Parishes and registers / Sorokpol (Powiewiórka) parish
Józef Piłsudski's brothers and sisters in the Sorokpol baptism registers
The Zułów manor, where Józef Piłsudski was born in 1867, lay in Sorokpol parish, whose church stands in Powiewiórka (Pavoverė). The baptisms of the children of Józef Wincenty Piłsudski and Maria née Billewicz were entered in this parish until the family moved to Vilnius. Even two children born in Vilnius were entered here.
Below are seven of these records: Helena, Zofia, Bronisław, Adam, Kazimierz, Maria and Jan. The baptism record of the Marshal himself, from 1867, is well known and has been published, so we give only its reference.
The records are in Russian. Their dates follow the Julian calendar, which in the 19th century ran 12 days behind the calendar used today. We give both dates for each record.
How we found them
We were not looking for the Piłsudskis. We were looking for the ancestors in our sample edition: the Markowicz family of Obkorty and the Walentynowicz family of Zułów. So as not to miss anyone, we read every baptism in the Sorokpol registers from 1859 to 1884, one record after another (LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, files 7 and 8, 326 scans in all).
People from the Zułów manor appear in these registers next to our ancestors. The Billewicz and Piłsudski families stood as godparents to their neighbours' children. Their own children are entered a few pages further on. Three records where they are godparents to the Markowicz and Walentynowicz families are shown on the parish page.
More about the Marshal's brothers and sisters
The Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek tells the life story of each of the brothers and sisters on its website about the Piłsudski family, with photographs from the Museum's collection and passages from Bronisław's diary. We used these biographies when describing the children below. The Sorokpol records add their baptism dates and the names of their godparents.
The Museum's blog tells the story of Maria Billewicz's childhood and mentions that her father Antoni married a second time. Adam's baptism record of 1869 gives the name of his second wife: Paulina.
- Helena and Zofia. Website of the Józef Piłsudski Museum in Sulejówek
- Kazimierz and Adam. The same website
- Jan and Kacper. The same website
- Maria Piłsudska née Billewicz. The same website, on the mother
- Billewiczowska krew i wychowanie Józefa Piłsudskiego. The Museum's blog, in Polish, on Maria Billewicz's childhood
Seven baptism records
We have read each record on the scan. Each image shows one line of the register: the left page with the date and the child's name at the top, the right page with the parents and godparents below. The record does not say who the godparents were. Where we link one of them to a known person, we say “most likely” and explain why.
Helena Maria, baptised 8 June 1864
The Piłsudskis' first child, born on 1 May 1864 (13 May in today's calendar) at the Zułów manor. Baptised on 8 June (20 June). Godparents: Konstanty Joachim Masłowski and Elżbieta Michałowska née Kutler. The child's maternal grandmother, Helena, was also born a Michałowska. The record does not say whether Elżbieta was related to her.
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ четвертаго года Іюня восьмаго дня въ Сорокпольскомъ Римско-Католическомъ Приходскомъ Костелѣ окрещенъ младенецъ по имяни Гелена Марія Преподобнымъ отцемъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ Настоятелемъ Сорокпольскаго Костела съ совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Благородныхъ Іозефа и Маріи урожденной Биллевичевны Пилсудскихъ законныхъ супруговъ дочь родившаяся сего года Маія перваго дня въ Мызѣ Зулово Сорокпольскаго Прихода. Воспріемниками были Благородные Константинъ Іоахимъ Масловскій съ Эльжбетою изъ Кутлеровъ Михаловскою.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, on the eighth day of June, in the Roman Catholic parish church of Sorokpol, the Reverend Father Tomasz Woliński, parish priest of the Sorokpol church, baptised an infant with the names Helena Maria with all the rites of the sacrament. She is the daughter of the well-born Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born on the first of May this year at the Zułów manor in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the well-born Konstanty Joachim Masłowski with Elżbieta Michałowska née Kutler.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 7, Sorokpol parish, record 38 of 1864.
Zofia Felicja, baptised 2 July 1865
Born on 30 May 1865 (11 June) at Zułów, baptised on 2 July (14 July). Godparents: Tomasz Billewicz and Ludwina Billewicz née Butler, Tomasz's wife. The child's paternal grandmother, Teodora Piłsudska, was also born a Butler. In 1884 Zofia married the physician Bronisław Kadenacy.
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ пятаго года Мѣсяца Іюля втораго дня въ Сорокпольскомъ Римско-Католическомъ Костелѣ Окрещенъ младенецъ по Имяни Зофія Фелисія Кс: Томашемъ Волинскимъ съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Дворянъ Іозефа и Маріи изъ Биллевичовъ Пилсудскихъ Закон: Супр: дочь родившаяся сего года Мая 30 дня въ Зуловѣ Сорокпольскаго Прихода. Воспріемниками были Дворяне: Томашъ Биллевичъ съ Лудвиною изъ Бутлеровъ Биллевичовою, Томаша женою.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, on the second day of the month of July, in the Roman Catholic church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński baptised an infant with the names Zofia Felicja with all the rites of the sacrament. She is the daughter of the noble Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born on the 30th of May this year at Zułów in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the nobles Tomasz Billewicz with Ludwina Billewicz née Butler, Tomasz's wife.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 7, Sorokpol parish, record 40 of 1865.
