The Polish Village of Klonowo

Now that I’ve found that my Niedziałkowski ancestors lived in the village of Klonowo in the 18th century, I’ve begun to find out what I can about the village. The Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i Innych Krajów Słowiańskich (The Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and Other Slavonic Countries) includes three major entries for villages named Klonowo. The first of these major entries includes descriptions of six different villages, the fifth of which is the correct entry for my ancestors’ village.

First Major Słownik Geograficzny Entry for Klonowo

SOURCE: Sulimierski, Filip, Bronisław Chlebowski, and Władysław Walewski, eds., Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i Innych Krajów Słowiańskich (Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland and other Slavonic Countries) – Warsaw 1887, Volume IV, page 162.

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the First Major Słownik Geograficzny Entry for Klonowo. Translated from the Polish, the entry states:

Klonowo, 1.) village and grange [large manorial farmstead], Powiat [District] Nieszawa, gmina [municipality] Sędzin, parish Byczyna. The village of Klonowo consists of the Klonowo grange and Tarnówka, as well as the village of that name. The area amounts to 705 mórgs (about 1.388 mórgs per acre); the Klonowo grange: 409 mórgs of arable land and gardens, 50 mórgs of meadows, 17 mórgs of unused land and squares, altogether 476 mórgs; 10 brick buildings, 13-field crop rotation; the Tarnówka grange: 207 mórgs of arable land and gardens, 15 mórgs of meadows, 7 mórgs of unused land and squares, altogether 229 mórgs; 5 brick buildings. The village of Klonowo 16 settlements, with 17 mórgs of land; the village of Tarnówka 5 settlements, with 5 mórgs of land. The grange and village of Klonówek that is also there is extensive with 314 mórgs, 296 mórgs of arable land and gardens, 5 mórgs of meadows, 13 mórgs of unused land and squares; 10 brick buildings, 11-field crop rotation. The village of Klonówek 10 settlements, with 9 mórgs of land.

2.) K[lonowo], a village in the Koło powiat, Sompolno gmina, Lubstówek parish, 24 versts (0.66 miles per verst) not far from Koła, it has 5 houses, 47 inhabitants.

3.) K[lonowo], Łomża powiat, Lubotyń gmina and parish. See Red forest.

4.) K[lonowo], a village on the road of the same name, Rypin powiat, Sokołowo gmina, Działuń parish, 225 versts not far from Rypin. In 1827 there were 11 houses, 92 inhabitants here, currently there are 17 houses, 210 inhabitants, 755 mórgs of land, 29 mórgs of unused land. According to the Land Credit Company, the Klonowo grange extended 789 mórgs, 657 mórgs of arable land and gardens, 79 mórgs of meadows, 23 mórgs of water, 30 mórgs of unused land and squares; 6 brick buildings, 8 of wood, 11-field crop rotation. In 1867 this grange was separated from the village of Wielgie. In 1789 Klonowo belonged to  the village of Działyń and brought 190 złoty rent.

5.) K[lonowo], a village on the Sona river, Ciechanów powiat, Bartołdy gmina, Pałuki parish, 13 versts not far from Ciechanów, it has 8 houses, 72 inhabitants, 280 mórgs of land, 2 mórgs unused:

6.) K[lonowo], a village, Maryampol powiat, Jaworowo gmina, Igłówka parish, 16 versts not far from Maryampol, it has 5 houses, 90 inhabitants.
Br[onisław] Ch[lebowski]

Entry number 5 doesn’t say much, but it shows that Klonowo was a very small village, with only 8 houses and 72 inhabitants. A quick calculation shows that each house sheltered an average of 9 residents.

Importantly, this entry confirms that Klonowo belonged to the parish in Pałuki, in agreement with the marriage record for my ancestors Tomasz Niedziałkowski and Cecylia Chotkowska.

Now, I just need to find some time to order the microfilms at my local Family History Center and search for my Niedziałkowski ancestors.

Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko