When Jan Raczkiewicz (my great grandfather) was born, no one had any idea that his father would die when he was a young child and his mother when he was a teenager. Before he married, he had lost both parents and they were replaced by two step parents. He experienced those challenges, but later benefitted from his grandfather’s generosity.
Jan was born on November 7, 1864 at 8 o'clock in the morning. His father was Antoni Raszkiewicz, 23, a peasant farmer and his mother was Maryanna née Grabek, 20. They were living in Sabaudia, a small village community that is five miles north of the town of Tomaszów Lubelski. Jan’s parents had been born and raised as peasants in Majdan Górny and their family was there for at least four generations back to the 1750s. Majdan Gorney is a small village about four miles east of Tomaszów Lubelski. They had moved and were peasants in Sabaudia at this time. When Jan was baptized the day after his birth, his Godparents were Jakób Herda, 32, Antoni’s brother-in-law, and Magdalena Bendrowa. Jan Skorcz, 30, was also a witness. Both men were also peasants in the area, like Antoni. Jan’s birth record is #280 and during this time period, many of the family records have their last name written as Raszkiewicz (with an “s”) and many were written as Raczkiewicz (with a “c.”) His birth record was written with an “s” – Raszkiewicz. *****
Jan’s father Antoni died when Jan was only four years old and his sister died a month after their father. It is unknown who helped Jan and his mother for the next two and a half years until she remarried. I also am not clear if Jan and his mother remained on the land where he had been born. In 1871, Thomas Kędra, an unmarried man with no children of his own, became Jan’s stepfather. I am not sure if they farmed the land that Antoni and Marianna originally obtained in Sabaudia. *****
His mother and stepfather had a son Józef later that year and two years later they had a daughter Katarzyna. In 1881, when Jan was 17, his mother died. His half brother Józef Kędra was 10 years old and his half sister Katarzyna Kędra was 18 years old. His step father, 34, remarried a few months later to Anna Raczkiewicz, age 19. She was from the village Górno, daughter of Jan Raczkiewicz and Katarzyna, nee Pisarczyk. Again, I am not sure if the step father and the new step mother were on the original land. *****
Jan then inherited land from his grandfather which later made it possible for him to marry. I assume this was the land where he was born but am not sure if his step parents and their children were living there also. I do know that his stepfather Tomasz and stepmother Anna had additional children in Sabaudia: Jakub (1883), Rozalia (1885) , Jozefa (1888), and Jan (1890). The information about Jan’s grandfather’s will was provided by Eugeniusz Raczkiewicz, his 2x great grandson. *****
On November 4, 1882, Michał Raczkiewicz (my 3x great grandfather and Jan’s grandfather) died. Jan was a few days away from being 18 years old. Michał’s children (who were Jan’s aunts and uncles) likely already had land available to them. Michał had three children who died in childhood, a son Marcin had died at age 25 and his widow had remarried, and Jan’s father Antoni who had died at age 26. That left the oldest son Jan and his son Jakób to potentially inherit his farm. However, Jan, age 57, was already farming land in Majdan Górny, possibly from his wife’s family. Jakób had moved to Jezernia, where the family of his wife Katarzyna Kedrak lived. Two daughters of Michał were farming with their husbands: Marianna with Jakub Herda in Majan Górny and Katarzyna with Jan Reklhicz in Sabauda. That left grandson Jan to be named in the will. Three years after inheriting the land, Jan married. *****
Jan and Katarzyna Kaszucka were wed in Tomaszów Lubelski on November 15, 1885, in the Roman Catholic Church. Jan was Roman Catholic, as were Katarzyna and her mother. Her father was Greek Catholic. At the time, there was a Roman Catholic church, a Russian Orthodox church and a synagogue, near each other, on the unpaved streets and wooden sidewalks. There were 2,05 Catholics, 986 Russian Orthodox and 4,238 Jewish people. The town had a bakery, sweet shop and restaurant, stores and a small amount of manufacturing. Also nearby were barracks for 400 border guards and stables for the cossack's 300 horses. (Moscop, pp 24-25) *****
When she married, Katarzyna was 16 years old according to the record, but actually 14 and 1/2 years old, according to her actual birth record. Jan was 21 years old, a week over the legal age to marry without parental permission. Jan had two half siblings and Katarzyna had no living siblings. Parents of the bride were Józef Kaszucki and Paulina nee Kurkiewicz. Her father was a burgher (a citizen of a town or city, typically a member of the wealthy bourgeoisie) in the town of Tomaszów and worked as a furrier. Many of the other trades people and merchants were Jewish. Witnesses for the wedding were Katarzyna’s father Józef Kaszucki, 50, and Jan Skurcz, 50, a farmer in the village of Sabaudia. This was possibly the same Jan that was present for Jan’s baptism 21 years earlier. *****
