Tapestry Design

I haven't posted any updates about the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry since my first post about it, but I've been in intermittent contact with the coordinators. I've been offering my take on the Lithuanian "reverse diaspora" to Scotland, and the subsequent deportations under the Anglo-Russian Military Convention. I've emphasized the importance of the treaty to the fate of Lithuanian community in Scotland because it was really what lead to it's decline. And it actually connects to the diaspora theme better than anything else, considering that people like my great-uncle Kazimiras were Scottish-born and ended up having to leave.

I'm glad to say that they've included it in the design. They even offered to do an entire second panel dedicated to the treaty, but they're short on stitchers and I can't devote the time to it right now. Anyhow they sent a preliminary design and I'm quite happy with it.

Rollin(itis)

I receive the Scotland's People newsletter periodically, and over the last couple years they've been making announcements of newly released "valuation rolls", which are records of property ownership. I haven't paid them much attention because my Scottish-Lithuanian ancestors were almost certainly not property owners. Little did I know, however, the valuation rolls also list tenants of properties!

I've only done a preliminary search so far, but I've found a few. I've turned up Vincent, William, John, and Antanas Kisielius. I'm not certain if any of them is related, but I suspect they are brothers of Kazimiras Sr. John might actually be their uncle. But detailed family information isn't provided on the rolls, so they probably won't help that much. In fact, they seem to only list the head of household.

At first, I wasn't finding anything when I searched for Raulinitis (and its variants), so I decided to have a look using the address where I know they were located for a time, 178 Rose Street. And I found what I believe to be a match. It lists a "Matthew Rollin, miner". It's got to be Motiejus, my great-great-grandfather - correct address, correct time, similar sounding Anglicized name. Again, it doesn't tell me much about the family, but knowing that they also used "Rollin" could be a real help. That means they went by Raulinitis, Rolwich, Rowland, and Rollin, all of which came from the most probable correct version, Raulinaitis.

Something rather interesting it does show, however, is the amount that it cost in rent per year. In 1915, they were paying 9 pounds 5 shillings. But by 1920 they were paying 11 pounds 5 shillings. More than 21% increase in rent in just 5 years!! Bloodly slumlords! From what I understand, people were living in absolute squalor in that area during that time, and to see how they were being squeezed of what little that had really gets me. At least the 1915 roll lists the proprietor, Mary Archibald of Lenzie, so we can know who was leeching off of those who were doing real work. I'd spit now, for dramatic effect, if weren't for the fact that you'd never know and I'd just have to clean it up in a few minutes.

1915 rent £9, 5s.

1920 rent £11, 5s.

The Note from Kazimiras

As I mentioned in this post, Chute's brother wrote a note on the back of a photo shortly after he was abducted by the Soviets.

Kazimiras Kisielius with fellow soldiers, Lithuania probably winter 1940/41.

He was in the Lithuanian military and, as I understand it, he disappeared after the first Soviet occupation that began in June 1940. I showed the photo once to a military historian from Lithuania, and he said it was likely from the winter of 1940/1941 because he was able to identify Russian army tabs on their Lithuanian uniforms. I guess that means the Soviets conscripted or at least subordinated the existing Lithuanian soldiers prior to getting rid of them. I don't know the history well enough to know what is most likely to have happened to him, but I've always assumed he was deported and/or executed. During the first Soviet occupation, thousands of dissidents and potential resistors were sent to Siberia and suffered terribly (read the incredible Between Shades of Gray for more). But there's a chance he was enlisted to fight the advancing Nazi army. I really don't know the fate of these soldiers.

On my trip to Lithuania, however, I asked at the Lithuanian Special Archive (Lietuvos Ypatingasis Archyvas) if they might have information about him. They said it was possible, but that I needed documentation showing direct relation in order to obtain it. Since it was easier to document the connection between Chute and Kazimiras, I helped her to write a request when I saw her over Christmas. I received a bill for €12.52 shortly after the request was submitted, so I know they're working on it.

In the mean time, I've tried my hand at translating Kazimiras's note on the back of his photo.

Reverse side of photo above, written by Kazimiras.

Here's the transcribed Lithuanian to the best that I was able to decipher it:

Pivonija ukmergei

Mano Brangieji!

Su liūdešiu, širdyje aš tariu jums paskutinė sudiev! Nes jau skaitydami šias eilutes, manes tuo metu nebus___. Kaip norėjau, nors valandėls pamatyti jūsu brangius veidelius, bučiuoti jūsu rankeles ir karštai, karštai prispausti prie savo krūtinės bet likimas nubloškė mane, ir tik vien atminimas manasis pasiliks jūsu širdyse. Ne liūdėk, žuvau ar žusio, kaip kariui pridera žūva milijonai, o [ka?/ko?] mano [rieno?] gyvybė proče tai. Sudiev, sudiev mano Brangiausiejs.

Likimas lėmė man gerai ir esu gyvas sveikas.

And this is what I was able to translate with the help of google:

Pivonija [a village?] Ukmergei [a region?]

My dear ones!

With sadness in my heart, I said my last farewell to you! Because you're reading these lines, [manes tuo manes neb___]. How I wished for a while to see your precious [smiles?], kiss your hands and be pressed against your warm, warm chest, but fate threw me and only a mere memory will remain in your hearts. No sorrow, [if I] die or perish, as death befits millions of soldiers, and what [rieno?] my life [proče?] that. Farewell, farewell my dearest.

Then the ink changes color and he adds:

Good fortune I am alive an healthy. 

It's a REALLY POOR translation, I'm certain! But it's really hard to work out hand written cursive when you don't have a base vocabulary to help. And I still can't really make sense of what he was saying. It's almost as if he was writing a message before going into battle that was to be sent if he was killed. But the final line, in the other ink, suggests he survived. I don't know why he would then still send it with all the rest on there. It must have been really upsetting to receive. It was the last the family ever heard from him though, so things must have turned for the worse afterwards.

I really hope the Special Archive is able to tell us something. I think it would mean a lot to Chute to know what actually happened. Here she is talking about when he was taken away and how important he was to her: