Steve’s Genealogy Blog

Continuing my efforts to record the locations of events in my database as they were known at the time of the event, I’ve researched the geography and history of the area where my Dańko ancestors lived, and I’ve developed a system for recording the events in several different geographical areas.

The information I’ve compiled will assist me in correctly recording both the locations of events and the source citations themselves.

The names of the locations in which my Dańko ancestors lived changed over the past two and a half centuries, but much less than the names of the locations in which my Niedziałkowski ancestors resided.

Prior to the first partition of Poland, my Dańko ancestors lived in Nienadowa, Powiat przemyski, Wojewódstwo ruskie, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

On 05 Aug 1772, the date of the first partition of Poland, the area in which the Dańkos lived was annexed by Austria and the name of the place in which they lived became Nienadowa, Powiat przemyski, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austria.

In 1804, Austria extended its reach and became the Austrian Empire. The name of the location where the Dańkos lived became Nienadowa, Powiat przemyski, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austrian Empire.

After the defeat of the Austrian Empire in the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Austria attempted to reinforce the power of the empire by negotiating with the Magyars.

After the Ausgleich of February 1867, the Austrian Empire became the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and so the Dańko family resided in Nienadowa, Powiat przemyski, Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, Austro-Hungarian Empire.

World War I ended in 1918. 

On 28 Jun 1919 with the Treaty of Versailles, Poland reemerged as the Second Polish Republic. The Dańkos now resided in Nienadowa, Powiat przemyski, Wojewódstwo lwowskie, Second Polish Republic.

The names of these places didn’t immediately change on the exact dates cited. However, the events that occurred on those dates were pivotal for the resulting changes in place names. For the purpose of my genealogy database, I will use the dates cited as the defining dates for the changes noted above.

This summary should provide me with a good reference for recording the names of the places in which my Dańko ancestors lived at various points in time.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

While continuing my research on my ancestors, I’ve discovered two areas where the information I had entered into my genealogy database was deficient: identification of locations and source citations.

I am trying to record the locations of events in my database as they were known at the time of the event. To achieve this goal, I’ve researched the geography and history of the areas, and I’ve developed a system for recording the events in several different geographical areas.

The information I’ve compiled will assist me in correctly recording both the locations of events and the source citations themselves.

The locations in which my Niedziałkowski ancestors lived provide a particular challenge because the borders changed so often over the past two and a half centuries.

Prior to the third partition of Poland, my Niedziałkowski ancestors lived in Klonowo, Powiat ciechanowski, Województwo mazowieckie, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

On 24 Oct 1795, the date of the third partition of Poland, the area in which the Niedziałkowskis lived became part of the Prussian Empire and the place they lived became Klonowo, Kreise Przasnysz, Departement Plozk, New East Prussia, Kingdom of Prussia.

On 09 Jun 1807, the Duchy of Warsaw was formed. By this time, my ancestors had moved a short distance from Klonowo and were now living in Mosaki Godacze, Powiat przasnysz, Departament płocki, Duchy of Warsaw.

On 09 Jun 1815, the Congress of Vienna created the Congress Kingdom of Poland. Even though they hadn’t moved, my ancestors were now living in Mosaki Godacze, Powiat ciechanowski, Województwo płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

On 29 Nov 1830, the November Uprising began. This rebellion against the Russian Empire ultimately failed, and the Russian Empire began to exert greater control over the Congress Kingdom of Poland.

By 07 Mar 1837, the Russian Empire reorganized the administrative divisions of the Congress Kingdom of Poland and established Gubernias in the Russian tradition. My ancestors now lived in Mosaki Godacze, Powiat ciechanowski, Gubernia płocka, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

In 1842, the Powiat was renamed Okręg and my ancestors now lived in Mosaki Godacze, Okręg ciechanowski, Gubernia płocka, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

On 22 Jan 1863, the January Uprising began. This rebellion against the Russian Empire failed, and the Russian Empire incorporated the Congress Kingdom of Poland into the Russian Empire. The Coat of Arms of the Congress Kingdom of Poland was abandoned.

By 1867, the incorporation of the Congress Kingdom of Poland into the Russian Empire was complete. The Russian government now referred to the area as the Vistulan Country. By now, my ancestors had moved a short distance to the village of Pomaski. They now resided in Pomaski, Okręg makowski, Guberniya lomzhinskaya, Vistulan Country, Russian Empire.

The names of these places didn’t immediately change on the exact dates cited. However, the events that occurred on those dates were pivotal for the resulting changes in place names. For the purpose of my genealogy database, I will use the dates cited as the defining dates for the changes noted above.

