Jacob Pionk or Pionke was the youngest child of Paul Pionk and Anna Bazowa. He was born on 2 August 1830 in the small village Zęblewo and was baptized in Strzepcz Catholic parish (St. Mary Magdalene). This region is now in north central Poland, but at that time it was part of West Prussia.
Franciska Leik was the eldest daughter of Franz Leik and Franciska Samp. She was born in Dąbrowka on 4 August 1825 and was baptized in Luzino Catholic parish (St. Lawrence).
Jacob Pionke married Franciska Leik on 20 November 1853 in Strzepcz. The groom was a resident of Mały Donimierz; the bride resided in Smażyno. Their first child was born in Mały Donimierz.
Children of Jacob Pionke and Franciska Leik
Jacob was a laborer, and his work — or perhaps a search for work — must have taken him and his wife to various villages in the area. They had eight children in 15 years, born in seven different villages. Their children were baptized in Strzepcz and Kielno (St. Wojciech) Catholic parishes.
This map shows the villages where the children were born (Mały Donimierz, Pobłocie, Łebno, Załączne, Donimierz, Szemud, and Szemudzka Huta) and also the locations of the parishes Strzepcz and Kielno. Załączne is not on the map; it was a small settlement southeast of Szemud.