Bronisław Piotr, baptised 16 November 1866
The eldest son, later an ethnographer who studied the Ainu. Born on 21 October 1866 at the Zułów manor, which is 2 November in today's calendar, the date given in his biographies. Baptised on 16 November (28 November). Godparents: Antoni Rozsochacki and Teodora Piłsudska. Teodora was most likely the child's paternal grandmother, Teodora née Butler (1811 to 1886). The record does not call her unmarried, which fits a widow.
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ шестаго Года. Мѣсяца Ноября шестнадцатаго дня въ Сорокпольскомъ Римско-Католическомъ Костелѣ Окрещенъ младенецъ по Именамъ Брониславъ Петръ Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ Настоятелемъ тогожъ Костела съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Благородныхъ Іозефа и Маріи урожденной Биллевичевной Пилсудскихъ Законныхъ Супруговъ Сынъ родившійся сего года Октября 21 дня въ Мызѣ Зуловѣ Сорокпольскаго Прихода. Воспріемниками были Благородные Антонъ Розсохацкій съ Теодорою Пилсудскою.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, on the sixteenth day of the month of November, in the Roman Catholic church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński, parish priest of the same church, baptised an infant with the names Bronisław Piotr with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the well-born Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born on the 21st of October this year at the Zułów manor in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the well-born Antoni Rozsochacki with Teodora Piłsudska.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 8, Sorokpol parish, record 53 of 1866.
Adam Antoni, baptised 27 December 1869
Born in the evening of 13 November 1869 (25 November) at the Zułów manor, baptised on 27 December (8 January 1870). Later deputy mayor of Vilnius and a senator. Godparents: court councillor Antoni Billewicz and Paulina Billewicz, “wife of the councillor Antoni”. Antoni was most likely the child's grandfather, Maria's father. Tadeusz Malewski's armorial (2022) says Maria's father was a titular councillor in 1858. A court councillor ranks two grades higher, so a promotion within eleven years is possible. Another Antoni Billewicz lived at Zułów in 1860, a provincial secretary married to Anna née Olszewska. His rank was lower than the rank Maria's father already held in 1858, so we link the court councillor of 1869 with the grandfather, not with him. Antoni's first wife, Helena née Michałowska, died in 1846 according to the Minakowska genealogy. Paulina was therefore his second wife. We do not know her maiden name.
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ девятаго года Декабря двадцать седьмаго дня въ Приходскомъ Римско-Католическомъ Костелѣ Сорокполь Окрещенъ младенецъ по Именамъ Адамъ Антони, Отцемъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ Настоятелемъ онаго Костела, съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Благородныхъ Іосифа и Маріи урожденной Биллевичевной Пилсудскихъ, Законныхъ супруговъ Сынъ, родившійся сего года Ноября 13 дня въ Мызѣ Зуловѣ вечеромъ Прихода Сорокполя. Воспріемниками были Благородные: Антони Биллевичъ, Надворный Совѣтникъ, съ Паулиною Биллевичевою Совѣтниковою Антона женою.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, on the twenty-seventh day of December, in the Roman Catholic parish church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński, parish priest of that church, baptised an infant with the names Adam Antoni with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the well-born Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born in the evening of the 13th of November this year at the Zułów manor in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the well-born Antoni Billewicz, court councillor, with Paulina Billewicz, councillor's wife, the wife of Antoni.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 8, Sorokpol parish, record 57 of 1869.
Kazimierz Gabriel, baptised 20 June 1871
Born on 24 March 1871 (5 April) at the Zułów manor and baptised almost three months later, on 20 June (2 July). Godparents: Konstancja Rogalska and councillor Antoni Billewicz, most likely the grandfather again. Konstancja Rogalska was also godmother to Józef himself in 1867 and to two neighbours' children in 1866, where the record calls her the wife of a man named Józef (it does not give his surname).
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ семдесятъ первого года Іюня двадцатаго дня въ Костелѣ Римско-Католическомъ приходскомъ Сорокполь, Окрещенъ младенецъ по Именамъ Казимиръ Габріелъ Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ Настоятелемъ онаго Костела съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Благородныхъ Іосифа и Маріи урожденной Биллевичевной Пилсудскихъ, Законныхъ супруговъ Сынъ, родившійся сего года, Марта 24 дня въ Мызѣ Зуловѣ Прихода Сорокполя. Воспріемниками были Благородные: Антони Биллевичъ Совѣтникъ, съ Констанціею Рогальскою.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, on the twentieth day of June, in the Roman Catholic parish church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński, parish priest of that church, baptised an infant with the names Kazimierz Gabriel with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the well-born Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born on the 24th of March this year at the Zułów manor in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the well-born Antoni Billewicz, councillor, with Konstancja Rogalska.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 8, Sorokpol parish, record 51 of 1871.
