Josephine Gutia Calina b 25 October 1890, Siedlec, Poland

[Forfarian]

I have no idea how to go about researching in Poland, so I'd be grateful for any advice on how to find any records of this lady before she married in London in 1919, please.

There may be more than one place called Siedlec, but I do not know which one she came from.

[mckha489]

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/c8505a0f-4582-4591-86c9-2db205898575

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/0bb8b7a7-05ae-4136-a0da-17397ab72a79

Police gazette has a missing persons entry in 1924

Calina, Josephine alias Slivka, Gutia, F., 33, Russian. Last known address 102 St Mary’s mansions, Paddington. M.P.D.
Date least heard of 10-3-19

What date did she marry?

So may need to look under Slivka too.
I have no idea about how to search in Poland either. Other than to check what is on FamilySearch

[mckha489]

there is a family in St George in the East in 1921 KALINA. The husband, Jack, a tailor, born Poland
And another in Whitechapel, ahead of family is Israel KALINA. Also a tailor


and also in 1921 is a Jacob SLIVKO with family
born Siedliec Poland,

[Forfarian]

Thank you!

Police gazette has a missing persons entry in 1924
Calina, Josephine alias Slivka, Gutia, F., 33, Russian. Last known address 102 St Mary’s mansions, Paddington. M.P.D.
Date least heard of 10-3-19
What date did she marry?

I don't have an exact date but the marriage was registered in London in the first quarter of 1919. Her husband was my second cousin once removed, James Allardyce Ramsay Nicoll. They were in Kensington in the 1921 census, but I haven't viewed the original as I don't have the upgraded subscription to FindMyPast.

I'm thinking that she had probably left Poland/Russia during or after the First World War/Russian Revolution.

Her DoB is from the 1939 Register, and her birthplace Siedlec from one of several records of her arrival in New York with her husband.

[jorose]

www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk shows that Josephine Calina was in Scotland and England around 1915 onwards.

There are also some mentions of a Josephine Slivka / Miss Slivka.

[fiddlerslass]

Here is where to search for church records and civil registration records in the Polish archives. It would be helpful to know what religion Josephine followed. Some scans are available. Some of the records may be in German or Russian depending which Siedlec is correct. Use the search vital records button.

https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/en/strona_glowna

List of Siedlec places

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siedlec

There is also the city  Siedlce, and other places with the same name

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siedlce_(disambiguation)

[Forfarian]

Thank you, that's a great start. I can read both German and Russian but not Polish so that's welcome news

[mckha489]

The sister in law in 1921 has yet another surname Mastbaum 
Born same place as Josephine - described on both as in Russian Poland.

Also..I wonder if her Book “Scenes of Russian Life” would help locate the place.

https://www.findmypast.co.uk/image-share/b471136c-5944-4aca-9854-090870e293d4

[Forfarian]

Yes, I saw that in the index.

I did wonder if Slivka was a diminutive of Josephine, but the newspaper report of Miss Josephine Slivka seems to negate that.

Perhaps Esphir Mastbaum was a half-sister rather than a full sister of Josephine.

I have considered buying a copy of the book - there are some available online - but my logins for the various bookselling web sites were rejected.