The Przedecki Family of No. 10 Rynek -- Klodawa
My name is Judy Muratore. My grandfather on my mother's side was born in Klodawa. His entire family, with the exception of his youngest brother, was killed in the Holocaust. I am very fortunate to have been left with many, many family photos from his days in Klodawa, as well as many letters, an extensive family tree created recently by a relative, and pages of memoirs and family stories written down by my grandfather, in hopes of one day completing the full story of his life.
In addition, the one Uncle who survived the War, along with his cousin who escaped with him, are both alive, doing well, and have sharp minds and memories of life back in Klodawa. My Uncle was just about to finish his 18 month service in the Polish Army on September 15, 1939. As we all know the war broke out. He was captured by the Germans, and sent to a labour camp. He jumped off the train, and returned home to Klodawa. His family told him to run while he can! His aunt made him take her youngest son, and run away together--having him swear to her that he would watch out for him. Which he did.
The story of their escape is enough to fill a website of it's own. What I would like to be able to do, is share their memories with all of you who are looking for some insight on what life was like back in Klodawa in the time of our ancestors. They may even be able to identify names of people.
My grandfather's family name is Przedecki (Americanized to Pizer). He arrived in 1932, before things got very bad. There were five siblings: my grandfather Menesha, his youngest brother Michael who escaped and is alive and living here in Massachusetts, two more brothers David and Avrum-Ruven, and a sister Rachel all of whom died in the War along with their own families.
My great-grandparents were Sender and Bayla (Francus) Przedecki. Sender was a successful clothes merchant and manufacturer in Klodawa. His parents were Rifka and Mordechai Przedecki, who came to Klodawa from the neighbouring town of Przedeck, and from where the name "Predecki" derives from. The family history goes back to Rivka's grandparents, so to around 1790. According to the writing of my grandfather, her family came to Babiak Poland from Germany. I have photos that go back to Mordchai and Rivka in their later years. The Przedecki family lived in "No. 10 Rynek", Klodawa.
Over the last year or two I have collected a lot of information. I am so excited that Dean has created this website! I now have a place to post these things! I hope in doing so, that I can help others gain some insight into what life must have been like back in the days before the war for a typical Jewish family in Klodawa.
As time allows, and hopefully by the end of this weekend, I will post what I can.
Thank you Dean for putting this together! I'm sure our ancestors are smiling somewhere up there, if not saying, "What took you so long?" This is our time! It will be great!!
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More to come.
More to come.
Judy Libman Muratore
Judy,
Your story is very interesting and so typical of all the Jews of Poland yet unique in itself. That's what gets me: all of our families suffered the same fate just the details differ. There are, unfortunately, 6 million of these stories that will remain unknown. The survivors can tell their stories--should they wish to. For some, it is too difficult to remember--because, paradoxically, it is too difficult to forget. Most of the survivors in my family would not speak of what they went through. Even talking about the family was too hard because, with few exceptions, their lives all ended tragically. My Father can name dozens and dozens of family members that died. Only he, his brother, a cousin and an aunt survived the 6 years of Nazi horror. One day, I will post my family's story here too, for every story that we can rescue from potentially being lost forever is one more story to keep the memory of those we lost alive. We share the same tragedy and the same miracle of life and, until we can figure out if the picture of that house is my Great Uncle's or your Grandfather's, we shall share that same house in Klodawa. I am happy to keep the memory of that house alive with you.
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i spoke with my mother-in-law (she is from the Lewin family)and she said that the Przedecki family lived in the house exactly next to them.
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Thank you for taking the time to ask your mother-in-law. I am still trying to figure out where my family lived. Would you be able to ask her if she recalls where the Rotbart family lived? My grandfather, Hercz Rotbart, was a hatmaker. I know they lived along the perimeter of the market square, but I don't know in which dwelling. If anyone reading this knows or thinks they know, I'd welcome your thoughts.
