Andrzej Kaszucki and Salomea Wiciejewska marry January 26, 1823

Andrzej Kaszucki and Salomea Wiciejewski (my 3x great grandparents) married on January 26, 1823, in Tomaszów Lubelski, Poland. They appeared before the pastor of Tomaszów Lubelski, who was the civil registrar for this city, found in the county of Tomaszów, province of Lublin. Because his father Lukasz was deceased and his mother Agata nee Krzaczk was still living in the city of Uhnów, Galicia, Austria , a week before the wedding, Andrzej went to the municipal office and had an “act of knowing” drawn up which was approved by the court of peace of the county. Andrzej was 24 years old , Greek Catholic and a furrier and residing in the city of Tomaszów. He was born in 1799 in the city of Uhnów, Galicia, Austria, the son of Agata and Lukasz. We know about his brothers Theodore and Fidory but he likely had other siblings who remained in his hometown. Salomea Wiciejowska was 19 years old, Roman Catholic, and a maiden, according to a certificate excerpted from the books of the Tomaszów parish church. She and her parents, Maciej Wiciejowski, potter, and her mother, Marianna nee Metelska. were born in the city of Tomaszów Lubelski. They accompanied her to church for the wedding. Two Banns were announced on January 12th and 19th. The witnesses were Andrzej Niedzwiedz, age 41, (related to current day Curt Wolf) and Szymon Władysz, age 40, who were both shoemakers. Also Rafał Lusawicki, age 47, cabinet-maker, and Marcin Ceroński, age 28, spoonmaker, all residing in the city of Tomaszów. Initially the translators were stumped at the occupation of Marcin -- Łyszczarz. It was not on a list of occupations and their Polish names that I had. Eventually it was determined that it meant spoonmaker. Andrzej and Salomea had nine children in 23 years. Their first child Nikolaj was born on April 28, 1824, in Tomaszów, Lubelskie, Poland just after Salomea’s own brother Valentine was born February 9. Her son Jozef "Stefan Jozef" (my 2x great grandfather) was born on August 10, 1832, in Tomaszów Lubelski, Lubelskie, Poland. Her husband Andrzej passed away on September 18, 1861, at the age of 62. They had been married 38 years. Here is what it sounded like to have the record translated: “The year 1823, the 26th of January, at 9 a.m. Before us, pastor of Tomaszów, civil registrar of the municipality of Tomaszów, county of Tomaszów, province of Lublin, Andrzej Kaszucki appeared, bachelor, according to an act of knowing drawn up by the municipal office of the city Tomaszów on the 20th of this month and year, and approved by the court of peace of the county of Tomaszów on the 22nd of this month and year, age 24, furrier residing in the city of Tomaszów, unaccompanied by his father, Łukasz Kaszucki, once a furrier living in the city of Uhnów in Galicia Austria, already deceased, as stated in the above act of knowing, and his mother Agata nee Krzaczkowska Kaszucka, so far residing in the city of Uhnów Galicia Austria. Also appearing Salomea Wiciejowska, maiden, according to a certificate excerpted from the books of the Tomaszów parish church, age 19, accompanied by her father, Maciej Wiciejowski, potter, and her mother, Marianna nee Metelska, spouses residing in the city of Tomaszów, with whom she lives; Banns: 12th and 19th; Witnesses: Andrzej Niedzwiedz, age 41, and Szymon Władysz, age 40, both shoemakers, also Rafał Lusawicki?, age 47, cabinet-maker, and Marcin Ceroński, age 28, Łyszczarz?, all residing in the city of Tomaszów.”

Maciej Wiciejewski (4x great grandfather) dies 23 December

Maciej Wiciejewski (my 4x great grandfather) died in Tomaszów Lubelski on 23rd December 1839 at 4 o'clock in the evening, He was 76 years old and had been a 'Garncasz ' (potter.) He was the son of Jakób and Maryanna Wiciejewski who were also potters. He was born in Tomaszów Lubelski. He left behind a widowed wife Maryanna née Metelski (my 4x great grandmother.) On the next day (Christmas Eve), two declarants, Grzegorz Nazareswicz, 51 and Łukasz Nazareswicz , 41 both blacksmiths in Tomaszów verified his death for the officials. I do not know who they were. Here is a little of his story. In 1817, he was a witness for his sister Katarzyna’s wedding. She lived with him, since her parents were deceased. He was also a witness for the marriage of two other younger sisters. Since they were younger, it is possible, but the record doesn’t say, that they lived with him also. All three sisters married in their late 20’s. Maciej and his wife had nine children. Their oldest--Salomea-- is my 3x great grandmother. In 1824, her first born was born in house #27--her father’s house. She had been married to Andrzej Kaszucki, a furrier, the year before. Her parents had their last child--Valentine (or Walenty)--two and a half months earlier so there would have been two newborns in the house along with six of their other children. Two had died in infancy. DNA connections His sister Justyna is an ancestor of a lot of DNA matches of people with a connection to Grand Rapids. Patrice (Szymanski) Shay is one of them and she and I have connected and exchanged some information. Others are: Abbey Murphy, Maryann VanDyke, Robert Szymanski, Sonia O’Leary, Allison Clem, Kathleen Thurman and Susan Brochu-Hoshield.

The story of Valentine Wiciejewski--Including his 2nd marriage on 22 Nov 1824

I am trying to mainly share stories of the direct descendants--but some of their brothers and sisters have good stories to share also. Today (November 22) is the anniversary of the second marriage of Valentine (Walenty) Wiciejewski, my 4th great uncle. At his birth on 9 Feb 1824 at 4 a.m., his father, Maciej Wiciejewski was already 54 years old and had been a renowned potter. His mother, Marianna nee Metalska was 37. Maciej was born in their house #207 in Tomaszow. The witnesses were Maciej Wyszynski, 50, a cooper and Michal Kudlicki, 45, a shoemaker. His parents had nine children--Valentine was the youngest and his sister Salomea was the oldest. Salomea married Andrzej Kaszucki, (my 3x great grandparents) the year before Valentine was born. Their first born Nikolaj was born two months after Valentine’s birth in her father’s house so there would have been two newborns living there. Valentine’s mother died when he was nine and his father died when he was 15. He likely lived with one of his older brothers or sisters. Valentine’s first marriage was to Helena Jozefko on 16 Jul 1843. He was 19 and his father was already deceased and Helena was 22. She was born in Komodow but was working in Tomaszow as household help. Her parents were farmers in Komodow. The witnesses were both shoemakers: Mateusz Rubacka, 29 and Tomasz Kaminski, 36. When Valentine married for the second time, at 3pm, his bride Miss Ewa Tarczylo was 22 years old and he was 35. He was working as a spoon maker and his parents were deceased. Her father Jan was deceased and she was living in Tomaszow Lubelski with her mother Petronella (Bukawski) Tarczylo. They were shoemakers. The witnesses were Antoni Romanowicz, 48 and Tadeusz Tyndar, 46, both shoemakers. It sounds like in his life he had various jobs. He started out as a shoemaker and became a spoon maker. He then was a peasant farmer and an innkeeper in the village of Para. When he married Ewa he was back to being a spoon maker. He died at age 50.