This summary should provide me with a good reference for recording the names of the places in which my Niedziałkowski ancestors lived at various points in time.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

The second record I found at my local Family History Center yesterday was the birth record of Eleonora Milewska, daughter of Jakób Milewski and Eleonora Mórawska. Eleonora was born on 11 Mar 1839 in Mosaki Starawieś, Powiat ciechanowski, Gubernia plockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland. She was baptized on 12 Mar 1839 in the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Krasne.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Eleonora - 1839

REFERENCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat ciechanowski, Gubernia płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzym-kat w Krasnem pow. ciechanowski. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów. 1839. [Civil registrations of the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne, Ciechanów Powiat. Records of births, marriages, and deaths. 1839.],” entry 14, Eleonora Milewska, 12 Mar 1839; filmed as Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1808-1892; FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,793, item 9.

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat ciechanowski, Gubernia płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland). Akta urodzin małż zgonów. 1839, Rzym-Kat Krasne, Pow. ciechanowski. Powiatowe Archiwum Państwowe w Mława. FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,793, item 9. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Eleonora Milewska. The record reads:

14.

Mosaki Starawieś It happened in the village of Krasne on the twenty-eighth day of February / twelfth day of March in the year one-thousand eight-hundred thirty-nine at the hour of five in the afternoon. Jakób Milewski presented himself, owner of parts [of the village], fifty years of age, residing in the village of Mosaki Starawieś, in the presence of Adam Mossakowski thirty-seven years of age, as well as Piotr Bartołd forty years of age, both owners of parts [of the village], residing in Mosaki Starawieś, and he showed us a child of the female sex born in Mosaki Starawieś yesterday at the hour of eight in the evening of his wife Eleonora née Murawska thirty years of age. At Holy Baptism performed this day, this child was given the name Eleonora, and her Godparents were: the above-mentioned Adam Mossakowski and Józefa his wife. This document was read to the declarants and witnesses who do not know how to write.-
R[everend] Józef Bońkowski, pastor of Krasne

Eleonora Milewska is the older sister of Julian Milewski, the man who would later marry Małgorzata Niedziałkowska, my second great grand aunt.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

I stopped by my local Family History Center this evening and found the birth record of Julian Milewski, son of Jakób Milewsi and Eleonora Mórawska. Julian was born on 08 Feb 1842 in Mosaki Stara Wieś, Okręg ciechanowski, Gubernia plockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was baptized on 09 Feb 1842 in the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Krasne.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Julian Milewski - 1842

REFERENCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Okręg ciechanowski, Gubernia płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzym-kat w Krasnem pow. ciechanowski. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów. 1842. Civil registrations of the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne, Ciechanów District. Records of births, marriages, and deaths. 1842.],” entry 17, verso folio 3, Julian Milewski, 09 Feb 1842; filmed as Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1808-1892; FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,794, item 2.

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Okręg ciechanowski, Gubernia płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland). Akta urodzin małż zgonów. 1842, Rzym-Kat Krasne, Pow. ciechanowski. Powiatowe Archiwum Państwowe w Mława. FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,794, item 2. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Julian Milewski. The record reads:

17. Mosaki.

It happened in the village of Krasne on the twenty-eighth day of January / ninth day of February in the year one-thousand eight-hundred forty-two at the hour of twelve noon. Jakób Milewski presented himself, owner of the noble parts [of the village], fifty-one years of age, residing in the village of Mosaki Stara Wieś, in the presence of Kazimierz Milewski thirty-seven years of age, and Józef Milewski, thirty two years of age, both owners of the noble parts [of the village], residing in Mosaki Stara Wieś, and he showed us a child of the male sex born in Mosaki Stara Wieś yesterday at the hour of four in the morning of his wife Eleonora née Mórawska forty years of age. At Holy Baptism performed this day, this child was given the name Julian, and his Godparents were Julian Szalla and Salomea his wife. This document was read to the declarants and witnesses, and signed below by Us, because the father and witnesses do not know how to write.-
     R[everend] Józef Bońkowski, pastor of Krasne

Julian Milewski would later marry Małgorzata Niedziałkowska, my second great grand aunt.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

The third and final record I found in the microfilms at my local Family History Center on Saturday was the birth record of Maryanna Milewska, daughter of Julian Milewski and my second great grand aunt Małgorzata Niedziałkowska. Maryanna was born on 16 May 1863 in Mosaki Stara Wieś, Powiat ciechanowski, Gubernia plockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland. She was baptized on 17 May 1863 in the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Krasne.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Maryanna Milewska - 1863

REFERENCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzym-kat w Krasnem pow. ciechanowski. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów. 1863. [Civil registrations of the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne, Powiat Ciechanów. Records of births, marriages, and deaths. 1863.],” entry 46, Małgorzata Milewska, 17 May 1863; filmed as Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1808-1892; FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,796, item 4.

