26 May 2015

Using Google Maps to Find Genealogical Records

When researching a place for genealogical records, first locate it on modern maps. I use Google Maps.[1] My Ginter Günther family comes from a rural area on the Vistula River in Poland near the cities, Włocławek and Płock. 

The towns mentioned in family records include Leslau (today Włocławek), Mursk (near Ładne), Wistka Szlachecka, Dobiegniewo and Nowa Wieś. Today these towns are located within the Gostynińsko-Włocławski Park Krajobrazowy or the Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park, which was established in 1979.

The Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park is located in two voivodships (provinces); Kujawsko-Pomorskie (Kuyavian-Pomeranian) and Mazowieckie (Masovian).

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Masovian Voivodeship













The park is also located in three powiaty (counties); Włocławski on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian side and Gostyniński and Płocki on the Masovian side. 
Włocławski









Google Maps will not show the proper boundaries for Powiat Płocki, only for the city of Płock. The park is located in two gminy (districts) of Płocki; Gmina Łąck, Gmina Nowy Duninów

Gmina Łąck
Gmina Nowy Duninów
To summarize the following are locations where I might find genealogical records related to my Ginter Günther family;

Włocławek (a city/county, was Leslau, not part of Gmina Włocławek), 
         Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Gmina Włocławek (rural), Powiat Włocławski,    
         Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Mursk (near Ładne), Gmina Włocławski, Powiat Włocławski,          
         Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Wistka Szlachecka, Gmina Włocławski, Powiat Włocławski,              
         Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Dobiegniewo, Gmina Włocławski, Powiat Włocławski,   
         Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship
Nowa Wieś, Gmina Nowy Duninów, Powiat Płocki, 
         Masovian Voivodeship 

Additionally, church records related to Nowa Wieś are associated with Gostyniń.

Gostyniń, Gmina Gostyniński, Powiat Gostyniński,
          Masovian Voivodeship

The only district of the Gostynin-Włocławek Landscape Park not known to be a place of record for my ancestors is Gmina Łąck, part of Plock county. Because of its close location, however, I would not rule it out in a survey for records. 

Next time on The Scrappy Genealogist: Where to look first for records. 

Research on!

Jennifer Shoer aka Scrappy Gen

Let's Remember!

Google, GoogleMaps (https://www.google.com/maps/ : accessed 26 May 2015). 

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