Family of Johann Freibis and Francisca Słowy

Johann Freibis (Freiboese) and Franciska Słowy (Słowik) were my 4th great-grandparents. I am descended from their son Joseph and his wife Paulina (Abraham) and then from their granddaughter Marianna (Freibis) and her husband Joseph Pionke (see pedigree chart).

From Freybes to Frieböse, Freibis, Frajbisz, and more

I have counted 95 different spelling variations of the Freibis surname, and that's not including obvious transcription errors such as Frieber or Freiberg. In order to simplify matters, I have chosen the most common or most recent variant for each family as the standard spelling. In my own family, the name is most often spelled Freibis and thus that is my default spelling.

Early lives of Johann and Franciska

Johann Gottlieb Freiboese was the son of Carl Gottlieb Freibis, a forester, and Constantia Ronke (Renka, Runke). He was born on 26 July 1797 in Barłomino (Barlomin) and was baptized a week later at Bolszewo (Bohlschau) Lutheran parish. He had at least one brother, Carl, who was two years older. He probably had other siblings but, due to missing parish records, we cannot know for sure.

Johann Gottlieb Friebies 1797 baptism, Bohlschau Evangelical parish

Franciska Słowy was the third of nine children born to laborer Anton Słowy and Catharina Milke (Mylka, Mielke). She was born on 23 December 1797 in Robakowo (Robbakau), a village not too far from Barłomino. Franciska was baptized on Christmas Eve at Luzino Catholic parish. Her mother died when she was 14 years old; her father married second wife Catharina Kunz within the year and they had four more children. Seven of Franciska's siblings died as babies or very young children.

Francisca Słowik 1797 baptism, Luzino Catholic parish

Johann Freibis was a day laborer. He was also something of a ladies' man who fathered two children before he was married—the first when he was just 17 years old. Johann's first son, Johann Bychowski, was born to Marianna Bychowska in Strzebielino on 23 December 1815 and was baptized at Luzino Catholic parish a few days later. Johann's second son, also named Johann, was born to his future wife Franciska Słowy on 21 May 1820 in Robakowo.

This map shows the parishes Bolszewo, Dzięcielec, Luzino, and Rozłazino and the villages Barłomino, Paraszyno, Robakowo, and Strzebielino.


View map here

Johann Freiboese and Franciska Słowy family

On 1 July 1822, Johann Freiboese married Franciska Słowy at Luzino Catholic parish. They were both 25 years old. Early in their marriage, they lived in Paraszyno, where their second and third sons were born. Johann's parents were probably also living in Paraszyno at that time. A few years later, Johann and Franciska moved to Robakowo, where Franciska's father lived.

Joannes Freybys - Francisca Słowikowa 1822 marriage, Luzino

Johann was a Protestant and Franciska was a Catholic; neither converted to the other's religion. When it came to baptizing their children, they alternated between Catholic and Protestant parishes—that is, until their youngest two sons were born. Each of their names appears in the baptism registers of two different parishes! Regardless of where they were baptized, though, all of Johann and Franciska's sons were Catholics.


Children of Johann Freiboese and Franciska Słowy:

• Johann Freibis (Freiboese) was born on 21 May 1820 in Robakowo and was baptized in Luzino Catholic parish.
• Jacob Freibis (Frieböse) was born about 1823 in Paraszyno and was probably baptized in Dzięcielec (Zinzelitz) Lutheran parish.
• Carl Friedrich Freibis was born on 10 June 1825 in Parasyno and was baptized in Rozłazino Catholic parish. He died on 10 January 1826 in Robakowo.
• Joseph Freibis was born on 18 November 1826 in Robakowo and was baptized in Bolszewo Lutheran parish.
• August Freibis (Frebes) was born on 28 August 1832 in Lusiner Mühle (just outside Luzino) and was baptized in Luzino Catholic parish.
• Franz Anton Freibis (Frank Frabis or Fraibis) was born on 20 August 1835 in Luzino and was baptized in both Luzino Catholic parish and Bolszewo Lutheran parish.
• Carl Friedrich Freibis (Charles Frebes) was born on 19 March 1838 in Luzino and was baptized in both Luzino Catholic parish and Bolszewo Lutheran parish.

