John,

I found some records for Zboj:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/758512?availability=Family%20History%20Library

You might get luck.  The records don't quite come up to the later years that would be useful to you.

Tom Peters

John,

You have a difficult research problem.  Having said this, here are some links to help you:

Mihaly Senski pass list (2 pages)

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYT715_1550-0561?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=qjf33&_phstart=successSource&pId=4008328618

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7488/images/NYT715_1550-0562?treeid=&personid=&rc=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=qjf33&_phstart=successSource&pId=4008328618

Bill Tarkulich Web Page on Zboj:

http://www.iabsi.com/gen/public/settlements/SL_Zboj.htm#surnames

1869 Census of Zboj:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSK8-6YXH?i=475&cat=385993

Try spelling Szanski

Your Carpatho-Rusyn ancestors are from Zboj.  To my knowledge, the Greek Catholic records are missing.  See Bill Tarkulich*s website.  He is our expert on the village of Zboj.

Tom Peters

Hi John,

   No, I have not done research at St. Michael's Church. I understand from speaking with other researchers that the church, for privacy issues, was not open to allowing others to see their records. I would like to do so.  I did years back (by hand) transcribed St. Michael's cemetery for a local genealogy organization. My transcriptions were then to be digitalized but not sure if that ever happened.  I was at the cemetery a few weeks ago and noted your surname and so many other familiar names. I can connect the surnames in Dunmore with the village census in Verkovyna Bystry and Lubyna.  When I read the old newspapers I see so, so many familiar names attending St. Michael's as well. 

Welcome and thank you for stopping by.  I will gather as much info as I can about the Rusak surname but I need your help with providing more information.  If you can find out as much of  the following  it would be helpful. The stories of our ancestors are so important and need to be preserved for future generation.  Start here with finding out as much information as possible 

• 1.     Name of Immigrant Ancestors
• 2.     Village of origin if known
• 3.     Church attended in United States: Greek Catholic or Orthodox, name of church, location
• 4.     Year of births
• 5.     Year immigrated (approx.)
• 6.     Name of Spouse (including maidenname of wife)
• 7.     Married in Canada . or Europe, date if known, place if known

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

According to my grandfather's immigration paper, he entered the country under the of Alexander Pohanich, aka Alex Brendzovich.  However, his naturalization paper, specifically oath of allegiance he signed it as Alex Brenzovich, and his order of court admitting petition he officially changed his name fro Alexander Pohanich to Alek Brandzovich.  In my search there are several theories 1) He was evading the Austro-Hungarian government, 2) on one trip to the homeland, I was told that there were so many Brenzovich's in the village that he used Pohanich-Brenzovich to distinguish himself from the rest.  3) On another trip, I was told he used the name Pohanich because it was the name of the land owner on which he lived.  Not sure will ever know the real true story.  Just wanted to share using this new feature of the C-RS website.

Re: your theory 1: My great uncle Prokop Klepacz left Maciejowa, Nowy Sacz, Galicia for the US in 1912 to avoid having to serve his time in the Austrian army. His older brother, Dimitri, had served so Prokop knew how bad it would be. The night he left, the family covered all the windows so no one could see the lights and know that something was up. A very interesting book on the horrible situations in the Austrian army in that period of time leading up to WWI is The Winter Soldier.

Re: Brenzovich. My great grandmother was a Brenzovich from the village of Viska.  This is by Sharon's villages.  Today it is in Veleky Brezny region of the Zakarpatia Oblast, Ukraine.