The Birth and Baptism of Marcin Zygmuntowicz – 1851

Marcin Zygmuntowicz was the half-brother of my second great-grandmother, Ksawera Zygmuntowicz. He was born on 15 November 1851 in Skierki, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland, and he was baptized on 16 November 1851 in the Roman Catholic Church in Przasnysz, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

Birth and Baptismal Record for Marcin Zygmuntowicz - 1851

Birth and Baptismal Record for Marcin Zygmuntowicz – 1851

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish in Przasnysz (Przasnysz, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Przasnysz for the Year 1851,” folio 50 verso, entry 300, birth and baptismal record for Marcin Zygmuntowicz, recorded 16 November 1851; State Archives in Pułtusk, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 14 May 2016).

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Marcin Zygmuntowicz – 1849 . Translated from the Polish, the record states:

300.
Skierki. This happened in the city of Przasnysz on the fourth/sixteenth day of November in the year one-thousand eight-hundred fifty-one at the hour of two in the afternoon. Stanisław Zygmuntowicz appeared, a farmer from Skierki, thirty years old, in the presence of Antoni Milewski, thirty-two years old, and Mateusz Kowaleski, sixty years old, both farmers from Skierki, and he showed us a male child born in Skierki yesterday at the hour of two at night of his wife Anna née Imielska, thirty-one years old. At Holy Baptism performed today, this child was given the name Marcin, and the Godparents were the afore-mentioned Antoni Milewski and Franciszka Niedzwiecka. This document was read aloud to the declarant and witnesses who are unable to write, and it was signed by us.
The Reverend Budny, Pastor of Przasnysz

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death and Burial of Tomasz Niedziałkowski – 1906

Tomasz Niedziałkowski, my great uncle, died on 11 February 1906 in Pomaski, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was buried on 12 February 1906 in Szwelice, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was eleven years old.

Death and Burial Record of Tomasz Niedziałkowski - 1906

Death and Burial Record of Tomasz Niedziałkowski – 1906

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish of Saint John the Baptist (Szwelice, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Szwelice for the Year 1906,” folio 56 recto, entry 2, death and burial record for Tomasz Niedziałkowski, recorded 12 February 1906; State Archives in Pułtusk, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 15 May 2016).

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record for Tomasz Niedziałkowski – 1906. Translated from the Russian, the record states:

Pomaski № 2.
This happened in the village of Szwelice on January thirty-first / February twelfth in the year one-thousand nine-hundred six at nine o’clock in the morning. There appeared Teofil Niedziałkowski, forty-four years old, and Teodor Mosakowski, thirty years old, owners of the noble parts [of the village] and residing in Pomaski, and they stated that, in Pomaski, on January twenty-ninth / February eleventh of this same year, at eleven o’clock at night, Tomasz Niedziałkowski died, eleven years old, son of the married couple Teofil and Ksawera née Zygmuntowicz Niedziałkowski. After eyewitness testamony on the death of Tomasz Niedziałkowski, this document was read aloud to the declarants who are illiterate, and was signed by us.
[signed] Reverend Sennicki

My grandfather was only two years older than Tomasz, and he must have been greatly affected by the loss of his brother. Note that Teofil Niedziałkowski is described as the “owner of the noble parts.” Historically, the Nniedziałkowski family were landed nobility, although the concept of being a member of the nobility during this time period was probably not recognized by the government.

There is an error in the dates of this record. Because the record is double dated (the first date in each pair of dates is according to the Julian Calendar and the second date is according to the Gregorian Calendar). In 1906, the two calendars differed by 13 days. However, the date of the entry states “31 January 1906 / 12 February 1906” which is a difference of only 12 days. The actual date of death is correct: “29 January 1906 / 11 February 1906,” with a difference of 13 days. I have chosen to accept the date of 12 Feb 1906 as the date of the record (and presumed date of burial) for two reasons. First, the Roman Catholic Church used the Gregorian Calendar, which would have been more familiar to the priest than the Julian Calendar. Second, deaths are generally reported soon after the event, making it (slightly) more likely that the death was reported the next day, rather than two days later.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Birth and Baptism of Tomasz Niedziakowski – 1894

My great uncle, Tomasz Niedziałkowski, was born on 21 December 1894 in Pomaski, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. He was baptized on 23 December 1894 in the Roman Catholic Parish of Saint John the Baptist in Szwelice, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

Birth and Baptismal Record of Tomasz Niedziałkowski - 1894

Birth and Baptismal Record of Tomasz Niedziałkowski – 1894

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish of Saint John the Baptist (Szwelice, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Szwelice for the Year 1894,” folio 290 verso, entry 121, birth and baptismal record for Tomasz Niedziałkowski, recorded 23 December 1894; State Archives in Pułtusk, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 15 May 2016).