Francisca Freibuss née Słowy 1853 death record, Luzino

Johann Freiboese died on 26 August 1850 in Robakowo at age 53. His wife Franciska died on 8 April 1853 in Robakowo at age 55. They were survived by five sons: Jacob, Joseph, August, Franz, and Carl.

On the trails of our ancestors

by Michael Pionke

In my first articles, I have led you into the past. We have investigated the potential meaning and origin of our rare surname, and we have discovered the unique story of our very own Adam and Eve from Będargowo (read here and here). This time, we don’t need our time machine. We will walk on the trails of our ancestors in modern Poland.

My travel report covers two journeys to our ancestral home region, which I carried out with my son Jannik in 2015 and 2016. On our second journey, we were accompanied by my distant cousin and friend Witold Pionke, who was born and grew up in Luzino in Poland, and who now has lived in Germany for many years. Witold is an excellent expert of the Kashubian history and area. Thus, both journeys were also part of a German-Polish family reunion.

Gdańsk - Historical city and pearl of the Baltic Sea

If you ever decide to visit the home country of our ancestors, you should start your journey with the city of Gdańsk (German: Danzig). Gdańsk is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. It has a rich and moving history as a trading and fishing port along the Baltic Sea coast. Together with the adjacent cities of Gdynia and Sopot, Gdańsk forms the so-called Tri-City (Polish: Trójmiasto), an important Polish business location and metropolitan area with a population of over 1 million people.

Based on older Slavic and Prussian settlements, the city of Gdańsk was founded in 1224 by German merchants under German city rights, who were invited by the Pomerelian Dukes to enhance trade in that region. Due to its excellent location on the coast, Gdańsk developed into a thriving metropolis and Hanseatic City, and was also referred to as the Venice of the East. Although Gdańsk/Danzig was characterized by German culture and language for more than 700 years, it was an essentially independent city with many privileges. The inhabitants of Gdańsk stood loyal to each of their many sovereigns, who changed several times in history, e.g. the Pomerelian Dukes, the Teutonic Knights, the Polish crown, and the German Prussians.

A sad high point of the city history was the German attack on the Polish military depot at Westerplatte on 1 September 1939 which marked the start of World War II. After World War II, the city became part of Poland and the German population either fled or was expelled to Germany. Fortunately, the majority of our Kashubian ancestors could remain in their home region. Thus, the Kashubian region is still inhabited today by the descendants of the Slavic natives who have been settled in the area since the Migration Period in the early Middle Ages (6th century).

After World War II, the inner city of Gdańsk was 90% destroyed. We must be very grateful that the Polish and Kashubian people have restored the city true to original. Today, the modern city with its historical charm welcomes many visitors from all over the world.

A good overview of the history of Gdańsk is given in the following article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Gda%C5%84sk

Our Kashubian ancestors from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries lived in the countryside in the small parishes of Strzepcz, Kielno, Luzino, and Prodzodkowo about 20-30 miles northwest of Gdańsk. Our Pionke/Piontke namesakes from the Puck area lived about 30 miles north of Gdańsk on the Baltic Sea.

According to the West Prussian Land Register from 1773, we know that our ancestors from the small village of Będargowo bought their spirits in Gdańsk. We can assume that our ancestors visited the markets in order to sell their rural products or to buy merchandise which was not available in the countryside. Presumably, it was always a particular highlight for them to visit the big city, and a strenuous trip, too.

However, the social differences between the rural population on the one hand and the urban population on the other hand must have been high. The wealthy town citizens of Gdańsk were well-educated with good prospects and a comfortable life. In contrast to that, most of the country people led a poor and modest life as farmers, farm workers, foresters, black smiths, and day laborers. In the first half of the nineteenth century, the majority of our Kashubian ancestors could not read and write.

It took until the late nineteenth century, for the first Pionke families to move from the rural side to Gdańsk, and that was mainly my family branch. My great-grandfather Peter Pionke was born in 1864 in Kielno. After several engagements as farm worker at different locations, he came around 1896 to Sopot, a maritime suburb of Gdańsk, where he worked as fireman to keep the steam engines in the factories going.

