Polockus Family from Blantyre

[mcblondie]

Hi everyone,

Just found this website and i am hoping that some of you can help me with my research. I'm looking for information on my family name. I originally lived in Blantyre (Springwells) and my Dad's family all lived there and surrounding areas. They were a large family. My gran Mary and grandfather Jonas (Lithuanian) lived in Bairds Raws, and then onto Rosendale around 1920's. I remember many neighbours, but i am looking to see if anyone remembers my family and if they can provide old stories or info on any of them? My grandfather worked in the Pit so did my gran at one point. All there kids attended St Joseph's primary school. My dad Michael (Mick) was the youngest of there children and was known in Blantyre for being a singer. I am also trying to find out any Lithuanian roots to the family name, as i know my grandfather came over with relatives. So if anyone out there can help me I would be eternally grateful.

[StewL]

Hello McBlondie and welcome to TS

Out of curiosity I had a look at the Polockus surname on the free surname search on Scotlands People.

There only appears to be 3 names in the deaths for that surname. yet when I tried to find them there were no results for that spelling. But on searching further using Pollockus there was a death in 1930 in Blantyre for a William aged 14.

Doing a "soundex" search there were 33 over 2 pages, but I didnt have a look at those. I was wondering as your relatives came from Lithuania, did they change/anglicise there names at any time. So is it possible your long losts could be hiding under a variety of spellings?

[mcblondie]

Hiya,

Yes i have Williams Death cert, I think he may have been there first borne, who died at age 14. My grandparents married in 1915, and William died 1930 so by process of date elimination i think he's the first child. Like you i found around 30-40 different name spellings for our name. My grandfather Jonas was the only Lithuanian the rest of my family are Scottish. He couldn't read or write in english so anytime his name was taken down for a birth or death cert the registrar spelt his name how it sounded and probably not the correct spelling. Due to the fact that Jonas couldn't decipher it there would be no reason for him to argue about the spelling.
Also on one death cert it mentions that he was a Private in the 9th Russian Labour Battalion (British Army) in 1917 but due to a lot of the records being destroyed it's difficult to find anything out. Also i couldn't find his medal card with his name, but there is one that states a Jonas Lokas. I think it may be possible that whoever took his details may have thought his name was Jonas Paul Lokas and not Jonas Polockus. So i'll just have to keep searching.

[StewL]

Hiya McBlondie

It wouldn't surprise me to see his name written down incorrectly, especially if he couldn't read engllish.

Looks like you will have to be a bit creative in your searching, good luck.

Fortunately I have not had that problem apart from the wimmin being born with one name and using another variation the rest of their life

[Davie]

Hi
I spoke to my Brother in law on this topic.
Their family have Lithunian roots.
He had never heard of the 9th Russian Labour Battalian, but knew of the Labour Corps that fought in the First World War.
Mostly Jewish.
He knew the name Pollukas, (Pollok these days) whatever spelling and thinks they would have been originally Jewish rather than Catholic.
My Family also lived in Bairds Row in Blantyre, so assume yours were miners.
I'll see if I can come up with any more on this
Davie

[mcblondie]

Hi Davie,

Thanks for the post, if you can give me any info that would be great.
As for my grandfather being Jewish, well i thought that too, but many family memebers have told me that he was very much Catholic, and was married in the local chapel at St. Joseph's in Blantyre had he been jewish he would never have allowed that to happen.

Most Lithuanian are/were Catholic, where as Polish were predominantly Jewish.

Thanks for your help.

[Davie]

Hi
again on this topic.
It is not something I know too much about.
However, from other sources I have learned, it was not an unusual practice for people from the Jewish faith, when they were escaping the hardships they faced, to change their religion.
On the family side
Have you ever came across a Shinwell, Malenkos or Shabus? in the Family.
I was told to ask.

Davie

[mcblondie]

Hi again Davie,

The names that you mentioned, Shinwell, Malenkos and Shabus? Are these first names? or surnames? excuse my ignorance.

I personally haven't been able to find much out about my grandfather's history. I know that he worked in the pit, Craighead i believe among others. The last pit being Polkemmet, (quite a distance to travel from Blantyre i'd say). The Polockus family lived in Bairds Raws and then onto Rosendale Place and from there to Burnside Crescent where my grandparents lived out there days. Most of them still live in and around Blantyre. I know that he came from Lithuania with a brother or brothers but according to family history my grandfather never kept in touch with him/them. Don't know whether it was a family rift or not. On his marriage certificate it gives his parent's names but like i mentioned before, i don't even know what the correct spelling of the name is due to the registrar just writing down what he heard as these names were unusual. I've been trying to get a hold of the ships manifest from Hamburg where he probably sailed out of but there is a problem with purchasing it from the Hamburg website. That's one of the main reasons i posted here, i'm hoping that anyone who knows anything may be able to help me with my quest.

[Davie]

Hi pal,
I have been in touch with Rellies in Africa (Family originally from Blantyre).
My Grannies lot worked in Craighead and lived in Craighead Row for years.
Before that, were In Bairds Row.
I think that would be where your own clan lived as well, Row rather than Raws.
My Aunt, who is in her eighties, can recall a "Polish" family (Though she was not sure on the name)
living in Rosendale place before the second world war.
I am not sure if this is your Pollukas, as i had to promt her on the Rosendale.
But she can recall Mary who wa a Kafflick (Catholic) , the same age as herself, who died in her teens.
I had a quick look on SP, but could find no record for Mary.
Though I did find a few others.
The Shabus' and Malenkos' families also worked in the pits in the Blantyre area.
They were also from Lithuania.
Will still keep my eye open for you.
Davie

[mcblondie]

Hiya Davie,

Hope this finds you well.

Yep you're Gran is right, Mary not only was my Grandmother's name, but the Mary that you speak of was my Aunt, my Gran had a daughter named after herself who died young, i got her death cert on SP. Due to the many mis-spellings of the family name it took me a while too to find it. Also the Polockus's didn't move away from Rosendale til around the late 30's so you're rellies would be right it's Kafflick lithy's who lived there. hehehehe

Thanks for your help, i really appreciate it, as there are days when i feel like giving up on the whole thing as i always seem to come to brick walls where Jonas is concerned, as for Mary well i can trace her family for generations it's just the lithy side that stops me. Not to worry tomorrow is another day, hopefully SP will update there census's soon and i'll get to know more.

Other than that you take it easy, chat soon.
Katie