FRANCISCA “Francis” ROZMARYNOWSKA  Łasecki

(Walter Lasecki’s grandmother, the immigrant Francis)

Born at 7 am 4 Aug 1825  the village of Lekno (near Wagrowiec), and baptised 24 Aug in Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic church.  Her father, my third great grandfather,  Wojiech Rozmarynowska, was a cobbler from Lekno, and her mother, my third great grandmother, was Zofia Zborowski. Godparents were Joseph Rozmacinski and Petronella Plucinska.

At 27 years, Francis married Andrej  Łasecki in 1852 in nearby Redgosz. They had seven children:

Jan Lasecki b. 1853 m. Magdalena Kaczmarek in 1879 Lopienno

Marianna Lasecki b. 1855 m. Albert Rybicki in 1876 Grylewo– they had 6 children

twins Joseph and Josepha Lasecki b. 1863 in Laskownica

Great grandfather, Anthony Lasecki b. 1866 Grylewo

3 of the children were still alive in 1900.

Francisca emigrated 19 April 1882 through the port of Baltimore on a ship called the HERMANN. She was a middle aged woman, traveling with her husband, daughter Marianna (who was already married to Mr. Rybicki)  her son, Anthony, who was 16 yrs. and someone named Emilia, who must be related, but as yet, it’s an unknown connection.

In the 1888 Detroit city directory, Francisca is a widow living on Superior Street. Anthony is a molder and is boarding there as well.

Have not found THE MICHIGAN STATE census records for 1890s. Andrej seems to disappear shortly after arriving (perhaps like his son did years later, abandoning wife and children??) because we have not been able to locate any records after his immigration.

Fransisca was boarding at 119 Superior Street, Detroit with her son’s family (Anthony and Michalina) in 1894-95- 96 Detroit City Directories. (see record for Anthony  Łasecki). Was the home originally hers, and then she sold it to Anthony, or was it a mistake in the earlier directory?

In 1900 Francis is still living with Anthony and Michalina on Superior St. in Detroit’s 3^rd Ward.  She is listed as Anthony’s mother, widowed, 75 years old and lists a birth date of May 1825. Grandchildren, Marry (Mary), Wladislaus (Walter), and Paul are still living at home. It was a duplex that was shared with the Gnosynski family. She gave birth to 7 children, 3 of whom are still alive in 1900. Lists her as from Germany Poland as were her parents. She emigrated 19 years earlier in 1881 as did Anthony. Michalina is listed as emigrating in 1879. She can read, but unlike her son, she cannot write or speak English. Son Anthony was working as a stove moulder at this point.

Francis’ grandson Paul had died in 1903 from a firecracker accident. Francis was still living on Superior Street in Detroit according to the city directory in 1903, 04.

According to the 1910 census, Francis was living at the Wayne County Home also known as the Poorhouse “Eloise. ” According to her death cert., she arrived at Eloise in 1908. She speaks Polish, which probably accounts for the many discrepancies in birth info. etc. for Francis. This was the same year that Anthony left Michalina to raise their 7 remaining children by herself.

Francis is listed, second from the bottom on the census record to the right.

At 88 years of age, Francis died 30 Jan 1914 of senility (we’d probably call that dementia or colloquially say Alzheimer’s) at Eloise Infirmary in Wayne County Detroit. According to her death certificate, she was buried the same day in an unmarked grave at Eloise. MJ “Schmanski undertaker. However, we found the church records in the Burton Collection in Detroit Public Library that  list 29 January as the death and that she was buried on 2 February.

If you know of any pictures of Francis, or naturalization records, etc. or have stories to fill out our understanding of Francisca, please send them to me, OPAH, or comment below..