Immigration from Poland to USA because an "uprising"?

Question

My Great Grandfather, Anton Zembrzuski, immigrated to the USA in 1912 ad never told anybody why... After he died my Great Grandmother said that he had been a rebel against the polish or russian Government and was going to be killed unless he left, and she said no more. She has died and that's all my family knows about him and I can't find an uprising in Poland/ Russia in 1912, not even a planned revolt that had failed. If you can find one that would be greatly appreciated. TYVM

Answer 1

There was no Poland in 1912,it was divided between Russia Austria and Germany sometime in the 1700's and stayed that way until 1914. He was possibly in the part that was in russia,were they were very stirct with the poles,executing them if they didn't do exactly what they were told. So even doing the slightest thing wrong could make him a rebel by their standards. Good thing he made it out alive.

Answer 2

Check this site

http://www.ellisisland.org/search/passSe...

Answer 3

According to his immigration records, he came to the US in December 1912. His last place of residence was Chlina. It's now Poland, but at the time was in the Russian partition. The current name of the town is Olkusz.

I've looked for any uprising in the actual town. While they were very active in WWI, there wasn't anything right before the war. The area is called Upper Silesia and I've looked for any uprisings in the region from 1912 and still can't find much. There were some serious things in 1919-1920. But in the time frame you're looking at, I'm guessing you're very possibly looking at an act against the Czar pre-Russian Revolution. Those are hard to trace to one single act out of so many.

The one place you should be able to get good records would be the Archives at Kielce. Here's a link to it: http://www.kielce.ap.gov.pl/en/historia/...

Answer 4

I don't think there had to be any particular uprising in order for someone to rebel during that time.  It is possible that just being a of a certain group was enough to be persecuted and driven from the country.

Answer 5

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partitions_...

Simplistic as wikipedia might be.. this may give some background the idea that, for many years, Poland was chopped up over and over, by adjoining powers.  In 1917, it became a country again, only to suffer more when invaded in WW2.  Then, the discontent with communist rulers in more recent times.

I truly doubt that there is necessarily one organized "revolt". There had to be resistance and rebellion all along. And, by the very nature of that.. it would be something that was kept as quiet as possible.  Fearing death was probably a very real concern.

How much have you located as to his village of origin? I think you may learn more by looking at the specific area, and perhaps local history or archives.  I am on a great Polish e-list, and some very knowledgeable persons on there.  It is Polish Genius at yahoo groups. Everything from current goings on, historical perspective, cultural things like recipes, so forth.  You might want to sign up there.