Category: Bernatowiczs

The oldest ancestor whose identity we were able to establish is Marcin Bernatowicz. He was born around 1734 probably in the village of Kunicha (formerly Kunica). In addition to Marcin, Zofia Bernatowicz, born around 1727, also lived in Kunicha. Searching for the oldest inhabitants of these regions is extremely difficult. In the Krasnybór parish, the oldest preserved records come from 1760. It was a period of shaping the parish identity of the inhabitants of this area. In 1755 a wooden church was built in nearby Jaminach. From Kunicha to Jaminy is much closer than to Krasnybór, so we are convinced that the oldest Bernatowiczs sometimes attended a closer church, as evidenced by some records written in Jaminy, although Kunicha belonged to the Krasnybór parish. The oldest records from the Jaminy parish come from 1759 and are baptism registers. It is not excluded that at the same time or earlier the inhabitants of these areas also attended the church in Dolistowo, which was the oldest parish in this area. However, we were unable to access the books from the Dolistowo parish from the 18th century.

So it is in vain to look for the birth or marriage records of the aforementioned Zofia Bernatowicz. The first traces of this person appear in 1761, when on January 22 twins in the Krasnobór church were baptized with the names of Piotr and Paweł born in the village of Janówek not far from Kunicha. Mateusz Zagórski was the father and Zofia Bernatowicz was the mother. The wedding had to be earlier. No wonder you can't find any mention of it. There is also no information about the fate of the twins. They probably died in early infancy. Zofia Zagórska does not appear again in the record books until 1807, when her death certificate was written. Five years later, Mateusz Zagórski, widower of Zofia, dies. Interestingly, the informants were his sons Maciej and Michał.

We will not continue to tell stories about the Zagórski families here. In the same period, there were much more of them than Bernatowiczs, and establishing relationships between them on the basis of scanty documentary material is much more difficult.

Let's return to Marcin Barnatowicz. He was a serf in the lands belonging to the Chreptowiczs. At that time, the estate belonged to Antoni Chreptowicz and his brothers who were known for their adventurous lifestyle. It was the period of the greatest fall and debt of these lands, from which it was only slightly raised by Joachim Chreptowicz in 1764.

Marcin married Dorota Zagórska, a twenty-five-year-old girl, in 1763. The wedding took place in Krasnybór. Witnesses were Józef Zagórski, Andrzej Zagórski and Andrzej Puciłowski, but it is not known who they were for the bride and groom. Usually it was the closest family: young couple's siblings, cousins or trusted neighbors and friends.

The couple lived in Kunicha in the house number 1 belonging to the Bernatowicz family. Their first (documented) child was Krystyna born in 1770. She married Mateusz Mróz and they lived in Sztabin. All their children were also born there. It was not until nine years after the marriage that Bernatowicz's son was born, who got the name after his father. Two years later, in 1774, they had a daughter Marianna, who married Gotlib Mróz, brother of Mateusz. This couple also lived in Sztabin and all their children were also born there.

Next child was Maciej Bernatowicz born in 1784.

Marcin Barnatowicz and Dorota Zagórska probably had a daughter Jadwiga. Most likely, because Jadwiga's birth certificate is missing, and in her marriage certificate her parents are not mentioned. However, given Jadwiga's approximate age, based on the date of marriage, and the fact that Marcin was the only male representative of the Bernatowicz family in this area, it should be assumed that Jadwiga was his daughter. Jadwiga Bernatowicz got married to Maciej Chodorowski. Initially they lived in Jaziewo in the Jaminy parish, where their first child Franciszek (1797) was born. However another child Tomasz (1808) was baptized in the Dolistowo church. In 1809, the son Kazimierz was born again in Jaziewo, but all the next children were baptized in Dolistowo and the family probably settled there permanently.

In the following chapters we will follow in more detail the fate of Marcin and Maciej, two sons of Marcin Bernatowicz - the family's senior.

