Thanks to Colin White and the Zemaitis team for this fascinating presentation! My maternal grandfather was one among those 8000 who lived and worked in Scotland around 1900. Fortunately, his relatively simple surname, Sabas, was left intact, so I was able to search and find him on a ship manifest. I discovered that he worked at the brickyards in Glenboig, but there are so many more questions I need answered.
My maternal grandfather, Jurgis Kedis, was a miner living in Bellshill. He served in the British Army during WWI as a sapper, I have two of his military medals. After the war his name was changed to George Mitchell. My mom left Scotland after WWII, it was prohibited for a Catholic to have a Protestant boyfriend. She basically left because of a broken heart. She settled in Chicago where she met my father who was 100% Lithuanian also. Still have a fair amount of family in Scotland and England.
Quite a common story. It seems at least some half of all Lithuanians who lived in Great Britain eventually "moved on" to the USA, Australia or elsewhere (with additional thousands forced to leave back to Lithuania during or after WW1). The whole Lithuanian community of Nova Scotia, Canada was essentially composed of Lithuanians who moved in from Scotland; at one point ~1970s there were two "British-Lithuanian Clubs" in Chicago alone.
That’s pretty hard-core for the gentleman to go through the process of discovering Lithuanian ancestry and giving up his citizenship of birth in the end. Thankfully, my own grandfather left much later (still quite a shitty situation, thanks a lot Stalin!), so I’m a proud Lithuanian too (while holding on to those additional passports…)
We have visited Shenandoah numerous times and recorded some interviews there: ruclips.net/video/UvWEPLD4jbw/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/25B8lN0Ub20/видео.html . Many Lithuanians there.
Amazing the history of Lithuanians emigrants A bonus for Scotland
Thanks to Colin White and the Zemaitis team for this fascinating presentation!
My maternal grandfather was one among those 8000 who lived and worked in Scotland around 1900. Fortunately, his relatively simple surname, Sabas, was left intact, so I was able to search and find him on a ship manifest. I discovered that he worked at the brickyards in Glenboig, but there are so many more questions I need answered.
My maternal grandfather, Jurgis Kedis, was a miner living in Bellshill. He served in the British Army during WWI as a sapper, I have two of his military medals. After the war his name was changed to George Mitchell. My mom left Scotland after WWII, it was prohibited for a Catholic to have a Protestant boyfriend. She basically left because of a broken heart. She settled in Chicago where she met my father who was 100% Lithuanian also. Still have a fair amount of family in Scotland and England.
Quite a common story. It seems at least some half of all Lithuanians who lived in Great Britain eventually "moved on" to the USA, Australia or elsewhere (with additional thousands forced to leave back to Lithuania during or after WW1). The whole Lithuanian community of Nova Scotia, Canada was essentially composed of Lithuanians who moved in from Scotland; at one point ~1970s there were two "British-Lithuanian Clubs" in Chicago alone.
That’s pretty hard-core for the gentleman to go through the process of discovering Lithuanian ancestry and giving up his citizenship of birth in the end.
Thankfully, my own grandfather left much later (still quite a shitty situation, thanks a lot Stalin!), so I’m a proud Lithuanian too (while holding on to those additional passports…)
Call it genetic or spiritual memory. But the pull is strong.
you should come a interview my aunt in shenandoah pa ..Her father 100 percent Lithuanian coal miner and her Grandfather also ..
We have visited Shenandoah numerous times and recorded some interviews there: ruclips.net/video/UvWEPLD4jbw/видео.html , ruclips.net/video/25B8lN0Ub20/видео.html . Many Lithuanians there.
I know the Property sold in 2024.. I emailed you about it.. hopefully knights of lith bought it ,, My whole family as married in that church
to think my Polish Jewish ancestors had left Glasgow for New Zealand by the time his grandfather arrived...