Rogozno Colony

Rogóźno [rɔˈɡuʑnɔ] is a village that is about two miles northwest of Tomaszów Lubelski with a current population of 1,300. ***** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rog%C3%B3%C5%BAno,_Tomasz%C3%B3w_Lubelski_County ***** Before the 1500’s, Andrzej Małdrzyk of the Wąż established the village of Rogóźno with an understanding with his neighbor Wołczek from Gródek about the use of the nearby forests of Łaziska, Koczalin and Górno. Andrzej’s sons colonized the village and established German law. In 1528, without male heirs, ownership passed to the Marcinowski family of the Topór coat of arms. Jan Zamoyski, the chancellor, purchased it in 1578. By 1589, it was listed in his estate when he was ordained into the priesthood. By 1880, there were 60 households with 504 people, including 304 Catholics. ***** https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pl&u=https://www.wikiwand.com/pl/Rog%25C3%25B3%25C5%25BAno_(powiat_tomaszowski)&prev=search&pto=aue ***** Ordinate Andrzej Zamoyski signed a contract with Germans to settle some areas on his land within what had previously been Poland. 100 families were settled in various communities. The representatives of 96 of the 100 families were literate and only 4 needed to sign with a mark. The villages were near each other. Of the 100 families, 90 were farmers and the rest were blacksmiths, carpenters, millers, tailors, shoemakers, fishermen and beekeepers. Rogozno was to have ten families and each farming family would receive 40 acres. ***** The following information is from Curt Wolf: “George (Eifler) with his wife Magdalena and George’s sister Maryanna left Germany and moved to a place called Zamch in Poland in 1784. He was 23 at this time. (His daughter was Anna As a “miss”, she gave birth to Jan/Johan who married Apolonia Kurkiewicz, Curt Wolf’s 4x great aunt. Apolonia’s brother Jozef is Curt Wolf’s 3x great grandfather -- and also mine). They joined 99 other families to become “colonists'' in Poland. Shortly after arriving in Zamch, 10 of these families including George and family moved to Kolonia Rogozno. These villages were relatively close to each other in the same county. Rogoźno is a village 5km outside of Tomaszow Lubelski. As you approach it, the road takes you through beautiful farmland on rolling hills. ***** But why would this group of Germans move east? ***** “At the time of George Eiflers arrival to Poland in 1784, both the land in Germany and Poland was ruled by the Habsburg Dynasty of the Austrian Empire. To extend their wealth, the Habsburgs wanted people to settle these empty lands to the east (google Josephinische Kolonisation). On the receiving side there was a notable nobleman in Poland’s history named Andrzej Zamoyst who worked a deal with the Hapsburgs to have these families come live on his estate. The Emperor paid for their travel, new housing, livestock, and many other things. ***** George Eifler, who lived on less and poorer land in the foothills than the offer in Poland figured this was a much better situation so he went for it. None of the “colonists'', as they were called, were forced to go but went freely for their own economic advantage. Each colonist family signed the contract along with Zamoyst and a representative from the Hapsburg family. According to the contract, George received 40 acres to lease with his family. The source of all the corroborating information comes from the contract, the 1800 census, and birth, marriage, and death records from Zamosc and Lublin archives.” ***** “Our ancestors lived and had a relationship with an important historical person in Poland- Andrzej Zamoyst. He was well respected holding one of the highest positions in Poland. He was considered a great man of integrity, was influenced by the enlightened principles that gave birth to America, and was the first of the large landowners in Poland to create positive reforms in the abusive Serfdom system.” ***** (written by Curt Wolf)