For my great-grandfather, the change from the poor rural life to the modern life in the industrial center was a social advancement. My family became fully Germanized in Gdańsk and migrated after World War I to the coal fields in the Western German Ruhr area. That’s the reason why I was born in Germany. Over time, my family repressed and finally forgot their Kashubian identity. It really took me a long time to rediscover the lost family history, and Witold was a good teacher to explain the Kashubian history and customs. Today many of our Polish Pionke relatives live in Tri-City and its surroundings.

Coming back to my journeys to Poland, Gdańsk was our starting point in 2015. Figures 1 to 5 give you an impression of this beautiful city. In addition, Gdańsk was also the place of our first German-Polish family reunion. We met my fourth cousin once removed Patryk Pionke whose family lives in Gdynia in Tri-City (Fig. 6). The photos in Figures 7 and 8 were taken in Sopot, the very own homeland of my family line.

Fig. 1: Old Town of Gdańsk - Long Market with Main Town Hall.

Fig. 2: Long Market - Neptune’s Fontain with Artus Court
(white building in the background).

Fig. 3: The Golden Gate in Gdańsk.

Fig. 4: View of the city from St. Mary's Church at 82 m.

Fig. 5: Long Wharf with medieval Crane at river Motława.

Fig. 6: Family reunion 2015 in Gdańsk.
From left to right: Michael, Patryk, and Jannik Pionke.

Fig. 7: Sea-bridge in Sopot, a maritime suburb of Gdańsk.
With a length of 511.5 m, the pier is the longest wooden pier in Europe.

Fig. 8: Beach at Sopot in October.

The following map shows the main routes and locations of our two trips to Poland.


Fig. 9: Main route of the two trips to Poland. (view map here)

Będargowo - Cradle of the Pionke family history

When you leave Gdańsk to the west, you will reach the Kashubian countryside after a few miles only. In contrast to the metropolitan area of Tri-City, the Kashubian countryside is sparsely populated with small settlements. The beautiful landscape is characterized by extensive fields, green meadows and pastures, gentle hills, forests, and small lakes. You will not find any larger industry here. For the people who don’t work in Tri-City, farming is still the main source of income.

After a fifty minute ride, you will arrive at Będargowo. The town sign tells you that you have reached the cradle of the Pionke family history (Fig. 10).

Fig. 10: Entrance to the village of Będargowo.

According to the West Prussian Land Register, only 63 people lived in that small village in 1773. It seems that Będargowo has not grown very much until today. There are no shops or public buildings. Będargowo is rather a loose cluster of buildings than a compact village (Fig. 11, 12). During both visits in 2015 and 2016, we did not meet any person outside.

Fig. 11: Farm house in Będargowo.

Fig. 12: Wayside cross in Będargowo.
The Catholic population in Poland is very religious.

Unfortunately, we could not find any historical building. Thus, we searched in vain for the former manor house of landlord Donimierski. However, we can assume that the landscape did not change very much over time. Therefore, we enjoyed the view on the fields and meadows (Fig. 13, 14). For a short moment, I wished my 3rd great-grandfather, the forester Michael Pionk, would have come out of the woods.

Fig. 13: Fields and farms in Będargowo.

Fig. 14: View of the fields, meadows and forests in Będargowo.

Będargowo does not provide any spectacular sights. It is not Grand Canyon or Niagara Falls. However, if you are aware about the importance of that inconspicuous place for your own family history, it is a very special moment to stand on the ground of your earliest ancestors.

Strzepcz - Our very own St. Mary

We continue our journey to Strzepcz, crossing through other well-known villages from our genealogical research like Łebieńska Huta, Łebno, and Zęblewo. Compared to the other small settlements in the vicinity, Strzepcz is a larger village with about 766 inhabitants and a compact town center.

The Roman Catholic parish of Strzepcz has a rich history. According to the oldest documents, the parish dates 1314. From oral tradition and written sources we know that Strzepcz was a place of St. Mary’s cult and pilgrimages. In the 18th and 19th centuries the parish comprised up to one hundred very small villages and hamlets within a radius of only ten miles.

The Catholic church of St. Mary Magdalene was built and respectively rebuilt five times in history. The first three wooden churches were built in the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries, and in 1686. A half-timbered church was built in 1820 (for a photo, see my first article about Będargowo). Fire was the reason for the necessary reconstructions of the wooden churches. The present brick church was built in 1948/1949 (Fig. 15, 16). The interior of the church is very beautiful (Fig. 17). Take your time for a contemplative moment in the silence. St. Mary Magdalene Church is located on a hill. At the foot of the hill, you can walk along an idyllic lake (Fig. 18).

