Person:Franciska Szwocha (1)

Daughters Catherine and Anna immigrated on the ship Palmeston in 1872, two years before the rest of the family and possibly even before their father died.

Rest of family arrived in NZ with Johan Switalla in 1874 aboard the ship Reichstag.

Was her marriage to Johan real or a marriage of convenience? Some of the less wealthy had very long waits at Hamburg as they couldn't bribe their way on to a ship. If Joseph Velenski was sick before or died about the time the Palmerston sailed she would not have been entitled to free passage under the Jules Vogel assisted immigrant scheme, and it is likely they spent a long time in the transit camp. Johan Switalli whilst not exactly an eligible batchelor was a means to an end though his age would have made him just borderline.

Letters of Nationalisation granted to John Switalli 28th October 1893 at Greytown.

Franziska was apparently the Allanton (was Greytown until about 1885) Polish community midwife. In her later years she was apparently know to go each day to the local pub and get her billy of beer and visit each of the daughters on her way home.

The German version of her surname is Schwach.

1.   Graeme Junge. Junge Commins Families Web Site
   Franzika or Franziska Schwach, 21 DEC 2011.

   Added by confirming a Smart Match EVEN: Smart Matching
   ROLE: 1000075

2.   Sandra Hayes Profile Manager.

   http://www.geni.com/people/Franziska-Schwach/6000000006170330644