The surname Bernatowicz can have two different origins. The first of these dates back to the Middle Ages and results from the process of the evolution of Polish names. Originally, the endings - icz or - owicz in the surnames were - ic, - owic and determined the origin from the father. So the medieval surname Bernatowic meant son of Bernat. The phonetic change in the sound of these increases was influenced by the Ukrainian language. At least three noble Bernatowicz families have been recorded since 1500. In medieval documents you can find: Biernatowicz in 1376, Biernartowic in 1189 and Biernat in 1365. What is the origin of the name Bernat? In the Middle Ages, many names were adopted under the influence of the Czech language: Jerzy, Katarzyna or names of the apostles. The name Bernat is probably the hardly pronounced Biernat or Bernard - name of Germanic origin. Bern means bear, while hard is strong.

Another possible theory of the origin of the surname assumes that some Bernatowicz families may come from Armenian settlers who had settled since the early Middle Ages in the cities of eastern Poland. Armenians, being polonized, also polonized their names by adding Polish name-forming suffixes, especially -owicz. That is why in the seventeenth century Lviv we meet Armenian merchants with the name Bernatowicz.

If we want to trace the name's history, we will learn from most sources that it is a coat of arms of given nobility, meaning that it was given by the ruler to persons who did not have a noble title before. Usually for merit.

However, the representatives of the Bernatowicz family that we will meet in this book are not noble. They are Podlasie peasants. So why do they have a noble name? The most probable hypothesis is that their ancestors were impoverished nobles who came from Lithuania and Russia, who lost their privileges and ennoblement.

Białystok	60	Piotrków Trybunalski	11	Słupsk	7	Płock	5	Ostróda	4
Warszawa	60	Starachowice	11	Świebodzin	7	Rybaki	5	Piła	4
Augustów	46	Sumowo	11	Dzierwany	6	Skwierzyna	5	Płońsk	4
Olsztyn	36	Cybinka	10	Jagoczany	6	Wałbrzych	5	Przemyśl	4
Suwałki	34	Sopot	10	Jezierzyce	6	Wawrów	5	Sejny	4
Gdańsk	27	Drozdowo	9	Łomy	6	Włocławek	5	Siedlce	4
Zawady-Tworki	27	Dryga	9	Łódź	6	Wólka	5	Sosnowiec	4
Sztabin	23	Ełk	9	Malbork	6	Ząbki	5	Strzelce Opolskie	4
Kunicha	19	Gołdap	9	Malesowizna	6	Żywki	5	Szklarska Poręba	4
Wrocław	19	Grajewo	9	Marcinowiczki	6	Bartoszyce	4	Tarnowiec	4
Jelenia Góra	17	Łomża	9	Raduń	6	Bielsk Podlaski	4	Zamość	4
Ostrołęka	17	Międzyrzec Podlaski	9	Somianka	6	Choszczno	4	Izabelin C	3
Gorzów Wielkopolski	16	Tychy	9	Stożne	6	Dobre Miasto	4	Klewianka	2
Gdynia	15	Wyszków	9	Straduny	6	Głęboczyzna	4	Białe Jeziorki	1
Krapkowice	15	Chorzów	8	Brzeg	5	Godziszowa	4	Borzewisko	1
Szczecin	15	Giżycko	8	Czarny Las	5	Jelcz-Laskowice	4	Dąbrowa Białostocka	1
Poznań	14	Sanok	8	Ewy	5	Juchnajcie	4	Dubeninki	1
Świdnica	14	Tarnów	8	Horodnianka	5	Kamień	4	Gródków	1
Sulechów	13	Władysławowo	8	Ignalin	5	Knurów	4	Linowo	1
Lublin	12	Blenda	7	Jugów	5	Korsze	4	Marlinowo	1
Polanica-Zdrój	12	Jabłońskie	7	Karlino	5	Krosno Odrzańskie	4	Stróża	1
Banie Mazurskie	11	Katowice	7	Kazuń-Bielany	5	Lądek-Zdrój	4	Włościbórz	1
Dębnica Kaszubska	11	Koszalin	7	Kowale Oleckie	5	Łapy	4	Zawiszyn	1
Kołobrzeg	11	Kraków	7	Piaseczno	5	Mrągowo	4
Krasnoborki	11	Podczerwone	7	Pisz	5	Nowa Ruda	4