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Ron:
I wanted to introduce myelf to you, I am Elias Morrison's grandson and a cousin of yours. Elias came to the U.S.A. around 1905 perhaps a bit later. He was one of 13 brothers and sisters from Klodowa. I know your Father and knew your Mother, Lotte. As a matter of fact I was present when my Grandparents gave your parents an engagement party at their home in the Bronx. Of course I knew your Uncle Ignatz as well as Your Aunt Manya. I tires to contact your brother Jeffery many years ago however i never received a reply back. I too heard many stories of Klodowa years ago but for the most part silence ruled. I knew your Aunt Helena and Uncle Sigmund too. Helena was my grandfather's sister.
It would be nice to hear from you. My Uncle Albert Morrison who was Elaines Father was the so called historian of the family until he passed away around 1990. My mother's name is Roslyn Morrison.
Stanley Nusenko
Stanley Nusenko
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Hi Stanley,
It's a really awesome to hear from you! I do believe we met once or twice many years ago. I would like to speak further. Please can e-mail me directly at ron.volk@yahoo.com.
Ron
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reading this is very educating, i had no idea my name-sake had 13 brothers and sisters. also i thought uncle Albert passed away around 2002?
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Hi-
I want to thank you, too, for sharing the information about the Lewin family living next to the Przedecki's. I will ask my Uncle if he remembers the name, as well as my cousin. I'm sure they both will.
Lewin sounds familiar to me, as well. Perhaps I've seen the name posted on line, or another Klodawa related place like Jewish-Gen.
Thank you again for your input.
By the way, is the home you're talking about the yellow one???
Judy M.
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no. it is on the other side of your house
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Judy,
I read you article with great interest.
My family and I were in Klodawa (and also Kolo) last weekend (from 6 September). I have wanted to visit these places for I don't know how long. In fact Klodawa came into my view very recently when I found my Grandmother's English naturisation certificate. I have a note on the Klodawa website. In a way when we visited we did not know what we were looking at or for as I have no address or real detail of this part of my family. I have more for Kolo, which as you may know is the next town along the road. I am looking for links or details of the Hanc or Nicinski families. In retrospect I believe the Nicinski family were centred in Kolo not Klodawa.
Any information you might have about them or about the town would shed more light on my search and would be much appreciated. You may have other links that could help. I also wondered of a memorial book for Klodawa was ever written, I have that for Kolo.
As yet I have no other real information on Klodawa but am happy to share this with those who might be interested. I do have the phographs that I took on my trip.
I Look forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Paul Davison
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Hi Paul--
Let's see if this works. This is an excerpt from the interview with my cousin Joe Francus, who escaped Klodawa with my Uncle. When asked how he found out about his own parents' fate, he explained as follows, and mentions the name "NACHINSKI" as the person who told him the information.
Also, FYI: "Y" stands for Yurig--my cousin Joe's Yiddish name which I knew him by.
Y: In Chelmno they gassed 1/4 of a million Jews. And, one escaped from there. As a matter of fact, he worked for my father. There was one family there, very, very strong. A big family. We belonged to the same Zionist organization, but he was older. He escaped from Chelmno and he saw what's going on there.
So, he came over and he told our people in town, the leaders, "What's going on? They're killing our people?" So, they thought that he was crazy. And, they told him, "If you are going to spread such rumours, we'll send you--we'll give you over to the German police!"
So, he said, "I'm afraid now of the Jews?" So, he ran away to another town, and the same thing happened. Nobody could believe that! So, my mother went to Chelmno. This was the first. And, my father, this is what I know because one survived, Nichinsky.
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Also, when I asked my Uncle about NICHINSKY, he remembered the following:
Zalig Nachinsky--he spelled it "NICZYNSKI". According to my Uncle, he survived the camps. Either he was the son of the family who lived in Klodawa, or Zalig's son survived. ( I will try to clarify that for you.) They were tailors.