Click on the lilnk for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record of Tomasz Niedziałkowski – 1894. Translated from the Russian, the record states:

Pomaski № 121
This happened in the village of Szwelice on the eleventh / twenty-third day of December in the year one-thousand eight-hundred ninety-four at one o’clock in the afternoon. Teofil Niedziałkowski appeared in person, a laborer residing in Pomaski, thirty-three years old, in the presence of Wladysław Krajewski, a blacksmith, thirty-three years old, and Piotr Ostrawski, a laborer, forty years old, and he presented to us a male child stating that it was born in Pomaski on the ninth / twenty-first of this same month and year, of his lawful wife Ksawera née Zygmuntowicz, twenty-three years old. At Holy Baptism performed on this date by the Reverend Wladysław Senniсki, Assistant Pastor, this child was given the name Tomasz and his Godparents were: Wojciech Niedziałkowski and Karolina Niedziałkowska. This document was read to the declarant and illiterate witnesses and wa signed by us alone.
U d Administrator of the Szwelice Parish, Assistant Pastor, and Keeper of Vital Records
[signed] Reverend Senniсki

Since my grandfather was born in Ciepielewo in 1892 and his brother Tomasz was born in Pomaski in 1894, it is clear that the family moved between 1892 and 1894. The distance between the two towns is not great – it’s about 7.8 km (4.8 miles) by road. Today, it takes less than 10 minutes to drive between the two places. I don’t know why the family moved to Pomaski.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Birth and Baptism of Konstanty Niedziałkowski – 1892

My maternal grandfather, Konstanty Niedziałkowski was born on 28 October 1892 in Ciepielewo, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland, and was baptized on 04 November 1892 in the Roman Catholic Parish of the Apostle Judas Thaddaeus in Szelków, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

The Birth and Baptism of Konstanty Niedziałkowski - 1892

The Birth and Baptism of Konstanty Niedziałkowski – 1892

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish of the Apostle Judas Thaddaeus (Szelków, Maków Powiat, Łomża Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Szelków for the Year 1892,” folio 237 verso, entry 144, birth and baptismal record for Konstanty Niedziałkowski, recorded 04 November 1892; State Archives in Pułtusk, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 15 May 2016).

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Konstanty Niedziałkowski – 1892. Translated from the Russian, the record states:

№ 144 Ciepielewo
This happened in Szelków on the twenty-third day of October / fourth day of November in the year one-thousand eight-hundred ninety-two at five o’clock in the afternoon. Teofil Niedziałkowski appeared, thirty-two years old, a farmer residing in Ciepielewo, in the presence of Jan Niedziałkowski, twenty-six years old, and Kazimierz Strzyż, forty years old, farmers from Ciepielewo, and he presented to us a male child stating that it was born in Ciepielewo at noon on the twenty-eighth day of October of this same year, of his lawful wife Ksawera née Zygmuntowicz, twenty-two years of age. At Holy Baptism performed by us, this child was given the name Konstanty and his Godparents were Jan and Helena Niedziałkowski. This document was read to the witnesses and father who are illiterate and was signed by us.
[signed] Reverend K. [Zajaczkowski?], Keeper of Vital Records

I had looked for my grandfather’s birth and baptismal record for a long time. Part of the difficulty in finding it is that I didn’t know where in the Congress Kingdom of Poland he was born. Various records state that he was either born in Pomaski or was from Pomaski. Other records state that he was either born in or was from Warsaw. As it turns out, although he did reside in Pomaski most of his early life before he came to the United States, and his grandmother (Julianna Gutowska) was born in Warsaw, he hiself was born in Ciepielewo and baptized in Szelków. The only way I discovered this was that his birth and baptismal record was indexed on Geneteka.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Marriage of Stanisław Zygmuntowicz and Julianna Ruszczyńska – 1867

My second great-grandparents, Stanisław Zygmuntowicz and Julianna Ruszczyńska, were married on 08 February 1867 in Pałuki, Ciechanów Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. This was Stanisław’s second marriage and Julianna’s first.

The Marriage Record of Stanisław Zygmuntowicz and Julianna Ruszczyńska - 1867

The Marriage Record of Stanisław Zygmuntowicz and Julianna Ruszczyńska – 1867

SOURCE: Parish of Saint Gotard (Pałuki, Ciechanów Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Prałuki for the Year 1867,” folio 43 recto, entry 1, marriage record for Stanisław Zygmuntowicz and Julianna Ruszczyńska, recorded 06 February 1867; State Archives in Mława, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 14 May 2016).

