Sun 10/18/2020 11:23 PM
The Pelcarsky Puzzle
We theorize that Mary and Maria are probably different people; however, Marie’s records have become intertwined with Mary’s on some public family trees. We suspect the women could be sisters born 5 years apart in 1870 and 1875, respectively.
They Are Not Sisters
Our sister’s theory was wrong as both birth years apply only to Mary Pelcarsky. The abt 1875 birthdate in the 1910 U.S. Federal Census was an estimate. Her actual birthdate is 6 NOV 1870.
There Are Two Different Women
We were correct that there are two different women. Mary was born in 1870, and Maria Anna was born in 1927:
Mary (Pelcarsky) Elsik was born on 6 NOV 1870 in Austria (or Czechoslovakia). She married John Elsik, Sr. (1866), and they have three sons: John, Jr, Mike, and Andrew; three daughters: Mary, Annie, and Lizzie. The source is the 1910 U.S. Census. She died 23 AUG 1936. This is my great grandparents and family.
Maria Anna Pelcarsky was born in 1927 as calculated from the Ohio Death Index; she died on 12 OCT 1983 according to the same Index; Maria Pelcarsky married Paul Ilcik. They have a daughter Annie Ilcik. The source is the 19 JUN 1911 Marriage record of Annie Ilcik to Andrew Basala. Paul and Annie are what you and I are calling Durham Elcik’s.
The History Behind 4 Pelcarsky Marriages
Mary Pelcarsky (1870) married John Elcik, Sr. (1866). They both were born in Austria. They have three sons: John, Jr, Mike, and Andrew; three daughters: Mary, Annie, and Lizzie. This is my great grandfather and family. The source is the 1910 U.S. Census.
Maria Pelcarsky married Paul Ilcik, and they have a daughter Annie Ilcik. The source is the 19 JUN 1911 Marriage record of Annie Ilcik to Andrew Basala.
Anna “Annie” Pelcarsky (1848) married Joseph Paul Karkos (1867). She was born in Austria, and her parents were born in Slavonia. The source is the 11 APR 1921 marriage of Joseph Thomas Karkos and Mildred Aris Alexander. Other sources include the 1900 and 1920 U.S. Census. There could be two relationships between the Pelcarsky and Karkos families. A second relationship is Annie Elcik (daughter of Mary Pelcarsky) marriage to George F. Karkos on 9 FEB 1925.
Mary Pelcarsky (1879) married Joseph Pelcarsky (1874). Both were born in Czechoslovakia. They have two sons: Joe and Edward; three daughters: Ann, Martha, and Rose. The source is the 1940 U.S. Census. There is no known relationship between Mary and the other three. I believe them to be unrelated to us.
The Preferred Spelling is Pelcarsky
- Pelcarsky – Mothers’s maiden name, according to Annie Elcik, wife of George F. Karkos.
- Pelcarsky – Mother’s maiden name on 19 JUN 1911 Marriage record of Annie Ilcik to Andrew Basala.
6 Alternative Spellings
The maiden name for Mary Pelcarsky is different on the following records:
- Mary Polscoke is John Elcik’s mother on his 20 FEB 1896 birth, Maine Vital Records
- Mary Pelchascay is John Elcik’s mother on his marriage to Mary Byrus (sic), Maine Marriage Index
- Mary Palcsak is Mary Elcik’s mother upon her 4 OCT 1915 wedding to John Dutko, Maine Marriage Index
- Mary Pelesaky is Michael J. Elcik’s mother on his 1 AUG 1930 marriage to Annie H. Sero, Maine Marriage Index
- Mary Polcarski is an unknown daughter’s mother on her 29 AUG 1910 birth, Maine Vital Records
Also, there is Mary Pelchaleky (Marie Pelcarsky) married to Paul Elcik, Sr., Maine Vital Records
Postscript
Yes, this one baffled me for a long time.
John, IV