Valentin Pionke family - the beginning
Valentin Pionk or Pionke was the third of five children born to Paul Pionk and Anna Bazowa. He was born in Zęblewo on 14 January 1825 and baptized in Strzepcz Catholic parish (St. Mary Magdalene). His siblings were all born in the same village. The family later moved to nearby Mały Donimierz.
Josephine Stefanowska was the daughter of Johann Stefanowski and Anna Kankowska, the seventh of their ten children. She was born on 7 February 1833 in Donimierz and baptized in Kielno Catholic parish (St. Wojciech). Josephine's mother died when she was only five years old. Her father soon remarried, and Josephine was raised by her stepmother, Marianna (née Kipke). By the time Josephine was married, her family lived in Mercestwo, a very small settlement near Szemud.
On 22 November 1852, at the age of 27, Valentin married Josephine, age 19, in Kielno Catholic parish. It was very common in those days for people to marry late in the year, after the harvest season. Valentin's elder brother August was a witness to the marriage.
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| Excerpt - Valentin Pionk - Josephine Stefanowska 1852 marriage record, Kielno parish |
Children of Valentin and Josephine Pionke
Once married, the Pionkes lived in Mały Donimierz, where Valentin was a farm laborer. They had eight children in 20 years, all born Mały Donimierz, and all but Anastasia were baptized in Kielno (she was baptized in Szemud). August and Anastasia both died at just 1½ years old.
- Anna was born on 15 November 1853.
- Joseph was born on 10 February 1856.
- Mathilda was born on 29 November 1858.
- Josephine was born on 19 October 1861.
- Johann (John) was born on 29 May 1864.
- August was born on 2 March 1867 and died on 19 August 1868.
- Franz (Frank) was born on 13 June 1870.
- Anastasia was born on 27 June 1873 and died on 8 December 1874.
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| Pionke sisters Anna Sychowski, Josephine Piefke, and Mathilda Specht |
Mathilda Pionke married Franz (Frank) Specht, a laborer from Donimierz, in 1877 in Szemud. They resided in Donimierz, where their first five children were born.
Valentin's wife Josephine died at age 48, on 22 October 1881, after 29 years of marriage. I believe their unmarried daughter Josephine then took care of the household and younger brother Franz. Valentin did not remarry.
Daughter Josephine Pionke married two years after her mother's death. She and Albert Piefke (Piwka), a laborer from Zęblewo, were married in 1883 in Szemud. They resided in Mały Donimierz, likely with Valentin and Franz Pionke in the same household. Their first three children were born in that village.