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland). Akta urodzin małż zgonów. Vol. 37, 1863, Rzym-Kat Krasne, Pow. ciechanowski. Powiatowe Archiwum Państwowe w Mława. FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,796, item 4. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Maryanna Milewska. The record reads:

Nr 46. Mosaki Stara Wieś

It happened in the church-owned village of Krasne on the seventeenth day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred sixty-three at the hour of four in the afternoon Julian Milewski presented himself, owner of a part [of the village], twenty-two years of age, residing in Mosaki Stara Wieś, in the presence of Antoni Niedziałkowski fifty-four years of age and Piotr Młodzianowski forty-three years of age, both owners of a part [of the village], the first residing in Godacze and the second residing in Mosaki Stara Wieś, and he showed us a child of the female sex, stating that she was born in Mosaki Stara Wieś yesterday at the hour of eight in the evening of his wife Małgorzata Niedziałkowska twenty-four years of age, and at Holy Baptism performed this day by the Reverend Józef Pakowski, Vicar of the parish of Krasne, the child was given the name Maryanna, and the Godparents were Karol Grzyński from Slas Łarina and Karolina Niedziałkowska from Mosaki Godacze. This document was read to the declarants and witnesses and then signed below by Us. The declarants and witnesses do not know how to write.-
     Reverend Jdzi Godlewski, Pastor of the parish of Krasne, maintaining the civil register-

Maryanna Milewska was my first cousin, three times removed. Her mother, Małgorzata Niedziałkowska, was my second great grand aunt; and her grandparents, Antoni Niedzialkowski, and Karolina Milewska were my third great grandparents.

I had trouble with several names of people and places in this record, including the surnames Młodzianowski, Pakowski, and Grzyński.

I also had trouble with the first name of the priest who signed the record. The first letter is “J”. By comparing the penmanship in the preceding word, “Xiądz”, the next two letters appear to be “dz”. The last letter is “i”. Altogether this spells “Jdzi”. The name appears to be abbreviated, but I don’t know what the original name might be.

Finally, I could not positively identify the village in which the Godfather lived. It looks like Slas Łarina, but I can’t find a village with that name (or a similar name) either in the gazetteers or on the maps.

Perhaps, with time, these will become clear.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Among the records I found in the microfilms at my local Family History Center on Saturday was the marriage record of Julian Milewski and Małgorzata Niedziałkowska. Małgorzata Niedziałkowska was the daughter of my third great grandparents, Antoni Niedziałkowski and Karolina Milewska. The marriage took place in the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne on 18 Feb 1862.

The Marriage Record of Julian Milewski and Małgorzata Niedziałkowska - 1862

REFERENCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzym-kat w Krasnem pow. ciechanowski. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów. 1862. [Civil registrations of the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne, Powiat Ciechanów. Records of births, marriages, and deaths. 1862.],” front of folio 29, entry 3, Julian Milewski & Małgorzata Niedziałkowska, 18 Feb 1862; filmed as Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1808-1892; FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,796, item 3.

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland). Akta urodzin małż zgonów. Vol. 36, 1862, Rzym-Kat Krasne, Pow. ciechanowski. Powiatowe Archiwum Państwowe w Mława. FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,796, item 3. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record of Julian Milewski and Małgorzata Niedziałkowska. The record reads:

