Show Posts

This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.


Messages - Jason Vitala

Pages: [1]
1
I have attached it here. I wonder who he is a sibling of to make him Matti's uncle?

2
Thank you for all of your help. His uncle was difficult to find info on. I found his death certificate, but I cant find any offspring. I have a feeling, if he had any, they mayve changed the spelling of their name to a more Americanized name. I will look at the links that you provided in your last post. Again, youve been a great help. I wouldve never found all of this without it!!

3
Family History Beginners Board / Re: Overseas research question
« on: Monday 27 June 16 14:38 BST (UK)  »
Thank you for all the help. I apologize fo my absence the past few days. I had an internet connectivity issue that I just resolved. Ive been keeping up on my phone though. I have a question or two. I too noticed that on most early records he reported himself  and parents as being born in Finland and then later in life he reported Sweden/Swedish instead. I wonder why? My grandmother told me a story that Matt Emil had fled Finland because he killed an officer and changed his name from Schauman. But everything I have found is contrary to that story, well the name change part. He may have indeed fled to the US to escape punishment from the cassacs and to avoid the draft. But I still wonder. It had been many, many years since she heard the story, so perhaps she mixed up two stories or just misunderstood it.
  Also, what is the correct spelling? Wiitala, or Viitala? Ive read that both letters are interchangeable  and that the "W" is really not used in the Finnish language.
  I also found a document that places in Marquette, MI which is where he stated he was headed once he got to the US to meet his Uncle. SO perhaps I can trace his Uncles lineage here in America and possibly find distant cousins here in America. What I really want is a picture of Matt Emil. My family on my father side was very small and we have no pictures other than his parents and siblings. Perhaps his uncles family here in America have some photos when Matt Emil immigrated her and met up with his uncle in Michigan.
 Again, thank you so much for your help. Youve helped me answer questions Ive wondered my entire life. My grandfather, Edward Emil Vitala died in 1985 when I was 15, so its been tough to really find out any info on the Vitala name. From my research, the name means "from the land of young tress/forest."
 One other thing, how do I know which parent of Matt Emil the uncle is a sibling to? I cant seem to find any definitive info on the uncle here in the states. I did find a death record of a Frank Isaac in Ishpeming, MI. It listed him as single at the time of his death. Im trying to find if he had any children.

4
Family History Beginners Board / Re: Overseas research question
« on: Friday 24 June 16 14:13 BST (UK)  »
I think I maybe found them now. I think his mothers name was Hilda. You say his uncle was with him? I have seen several Emil Vitala/Wiitala on the same boat. What all info does the list you see have?

5
Family History Beginners Board / Re: Overseas research question
« on: Friday 24 June 16 02:38 BST (UK)  »
The only thing I know is his American name, and his name he used when immigrating aboard the SS Commonwealth into the US. His name used aboard the ship was "Emil Wiitala", born 18 June 1882 from Wasa/Vaasa/Vasa Finland. From what Ive uncovered, that name was fairly common. But I wonder what the odds of multiple people with that name being born on that date in that city/town? His name he used in the US was "Matt Emil Vitala." I have found lots of info in the US after 1902, but I know nothing prior to his immigration into the US.

6
Hello, I am fairly new to do family tree research and am having a booger of a time gfinding any info on my Great Grandfather. He immigrated rather late into the US, 1902. Im pretty sure I have all the info that can be foound in the states. On all but one document he lists himself and his parents as being born in Finland. The other he put Sweden. I have heard a story or two that he fled a conflict with some other men, apparently before 1902, where he and a few others killed a milirtary officer or something. Supposedly they fled to neighboring countries and changed their names to a common surname of that country. My question is, how can I check records from Finland or Sweden and try and find, if any exist, birth records that match his birthdate with his first and middle name? Supposedly, his original name was some derivitive of Schoumann/Showmann/Schouman etc. I know its a stretch and I probably will never know, but I have to at least try. I have an aquaintance who speaks both languages of Sweden and Finland that might be able to look for me if I can find an online solution to this. Thanks! Also, any other advice that I could look into here in the states would much appreciated.

7
Immigrants & Emigrants - General / Re: Looking for SS Commonwealth Passenger List
« on: Tuesday 21 June 16 21:28 BST (UK)  »
Hello, I ran across this while doing some research and had the same question as the OP. Just wondering if someone with access to the Ancestory page could take a quick peek at the links above to see if who Im looking for is even there before I spend the money on the site. Im already committed to 3 other sites and I hate to blindly dive into one just for a manifest record, especially if it doesnt help. I  need the name MATT EMIL VITALA either on 7-11-02 or 8-3-02 on the SS Commonwealth out of Liverpool to Boston. Any help would be awesome yall. Thanks.

Pages: [1]