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Archiver > LITHUANIA > 2004-09 > 1095238142


From: "JoelK300" <>
Subject: Re: New England?
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 04:49:02 -0400


Hello,

My Lithuanian ancestors came to Worcester, MA in 1904 & 1907, according
to the 1910 Census. Isidor Malisauskas, AKA James Miller (b. abt.
1875-1881), came from Nemaksiu, Raseniai District, Lithuania, to Worcester,
MA in 1904. He went to work in the Whittal Carpet Mill as a Dyer. Ona
Lietuvaitis AKA Annie Klein (b. abt. 1886-7), came from Prienai, Suwalkija
District, Lithuania to Worcester, MA, in 1907, and went to work in the same
mill as James Miller. It was perhaps one of the places they may have met, if
they were not acquainted in the old country. Annie evidently was married to
a Joseph Klein when she immigrated. He died in May 1907, and she married
James Miller in July, so they must have been friends.
They also both were members of a Lithuanian congregation at St.
Casimir's Roman Catholic Church, on Providence St., in Worcester. They were
married there on 29 July 1907. Their witnesses were "Joseph Staszaus" &
"Joanna Jakaitis." The minister was Rev. "Joseph Jakaytys" (Joanna was poss.
his relative?). James & Annie both died before the 1920 Membership List was
made (which can be viewed at the LGGS site), but the family names of their
witnesses as well as the sponsors at their children's baptisms are included
in that list. Also the surname of James' mother's family, the Kulisauskai,
are found in the 1920 list. James's parents were Kasparus & Marijona
(Kulisauskai) Malisauskas. Annie's parents were Juozas & Eva
(Bakunas/Bakanowich) Lietuvaitis.
Speaking of the children, they had 3 that I know of: 1) Ona Malisauskas
AKA Ann Miller (b. abt. 1908), no record of her at St. Casimir's; 2) my
maternal grandfather, Juozas Malisauskas AKA Joseph James Miller, b. 19 Dec
1909, bapt. 2 Jan 1910, sponsors: "Andrius Kulokas" & "Agatha Manasiute,"
Minister: Rev. "Joseph Jakaitis." On this bapt. record, the parents names
are given as: "Isidor Milasauskas" & "Anna Liudvaiciute;" 3) Marijona
"Milasauckas," AKA Mary Ann Miller, b.30 Aug 1911, no baptsm date given, but
recorded as a baptism, sponsors: "Anthony Kabisaitis" & "Petrona
Sudaiciute."
Anna (Lietuvaitis) Klein Malisauskas died on 16 Jan 1912, in Worcester,
MA. She was buried with her 1st husband, Joseph Klein, in St. John's
Cemetery, Worcester. Her 2nd husband of 5 years, James (Malisauskas) Miller
died in the Influenza Pandemic of 1918, on 13 Oct 1918. He was buried in an
unmarked grave in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester. Unmarked because there
were so many people dying of the flu at that time that the bodies were
buried so fast and with so little ceremony that even some of the names &
locations of the graves were not entered into the Cemetery Records. There
was also a nationwide coffin shortage in those days.
The 3 Miller children ended up in a Catholic orphanage/school in
Worcester. Mary Ann apparently married a man named George, and lived in the
Worcester area. Ann was living in Boston in 1930. My maternal grandfather,
Joseph I. Miller, Sr. enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1927, and went to
Nicaragua, and China in his duty. He was honorably discharged in 1934, and
married twice thereafter, 1st to Camille Provost, 1 Feb 1934, at Newport,
RI. 1 child, Joseph I. Miller, Jr. (Navy). Then he married my grandmother,
Gladys June Alger, 28 Oct 1950, at Grafton, MA. 1 daughter, my mother,
living.
I have had a letter in to the Vilnius Archives for about 18 months
hoping to find out more about my great-grandparents in their native land. My
Mom has enjoyed learning about her family, as her Dad never told her much.
He was a "Live for today," kind of guy, and wanted to put the painful past
behind him. He and my Gram made a very loving home for my mother, and I have
learned a lot more about them than I ever knew, from her. Grandpa died on 21
Jun 1983, when I was 10, and I knew him as a very wise and loving man, and a
proud Marine until the day he died. Gram died in 1988. New England &
Massachusetts will always be my "home," even though I haven't lived there
for 11 years.

Semper Fi,

Joel B. Keith

Born in Worcester, MA
Grew up in Grafton, MA
Sojourning in Lakeland, FL

Through His death and resurrection, Christ has made the grave a portal; for
through its gates we enter into the Presence of the Living God.

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