The Noble Bonkowskis

                                      

In the chapel of St. Anna in the parish church of Szreńsk there is a Renaissance tombstone of the voivode Feliks Szreński, made of sandstone in 1546, during the founder's lifetime. It depicts a lying knight in armor and a helmet, with his head supported on his left hand and his legs crossed, above which is the Dołęga coat of arms in a cartouche. Around the slab on the frame there is an inscription in capital letters, which begins with the words: "I lived for the Fatherland, performing, as best I could just and useful works".

Bońkowsi From Śzrensk in the 17th c. to Mława in the 21st c.

Pochodze z pokolenia od Tylicki, Lugowski, Szczypiorski, Chadzynski i Bonkowski. Zamieszkiwali oni w miejscowosciach Lugi, Bonkowski Podlesne i Bonkowski Zdroj pomiedzy XVII a  XIX wiekiem.

I come from the generation of Tylicka, Lugowski, Szczypiorski, Chadzynski and Bonkowski.  They lived in the towns of Lugi, Bonkowski Podlesne and Bonkowski Zdrój between the 17th and 19th centuries.

My Direct Line :

6--Mateusz Bońkowoski (Puscz) b 16xx d. 1737  and Anna Jankowska b. 16xx d. 1733- my 6th great grandparents married c 1687
They were the Treasurer's representative in Loscice- Administrators of Atanazy Miączyński- who fought alongside King Jan Sobieski, in the battle of Vienna.   * See "Theories"
5--Mikolaj Bonkowski b 1708 d Jan 20 1787 and Rozalia Wąsowska-b. Stare Garkowo...d. May 9 1778-my 5th great grandparents married Jun 20 1737\
He  was buried in the church nave,1787, in the Mostowski Foundation of the parish church in Śzreńsk.  Another Mikolaj died 1751 -no age noted.
4--Michal Bonkowski (Puscz) b.1746 d. Jan 29 1807 and Agnieska Grzybowska married 1778
3--Piotr Chadzynski and Rozalia Bońkowoska b. 1784  d. 1834-my 3rd great grandparents married 1810

PUSCZ
According to: http://sjp.pwn.pl/sjp/przydomek;2511975.html a 'przydomek' is:

1. 'nadana komuś dodatkowa nazwa, charakterystyczna dla danej osoby' // 
"an additional name attributed to someone, which is characteristic for a person"

2. 'wyróżniająca nazwa jednej z gałęzi, linii rodu' // 
a distinguishing name of one of the branches of the family
http://sjp.pwn.pl/sjp/przydomek;2511975.html

Bońkowo Podlesne (by the forest)

Mateusz and Anna had 10 children over a span of 28 year- btwn 1687 and 1715.  At least this is what is documented in the Szrensk parish books. There may have been more in other parishes. There is a 6y gap beteen 1696 and 1702. Perhaps a child or more was born in another parish?

Both war and plague ravaged Poland during the time when most of Mateusz and Anna's children 

were born

Marianna Bońkowska 1687

Jan Bońkowski 1690

Józef Bońkowski 1693

Stanisław Bońkowski 1695

Agnieszka Bońkowska 1702

Ewa Bońkowska 1705

Marianna Bońkowska 1707

Mikołaj Bońkowski b 1708 d 1787

Jakub Bońkowski 1714

Franciszek Bońkowski 1715(copy made)

                        Baptismal Franciszek 1704

Translation from Latin: A copy ofthe birth record of the Noble Franciszek Bonkowski

In the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ at Losice in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred Five on the 10th of October To all and sundry whom it concerns or may concern, I, Szymon Jan Marecki of the secular clergy living incommunity and also the presbyter and at that time the vicar of the parish church of the Latin Rite, make it known and testify by this certificate that I baptized an infant by the name of Franciszek on seventh day of October in the Year of Our Lord 1704, the son of legitimate parents namely the Honorable* and well-born* Lord and Lady Mateusz Bonkowski and Anna nee Jankowska at that time administrators at Losice of the Honorable Lord of the treasury of
the Kingdom of Poland. Those lifting him up actually were Walerian Bielski, a fellow soldier of the armored****
cohort of the Honorabe  Lord Atanazy Miaczyski(?) of the above noted Treasury and Captain at Losice etc. and Maria Biernacka of the village of Rudnia. In testimony of all this I sign below and make the common little seal.
Signature of Szymon Jan Marecki, vicar of Losice.

