Kosciusko Descendant Visits Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Is it coincidence or fate?
Maybe both for Ariane Kosciusko, a sixth-generation direct descendant of Poland and American Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
Kosciusko County was named for the General.
Ariane, 18, is from Paris, France. In 1988, she visited the Statue of Liberty and discovered information regarding Thaddeus. Her father, Jaquesantoine Kosciusko, travels to Poland frequently. He discovered more about Thaddeus. Then Ariane's grandfather did some research.
Three years later, her grandfather discovered his great-grandfather, born in Prussia, was the illegitimate son of Thaddeus.
When Thaddeus brought his illegitimate son to the United States, he claimed his son was his brother. That son then had a son of his own who migrated back to France.
Last summer, while attending summer school at Harvard University in Boston, Ariane met Susan Anton, who was also taking summer classes. While Susan was in Boston, her parents, Keith and Fredda Culberth, moved from South Carolina to Kosciusko County.
Coincidence or fate?
Ariane decided to visit Susan this summer.
"If I may say so, I think you have the spelling wrong for your county," said Ariane, smiling.
The correct spelling of Kosciusko, she said, is Kosciuszko. The "z" was dropped when Thaddeus' descendents first arrived in the United States.
Thaddeus, 1746-1817, was a Polish patriot who fought for freedom in America and Poland. Born in Lithuania, he arrived in America in August 1776. He was responsible for American defenses along the Hudson River, among other duties. After the American Revolution, Congress appointed him to the rank of brigadier general.
He returned to Poland in 1784 and led the uprising in 1794. He was later defeated and imprisoned.
He is regarded as a hero. [[In-content Ad]]
Is it coincidence or fate?
Maybe both for Ariane Kosciusko, a sixth-generation direct descendant of Poland and American Gen. Thaddeus Kosciuszko.
Kosciusko County was named for the General.
Ariane, 18, is from Paris, France. In 1988, she visited the Statue of Liberty and discovered information regarding Thaddeus. Her father, Jaquesantoine Kosciusko, travels to Poland frequently. He discovered more about Thaddeus. Then Ariane's grandfather did some research.
Three years later, her grandfather discovered his great-grandfather, born in Prussia, was the illegitimate son of Thaddeus.
When Thaddeus brought his illegitimate son to the United States, he claimed his son was his brother. That son then had a son of his own who migrated back to France.
Last summer, while attending summer school at Harvard University in Boston, Ariane met Susan Anton, who was also taking summer classes. While Susan was in Boston, her parents, Keith and Fredda Culberth, moved from South Carolina to Kosciusko County.
Coincidence or fate?
Ariane decided to visit Susan this summer.
"If I may say so, I think you have the spelling wrong for your county," said Ariane, smiling.
The correct spelling of Kosciusko, she said, is Kosciuszko. The "z" was dropped when Thaddeus' descendents first arrived in the United States.
Thaddeus, 1746-1817, was a Polish patriot who fought for freedom in America and Poland. Born in Lithuania, he arrived in America in August 1776. He was responsible for American defenses along the Hudson River, among other duties. After the American Revolution, Congress appointed him to the rank of brigadier general.
He returned to Poland in 1784 and led the uprising in 1794. He was later defeated and imprisoned.
He is regarded as a hero. [[In-content Ad]]