Is the name Zalig in your family?
I will also contact my cousin to see if he has more information for you. More family details, address, etc.. Do you have any other first names of the Nachinsky family?
I hope this reply works!!!
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Saw a reference to Niczynski, does anyone have any references to Niczynski Family around Warsaw?
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Hello, I am responding to all of these mentions of the Nitcznski family! Does anyone have ANY information on this family living in or around Warsaw? My grandmother's father, Walter Nitcznski came to the U.S. around 1905 and never returned to Poland. My grandmother says they heard periodically from the family he left behind until around World War II-- they never found out why contact ended. I've been told that this surname is very rare but often misspelled when translated into English (hence all of the different spellings on this site even). This is one of the first times I've seen this name mentioned so many times, so ANY information would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you, Amanda Beattie Smith mandelinn@hotmail.com
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HI I WAS WONDERING IF U KNOW ANY OF THE NITCZNSKI'S FROM PENNSYLVANIA MY GRANDFATHER LIVES THERE AND WAS N WWII IVE NEVER SEEN THE LAST NAME EVER TALKED ABOUT OR DO I KNOW MANY OF THEM FROM THAT SIDE OF THE FAMILY SO I THOUGHT I WOULD ASK THANKS
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hello im not sure if my 1st message ever went thru since im not seeing it but i wanted 2 tell u i asked my dad and he said his great grandfather i believe it was,was named walter nitcznski and came from warsaw in 1905 my granpa lives in pennsylvania which if its the same walter were talking about would be the grandson of walter his name is nartcy nitcznski i just was wondering if you knew of him
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hi i was wondering if u were referring to the name nitcznski from warsaw i didnt know if the name had changed spellings over the years im trying to find out some info about them i know that walter [born in 1892]came from warsaw poland to the u.s in 1905 and died in 1943 if u have any info it would b greatly appreciated thanks
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helo my name is nitcznski its pronounced "nachinski" and my family originated from warsaw my great grandfather walter nitcznski came to the u.s in 1905 but i heard his first name wasnt really walter in poland and the name nitcznski is spelled differently in poland so im not sure but thought u might be referring to the same family any info would be appreciated thanks
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hi i was wondering if u knew any other names from the nitcznski im sure that this is the same name were talking about by your spelling of it im not familiar with the name zalig but the name nartcy is very popular i had 2 great uncles fight in ww2 named clemences and eddy nitcznski and a great great grandfather named walter nitcznski who came from poland in 1905 i was just wondering if u knew anything about the family or could ask anything would b greatly appreciated thanks
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Hello,
My Grandfather was Wolf Przedecki. He came to England about 1910 when his name was Angliscised to Perkins. His father was Lieb Przedecki. I believe he might have been a photographer. Wolf's son was my father Leonard.
Dad (Leonard) told me he lost all his cousins and fathers (Wolf / Lieb) family during WW2 in the Lodz ghetto , although luckily Wolf had brought his wife Manya Mlynarska out before the war to England.
Can I ask you if you've come across the names of Wolf or Lieb Przedecki in your research ? I'm trying to piece it together for my own kids.
My Mum has photos somewhere and she tells me that there might be others scattered around us English descendants... I will try and send you copies when I get them to see if they ring any bells with you...
I think Lieb will have been born 1840-1860 as Wolf was born in 1880 ish.... Lieb had more children who were Wolfs brothers and sisters but we have no info at all on their names other than they would have been Przedecki... Thanks and Best Wishes to you
Graeme Perkins
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Judy
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My name is Poyzer, I have traced my family ancestry back as far as 1790. From 1900 backwards my ancestry records show my fmaily to have been called Pizer and not POyzer, POyzer must be an anglicised version. I am really not sure of the origins of my famil as whenever I try to find out I am directed to websites such as this but the confusion is that when I read everyone's information and stories none of the Pizers appear to have been in England as far back as 1700's. Can anyone suggest?