Fig. 15: St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Strzepcz.

Fig. 16: Two happy Pionkes at their very own St. Mary (Witold and Michael Pionke).

Fig. 17: In the interior of St Mary Magdalene Church.

Fig. 18: Lake in Strzepcz.

More information regarding the Roman Catholic parish of Strzepcz can be obtained from following website:

http://parafiastrzepcz.pl/

Although Będargowo is only 6 miles away from Strzepcz, the church visits by foot through the hilly landscape must have been quite exhausting walks for our religious Kashubian ancestors. The church must have played an important role in their life, and was a regular meeting place with other relatives and the neighborhood.

On our second visit to Strzepcz in 2016, we used the chance to visit the local priest together with Witold, who is a native Polish speaker. We asked the priest about the old church books and in particular about the gap in the old documents between 1746 and 1810. Unfortunately, the corresponding church books got lost or were destroyed. Scans of the preserved documents are accessible in the archive of the diocese of Pelplin. Nevertheless, the priest provided us with valuable information before we continued our tour.

Family of Adalbert Anton v. Sychowski and Anna Socha

This post is the second in a series about the family history and genealogy of the Sychowski families who came to Chicago in the late 19th century.


Adalbert Anton v. Sychowski (a.k.a. Anton Sychowski) was the son of Joseph v. Sychowski and Elisabeth Kryża. He was born on 12 April 1813 in Łebno. The next day, he was baptized at Strzepcz Catholic parish (St. Mary Magdalene).

Adalbertus Antonius Sychowski, 1813 baptism record, Strzepcz parish

Anton was one of at least six children. His parents were originally from Luzino parish, north of Strzepcz, but they had moved to the vicinity of Łebno soon after they were married. By the time Anton was about 20 years old, his family had moved to nearby Szenkowana, a small settlement in Kielno parish (later in Szemud parish).

Anna Socha was the daughter of Johann Socha and Catharina Paczocha. She was born on 1 September 1822 in Wyszecino and was baptized one week later at Luzino Catholic parish. Anna's family resided in Wyszecino and Smażyno when she was a girl and had moved to Zęblewo by the time she got married.

Anna Socha, 1822 baptism record, Luzino parish

In spite of his family's noble background, Anton v. Sychowski was a day laborer or workman. He married Anna Socha around 1842 or 1843, almost certainly in Strzepcz parish. Unfortunately, all marriage records in Strzepcz prior to 1846 are lost, so we cannot know their exact marriage date. Anton was about 30 years old and Anna was about 20. They had eight children in 19 years; all were born in Zęblewo and baptized in Strzepcz. The family remained in Zęblewo until the 1880's, when most of them emigrated.

This map shows the parishes Luzino, Strzepcz, Szemud, and Kielno (blue markers) and the villages Łebno, Szenkowana, Wyszecino, Smażyno, Zęblewo, and Tępcz (purple markers).


View map here.

Children of Anton v. Sychowski and Anna Socha:

• Anna Franciska Sychowska was born 26 October 1844.
• Johann (John) Sychowski was born on 3 November 1846.
• August Franz (Frank) Sychowski was born on 26 June 1849.
• Anton Jacob Sychowski was born on 29 March 1851 and died on 2 March 1853.
• August Sychowski was born on 6 April 1853.
• Joseph Sychowski was born on 10 January 1856.
• Augusta Sychowska was born on 19 November 1859.
• Mathilda Pauline Sychowska was born on 1 May 1862.

Anton v. Sychowski died in Zęblewo on 18 November 1867 at age 54. According to his death record, he was survived by his wife and six children. His youngest daughter was only five.

Anton Sychowski, workman, death record, Strzepcz parish, 1867 (1/2)
Died in Zęblewo on 18 November, buried at Strzepcz on 21 November

Anton Sychowski death record, Strzepcz parish, 1867 (2/2)
Survived by wife Anna Socha and 6 children; age 53

More Early Pionke and Related Families in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan

This is the first post in a second series about early Pionke and related families in Chicago, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

This survey of Pionke families will expand on my original post, Early Pionke and Pionek Families in Chicago and Wisconsin. I am now including families who settled in Detroit as well as those who immigrated to Chicago or Wisconsin. In addition, I will look at families with a female Pionke ancestor—families who did not carry the Pionke surname when they came to the U.S.

