The Robel Family Emigrates

Well, after decades of neglect I have started to update my family history files. In looking over the plastic tubs of books, artifacts, pictures and correspondence, I just have to say the task seems overwhelming at this point. But, with all of the information I have received recently and the new research that has been accomplished by cousin Kathy (Wilebski) Schafer, I thought it was time to get back to it.

In looking at my notes and the "facts" that I had in my files, I see that it's time to set the record straight in terms of a lot of rumors and other assorted stories. Since Grandma Mary is somewhat of an icon for our family, I thought I'd start with her and pull the facts together as best I can. As I was piecing things together this morning, all I can say is it was very interesting. And if you recall all of the stories that Grandma was famous for, it may provide the flavor you need for the facts that will be presented.

First off, Mary Robel was born in a little village named Komorowka in what is today the Ukraine back on April 19, 1888. Many of you also know that her family was part of a settlement of Czech families that relocated here at the urging of the Catholic church. Her roots and that of our Chod ancestors are from the Klenci, Czech Republic area.

In any event, due to a number of factors such as the occupation by foreign forces, lack of economic opportunity among others, Mary and many of her siblings were forced to find greener pastures. Apparently America/Canada offered those opportunities.

FYI, from what I have found, Mary was the 6th of 7 children of Fredrick Robel and his wife Maryanna Nejedli. Of the children, the first 2 boys remained in the old country, John and Jacob "Jack". The remaining 5 children emigrated to America and Canada.

Of the remaining siblings of Mary, the oldest was Thomas who went to Winnipeg. FYI, this is the grandfather of our Hallama cousins who live in Grande Pointe, Manitoba. And without their help in this effort over several decades, would almost certainly not have occurred. Thanks to Agnes, Mildred and Ed for all of their patience and contributions of knowledge. For the record, Tom came over at the age of 14 in September 1898.

Following Tom in order of birth were Veronica, Anton "Tony" Robel, Marianna "Mary" Frances, and William "Frank".

According to the Hallamas and Jennie Koss (Robel), Tony Robel followed the year after in 1899. And lastly Frank Robel came a little later with his sisters Mary and Veronica. Another tidbit about Veronica is that she ended up in Chicago and died at the age of 19. I have included a picture of the Robel brothers that came to the new world so you can see if any of the current batch of cousins and offspring bear any resemblence. Also Tony Robel's wedding picture. I will continue more on Grandma Mary's adventures in the next blog.

Simon Wielebski and Marianna Donajkoska marriage record

Another artifact along with the translation from Kathy. This one is the marriage record for Simon and Marianna Wielebski
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Year and Day of Marriage-- Feb. 20, 1843
Name of Priest performing Marriage--Antonius Ryttersky?
Name of the Couple and Location --Simon Wielebski and Marianna Donajkoska
Laskownica
?? In relation to parents--juveniles (meaning young man, youth)
Age of man --28
Age of woman --21
Consent of parent/guardian--parents
Dates proclaiming banns of marriage-- 5, 12 (Dec. 5) 19, 2 (Feb. 19)
Witnesses to the marriage--Valentinus Dunelski??
Michael Bettu ?? (writing is illegible)
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Antonia Januzek's birth record

Here is the birth record of great grandma Antonia Januzek with translation of Polish again by Kathy Schafer.
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First half of document:

The first 7 is the number of entry, the i.d. is the repeat or ibid. sign for the month of January recorded above,
Day 17, Hour 1 noctis (means 1 in the night) all referring to date and time the child was born.

The next two columns indicate if it is a boy or a girl born-- the first half a legitimate boy child, the second half, an illegitimate boy child. Second column, first half--a legitimate girl child, the second half, an illegitimate girl child. The priest has numbered each individual column for the month. So Antonina is the 4th legitimate girl born in the month of January. Boys in January are counted separately. Apparently, those who died at birth as in the girl entry above Antonina were not numbered.

Name of the place from where they came -- Kosztowo. The day of baptism -- 17 January.
Name of the recipient of baptism --Antonina.
Column off the end of the page is ibid. of the name of the priest written above performing the baptism.

2nd half of document:

The married name and the maiden name of the father and the mother --Thomas Januzyk and Marianna Budnik.

Religion of father and of mother -- Catholic.
Society status and profession of father -- auriga means charioteer.
Name and society status of Godparents-- Michael Malich, col. (abbreviation for colonus which means farmer) and Hedwig Buchholz? or a feminine form of Budnik??? fam. (within the family?)
Possibly Hedwig Buchholz was correct and not a form of Budnik, her occupation being within the family but not necessarily of the Budnik family.
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Franceszek's Birth Record

I also wanted to pass along "Frank's" birth record which Kathy found shortly after we returned from Poland. As you have gathered from reading the blog post of that trip, we did get a chance to visit the village of his wife, Antonia Januzek. Frank's place of birth was not very far away, but alas we did not have the information during the trip.

Also, we did visit another neighboring town where Marianna Donajkoska was born. Again, all within 15 miles of each other.

I guess this is pointing to another trip back there to visit the ancestral villages. We'll see.