Maria, baptised 2 January 1874 in Vilnius
Born on 23 November 1873 (5 December) in Vilnius and baptised on 2 January 1874 (14 January) in the All Saints church in Vilnius by a Carmelite priest named Saturnin (his surname is unclear in the record). The record was entered in the Sorokpol register because the family still belonged to that parish. Here the father is called a landowning nobleman. Godparents: Hipolit Billewicz and Miss Cecylia Bukont.
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ семдесятъ четвертаго Года Января втораго дня въ Приходскомъ Римско-Католическомъ всѣхъ Святыхъ Костелѣ, Окрещенъ младенецъ по Имени Марія, Ксендзомъ Сатурниномъ […] Кармелитомъ, съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Дворянъ Помѣщиковъ Іосифа и Маріи изъ Билевичовъ Пилсудскихъ Закон: супруговъ дочь, родившаяся 1873 года Ноября 23 дня въ городѣ Вильнѣ, Прихожанка Сорокполя. Воспріемниками были Дворяне: Гиполитъ Билевичъ, съ Цециліею Буконтъ дѣвицею.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, on the second day of January, in the Roman Catholic parish church of All Saints, Father Saturnin […], a Carmelite, baptised an infant named Maria with all the rites of the sacrament. She is the daughter of the landowning nobles Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born on the 23rd of November 1873 in the city of Vilnius, a parishioner of Sorokpol. The godparents were the nobles Hipolit Billewicz with Miss Cecylia Bukont.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 8, Sorokpol parish, record 14 of 1874.
Jan, baptised 2 February 1876 in Vilnius
Born on 3 January 1876 in Vilnius, which is 15 January in today's calendar, the date in his biographies. Baptised on 2 February (14 February) in the All Saints church in Vilnius. Later Polish minister of the treasury. His godparents were his nine-year-old brother Bronisław and his ten-year-old sister Zofia. Among those present the record names Józef Piłsudski with Miss Zofia Billewicz and Kondrat Billewicz with Helena Piłsudska. The record does not say whether this Józef was the father or the eight-year-old brother, the future Marshal.
Original text (Russian)
Тысяча восемь сотъ семдесятъ шестаго Года Февраля втораго дня, въ приходскимъ Римско-Католическомъ Виленскомъ Всѣхъ Святыхъ Костелѣ, Окрещенъ младенецъ по Имяни Янъ, Ксендзомъ Сатурниномъ […], съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Благородныхъ Іосифа и Маріи урожденной Биллевичевной Пилсудскихъ Законныхъ супруговъ Сынъ, родившійся сего года Января 3 дня, въ Городѣ Вильнѣ Прихода Сорокполя. Воспріемниками были Благородные: Брониславъ Пилсудскій, съ Софіею Пилсудскою. Присутствовали: Благород: Іосифъ Пилсудскій, съ Зофіею Билевичевною дѣвицею. Кондратъ Билевичъ, съ Геленою Пилсудскою.
In English
In the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, on the second day of February, in the Roman Catholic parish church of All Saints in Vilnius, Father Saturnin […] baptised an infant named Jan with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the well-born Józef and Maria née Billewicz Piłsudski, lawful spouses, born on the 3rd of January this year in the city of Vilnius, of Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the well-born Bronisław Piłsudski with Zofia Piłsudska. Present were the well-born Józef Piłsudski with Miss Zofia Billewicz. Kondrat Billewicz was present with Helena Piłsudska.
Archive reference
LVIA, fond 772, inventory 1, file 8, Sorokpol parish, record 7 of 1876.
Other Piłsudski and Billewicz entries in these registers
- 1862, record 20: baptism of Antoni Markowicz. Godparents Antoni Billewicz and Miss Maria Billewicz, most likely the Marshal's future mother with her father. File 7.
- 1865, record 23: baptism of Józef Walentynowicz. Godparents Miss Julia Piłsudska and Józef Piłsudski, the Marshal's father. File 7.
- 1866, record 22: baptism of Zygmunt Nagrodzki. Godparents Józef Piłsudski and Konstancja Rogalska. File 7.
- 1866, record 58: baptism of Antoni Kosiński. Godparents Józef Piłsudski and Konstancja Rogalska. File 8.
- 1867, record 53: baptism of Józef Klemens Piłsudski, the future Marshal. Godparents Józef Marcinowski and Konstancja Rogalska. File 8.
- 1877, record 42: baptism of Anna Walentynowicz. Godparents the seven-year-old Adam Piłsudski and Miss Zofia Potocka. File 8.
The records of 1862, 1865 and 1877 are given in full, with images, on the Sorokpol parish page.
What we do not know
We do not know Paulina Billewicz's maiden name or the date of her marriage to Antoni. The date of death of his first wife, Helena née Michałowska, comes from the Minakowska genealogy. We have not seen her death record.
We do not know who Konstancja Rogalska was. She was godmother to four children from the manor and the neighbourhood.
The Sorokpol baptism register, which we have read up to 1884, has no records of the younger children: Ludwika, Kacper and the twins Piotr and Teodora. By then the family lived in Vilnius, so their records should be sought in the registers of Vilnius parishes.
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