Like my own Pionke ancestors, all of these families descend from our own Adam and Eve Pionk of Strzepcz parish. Some of them have a close relationship to the Pionke families from the original series. They lived in former West Prussia, now in northern Poland, in villages near the parishes of Strzepz (Strepsch) and Kielno (Kölln).

These eight Pionke and Pionke-descent families are outlined below.

This map shows the villages (Będargowo, Łebieńska Huta, Łebno, Zęblewo) and parishes (Kielno, Strzepcz, Szemud) mentioned in the outlines of families 1-5 below.

1. Descendants of Joseph Rhode and Anna Pionk

I believe that Anna Pionk or Pionke was the daughter of my ancestors Paul Pionk and Anna Bazowa*—and thus the sister of Valentin Pionke and Jacob Pionke. Anna was born in Zęblewo in 1823 and was baptized in Strzepcz parish. She married Joseph Rhode (Rohde, Roda) in Kielno parish in 1846. Their children were baptized in Strzepcz, Kielno, and Szemud.

As far as I know, only one of Joseph and Anna's children emigrated. Their daughter Antonina emigrated in 1889 with her husband Franz Labuda. They settled in Detroit's Poletown. There were many other Kashub families in their neighborhood, as well as other Poles. Frank and Antonina remained in Detroit until their deaths.

• Antonina Pionke married Franz (Frank) Labuda - 10 children.

*I will discuss the evidence for my theory that Anna Pionke was the daughter of Paul in a separate article.

2. Descendants of Franz Hennig and Marianna Pionk

Marianna Pionk or Pionke was the daughter of Johann Pionk and Marianna Małoszycka—and the sister of Franz Pionke and Joseph Pionke. Marianna was born in Będargowo in 1813 and was baptized in Strzepcz. She married first husband Johann Derla about 1835, probably in Strepcz. After his death, she married second husband Franz Hennig (Frank Henik or Hejnik) in Strzepcz in 1846. All of their children were baptized in Strzepcz.

I believe Frank and Marianna (Pionke) Hennig immigrated to Chicago in 1881, a half year after their daughter Augustina (Hennig) Pionke arrived there. Marianna probably died around 1884; Franz married second wife, the widow Augustina (Kunat) Brunke, in 1885. Marianna's family belonged to St. Stanislaus Kostka and St. Josaphat parishes in Chicago. Daughter Augustina moved to Portage County, Wisconsin, while the family of daughter Helena (Derla) Heymann remained in Chicago.

• Helena Derla married (1) Michael Lange - 6 children; (2) Franz Heymann - 4 children.
• Augustina Hennig (Henik, Hejnik) married (1) Franz Paluch - no children; (2) Valentin Pionke (Valentine or Wałenty Pionek) - 9 children; she also had one child before her first marriage.

Early Sychowski Families in Chicago

This post is an introduction to the Sychowski families who came to Chicago in the late 19th century.

Daughters of Frank and Anna (Pionke)
Sychowski, c. 1905 Chicago

Let me begin by saying that I am not a Sychowski descendant. However, my family tree connects to Sychowski families at least four different times—beginning with Albertina Stefanowska (sister of my 3rd-great-grandmother Josephine Pionke), who married Franz v. Sychowski in 1840.

As I began to add these Sychowski branches to my tree, I found many other Sychowskis in Chicago records. For example, there were four different Joseph Sychowskis born between 1854 and 1857 living in Chicago. There were three Johns and three Augusts in this age range. Which were related to me? How were they related to each other?

Eventually I discovered that there were five different Sychowski family groups who migrated from West Prussia to Chicago. Three of these families are closely related to each other. There is every chance that they are all related to one another but there are too many missing records to establish that as fact. Perhaps their male descendants will be able to prove it with yDNA testing.

Noble roots

Many people researching their family trees hope to find royal or noble ancestors. Well, if you descend from one of these Sychowski families, congratulations! You had noble ancestors. All of these families are called "v. Sychowski" (von Sychowski) in early records which, in that context, indicates a noble family. In many cases, the priest also wrote some form of "nobilis" in the record to indicate the family's status.