Katarzyna was born on April 21, 1871, in the town of Tomaszów Lubelskie to Józef Kaszucki and his second wife Paulina nee Kurkiewicz. Józef was 41 when she was born. His first two children with his first wife died in infancy or early childhood. Paulina was 34 years old when Katarzyna was born and she was their fifth child. The previous four children had died in infancy or early childhood. The death notices do not include cause of death but in their area of the world from 1850 to 1900 there were struggles for democracy and the effects of overpopulation. There were cholera and smallpox outbreaks during the years two of them died. One of Katarzyna’s godparents was Szymon Kubka.. The other one was Julianna Niedźwiecka. (the 2x great grandmother of new found 4th cousin Curt Wolf– who originally put me in touch with Tomasz Raczkiewicz, the first connection I made in Poland.) *****
Katrzyna’s mother died when she was 24 and when Kataryna’s father Stefan Józef died (date unknown), he did not make a will since Katarzyna was his only remaining relative. He outlived two wives and seven children. Only Katarzyna made it to adulthood and both wives were deceased before Stefan Józef died. *****
Jan and Katarzyna lived in Sabaudia, on the land inherited from his grandfather, and by the time their children were born, there were 17 homes and 137 inhabitants there. The births of their nine children were: Jan (1888), Józef (1891), Antoni (1893), Stanisława (1895), Piotr (1897), Mary (1899), Paulina (1901), Franciszek (1904), and Bolesław (1906). During the Russian partition, a primary school was established in 1902, so the younger children were likely able to attend school. *****
Some stories have emerged about Jan related to his children. Eugeneniusz Raczkiewicz (son of Jan’s youngest child Bolesław) remembers, “My father told me - he (Jan) built the first Christmas tree in Savoie (Sabaudia) and taught his sons rhymes - wishes for Christmas and the New Year. I also made these wishes while walking on the so-called ‘stilts’.” Thanks to hearing about this memory, I asked Andzej Duebiel about it and he explained that, “during Christmas, boys went from house to house and wished everyone all the best. They carried oat's grains and scattered it. They were called ‘szczudrak’.” *****
Jan also encouraged his three oldest sons to go to the United States. He had contacts with various groups in the community in order to help figure this out and in 1910, Jan left and in 1912, Józef and Antoni left. *****
Besides being a farmer, Jan provided transportation to Lviv, using carriages in the summer and sleighs in the winter. According to Eugeniusz, “My Grandfather Jan transported ‘gentlemen’ - that's what my father used to say. He took them, among others, to Lviv at different times of the year. At the same time, he had a decision (oath) that he would not drink alcohol. Father said he swore to himself. I cannot answer in what form this promise was and to whom.” *****
A courier from Lviv (Ukraine) described what Tomaszów Lubelsk was like in October 1913, when he traveled there. (Tomaszów Lubelski | historiaregionu) The courier traveled by car instead of a cart or carriage, used by Jan. From the month of May until the end of September, an automobile went twice a day on a route through Tomaszów and to Lublin. There were white stones along both sides of the road for driving at night. ”There was a ”toll house outside of town, where Russian officials inspected the papers and luggage of everyone riding through.” (Moscop, p. 94) The Cossacks served as border guards and spoke both Russian and Polish. The Cossack’s attire was described as “disgustingly colored” and they “make an unpleasant impression” with “wild expressions on their faces.” Seeing them reminded the author of bloody descriptions of post-partition martyrdom. The author reflected sadly that it wasn’t long before there were no more border guards. *****
The author described his impression of Tomaszów mostly negatively from his perspective as an outsider. He saw what he described as the “hideous, green painted towers” of the Orthodox church as he approached the city of Tomaszów Lubelski. The city was full of shops, stalls and mud. A horse pulling a cart struggled in the black mud, something that Jan would have struggled with. “Anyone who has not seen the mud of Tomaszów, no pen or tongue can draw the right picture. Formal rivers of thin, black mud flow through the market square . . . and side streets, and the horses pulling the cart give the impression of riding through melted tar.”
