There are several things about your polish heritage you might want to look into.
Firstly, some Americans are awfully proud of having ancestors who came over on the Mayflower in 1620. The first Polish immigrants came to the Jamestown colony in October 1608, during the "second supply", twelve years before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts. These early settlers were brought as skilled artisans by the English soldier–adventurer Captain John Smith (yes... the Pocahontas guy), and included a glass blower, a pitch and tar maker, a soap maker and a timberman. English writer Richard Hakluyt wrote in 1586 that colonization would require "men skillful in burning of Sope ashes, and in making of Pitch and Tarre, and Rosen, to be fetched out of Prussia and Poland, which are thence to be had for small wages, being there in manner of slaves."
John Smith traveled from England to Poland in 1603 to recruit artisans for his voyage to America. There were six Polish men that traveled with him in 1603. Two of these workers would later save Smith's life in an attack by Native Americans.
OK... so Polish workers were among the very first European residents of what later became the United States, and were brought in for their skills and work ethic.
Secondly, check the Revolutionary War and the role of Polish Americans. If not the the polish... we may be British subjects today.
Casimir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kościuszko, and Haym Solomon are recognized as three key Polish Americans who served in the American Revolutionary War, making significant contributions to the success of the American cause. Pulaski arrived in America in 1777 and was appointed brigadier general of the Continental Army’s cavalry, earning the title "Father of the American Cavalry" for his leadership and tactical innovations. He led the Pulaski Cavalry Legion in key battles including Brandywine, Germantown, and the Siege of Savannah, where he was mortally wounded in 1779 and later buried at sea.
Thaddeus Kościuszko, another prominent Polish figure, was a skilled military engineer and tactician who volunteered his services to the Continental Army in 1776. He played a crucial role in fortifying key American positions, including Philadelphia, West Point, and the Southern theater, and was instrumental in several strategic victories. He became a brigadier general. He was also one of the first Revolutionary War heroes to explicitly oppose slavery.
Haym Solomon, a Polish-born financier, was a vital figure in securing financial support for the Revolutionary cause, using his connections and business acumen to help fund the Continental Army.
One of other notable Polish Americans of the Revolutionary Era was Peter Zabriskie, a patriot and colonel in the Revolutionary Army, who opened his home in Hackensack to General Washington during the retreat from New York.
Don't ever be embarrassed by Polish heritage. Polish people were instrumental in establishing the early colonies and the United States.
Thank you for the tremendous content! You are most certainly correct. I'm definitely going to save this for later research.
I've been a Mechanical Engineer for 30+ years. In that time I've had the privilege of meeting soooo many other skilled Polish and Eastern European Mech, Elec, Aero engineers, machinists, carpenters, professors and mechanics. Many have become very good friends of mine.
There's something different about that whole region and how the people are determined to figure things out for themselves.
There are several things about your polish heritage you might want to look into.
Firstly, some Americans are awfully proud of having ancestors who came over on the Mayflower in 1620. The first Polish immigrants came to the Jamestown colony in October 1608, during the "second supply", twelve years before the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts. These early settlers were brought as skilled artisans by the English soldier–adventurer Captain John Smith (yes... the Pocahontas guy), and included a glass blower, a pitch and tar maker, a soap maker and a timberman. English writer Richard Hakluyt wrote in 1586 that colonization would require "men skillful in burning of Sope ashes, and in making of Pitch and Tarre, and Rosen, to be fetched out of Prussia and Poland, which are thence to be had for small wages, being there in manner of slaves."
John Smith traveled from England to Poland in 1603 to recruit artisans for his voyage to America. There were six Polish men that traveled with him in 1603. Two of these workers would later save Smith's life in an attack by Native Americans.
OK... so Polish workers were among the very first European residents of what later became the United States, and were brought in for their skills and work ethic.
Secondly, check the Revolutionary War and the role of Polish Americans. If not the the polish... we may be British subjects today.
Casimir Pulaski, Thaddeus Kościuszko, and Haym Solomon are recognized as three key Polish Americans who served in the American Revolutionary War, making significant contributions to the success of the American cause. Pulaski arrived in America in 1777 and was appointed brigadier general of the Continental Army’s cavalry, earning the title "Father of the American Cavalry" for his leadership and tactical innovations. He led the Pulaski Cavalry Legion in key battles including Brandywine, Germantown, and the Siege of Savannah, where he was mortally wounded in 1779 and later buried at sea.
Thaddeus Kościuszko, another prominent Polish figure, was a skilled military engineer and tactician who volunteered his services to the Continental Army in 1776. He played a crucial role in fortifying key American positions, including Philadelphia, West Point, and the Southern theater, and was instrumental in several strategic victories. He became a brigadier general. He was also one of the first Revolutionary War heroes to explicitly oppose slavery.
Haym Solomon, a Polish-born financier, was a vital figure in securing financial support for the Revolutionary cause, using his connections and business acumen to help fund the Continental Army.
One of other notable Polish Americans of the Revolutionary Era was Peter Zabriskie, a patriot and colonel in the Revolutionary Army, who opened his home in Hackensack to General Washington during the retreat from New York.
Don't ever be embarrassed by Polish heritage. Polish people were instrumental in establishing the early colonies and the United States.
Thank you for the tremendous content! You are most certainly correct. I'm definitely going to save this for later research.
I've been a Mechanical Engineer for 30+ years. In that time I've had the privilege of meeting soooo many other skilled Polish and Eastern European Mech, Elec, Aero engineers, machinists, carpenters, professors and mechanics. Many have become very good friends of mine.
There's something different about that whole region and how the people are determined to figure things out for themselves.