Click on the lilnk for a PDF copy of the Marriage Record of Stanisław Zygmuntowicz and Julianna Ruszczyńska – 1867. Translated from the Polish, the record states:

Chmielewo and Łaguny 1.
This happened in Pałuki on the sixth of February in the year one-thousand eight-hundred sixty-seven at the hour of four in the afternoon. We make it known that in the presence of witnesses Wojciech Kołakowski from Długołęka, thirty-five years old, and Jan Głodkowski from Milewo-Gawary, thirty-five years old, owners of parts [of the village], on this day a religious marriage was contracted between Stanisław Zygmuntowicz, a widower, thirty-nine years old, born in Sokolów Zuregdy of Bazyli and Elżbieta, residing in Łaguny, owner of a part [of the village], – and Julianna Ruszczyńska, an unmarried woman, twenty-seven years old, born in Ruszczyny, residing in Chmielewo with her family, daughter of the married couple, the deceased Antoni and Katarzyna Ruszczyński. This wedding was preceded by three publications of the banns in the Parish Churches in Pałuki and Zielona on the thirteenth, twentieth, and twenty-seventh days of January in this same year. The newlyweds stated that they have entered into a prenuptial agreement before the Regent Filipowicz in Przasnysz on the twenty-ninth day of January of this year. This document was read aloud to the newlyweds and witnesses and was signed by us, the groom, and the witnesses, the bride declared that she does not know how to write.
[signed] The Reverend Ksawery Nałęcz, Pastor of Pałuki, Maintaining the Public Register
[signed] S[tanisław] Zygmuntowicz
[signed] Wojciech Kołakowski
[signed] Jan Głodkowski

I just found this record yesterday, and it helps break down a long-standing brickwall in my genealogy research! This record not only documents the marriage of my ancestors, but it also shows that my second great-grandfather owned land in Łaguny (he was owner of a part of the village). The record also provides new information: the approximate years of birth of my second great-grandparents, the places of their births, and the names of my third great-grandparents. So, all in all, this was a big find for me!

The record itself is somewhat unusual. First, it states that the couple had a prenuptial agreement (usually these records state that there was no prenuptial agreement). Second, the groom and the two witnesses know how to write their names (usually the record states that they don’t know how to write).

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death and Burial of Justyna Zygmuntowicz – 1852

Justyna Zygmuntowicz was the half-sister of my second great-grandmother, Ksawera Zygmuntowicz. She died on 19 July 1852 in Skierki, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland, and was buried on 20 July 1852 in Przasnysz, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland. She had lived less than three years.

Death and Burial Record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz - 1852

Death and Burial Record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz – 1852

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish in Przasnysz (Przasnysz, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Przasnysz for the Year 1852,” folio 119 recto, entry 131, death and burial record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz, recorded 20 July 1852; State Archives in Pułtusk, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 14 May 2016).

Click on the lilnk for a PDF copy of the Death and Burial Record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz – 1852. Translated from the Polish, the record states:

131.
Skierki. This happened in the city of Przasnysz on the eighth/twentieth day of July in the year one-thousand eight-hundred fifty-two at the hour of six in the afternoon. Stanisław Zygmuntowicz, thirty years old, and Mateusz Kowalski, sixty years old appeared, both farmers from Skierki, and they stated that, yesterday at the hour of five in the afternoon, Justyna Zygmuntowicz died, two years old, born in Skierki, and being there with her family, daughter of the married couple, the afore-mentioned Stanisław and Anna Zygmuntowicz. After visual confirmation of death of Zygmuntowicz, this document was read aloud to the declarants who do not know how to write, and was signed by us.
The Reverend Budny, Pastor of Przasnysz

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Birth and Baptism of Justyna Zygmuntowicz – 1849

Justyna Zygmuntowicz was the half-sister of my second great-grandmother, Ksawera Zygmuntowicz. She was born on 17 September 1849 in Skierki, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland, and she was baptized on 18 September 1849 in the Roman Catholic Church in Przasnysz, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland.

Birth and Baptismal Record of Justyna Zygmuntowicz - 1849

Birth and Baptismal Record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz – 1849

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Parish in Przasnysz (Przasnysz, Przasnysz Powiat, Płock Gubernia, Congress Kingdom of Poland), “Duplicate Civil Registrations of the Parish of Przasnysz for the Year 1849,” folio 48 verso, entry 277, birth and baptismal record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz, recorded 18 Sep 1849; State Archives in Pułtusk, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 12 May 2016).

Click on the link for a PDF copy of the Birth and Baptismal Record for Justyna Zygmuntowicz – 1849 . Translated from the Polish, the record states:

277.
Skierki. This happened in the city of Przasnysz on the sixth/eighteenth day of September in the year one-thousand eight-hundred forty-nine at the hour of one in the afternoon. Stanisław Zygmuntowicz appeared, a farmer from Skierki, twenty-seven years old, in the presence of Jan Kwasniewski, eighty years old, and Józef Kłoszewski, forty-five years old, both servants of the church residing in Przasnysz, and he showed us a female child born in Skierki yesterday at the hour of three in the afternoon of his wife Anna née Imielska, twenty-eight years old. At Holy Baptism performed today, this child was given the name Justyna, and the Godparents were: Bernard Gołoczewski and Anna Kowalska. This document was read aloud to the declarant and witnesses who are unable to write, and it was signed by us.
The Reverend Kamieński, Assistant Pastor

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Death of Teofil Niedziałkowski – 1933

My great grandfather, Teofil Niedziałkowski, died on 01 May 1933 in Pomaski, Maków Powiat, Warsaw Voivodeship, Second Polish Republic and his death was recorded on 04 May 1933 in Szwelice, Maków Powiat, Warsaw Voivodeship, Second Polish Republic.