No 3. Mosaki Stara Wieś and Godacze

It happened in the church-owned village of Krasne on the eighteenth day of February in the year one thousand eight hundred sixty-two, at the hour of three in the afternoon. We make it known that in the presence of witnesses Wojciech Niedziałkowski, thirty-five years of age, and Ferdynand Ruszczyński, thirty-eight years of age, owners of a part [of the village], the first residing in Mosaki Rukle, the second residing in Godacze, on this day a religious marriage was contracted between Julian Milewski, the bridegroom, residing with his family in Mosaki Stara Wieś,  having been born there of the deceased Jakób Milewski and his surviving wife Eleonora née Mosawska residing in Mosaki as a day laborer, twenty years of age; and Małgorzata Niedziałkowska, an unmarried woman, living in Godacze with her family, having been born there of Antoni Niedziałkowski and Karolina née Milewska his wife, owners of a part [of the village], settled in Godacze, twenty-one years of age. This wedding was preceded by three readings of the banns, on the twenty-sixth of January, the second and the ninth of February of the present year mainly in the parish of Krasne, as well as by the oral consent of the mother of the groom and the family of the newly married young woman. No impediment arose. The newlyweds stated that they had made no prenuptial agreement between them. This [marriage?] ceremony was performed by the Reverend Ludwik Zawalski, Vicar of the parish of Krasne. This document, after having been read to the declarants and witnesses who stated that they do not know how to write, was signed below by Us.
     Reverend Jan Godlewski, pastor of the parish of Krasne
     Maintaining the public register

Marriage records of the siblings of my ancestors, such as this one, provide me with the opportunity to trace these families forward in time and, possibly, connect with living relatives.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Among the records I found in the microfilms at my local Family History Center on Saturday was the birth record of Teofil Niedziałkowski, son of my third great grandparents, Antoni Niedziałkowski and Karolina Milewska. Teofil was born on 26 Feb 1852 in Godacze, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was baptized on 29 Feb 1852 in the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Krasne.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Teofil Niedziałkowska - 1852

REFERENCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzym-kat w Krasnem pow. ciechanowski. Akta urodzeń, małżeństw, zgonów. 1852. [Civil registrations of the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne, Powiat Ciechanów. Records of births, marriages, and deaths. 1852.],” front of folio 5, entry 13, Teofil Niedziałkowski, 29 Feb 1852; filmed as Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1808-1892; FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,795, item 1.

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland). Akta urodzin małż zgonów. Vol. 27, 1852, Rzym-Kat Krasne, Pow. ciechanowski. Powiatowe Archiwum Państwowe w Mława. FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,795, item 1. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Teofil Niedziałkowski. The record reads:

13.

Godacze. It happened in the village of Krasne on the seventeenth / twenty-ninth day of February, one thousand eight-hundred fifty-two at the hour of four in the afternoon. Antoni Niedziałkowski presented himself, owner of a part [of the village], residing in the village of Godacze, forty years of age, in the presence of Ignacy Wilkowski, forty-two years of age owner of a part [of the village], residing in the village of Godacze, and Antoni Chetchowski, owner of a part [of the village], residing in Stara Wies, thirty-six years of age, and he showed us a child of the male sex, born in the village of Godacze on the fourteenth / twenty-sixth day of February of the current year at the hour of eleven before noon, by his wife Karolina née Milewska, forty-two years of age. At Holy Baptism performed this day, this child was given the name Teofil, and his Godparents were Maciej Szwejkowski and Józefa his wife. This document was read aloud to the declarants and witnesses who are unable to write.          Reverend Józef Bońkowski, pastor of the parish of Krasne

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

While at my local Family History Center this past week, I discovered that the center has maps of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. I found the map for the Dubiecko-Nienadowa region where my paternal ancestors lived.

Military Map of the Dubiecko-Nienadowa Region - 1894

SOURCE: Militär-Landesaufnahme und Spezialkarte der österreichisch-ungarischen Monarchie [Military Ordnance and Special Maps of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy]. Österreich: Militärgeographisches Institut, 1894. Family History Library microfiche 6,000,218, image 6. Family History Library, Salt lake City, Utah.

Click on the map to enlarge it. 

This map shows in great detail the area of Nienadowa (highlighted by a rectangular box around the name of the village) where my grandparents (and earlier Dańko ancestors) lived. the map even shows the locations of the individual buildings in the village. I don’t know which house was my great grandparents’ home, but since this map was dated 1894, I know that they were living in one of them.

The map also shows the village of Dubiecko where the parish church was located, the location of the San River to the south, and the locations of several other small villages in the area.

This map is similar to the online maps from the 3rd Military Mapping Survey of Austria-Hungary, but is dated about a decade earlier.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

I stopped by my local Family History Center this evening and further examined the microfilms for the parish of Krasne. I found the birth and baptismal record of Teodor Niedziałkowski who was apparently another son of my third great grandparents, Antoni Niedziałkowski and Karolina Milewska. Teodor was born on 15 Dec 1844 in Mosaki Godacze, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was baptized the same day in the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Krasne.

