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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