Death Record of Teofil Niedziałkowski - 1933

Death Record of Teofil Niedziałkowski – 1933

SOURCE: Parafia pw. św. Jana Chrzciciela (Szwelice, Maków Powiat, Warsaw Voivodeship, Second Polish Republic), “Duplikat Aktów Stanu Cywilnego Urodzonych, Zaslubionych i Zmarłych w Parafji Rzymsko-Katolickiej Szwelicach w 1933 Roku
[Duplicate Civil Registrations of Births, Marriages, and Deaths in the Roman Catholic Parish in Szwelice in the Year 1933],” folio 53 recto, entry 22, death record for Teofil Niedziałkowski, recorded 04 May 1933; Archiwum Państwowe w Pułtusku, digital images, Genbaza (http://metryki.genbaza.pl : accessed 23 April 2016).

Click on the lilnk for a PDF copy of the Death Record of Teofil Niedziałkowski – 1933. Translated from the Polish, the record states:

Pomaski.
No. 22.
This happened in the village of Szwelice on the fourth day of May in the year one-thousand nine-hundred thirty-three at the hour of ten. There appeared Stanisław Niedziałkowski, thirty-one years old, and Jan Pomaski, forty-four years old, both farmers residing in the village of Pomaski, and they stated that on the first day of May of the current year at the hour of twelve in the village of Pomaski, Teofil Niedziałkowski died, a farmer, seventy-two years old, son of the married couple Wojciech and Julianna née Gutowska Niedzialkowski, born and residing in the village of Pomaski, and is survived by his widowed wife, Ksawera née Zygmuntowicz. After visual confirmation of the death of Teofil Niedziakowski, this document was read aloud and signed by us and the declarants. Maintaining the records of the Civil State. Pastor of the Szwelice Parish. –
[signed] Reverend Stanisaw Chedmiński
[signed] St[anisław] Niedziałkowski
[signed] Jan Pomaski

This record shows that, after my grandfather left for the United States and after the end of the Great War (World War I), my great grandparents lived in the Second Polish Republic, the first independent Polish state in over a century. I don’t yet have a copy of my great grandmother’s death record but, since she was still alive at the time of Teofil’s death, she died sometime after 1933.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort

My last day in French Polynesia was spent at the Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort in Papeete, Tahiti. I didn’t do much of anything except have a meal, drink a bottle of Hinano (local Tahitian beer), and relax.  Pārahi, Tahiti (Goodbye, Tahiti).

Watching Waves

Watching Waves

SOURCE: Watching Waves (Tahiti, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 April 2016.

Incoming Wave

Incoming Wave

SOURCE: Incoming Wave (Tahiti, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 April 2016.

The Beach

The Beach

SOURCE: The Beach (Tahiti, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 April 2016.

Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort

Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort

SOURCE: Tahiti Pearl Beach Resort (Tahiti, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 11 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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The Huahine Pearl Farm

Tahitian black pearls are world renowned. On Huahine, there is a single pearl farm that cultures these beauties, the Huahine Pearl Farm. A boat carries visitors from the Sofitel Heiva dock to the farm in the middle of the lagoon near the village of Faie.

To produce a pearl, a donor oyster (Pinctada margaritifera) that has a shell of the desired color is selected. A shell bead and a small piece of the donor oyster’s mantle are inserted into the reproductive gland (pearl pocket) of another healthy oyster. The seeded oysters are then grown for 18 months in carefully constructed wire nets to protect the oysters from predators. I purchased an iridescent black pearl with green highlights. Other pearls had blue, violet, or red highlights. The fourth picture below is a banana flower (Musa sp.) from a plant growing on Huahine.

Huahine Pearl Farm

Huahine Pearl Farm

SOURCE: Huahine Pearl Farm (Huahine, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 April 2016.

Culturing Pearls

Culturing Pearls

SOURCE: Culturing Pearls (Huahine, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 April 2016.

A Black Pearl

A Black Pearl

SOURCE: A Black Pearl (Huahine, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 April 2016.

Banana (Musa sp.)

Banana (Musa sp.)

SOURCE: Banana (Musa sp.) (Huahine, French Polynesia); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 April 2016.

Copyright © 2016 by Stephen J. Danko

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