The Birth and Baptismal Record of Teodor Niedziałkowski - 1844

REFERENCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Akta stanu cywilnego parafii rzym-kat w Krasnem pow. ciechanowski. Akta urodzin, małżeństw, zgonów. Daty końcowe 1844 [Civil registrations of the Roman Catholic parish in Krasne, Powiat Ciechanów],” page 70, entry 87, Teodor Niedziałkowski, 15 Dec 1844; filmed as Kopie księg metrykalnych, 1808-1892; FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,794, item 4.

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Krasne, Powiat Ciechanowski, Gubernia Płockiej, Congress Kingdom of Poland). Par. Krasne, pow. ciechanów 1844, urodzen, małżenstw, zejscia. Powiatowe Archiwum Państwowe w Mława. FHL INTL microfilm 0,702,794, item 4. Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal record of Teodor Niedziałkowski. The record reads:

87.

Mosaki Godacze. It happened in the village of Krasne on the third / fifteenth day of December, one thousand eight-hundred forty-four at the hour of three in the afternoon. Antoni Niedziałkowski presented himself, owner of a part [of the village] thirty-three years of age, residing in the village of Godacze, forty years of age, along with Józef Łyszkowski, fifty years of age, both owners of a part [of the village] residing in the village of Mosaki Godacze, and he showed us a child of the male sex, born in Godacze today at the hour of four in the morning by his wife Karolina née Wrobilewska thirty years of age. At Holy Baptism performed this day, this child was given the name Teodor, and his Godparents were Antoni Chełchowski and Łucja, his wife. This document was read aloud to the declarants and witnesses who are unable to write.

Reverend Piotr Baczkowski [?] the parish of Krasne

There is one discrepancy in this record. Antoni Niedziałkowski’s wife was Karolina Milewska, not Karolina Wroblewska as stated in this record. Indications that this is the correct couple include the fact that I have found no other record of an Antoni Niedziałkowski married to a Karolina Wrobilewska, the location is correct, the ages of the parents are correct, and the occupation of the father is correct.

Furthermore, children were born to Antoni Niedziałkowski and Karolina Milewska approximately every two years after their marriage in 1831 until the last child was born in 1849 with one exception. There is a gap of four and a half years between 1942 and 1947. The birth of Teodor in December 1944 fills this gap nicely.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko

Józef Niedziałkowski, the brother of my grandfather Kostanty Niedziałkowski, was married twice. Both times, he married a woman from the village of Trelkowo. He first married Józefa Kolarowira on 28 Jan 1928 in Trelkowo and, after her death, he married Anastasia Cheschowska on 12 Jul 1934 in Trelkowo.

For some time, I was unable to locate the village of Trelkowo, since I assumed the village was located in Poland. As it turns out, Trelkowo was located in East Prussia, Germany and was officially known as Gross Schöndamerau.

The Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i Innych Krajów Słowiańskich (Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and other Slavonic Countries) provides some information about this village.

Słownik Geograficzny Entry for Trelkowo

Source:  Chlebowski, Bronisław, Filip Sulimierski, and Władysław Walewski, eds., Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i Innych Krajów Słowiańskich [Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and other Slavonic Countries] (Warsaw, 1892), Volume XII, page 459.

Click on the image above to enlarge it. Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Słownik Geograficzny Entry for Trelkowo. Translated from the Polish, the entry reads:

Trelkowo and Trelkówko, called Gross Schöndamerau and Klein Schöndamerau in German, a village in Szczecin Powiat. There is a post office in Ortelsburg. Zygfried Walot, [komtur elbąski?], granted to the brothers Stanisław and Maciej in Pasłęk in the year 1391 64 włóki [1 włóka = 16.8 hectares] in Trelkowo for the foundation of a village, 4 włóki allocated for a church and 4 for the sołtys [chair of the village council].  In the year 1602, almost all who lived here were Poles.

The location is shown on the map below. Gross Schöndamerau is highlighted in a box near the top of the map and the area where Józef Niedziałkowski and his ancestors were born is highlighted in the box near the bottom of the map.

Map of the Area around Gross Schöndamerau, East Prussia, Germany

SOURCE:  Bartholomew, J. G, “Baltic States & East Prussia,” The Times Atlas. (London: The Times, 1922); digital images, David Rumsey Map Collection (http://www.davidrumsey.com/maps5326.html : accessed 05 August 2008).

Click on the map to enlarge the image. The red line on the map is the border between Poland and East Prussia, Germany. After World War II, Gross Schöndamerau was incorporated into the territory of Poland and officially became known by its Polish name of Trelkowo.

Written for the Carnival of Eastern European Genealogy.

Copyright © 2008 by Stephen J. Danko