Today, an unusual post about the short history of the SPL Dęblin Reserve Reconnaissance Squadron. I am writing about this unit because of cadet pilot Franciszek Bernatowicz, my wife's cousin, who served in this unit. He was born in Chicago in 1917, but his father Antoni comes from Jastrzębna in the Krasnybór parish and hence the branch's history is connected with the subject of interest of the Jamiński Indexing Team.

In 1921, the entire Bernatowicz family returned to Poland and settled in Augustów. In the following years, they moved to Grodno in search of work. Franciszek Bernatowicz has always been interested in aviation and dreamed of flying. In 1937, he enrolled at the Aviation Cadet School in Dęblin, which he was to graduate in 1940 as the 13th Promotion. These plans were interrupted by war. The promotion was accelerated and already on September 1, Franciszek was appointed a lieutenant pilot. Below is a short, covering a dozen or so days, historical outline of the unit in which Franciszek Bernatowicz fought in September 1939. His further fate is a long story, which I may someday tell.

Reconnaissance Reserve Squadron

On the night of September 6-7, 1939, Captain Observer Maksymilian Brzozowski evacuated from Dęblin (he was a lecturer at SPL Dęblin), receives at the airport Żyrzyn the order from the Head Of Aviation (via Col. Wieden) to organize a reserve squadron. It was to be formed by trained crews that would complement the the front units.

Flying crews would have been recruited from among cadets who graduated SPL Deblin after an expedited, 2-year course. The crews were supposed to consist of first 10 ranks from the Observer Training Squadron No.4 and Flying Training Squadron No.3.

Shooters (airborne) were to be chosen on an ad hoc basis from among cadets-observers or volunteers from technical staff with appropriate qualifications.

In this way Reconnaissance Reserve Squadron was formed.

Squadron Commander: Capt. Obs. M. Brzozowski

Observers: Cadets Antoni Banachowicz, Władysław Cehak, Edward Chorąży, Wiktor Dobrzański, Alojzy Dreja, Stefan Gawłl, Jan Jozepajt, Gerard Kunowski, Bronisław Kuźniar, Józef Mika - all of them from thirteenth promotion.

Pilots: Cadets Franciszek Bernatowicz, Czesław Daszuta, Kazimierz Dolicher, Bolesław Klecha, Włodzimierz Łomski, Jan Matuszkiewicz, Kazimierz Stankiewicz, Konrad Stembrowicz, Jerzy Zbierzchowski, Sergeants Instructors Jan Kowalski, Henryk Pietrzak, Leonard Pruski.

Full time squadron status: trouble here.

Kind of 7 PZL P-23A "Karaś", but according to some sources 9 or 10 (although so good that everyone agrees that there were only P-23A in this squadron).

Continue reading Rezerwowa Eskadra Rozpoznawcza SPL Dęblin

Działo się to w Chicago w czasach prohibicji, rządów mafii i powszechnego dostępu do broni. W tym czasie dorastało już pierwsze pokolenie potomków emigrantów z polskich ziem, w tym również z obszaru, którym się zajmujemy. Co najmniej kilkadziesiąt osób z wielkiej rodziny Bernatowiczów mająca swoje korzenie we wsi Kunicha koło Sztabina wyjechało za chlebem do USA i osiedli głównie w Chicago i okolicach. Ci bogobojni ludzie trafili do innego świata, w którym rządził pieniądz i żądza zysku. Niektórzy pogubili się w tych realiach do tego stopnia, że ich historie trafiały na pierwsze strony gazet.