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Zelazno (Z with a slash) is the village listed as Franceszek's baptismal village which I found today. I went to the museum and two films were in and I slowly viewed the first one which took 3 hours. Then the second one I noticed Joannes Wyliebski and Catherina Lewandowska and photocopied that since these names were given to me in the Dalke information from Wisconsin Wielebski's. So I thought could this be the film they are on and I fast forwarded to 1854 to November 15 and there was a Franciscus but the second page was missing. I scrolled forward a number of frames and the other torn page was there and there were the parents names Simon Wilebski and Marianna Donajkoska. I was so excited that I found the certificate--FINALLY! On this reel it is funny almost all the different spellings of the name Wilebski that we have seen I think are on it. I have to go back and spend another days work on it. I have it until August 19 in Roseau. I ordered another one also which I have until August 22 for the same area Sadki (Sadke). So I will see what more I can find.
There was only 45 minutes for me until I had to pick up Katie at school so I wasn't able to do an extensive view today of this reel. I found Franceszek, Thomas and a child born inbetween Thomas and Francescek names Michael. But not John, Peter or Agnes. So they must have lived in some other village first before they were here. But I'm happy that we found Franceszek at any rate. _____________________________________________________________________________________

Simon Wilebski's birth record from October 1815

Here's another document which I may have passed along to a few of you. It is the birth record of Simon Wilebski, who is Frank Wilebski's father. That would be my great great grandfather.

The translation provided by Kathy (Wilebski) Schafer is also included. Without her diligence, help and contacts, I don't know where we would be in this quest. Mega thanks again Kathy for making this a reality.

You may also notice that Simon's parents are listed, that of Casper Wielebski and his wife Margaretha Nawrot, who are my great great great grandparents, and yours of course too. Note he was a shephard. The previous post includes their marriage record.

FYI, this is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. Kathy has researched many of the LDS films that were a part of the Poznan project. And we have records regarding many many more of the Wielebski clan from Poland and those that came to the new country. Stay tuned and again hats off to Kathy.


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Anno Millesimo Octingentiesimo Decimoquinto-- In the year 1815

die vigisima secunda Octobris -- day 22 October

Ego Caspar Crzembke, Vicarius Ecclesiae Parochiales Jutrosimensis -- Casper Crzembke, Vicar of the Ecclesial Parish of Jutrosin

baptisavi Infantem nomine --baptized/baptism of the infant named

Simonem -- Simon

Caspari Wielebski, Ovilionis, et Margariltrae de Nawrot
-- Caspar Wielebski, shepherd and Margaretha Nawrot

legitimorum Conjugum filium de villa Pawlowo --
legitimate union family from/of village Pawlowo

Patrini fuere -- Godparents
Laurentius Wielebski et Marianna Nawrotowa de villa Pawlowo --
Laurenty Wielebski and Mariianna Nawrot of village Pawlowo
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More artifacts

Carrie suggested that I start posting some of these artifacts on my blog site. So, I will starting with this one. This is the marriage record of Caspar Wielebski & Margaritha Nawrot. These are the parents of Syzmon Wilebski, who is my great great grandfather. That being said, this is my great great great grandfather and ggg grandmother. How's that.

The rest of the comments below are those from our cousin Kathy (Wilebski) Schafer who continues to dig into the LDS films to find this stuff. Hope you enjoy.





As far as the wedding translation--
Village Silec Day 25 October. The next line Pramilsis pramittendis, nulloque impedimento detecto. I haven't looked the words up but I think it means parents permission given, no impediment detected to make the wedding null or void. I am only guessing on this for now--later I may try find out more the exact meaning. Ego Vincentuis Laniowski--I, and name of priest, performed the blessing of Matrimony for Honorable juvenile Caspar Wielebski from Silec and Margaritha from Szymanki. The word behind Margaritam I wrote to Teresa Knap to ask about--it is written in Polish I think because of the slash across the second letter l. I don't think it means her last name but instead I think it means her position in the community but I am not sure. The base word Wladac (slash through l and mark over c) in Polish means to rule in my dictionary. Also wladza (slash through l) means authority; power; rule-- and with e with a tail instead of a at the end-- it says to be in authority or in control. The last part rzonka may be a feminine form of woman child or daughter, I've heard that before in other words denoting the feminine or woman (I looked and the Polish word for woman is zona) so because of the Honesta before Caspar and that word behind Margaritha I think it means her family had a role in authority in Szymanki. Or otherwise a role in managing the estate in Szymanki. Shepherds also could manage herds of estates from what I have read with different degrees of importance on the estates. The Wielebski's from Caspar down were listed as Ovilio or Shepherds on the baptismal records.
The bottom names are the witnesses. Testes fuerunt. Andreas Nawrocki/Nawrot was a brother I think.
So for now much of this is guessing and until I hear back from Teresa Knap (which may take some time) she doesn't always answer her e-mails--I will let you know for sure then. Kathy

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Notice Silec (in some places Sielec) spelling instead of Siebec (which I had on Magdalena and Agnes' birth records). You will have to change it--sorry. I had misread handwriting of "mano" in the Latin-- it should be "mane" which meaning morning. So the hour born was in the morning. I figured that out before I had sent the last e-mails.


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