However, only one Sychowski kept the "von" in his name upon arriving in Chicago—and even he only used it sporadically. The surname von Sychowski only appears in an early city directory and on August's headstone at St. Joseph Cemetery.

August and Mathilda (Drogosch) von Sychowski
headstone, St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery

The five Sychowski family groups in Chicago are outlined below.

This map shows the parishes Luzino, Rozłazino, Góra, Strzepcz, and Kielno where the Chicago Sychowski families lived before emigrating.

Family of Johann Pionke and Anna Marianna Janke

This is the eleventh and final post in a series examining the nine early Pionke, Pionk, Pionek, and Piontke family groups in Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. But don't worry—we still have a lot more Pionke research to share!


Of all the early Pionke families in Wisconsin and Chicago, only this one came from Posen, not West Prussia. This family lived Wilanowiec (Wilhelmshöhe) in the parish of Ujście (formerly Usch, kreis Kolmar, Posen, Prussia).

Johann Pionke (Piontke, Piontek), son of Martin, married Anna Marianna Janke (Yonke), daughter of Gottlieb, in Ujście Catholic parish in 1856. According to the marriage record, he was 26 and she was 21. Johann's birth year is not certain, however; the birth date recorded on his tombstone is 21 April 1826.

The map below shows the villages Wilanowiec and Ujście.

Johann Pionke and Anna Marianna Janke had three children who later immigrated to Wisconsin. There were probably other children, but I have not seen the Ujście parish records.

• Martin Francis Pionke was born about 1860.
• Julianna (Julia) Pionke was born about 1864.
• Joseph Ernest Pionke was born in Ujście on 29 November 1869.

Johann's son Martin Pionke was married in Ujście before the family emigrated. He married Cecelia Brocka (Brotski), daughter of Anton Brocki and Marianna Goitsmacher, on 29 May 1883. Their first two sons, Franz and Martin, were both baptized in Ujście.

Anna Marianna (Janke) Pionke did not emigrate with her family. Most likely she died in or before 1885.

Emigration

Martin Pionke and his sister Julia emigrated first. They departed from Hamburg on 12 April 1885 on the Lessing and arrived in New York on 25 April. According to the passenger list, their last residence was Wilhelmshöhe, Posen, now Wilanowiec (see map above). Martin's wife was pregnant with their second child when her husband left for the new world.

Siblings Martin and Julianna Pionke of Wilhelmshöhe, Posen,
Hamburg passenger list, 12 April 1885
ship - Lessing

A few months later, Martin and Julia were joined by their father and brother, along with Martin's wife and infant son. Johann, Joseph, Cecelia (Brotski), and baby Martin Pionke left Hamburg on 12 August 1885 aboard the Frisia and arrived in New York on 27 August. This passenger list confirms that the family resided in Wilanowiec.

Johann Pionke of Wilhelmshöhe, Posen, and family,
Hamburg passenger list, 12 August 1885,
ship - Frisia

Although there are some errors in this record—surname seemingly spelled "Pirnke" and baby Martin's name recorded as Josef—this is clearly the same family. Indeed, Joseph Pionke's obiturary confirms that he came to the U.S. at age 15 with his father and sister-in-law.

Life in Wisconsin

Unlike the other Pionke families in this series, there is no evidence that this family lived in Chicago prior to settling in Wisconsin. Johann Pionke and his sons were no doubt drawn to Wisconsin by the prospect of owning and farming their own land. There they joined a thriving Polish-American community in Portage County, many of whom came from West Prussia and Posen.

Because Johann Pionke died before the 1900 census, there is little record of his life in Wisconsin. He resided in Almond, Portage County, where presumably he was a farmer. Johann died on 7 January 1900 in Almond.

Family of Michael Pionk and Christine Dominik

This post is the tenth in a series examining the nine early Pionke, Pionk, Pionek, and Piontke family groups in Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.


Today's post is our first look at a Pionk family whose origin lies outside the Strzepcz parish. Michael Pionk (or Piontke) was born in Połczyno (Polzin) on 1 October 1826 and baptized in the Puck (Putzig) parish. His parents were Michael Pionk and Marianna Hewelt.

