 1930 marriage to Annie H. Sero, Maine Marriage Index.
  • Polcarski is an unknown daughter’s mother on her 29 AUG 1910 birth, Maine Vital Records.
  • Pelchaleky (Marie Pelcarsky) married Paul Elcik, Sr., Maine Vital Records.

Also, supporting the George F. Karkos spelling of Pelcarsky are:

  • Mary Pelcarsky is Michael’s mother, as recorded in the 19 JUL 1920 Record of Marriage in Lisbon Falls, Maine for Mary Sero (Clerk) and Michael J. Elcik (mill operator).
  • Mary Pelcarsky is John’s mother in the 11 JUN 1918 Record of Marriage in Lisbon Falls, Maine for Mary Byras (Home) and John Paul Elcik (Laborer).

I have checked the online records at both Mount Calvery Cemetery and St. Cyril Cemetery for three spellings: Pelcarsky, Polscoke, Parcheky.  I can’t find a gravesite using any of them.

The definitive solution to the surname puzzle may require that we find John Elcik, Sr. or Mary’s gravesite.

Beth, Do you think not all of the individuals buried at these cemeteries may be identified online? [I know, I’m driving you crazy, again.]

John, IV

P.S. I also know how much you enjoy visiting cemeteries. Take Jack with you. Lol.

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Status Updates

Sun 11/29/2020 1:17 AM
Beth,
First, I wish you were busy for reasons of fun.  Hospitals don’t qualify. You and Jack have had more than your fair share of visits there. No more, please.
The search for the gravesite shouldn’t be a concern of yours right now.
When you are ready, I thought you might act on Elizabeth Chute’s information that they both were buried three days after their deaths at St. Cyril’s Cemetery. John on 27 MAY 1941 and Mary 26 AUG 1936. I should have clarified just how specific her information was. I know that John Sr. and Mary are not in the online database for St. Cyril’s, but I hope you might find someone there to ask if there are individuals who don’t make the online lists. Another possibility is to ask if there could be a gap in their records? This might have been close to their beginnings as a cemetery. Sometimes early records can be problematic.
Finally, I am still sorting the treasure trove of items that Jeff sent me.  In addition to the items mentioned in my last email, I now have my father’s and my original birth certificates. And as a teaser, I have found more Gamache family items. Some are specific to Nancy.  I haven’t heard from her yet. I hope all is well and that they are getting their real estate property back soon.
Both Pam and I are doing DNA testing as our family’s paternal histories (Elcik/McClanahan) stop after the 5th generation.  On the maternal side (Skillin/Strand), the family tree is significantly extended beyond the 5th generation.
I have ordered a slide scanner to make digitalizing the 600 slides possible.  My workload is growing. Setting up the printer that will scan 500 photos is being delayed till after the holidays. My office needs reorganizing to make room for the printer and scanner. 
Bless both you and Jack; please be safe and enjoy the holidays.
John, IV
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Re: Status Updates

Sun 11/29/2020 8:51 PM

 
Having excellent medical care is one of the perks of this day and age.  We are lucky! 
 
Really, you didn’t misunderstand anything. It was my mistake in the earlier email. I didn’t provide enough information. Elizabeth Mae (Chute) Adams is sharing information that her sister Sylvia “Sally” (Wentworth) Adams collected before she died.  Thus, we have no way of following up to ask where Sally came by this information about St. Cyril’s Cemetery. What perplexes me most is the detail. She provides burial dates. I rarely get those. The death date is all I normally get. Also, there is some logic in thinking John, Jr. would be in the same cemetery as his father.  If Junior is there, why not Senior?  
 
Beth, I didn’t realize that the cemetery is so small that you would have been able to walk it.  Could this reinforce my theory about John, Sr. being one of the first buried and that his location was not recorded or lost?  Is there a caretaker/historian for the Cemetery? Someone to talk to would be nice if that is an option.
 
I am thrilled for Nancy and Larry.  I will wait for the holidays to be over before asking Nancy about the family items she has offered to send. They deserve to relax, just as much as we do. By then, I hope to have scanned what Jeff has sent me that touches on her and Larry’s life together.  I think she will be surprised and hopefully pleased.
 
Warmest regards,
 
John, IV
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Wow!

Sun 12/6/2020 4:59 AM

 
My last email was just an acknowledgment of thanks for obtaining new information. Now that I have examined the contents and know what you sent… I am ecstatic. The obituary for John P. Elcik, Sr. is a significant find for several reasons.
  1. The obituary confirms the theory that John, Sr. was buried at St. Cyrill “Methodist” Cemetery. Wow!  Am I correct? Is this the same St. Cyril? The addition of Methodist does not change the location. Right?
  2. It is the first time I have seen the middle initial “P” for John, Sr.  All previous documentation I have is without the middle initial. Somehow this is comforting.
  3. The obituary says that John, Sr.’s father was also named John. This raises an interesting question. Am I really John P. Elcik, IV? or could I and not my son be the 5th?    
  4. Who is the spouse of John, Sr’s father?  Could it be the mysterious Elizabeth Baron?  I have a Social Security document that I could never explain.  I’m attaching two files. 
Wow!
 
I can’t thank YOU and your friend enough!
 
John, IV
Attachments: 
  • Elizabeth Baron (1864), U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925 – Ancestry.com.pdf, 74 KB
  • John Paul Elcik (1867), U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 – Ancestry.como.pdf, 67 KB
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Re: Wow!

 
Sun 12/6/2020 6:35 PM
 
John, IV
 
I’ve also wondered about you being John P Elcik V.  I saw both of these attachments on Ancestry and have had questions for a while now.  

 
My theory is St. Cyril Methodist, and St. Cyril Methodius are the same Catholic church, the other being Holy Family.  The different spelling doesn’t change the location of the cemetery.  When those obits were written, it may have been a misspelling, or it may have been spelled that way.  
 
Another thing Earl at the HS said is there may not be a headstone.  I can’t wait to see the map when we finally get to the HS.  That should give us a lot more information.
 
Beth