He held him at his baptism, then gave him his daughter. Sorokpol and Kiemieliszki, 1816 and 1848
In July 1816 at Sorokpol near Vilnius, Wincenty Czepułkowski held baby Jakub at his baptism. In November 1848 Jakub married Tekla, the daughter of Wincenty Czepułkowski. Most likely it was the same man.
The historical background
In 1816 a baby was usually baptized within a few days of birth. Jakub was born on 22 July and carried to church on 25 July.
A godfather was more than a guest for one day. The Church held that baptism created a bond between the godparent, the child and the parents of the child. That bond barred marriage: a godfather could not marry his goddaughter or the mother of his godchild. His own children were free to marry the godchild.
A wedding took place in the parish of the bride, so Jakub travelled to Kiemieliszki to marry. Before the wedding the priest read the banns in church three times.
Nobody checked ages against papers. The priest wrote what he was told, so Jakub is 28 in the marriage record and 32 by his baptism.
Documents shown in the film
These are the real archive scans you see in the film. Each one has its archive reference, so anyone can check the source.
Jakub's record is the upper entry, numbered 91 in the margin. The godfather, “Vincentius Czepełkowski”, is at the end of the fourth line and the start of the fifth.
Original text (Latin): 91. Anno Domini 1816 Mens. Julij 25 Die. Ego Casimirus Godlewski Comm. Offi. Sorokpolensis Bapt. Infantem nomine Jacobum natum Filium die 22 hujus. Patris Joannis Łukaszewicz et Matris Catharinae de domo Woyciechowiczowna L.C. Patrini fuerunt Vincentius Czepełkowski de Zubieliszki cum Helena Jasiewiczowna de Zubieliszki.
In English: Entry 91. In the year of the Lord 1816, on the 25th day of July. I, Kazimierz Godlewski, administrator of Sorokpol parish, baptised an infant named Jakub, born on the 22nd day of this month, son of the father Jan Łukaszewicz and the mother Katarzyna née Wojciechowicz, lawful spouses. The godparents were Wincenty Czepełkowski of Zubieliszki with Helena Jasiewicz of Zubieliszki.
The record has three columns: the baptism, the parents with the day of birth and the godparents. A few words could not be read with certainty (the priest's surname and parts of the godparents' surnames) and are marked […].
Original text (Polish): 62. 12. 19. Październik. Roku Pańskiego Tysiącznego Ośmsetnego Trzydziestego Miesiąca Października Dziewiętnastego dnia w Kiemieliszkach w Rzymsko Katolickim Parafialnym Kościele Ochrzczono niemowlę imieniem Tekla przez X. Moyżesza […] Bernard. Ditto. Pracowitych Wincentego i Maryanny z Kaczanowskich Czepiełkowskich ślubnych małżonków córka, Roku tegoż i Miesiąca dwunastego dnia w tey Parafii we wsi Zabieliszkach wieczorem narodzona. Ditto. Trzymali do Chrztu Urodz. Adam […] z Krystyną […]. Assystowali Pracowity Franciszek Czepiełkowski z Elżbietą, Urodz. Adama […] Małżonką.
In English: Entry 62. Born on the 12th, baptised on the 19th of October. In the year of the Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, on the nineteenth day of October, in the Roman Catholic parish church at Kiemieliszki, Father Mojżesz […], a Bernardine friar, baptised an infant named Tekla. She is the daughter of the hardworking Wincenty and Marianna née Kaczanowska Czepiełkowski, lawful spouses, born in the evening of the twelfth day of the same month and year in this parish, in the village of Zabieliszki. The godparents were Adam […] with Krystyna […]. Assisting were the hardworking Franciszek Czepiełkowski with Elżbieta, wife of Adam […].
The clip shows two columns of the record: the couple and their parents. The handwriting is difficult, so only the parts read with certainty are transcribed below and the rest is marked […]. The groom's age of 28 is too low: his baptism record shows he was 32.
Original text (Russian): Крестьянъ […] Лукашевича юношу 28 лѣтъ изъ Застенка […] прихода Сорокпольскаго съ Теклею […] около 18 лѣтъ дѣвицею изъ Застенка Забелишекъ прихода Кемелишскаго […]. Крестьянъ Ивана и Катерины урожденной Войцеховичевой Лукашевичей законныхъ супруговъ сына. Крестьянъ Викентія и Марьяны урожденной Качановской […]ковскихъ законныхъ супруговъ дочерь […].
In English: The peasant […] Łukaszewicz, a bachelor aged 28, from the hamlet of […] in Sorokpol parish, with Tekla […], a maiden of about 18, from the hamlet of Zabieliszki in Kiemieliszki parish […]. Son of the peasants Jan and Katarzyna née Wojciechowicz, the Łukaszewicz couple, lawful spouses. Daughter of the peasants Wincenty and Marianna née Kaczanowska, the […]kowski couple, lawful spouses […].
Wincenty's record is the upper row, spread over two pages of the register: the baptism on the left, the parents on the right.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ седьмого года Ноября второго дня въ Костелѣ Римско Католическомъ Сорокполь Окрещенъ младенецъ по Имяни Викентій Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ съ совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ таинства. Крестьянъ Якуба и Теклли изъ Чепурковскихъ Лукашевичовъ Закон. Супруг. Сынъ родившійся сего года Октября 13 дня въ Застенкѣ Жукишкахъ Прихода Сорокполя.
In English: In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, on the second day of November, in the Roman Catholic church at Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński baptised an infant named Wincenty with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the peasants Jakub and Tekla née Czepurkowska, the Łukaszewicz couple, lawful spouses, born this year on 13 October in the hamlet of Żukiszki in Sorokpol parish.
Narration
He held the boy at his christening.
Thirty-two years later,
he gave him his daughter
as a wife.
We found this in old records while searching for our ancestors.
July,
1816,
near Vilnius.
Baby Jakub is baptized.
His godfather
is Wincenty.
This is our family tree.
Here is our great-great-grandfather Stefan.
And here are his parents,
Jakub and Tekla.
When Jakub is fourteen,
his godfather has a daughter.
Her name is Tekla.
November, 1848.
Jakub marries Tekla,
the daughter of Wincenty.
Most likely the same man who held him at his christening.
The priest wrote that Jakub was twenty-eight.
He was really thirty-two.
Tekla
was eighteen.
They settled nearby.
Their children were born over more than twenty years.
They named one of their sons Wincenty,
after Tekla's father.
Who was the godparent in your family?
Tell us in the comments.
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Sources
- Sorokpol parish baptisms, 1816, entry 91 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 772/1/1)
- Deanery copy of Kiemieliszki parish baptisms, 1830, entry 62 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 604/52/6)
- Deanery copy of Kiemieliszki parish marriages, 1848, entry 19 (FamilySearch, film 007715254)
- Sorokpol parish baptisms, 1867, entry 45 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 772/1/8)
- Photograph of the Kiemieliszki church, about 1900 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)
Scenes marked “Staged scene” are reconstructions. The documents are real.
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