Michael Piontke - 1826 baptism, Puck parish

Michael Pionk's father (Michael) was also baptized in Puck. He was born in Puck on 11 September 1792 to parents Nicholas Pionk (Piontk, Piontke) and Magdalena Schomburg. Nicholas Pionk and Magdalena were married in Puck in 1783. Thus Michael Pionk's family was in the Puck parish since at least the 1780's.

Michael Pionk and first wife Magdalena Kandau

Michael Pionk married Magdalena Kandau, daughter of Johann Kandau and Rosalia Paczocha, in Swarzewo parish in 1855. Magdalena was a resident of Władysławowo (formerly Grossendorf or Wielka Wieś), a village on the Baltic coast. Michael's elder brother Johann had resided there in 1840; perhaps Michael met his bride through his brother.

Michael and Magdalena had one daughter, Rosalia Franciska, born in 1856. Sadly, Magdalena died that year and Rosalia died a few years later, at less than three years of age.

Michael Pionk and second wife Christine Dominik

Michael Pionk married second wife Christine Dominik in Swarzewo parish in 1858. Bride and groom were both residents of Władysławowo. He was 27 and she was 23. Christine may have been the daughter of Matthaeus Dominik and Veronica Trendel, a couple from Starzyno parish. Michael and Christine had eight children in 20 years, all born in Władysławowo and baptized in Swarzewo. Michael was an Einwohner, an agricultural laborer renting from a farmer.

The map below shows villages Połczyno and Władysławowo, and parishes Puck, Swarzewo, and Starzyno.

Children of Michael Pionk (Piontke) and Christina Dominik:

• Anna Marianna Pionk was born in 1859.
• Jacob Joseph Pionk was born in 1861.
• Michael Martin Pionk was born 1863. He died on 15 August 1881 in Władysławowo.
• Christine Julianne Pionk was born in 1866.
• Marianna (Mary) Pionk was born in 1870.
• Joseph Johann Pionk (Pionek) was born in 1872.
• Johann Pionk was born on 19 February 1875. He died on 7 July 1885 in Chicago.
• Franciska Pionk was born on 23 August 1877 and died on 15 August 1881 in Władysławowo.

Michael Pionk or Piontke died on 26 June 1881 in Władysławowo. As you can see above, two of his children died only two months later. The family began to emigrate the following year.

Emigration and life in Chicago

Michael and Christine's eldest son Jacob was the first to emigrate. He sailed from Bremen, Germany in April 1882 aboard the Baltimore, and arrived in Baltimore on 8 May. According to the passenger list, his destination was Chicago. Interestingly, his surname was spelled "Pionke" in this record.

Jacob Pionk was joined by the rest of his family the following year. His mother Christine and siblings Anna, Christine, Marianna, Joseph, and Johann traveled together on the Braunschweig and arrived in Baltimore on 22 March 1883.

Jacob Pionke - 1882 Baltimore passenger list

Christine (Dominik) Pionk and her family settled in Chicago's St. Stanislaus Kostka parish, Chicago's first Polish parish. Her son Johann died at age 10, only two years after coming to the U.S. He was buried at St. Adalbert Cemetery.

Michael and Christine's three daughters were all married at St. Stanislaus Kostka. Anna married August Schultz, son of Johann Schultz and Franciska Koss, only seven months after arriving in the U.S. August may have been from Łebcz in Swarzewo parish (the handwriting in the marriage record is unclear). Christine married Joseph Elwart, son of Christine Elwart, the following year. Joseph was also from Władysławowo. Marianna married Anton Kuhr, son of Franz Kuhr and Marianna Górska of Wejherowo, in 1888.

Family of Jacob Pionk and Augustina Orzeszk

This post is the ninth in a series examining the nine early Pionke, Pionk, Pionek, and Piontke family groups in Chicago, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.


Jacob Pionk was born around 1818 in West Prussia. His origins are a bit of a mystery. According to his marriage record, he lived in Milwino (Luzino parish) in 1843. However, he was not baptized in that parish; in fact, there are no Pionk baptism records to be found in Luzino parish records between 1800 and 1844.

So where did Jacob come from? If you look at the map, you can see that Milwino is not too far away from some familiar villages, such as Łebno and Donimierz, in the Strzepcz and Kielno parishes. Indeed, there were three Jacob Pionks baptized in those parishes between 1816-1822. I believe one of them must be this Jacob Pionk.