(https://www.historiaregionu.org/historie-z-regionu?lang=pl) *****
There was an obelisk in the square in memory of the reign of Nicholas II. Tobacco products were sold freely which amazed the author since as a Galician, he said he was used to a government monopoly on cigarettes. The people in the streets spoke Polish and were dressed from an earlier time. The Catholic church, there for 500 years and made of larch (a type of conifer) was blackened with age and neglect.
He ended with “Some young people go to America for bread.” It is true that Jan had gone earlier and only a year later than these remarks, Antoni and his brother Jozef arrived in the U.S.
Jan died on March 9, 1915 at the age of 50. When Jan died, the six remaining children in Poland were between nine and 20 years old. The youngest child, Bolesław, would have been nine years old. Their second youngest child Paulina would have been 14 years old. The oldest child of Jan and Katarzyna was also named Jan. He had left for the United States five years earlier and the next two children Anthony (my grandfather) and Joseph had left three years earlier. Jan, the son, had just been shot in front of his house in Grand Rapids, Michigan a month before his father died. I wonder if the relatives in Poland heard about the shooting? I also wonder how and when the three brothers in the U.S. heard that their father had died in Poland, but Eugeniusz said his father never mentioned it to him. *****
What was happening in the world around him when Jan died? The death record does not give the cause of his death so there is no way to know for sure why he died at the early age of 50. World War I was happening and “in the summer of 1914 fierce battles raged around Tomaszów Lubelski. In August of 1914, the Austrian military took over in a three week occupation. Military also streamed through the area on their way to battle and the wounded were transported to hospitals. Sons and husbands were in the military.” (Moscip, p. 99) Also, Austria was in the middle of a cholera epidemic. There was an outbreak of typhus that had just started in Russia. *****
Was Jan’s death related to the war, disease or another cause? The work he did transporting “gentleman” was likely difficult for Jan. “It was not rare that the road, just by itself, created difficulties, which demanded a large amount of physical strain and patience. On top of this, they were exposed to life-threatening dangers, traveling through forests and empty roads. (Moscop, p. 202) More answers were provided by Eugeniusz Raczkiewicz: “It was very cold during one of the trips. The "gentlemen" warmed up with alcoholic beverages, Grandpa did not drink and then he caught a cold and fell ill with pneumonia. Soon he died. He was buried in the cemetery in Tomaszów during the First World War. Soon the cemetery was dug, burying the fallen soldiers, and then my grandfather's grave was lost.” Act 53 of the death record of 1915 reads that Jan died on March 8 (or February 23 Julian/Russian calendar) at 5:00 in the evening. The next day at 10 o'clock in the morning. Marian Skurcz, 50 years old, from Sabaudia, and Walenty Liskiewicz, 59 years old, townsman from Tomaszów Lubelski, went and declared the death. *****
After Jan died, the war continued. “A fire broke out there, destroying many houses. In the summer of 1915 the area was conquered by the Austrians and the Germans.” From June 25 to June 27, 1915, troops that were German and Austrian fought the Russians at Tomaszów Lubelski until the middle of July. There were Russians in town, sleeping in people’s houses or in the fields. (Moscop, p. 120.) The Russians retreated in a “scorched earth” fashion, stealing or destroying everything. Stanisława married Jan Bielak in 1917. On June 28, 1915, Germans shelled the city (Moscop, p. 99) and they took over the city from Austria. The local people had to feed the troops until November of 1918, with the army taking their produce and horses. A cholera epidemic broke out. Ration cards and passes for travel were required. Even after peace was declared, the Poles and the Ukrainians fought until the Ukrainians left the area. More fighting occurred with the Soviets in 1919 until 1921. The synagogue on Boznica street was burned down in 1919. (Moscop, p. 32) *****
