Baba was from the Ukraine

[mimm946]

I am searching for information on my Baba and her family in the Ukraine. The family story is that my baba emmigrated to America through the Port of Baltimore between 1913 and 1915 (I think more 1915 ish). She went to Rochester NY , I think to relatives there. I have many spellings of her name (as I did with my Gido's name) and do not know which is correct. The final spelling of the name is Macelak, as I have a cousin who emmigrated in the 1950's and that is the way he spells the name now. I cannot find any record of her immigration papers. On her marriage certificates (this is the really weird part) it is spelled as Mary Masalak (for March 10, 1917) and Mary Mocalak (April 29, 1916.) She was married in 1916 and 1917 to the same man. The 1916 marriage took place in Newark, NJ as did the second. A priest signed both certificates but I think they were from two different churches. My mother says it was something about orthodox and catholic churches. Witnesses for one of the ceremonies was John Masalak (a brother?) and a Katherine Hodak (With whom they lived for a time.)
My Baba had three children in Newark, NJ Karpo (or Carl) who died very young and was buried (but we can't find his grave), Paronka (My Aunt Pauline born in 1917) and my mother Catherine born in 1919.

Sometime after my mother's birth they moved to Scranton, PA and lived at 428 Marion Street.

I would appreciate and information on my Baba. Thank you.

Mary

[Hannia]

The only correct spelling of Baba Marya's surname is in the original language, Ukrainian, using the Cyrillic Alphabet. The variant names you have are merely transliterations/sounds like.

Ukrainian Transliteration Table
http://pages.prodigy.net/l.hodges/translit.htm

Do you actually have the matrimonial certificates? I would like to look at them.

What is cousin's place of origin?

Does your Mother still have her Baptismal Certificate?

[mimm946]

I have both certificates. I called the church where Baba was married (the second time) and they are going to look up any Baptismal records that they have in their files. They were married at St. John Baptist Greek Catholic (later Ukrainian Catholic) Church. Send me your name and address or fax number and I'll get copies out to you.

I still have to contact my cousin and see which village he was from. His name was Dmytro Macelak which is the same as his father's name.

Baba also had a brother (Dmytro?) who lived in the Ukraine until he was over 90 years old.

I have her birth certificate but not the Baptismal certificate. I'll have to ask her if it still exists.

Mary