The map below shows the villages Wyszecino, Milwino, Donimierz, Łebienska Huta, and Szemudzka Huta.

Parents of Jacob Pionk: three theories

1. Thomas Pionk and Marianna Starosta

Thomas Pionk and Marianna Starosta had three children (Johann, Jacob, and Eva), all born in Bagielnica (south of Będargowo) and baptized in Strzepcz. Son Jacob was born on 1 May 1816.

Thomas Pionk died about 1818 and his widow Marianna (Starosta) married Anton Kreft by 1819. Anton and Marianna had three more children in Bagielnica before moving to Wyszecino in Luzino parish around 1825. Wyszecino is very close to Milwino where Jacob Pionk lived in 1843. However, I have found nothing that specifically connects Jacob to this family or to Wyszecino. The only possible clue: a Franciska Starosta was named godmother to son Jacob in 1852. But again, I do not know if this Starosta has any connection to the elder Jacob's possible mother Marianna Starosta.

Nonetheless, the proximity of the two villages and the similarity in ages makes this family a good possibility.

2. Jacob (Johann?) Pionk and Marianna

Jacob Pionk, son of Jacob and Marianna, was born on 26 April 1818 in Donimierz and baptized in Kielno. This is the only record of a couple named Jacob and Marianna Pionk at this time and place. Because there are no further baptism records for these parents, I suspect that an error was recorded in the church book. Unfortunately, there are numerous such errors.

It is possible that these parents are actually Johann Pionk and Marianna Müller, who appear in the Strzepcz and Kielno baptism records during this time. This child's birth would fit quite well into the family of Johann and Marianna. They had two children born in Łebienska Huta (1814, 1816) and then two born in Donimierz (1820, 1823). The child Jacob born in 1818 would fit perfectly into the gap between 1816 and 1820 and may have been their first child born in Donimierz.

But again, I have found nothing specific to connect our Jacob to Johann and Marianna or their other children. This family remains a strong possibility, though, because this Jacob's birth year matches our Jacob's marriage and death records perfectly.

Jacob Pionk & Anna Pozenck

Jacob Pionk, son of Jacob and Anna, was born on 29 April 1822 in Szemudzka Huta and baptized in Kielno. Personally, I believe this Jacob is a bit too young to be a match. However, we cannot entirely eliminate the possibility either. As with the other two possibilities, I have found nothing to connect our Jacob Pionk to this family.

Marriage and children

Jacob Pionk married Augustina Orzeszk in Luzino on 16 January 1843. The groom was 24 and the bride was 29 and both lived in the village Milwino. Augustina Orzeszk was the daughter of Adalbert Orzeszk and Dorothea v. Mach. She was born in Dąbrowka (Damerkau) on 23 October 1813 and baptized in Luzino parish (St. Lawrence). After their wedding, Jacob and Augustina resided in Milwino, where all but one of their children were born.

Jacob Pionk - Augustina Orzeszke
1843 marriage record, Luzino parish

Jacob Pionk and Augustina Orzeszk had seven children in 14 years, five of whom lived to adulthood. All were baptized in Luzino parish.

• Johann Bernard Pionk was born on 22 June 1843 in Milwino.
• Albertine (Bertha) Pionk was born on 16 November 1844 in Milwino.
• Albert Franz Pionk (Pionek) was born on 1 May 1847 in Milwino.
• Alexandra Mathilda Pionk was born on 26 August 1849 in Milwino.
• Jacob Theophil Pionk was born on 9 January 1852 and died on 5 July 1852 in Milwino.
• Alexander Pionk (Pionek) was born on 20 April 1853 in Milwino.
• Jacob Pionk was born 28 May 1857 in Dąbrowka. He died later that day.

Jacob Pionk died on 8 April 1863 in Dąbrowka at age 45. His widow and five surviving children remained in that village until they began to emigrate in 1873.

Jacob Pionk death record, 1863 Luzino parish

Bernard, Jacob Pionk's eldest son, married Antonina Tobiaska in Luzino in 1871. He likely emigrated soon thereafter. His sister Mathilda (Matylda) married Joseph Rohde (Rhode, Roda) in 1874, also in Luzino. They had four children before emigrating.