By 1921, Sabaudia had grown to 36 homes with 259 inhabitants. The two brickyards were in operation and people made a living mostly by farming. That year daughter Paulina married Jan Dubiel and moved to Rogoźno, in 1923 daughter Mary moved to the U.S., and sometime before 1927, son Piotr married Jozefa Szczupkowska and moved to Podhorce. In the 1930s, the village was built with cobblestones in the streets and a paved road was built to Tomaszów Lubelski. A small shop was operated and it was purchased by a priest in 1935. Times were hard and there was little help from the government. *****
In 1935 until 1937, peasant dissatisfaction led to protests. Then World War II started on September 1, 1939, when Hitler invaded Poland. By September 13, the Germans were in Zamość and Tomaszów and other nearby places. The first battle of Tomaszów Lubelski was on September 19 to September 20, with fighting also in Rogoźno, Sabaudia, Majdan Górny and other places. The second battle of Tomaszów Lubelski was September 21 to 26. Before 1940, son Franciszek married Stanisława Oleńczuk. *****
On May 10, 1943, “Polish partisans under the command of Władysław Świdnicki "Trzaska" carried out the action of disarmament of German settlers. They took over the local guardhouse after a lace, from where they took 11 rifles, about 2,000 rounds of ammunition and 20 hand grenades. A few more rifles were found in the village and these too requisitioned.” *****
Katarzyna lived another 29 years after her husband Jan died, but she did not ever remarry. Katarzyna died on March 11, 1944 in Sabaudia as a 73 year old widow. When she died her son Franciszek had been killed the year before in the Rotunda in Zamość and there still was a German primary school in Sabaudia. Her three oldest children had lived in the U.S. for several decades. Stanisława, Piotr, and Paulina lived in the area and were raising families of their own. Bolesław lived with her. *****
Reporting the death was her son Bolesław, a 37 year old farmer and Bronisław Skurcz, a neighbor. According to Eugeniusz, he heard from his father that when Bolesław learned of his mother dying, that he and Bronisław ran from the forge where they were working to get there as quickly as possible. Bolesław married Jozefa Janina Bender three months later. *****
The war would continue for over a year after her death. *****
On December 17, 2022, upon learning that Jennifer Erichsen (a 2x great grandchild of Jan and Katarzyna) was graduating as a Doctor of Biomedical Science, Eugeniusz Raczkiewicz wrote, “Congratulations. Grandma Catherine in heaven is certainly happy. She cared very much for her children to have professions, she even sold plots for this purpose. You can see that the tradition is kept in the family in the USA. Gotta keep it up!!!” *****
Personal correspondence:
Raczkiewicz, E. (2022, March 9). *****
History of area:
“Dzieje Miejscowosci Gminy Tomaszów Lubelski.” Dzieje Gmin Zamojszczyzny, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2023 from https://dzieje_gminy_Tomaszów_lubelski_-_calosc_z_okladka.pdf (Tomaszówlubelski.pl)
Gmina Tomaszow. Historia Regionu Tomaszow Lubelski Belz Rawa Ruska. (n.d.). Retrieved July 11, 2021 from https://www.historiaregionu.org/tomaszw-lubelski
Moscop, J. M. (Ed.). (2008). Tomaszow Lubelski, Tyszowce, Laszczow, Krylow and komarow jewish ancestry. Facebook: Tomaszow Lubelski, Tyszowce, Laszczow, Krylow and komarow jewish ancestry. https://www.facebook.com/groups/812333692214988/?multi_permalinks=6721843851263913&ref=share
Jan’s birth *****
Jan Raszkiewicz Skan - Szukaj W Archiwach. Przejdź do Szukaj w Archiwach. (n.d.). https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/skan/-/skan/b28e2dcdfa65bb908662f9e94ab77c9e667304500b843988872ccec3682b4833
Jan’s death *****
Death of Jan Raczkiewicz Jednostka - Szukaj W archiwach. Przejdź do Szukaj w Archiwach. (n.d.-a). https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/jednostka/-/jednostka/10509756
Jan & Katarzyna’s marriage *****
Marriage of Jan Raczkiewicz & Katarzyna Kaszucki Skan - Szukaj W Archiwach. Przejdź do Szukaj w Archiwach. (n.d.-b). https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/skan/-/skan/875b0a0bd37f2a84126826b95ffce2ed54869b1d6e3ca259264a8bd9af51d7b7 *****
Katarzyna’s birth:
Birth of Katarzyna Kaszucki Skan - Szukaj W Archiwach. Przejdź do Szukaj w Archiwach. (n.d.-a). https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/skan/-/skan/0c7114aeb85a98464dcdd5e67537a22d2105bec7a5ed6fd33124ea14cadb2a0f
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