Often times, a noble held an official position. There were 2 conditions for them to be appointed to such positions. One must be over the age of 23 and have considerable wealth. What was considered 'considerable' I've no idea.

Death Certificates 1737

5 noble relations died in 1 week during the month of April 1737: Andres Ługowski/

Ługi. Pawel Chadzyński -Bońkowo, Andres  Ługowski -Ługi. Marianna Szczypiorski

- Bargly and  Mateusz Bońkowski-Bońkowo.

https://paulhulsenboom.com/2023/02/11/1737-a-polish-calamity-and-dutch-solidarity-nl

-embassy-in-pl/

There were 90 deaths in the Parish this year compared to 15 the year before.

Perhaps this explains the cause of so many deaths~

In late January 1737, a large part of Poland was hit by a flood and subse-
quent famine. A severe storm broke dykes along the Vistula and Nogat
rivers, and the water covered vast tracts of land between Gdańsk and
Toruń. Cities and villages were destroyed, people and cattle perished,
and farmlands were made unusable. The Dutch historian Jan Wagenaar de-
scribed the terrible calamity which had befallen the Poles. He tried to
arouse sympathy and stimulate his Dutch readers to donate money for
the victims, many of whom were left homeless and died of hunger or dis-
ease. In some parts of the country, the water receded only after the summer.

Mikolaj and Rozali's (m. 1737) children

Marianna Bońkowska 1741

Michał Bońkowski 1746 d. Jan 29 1807

Zofia Bońkowska 1750

Marianna Bońkowska 1752

Józef Bońkowsk 1754

Wojciech Bońkowski 1759

Michał Bonkowski's baptism 1746

Translation: (The Village of) Bonkwowo

Podlesne

On the 29th day of September 1746, I, 

Grzegorz Bronk Myciszewski the superior

of (the parish of) Szrensk, baptized an

infant by the name of Michael, born of 

the legitimate marriage of the well-born

Mikolaj and Rozalia Bonkowski. The 

sponsors were the honorable lord Reverend

Franciszek Bonkowski, the dean of the

parish of Zuromin and the well-born 

lady Katarzyna Humiecka, the sword bearer

of Rozan.

generosus/well-born was an adjective 

used to describe a noble who was the 

owner of at least one village---in this

case they owned at least the village of

Bonkowo Podlesne.

illustrissimus dominus/honorable lord 

indicates his noble status. Since he has

the same surname as the parents it 

Is quite possible that he is a relative.

The Baptism of Wojciech- Mikolaj and Rozali's son

Wojciech Bońkowski identied Rozalia's

maiden name. 

Michal Bonkowski and Agnieska Grzybowska's children:

1779		Teresa	Bońkowska	
1780		Mateusz	Bońkowski d. 1831 never married	
1783		Teodor	Bońkowski	
1784		Rozalia Bońkowska m Piotr Chadynski 1810	
1786		Wincenty Bońkowski	 
1788		Grzegorz Bońkowski	
1789		Paweł Bońkowski	
1794		Wojciech Bońkowski	
1796		Katarzyna Bońkowska

Mikolaj death  1787 
Latin Text: Incipit Novus Annus 1787 Januarius, Bonkowo Podlesne, 1787 Die 20 Januarii mortuus
est Generosus Nicolaus Bonkowski annorum circiter 82 Sanctissimis Sacramentis munitus 
sepultus in fornice Mostoviana.   He was 80 yrs old.

Translation: Here begins the New Year 1787 January, The Village of Bonkowo Podlesne, On the 20
th day of January 1787 the well born Mikolaj Bonkowski, about 82 years of age, died, strengthened
by the Most Holy Sacraments and was buried in the Mostowo vault of the church.  

1831
Death the unmarried Mateusz Bonkowski