Thanks
Tina
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Hello Tina-
I'm not sure that I can help you with this. As far as I know, none of my Pizer family settled in England for any extended period of time. The youngest of my great-grandfather's brothers, Aaron Przedecki, went to England first before settling in the United States. I'm not sure how long he was there for, but he did meet his wife there. His children were all born here, and I believe he was married here (U.S.A.) as well. It was certainly not back to the 1700's. Nobody left Poland before the 1900's in the Przedecki family. Also, I don't believe this youngest brother would have changed his name to Pizer until he arrived in the U.S.. This I may be wrong about, and I will check with some of the descendants of his family. Also, we clearly did not have the name Pizer in our family until the 1900's when the Przedecki family emigrated to the U.S. and changed their names. I do not know the details of how they came up with this name. My grandfather was one of the last to come over. His four uncles preceeded him.
There is a David Pizer who I have corresponded with in the U.K.. If you would like his information, please let me know.
Thank you for writing in.
Judy
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Hi Judy
Thanks for your reply. There are a lot of Pizers in the u.k. who like me have built ancestra family trees back as far as the late 1600's - 1700's. Interstingy the fornames the further back we go are similarly the names I identify on this site and other polish sites. Aaron, Samuel, Henry, Isaac and one other is Gabriel. They are the line of brothers and sons that we have managed to get back to and come to a standstill with. The fornames are mainly what has really pushed me to looking at Polish Jewish sites now for some possible answers. I am also aware from some of my research that some of the family moved to the USA later.
There is a long standing story in my family that two brothers had something of a fued and one changed the name, I did think it just a story until I came across a relative online who shared the same GGGGrandfather and knew the same story. We linked this to the move from Pizer to Poyzer of a small part of hte family.
The searching is so enjoyable but so frustrating at the same time! I even spend time looking at old photographs to try to find some distinct characteristics in features to try to give me some indication!!
THanks for replying, if by chance you do come across any earlier Przedecki coming to England please let me know as I first found this name from a short story somewhere about the name Przedecki becoming Pizer, and I know Pizer became Poyzer and Poyser.
Thanks
Tina
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My name is Chris Poyzer. I can tell you, that you have roots in North Dakota. Ha. Good luck. Let me know if you find anything about the roots of Poyzer
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Hi Judy,
1) are you sure the place the family comes from is called "Przedeck"? I have never heard of it. There is, however, a town called Przedecz (pronounced "Pshedetsh" in Polish, and called "Pscheitsch" in yiddish)close to Klodawa. I would think that's the place.
2) Have you heard about Mosze (Moi) Pizer (I am not sure about the spelling), born in Sompolno near Klodawa, or in Przedecz, as Przedecki? He emigrated to the US., probably in the early 1920., as a young man, with his mother Dwojre (born Gostynski, married to Przedecki, and then to someone else, and twice widowed), and his siblings (probably another brother and two sisters). He became a famous figure in the workers' unions.
If you would like to know more, please contact me. I am working on the Jewish history of the neighbouring town called Sompolno, and different Przedeckis keep coming up in my research (two Przedecki brothers, tailors, in Sompolno in 1930.).
Olga
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In 1931 a couple, Chaja Br.& Dawid Przedecki lived in Klodawa at 12, Warszawska street. Dawid was a tailor, 43 years old, and Chaja was 42 years old.
They were both born in Klodawa.
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My grandmother came from a family of Predeckich Kłodawa. and I now lives in London Thank ,,,,,, Zenek
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Szukam informacji o rodzinie Przedeckich , która prowadziła zakłady fotograficzne w Żyrardowie , Łowiczu , Skierniewicach ,Włoclawku , Koninie i Kole . Byli to , Samuel i Szmul Przedecki, Daniel Przedecki , Leiser Herszt Przedecki i W. Przedecki.
Pozdrawiam
Waldemar Bronicz
www.starafotografia.pl
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