Soloducha, Andrey - Konotop Russia

[Soloducha]

My grandfather, Andrey (Andrew) Soloducha was born about 1884. According to the ship's manefest, he arrived in November 12, 1913 on Ellis Island. Here is all the information I know: Ships Name: Czar, Age 29, Married, laborer. Russian, Home: Konotop. Nearest relative from home: Wife - E. Soloducha, Konotop, sub Minsk. He was described as 5'5", dark hair, blue eyes. In 1917, he registered for the World War I draft. At the time, he lived in Brooklyn, NY. He listed his closest next of kin as Paul Soloducha, in Konotop, Minsk, Russia. I can't tell what the relationship was between them. First of all, we had no idea he has been married. The story was, he had left behind his mother and 4 brothers. I can find nothing about any of this. He met and "married" my grandmother Sophie (Sofie). They had one child together (my dad - Andrew Soloducha). They lived in Elizabeth, NJ, then in Daytona Beach, Florida. He died in 1965. I'm trying to track down the family he left behind. Thanks, Rose Soloducha Moore

[Hannia]

Have you ascertained which Konotop it was?

There were/are at least three.

What religion did Andrew Soloducha practice?

Did he consider himself Belarusyn, Polish or Ukrainian?
The Russian on ship's manifest indicates citizenship.

[Soloducha]

He said he was Russian. He spoke Russian. Not sure which Konotop, just says sub Minsk, if that makes any difference. My Dad didn't practice a religion until he was became a Catholic when I was a child. That's the problem - not enough details.

[Hannia]

I copied following from Belarus Archives:

After the second partition of Rzecz Pospolita (1793), the central part of Belarus
was annexed to the Russian Empire, where the Minsk gubernia/region was formed
in 1795-1796.

The Minsk gubernia consisted of 13 uezds: Bobruisk, Borisov, Vileika, David-Gorodok, Disna,
Dok****sy, Igumen, Mozyr, Minsk, Nesvizh, Postavy, Pinsk, and Slutsk uezds. In 1796, the
David-Gorodok, Dok****sy, Nesvizh, and Postavy uezds were abolished. In 1797, the
Rechitsa uezd was included into the Minsk gubernia. In 1842, the Novogrudok uezd was
given to the Minsk gubernia from the Grodno gubernia; the Vileika and Disna uezds went
into the Vilno gubernia. From November 1917, the Minsk gubernia was included into the
Western Region; in 1918 - into the Western Commune; from January 1, 1919 - into the BSSR;
from February 2, 1919 - into Litbel. In 1919, the Baranovichi uezd was formed; the Rechitsa
and Mozyr uezds as well as some parts of the Bobruisk, Borisov, and Igumen uezds were added
to the Gomel gubernia. In 1920, the Nesvizh uezd was established. In 1921, when a part of the
Minsk gubernia (except Bobruisk, Borisov, Igumen, Mozyr, Minsk, and Slutsk uezds) went into
Poland, the Minsk gubernia ceased to exist.


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In 1884 (appx date of Grandfather's birth) Bobruisk, Borisov, Igumen,
Mozyr, Minsk, Pinsk, Slutsk, Rechitsa, & Novogrudok uezds were
part of Minsk gubernia.

We should be looking for Konotop in these districts???

[Soloducha]

Ok, according to Andrey Soloducha manifest, he was Russian. Arrived in the US in November 1913. Left a wife behind in Konotop, Minsk, Russa "E. Soloducha". Here is what I found on his 1917 WWI draft card.
Alien Status Yes
Present Occupation Laborer
Employer’s Name Robert Geas (sp) Co.
Employer Address Maise & Bridge, Brooklyn, Kings County, NY
Nearest Relative Paul Soloducha, Konotop, ou W. Brodinea P?
Suby g. Minsk, Russia

[Hannia]

Rose, please do not do anything, until I complete my research.

There are two Konotop in Belarus.
______________________________________________

appx 1900 village Konotop (coordinates 51.46-29.34) > Rechitsa uyezd/county > Minskaya gubernia/region

1930 Polesie oblast/region > Belarus SSR

The old Rechitsa administrative district/county is located in southeastern Belarus > the geographical knob that sticks into Ukraine.

Since Konotop directory was not available and keeping in mind that many villagers have migrated to nearest larger towns and cities for economic reasons, I decided to check both the dstrict center (Rechitsa) and regional center (Gomel) city for the surname.

Just these two Soloduchyn and Solodychyn were found in Rechitsa.

In Gomel I found a bunch of Soloducha:

236136 Солодуха Е В Жемчужная ул. д.0
236236 Солодуха И М Жемчужная ул. д.0
415536 Солодуха Н Н Владимирова ул. д.0
433516 Солодуха Р Ф Давыдовская ул. д.0
458025 Солодуха С В Речицкое шоссе д.0
481806 Солодуха М Б Октября пр. д.0
552605 Солодуха Ч М Портовая ул. д.0
742907 Солодуха Г С Курчатова ул. д.0

There are also Soloduchyn in Gomel, but I suspect that this may very well be a different surname???

412067 Солодухин Г А Матросова ул. д.0
443175 Солодухин С Л Барыкина ул. д.0
480761 Солодухин Г П Октября пр. д.0
543043 Солодухин В И Иногородная 8 ул. д.0
544340 Солодухин П О Джураева ул. д.0
575833 Солодухин М М Телегина ул. д.0
929629 Солодухин И И Цегельня,
932570 Солодухин И И Терешковичи,
970580 Солодухин Г А Костюковка,
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Obtaining Birth and Marriage Certificates:

Make sure to click on to Genealogy/Family upon accessing site.
Zonal State Archives in Rechitsa | Archives of Belarus

[Hannia]

The other Konotop (coordinates 52.25-26.24), 113 miles SSW of Minsk.

1900 this Konotop > Pinsk uyezd > Minskaya gubernia > Czarist Russia.

1921-1939 in Pinsk powiat/county > Polesie wojiwodstwo/region > Reconstituted Poland.

Post WW2 became a part of Belarus SSR.

I found no Soloducha or variant spellings for this surname in Pinsk !!!