Zemściła się na rzekomej rywalce – Dziennik Chicagoski – 9 lipca 1923 roku

Przeszło rok temu Marjanna Bernatowicz oświadczyła swemu mężowi, że „zabije tę kobietę w najszczęśliwszej dla niej chwili”, kiedy Józef Bernatowicz nie chciał zerwać przyjacielskich stosunków z Anną Andracką. Bernatowiczowi dotrzymała swego przyrzeczenia i w sobotę rano zabiła rzekomą rywalkę, gdy ta wsiadała do tramwaju na rogu 28 i Halsted Street.

Przed pociągnięciem cyngla zabójczej broni, Bernatowiczowa zakrzykła: „Złodziejko, męża mi ukradłaś a ja…”

Nastąpił strzał i Andracka, śmiertelnie raniona, osunęła się na ziemię nieprzytomna.

Świadkowie zabójstwa przywołali ambulans, a zabójczyni odezwała się do policji, że cieszy się z tego co zrobiła. Gdyż przez to zakończyła swe cierpienia.

W kilka godzin po tem przysięgli przy koronerze przekazali ją ławie przysięgłych, oskarżając Bernatowiczową o morderstwo, a ta nawet już w więzieniu będąc cieszyła się, że „cierpienia jej skończyły się”.

Natychmiast po strzelaninie Bernatowiczowi zabrana została na stację policyjną przy Deering Street, gdzie opowiedziała porucznikowi Dubachowi o powodach, które ją popchnęły do morderstwa.

Z zeznań jej wykazuje się, że Józef Bernatowicz zapoznał się z Andracką dwa lata temu w domu swej siostry Ewy Matczak zamieszkałej przy narożniku 31 i Morgan Street, a od tego czasu miał z nią urządzać schadzki i kupować Andrackiej najrozmaitsze podarki.

Syn chciał odebrać jej broń

W sobotę rano Bernatowiczowa wyszła ze swym dziewiętnastoletnim synem Janem z domu i czekała przy 28 i Halsted Street na ukazanie się Andrackiej, która o tym czasie zwykle zdążała do pracy.

Jan, podejrzewając, że coś złego ma się dziać, chciał odebrać matce rewolwer, ale ta odepchnęła syna i skierowała broń do rzekomej rywalki, kiedy ta wchodziła na stopień tramwajowy, strzelając do Andrackiej. Ta śmiertelnie ranna osunęła się na ziemię. Przywołano natychmiast ambulans, którym zabrano Andracką do szpitala „Peoples”, ale ta w drodze zmarła.

Bernatowicz, lat 40, organizator unji pod nazwą „Brotherhod of Railway Carmen of America” został aresztowany w swoim domu pod numerem 9902 S. Park avenue. Zeznał on, że winną wszystkiemu jest jego teściowa, gdyż stosunki jego z Andracką były tylko przyjacielskie. Miała ona rzekomo pracować jako służąca w domu Bernatowiczów w Polsce około 25 lat temu i wtedy ją też Bernatowicz poznał.

Syn miał mu grozić

Bernatowicz zeznał, iż kilkakrotnie przedtem, syn jego Jan miał mu grozić śmiercią.

Andracki zeznał podczas badań, że Bernatowiczowi kilkukrotnie telefonowała mu, iż żona jego zabawia się z Bernatowiczem, lecz temu Andracka zawsze przeczyła.

Z dalszych jego zeznań okazało się, że Bernatowiczowa miała mu powiedzieć, iż sama zajmie się tą sprawą jeśli Andracki nie zechce. Wtedy ten miał jej powiedzieć, aby „robiła co jej się podoba”, gdyż sam nie może nic poradzić.

 

Andracka zamieszkiwała przy 2807 S. Union Avenue, i jak sąsiedzi zeznali cieszyła się dobrą opinją, jako wzorowa i oszczędna żona.

Bernatowiczowa, która jest matką czworga dzieci, skarżyła się w zeznaniu wczoraj, iż nie myślała o zabójstwie, lecz uczyniła to, gdyż mąż nie dawał jej na utrzymanie, tak że dzieci i sama przymierały głodem, a przytem miał on maltretować wszystkich w domu.