The Piłsudskis at the Font. Our Family's Baptism Records
For generations our family said that the Piłsudskis had been our neighbours. Nobody knew anything more and nobody had any proof. The records were written in Russian and are kept today in an archive in Vilnius. No one in the family had ever read them.
We read the baptism registers of Sorokpol parish near Vilnius from 1859 to 1884, record by record. In three records the name Billewicz or Piłsudski stands next to the names of our ancestors: the future Marshal's grandfather, his mother, his father and his seven-year-old brother held children from our family at the font.
Below is the whole story from the film. For every record we show the scan, the original text and an English translation, so that anyone can check for themselves what it says.
Who we are in this story
Our grandmother Alina was born in 1930 in Obkorty, in Sorokpol parish. Her grandparents, Bolesław Markowicz and Zofia Walentynowicz, are our great-great-grandparents.
Zofia was born in 1863 in Zułów, on the same estate where Józef Piłsudski was born four years later.
The church of Sorokpol parish stands in the village of Powiewiórka. That is why the same registers and the same church appear in documents under two names.
1862: the Marshal's grandfather and future mother
In March 1862 the parish priest Tomasz Woliński baptised Antoni, the younger brother of our great-great-grandfather Bolesław Markowicz, grandmother Alina's grandfather. The godparents were Antoni Billewicz of nearby Zułów and his twenty-year-old daughter Maria.
A year later Maria married Józef Wincenty Piłsudski. In 1867 she gave birth to a son who became Chief of State and Marshal of Poland.
The crop shows three entries. Antoni's is the middle row: the date and baptism on the left, the parents and godparents on the right.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча Восемь Сотъ Шестьдесятъ Второго Года Марта Шеснадцатого дня, въ Сорокпольской Приходской Римско Католической Церкви, Окрещенъ младенецъ по имяни Антони. Преподобнымъ Отцемъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ, Настоятелемъ оной Церкви, съ совершеніемъ всѣхъ Обрядовъ Таинства. Благородныхъ Тадеуша и Урш[у]ли урожденной Пуцятовны Марковичовъ, Законныхъ Супруговъ Сынъ, родившійся 14. дня Марта въ Застѣнкѣ Опкортахъ, сегоже Года Сорокпольского прихода. Воспріемниками были Помѣщикъ Свенцянского Уѣзда Презыдентъ, Благородный Антони Биллевичъ съ Благородною Девицею Маріею Билевичъ.
In English: In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, on the sixteenth day of March, in the Roman Catholic parish church of Sorokpol, an infant was baptised with the name Antoni by the Reverend Father Tomasz Woliński, parish priest of that church, with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the well-born Tadeusz and Urszula née Puciata, the Markowicz couple, lawful spouses, born on the 14th day of March of this year in the hamlet of Obkorty in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the well-born Antoni Billewicz, landowner of Święciany district, president, with the well-born Miss Maria Billewicz.
1863: Zofia is born in Zułów
In August 1863, during the January Uprising against Russian rule, Zofia Walentynowicz, our great-great-grandmother, was born on the Zułów estate. The record names her birthplace as “Мызѣ Зуловѣ”, which means the Zułów estate.
The same year the young Piłsudskis moved to Zułów. So Zofia and her brother Józef were born on the same estate as the first Piłsudski children. Two years after Józef the future Marshal was born there too.
Zofia's entry is the lower row of the crop. The godparents' column lies further to the right on the scan, outside the frame, so it is not transcribed here.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ третьяго года Августа одиннадцатаго дня въ Сорокпольскомъ Римско Католическомъ Приходскомъ Костелѣ окрещенъ младенецъ по имени Зофія Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ съ совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ таинства. Дворянъ Антонія и Маріи урожденной Долматовны Валентиновичовъ законныхъ супруговъ дочь родившаяся сего года Августа 7 дня въ Мызѣ Зуловѣ Сорокпольскаго Прихода.
In English: In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, on the eleventh day of August, in the Roman Catholic parish church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński baptised an infant named Zofia with all the rites of the sacrament. She is the daughter of the nobles Antoni and Maria née Dołmat, the lawful spouses Walentynowicz, born this year on 7 August at the Zułów manor in Sorokpol parish.
1865: the Marshal's father holds our Józef at the font
In April 1865 a son, Józef, was born to Zofia's parents. He was the younger brother of our great-great-grandmother. The godfather was Józef Wincenty Piłsudski, master of Zułów. The godmother was Miss Julia Piłsudska.
Our film opens with this record: the priest writes into the register the name of a godfather that every Pole knows today.
Józef's entry is the third row from the top. The godfather, “Іозефъ Пилсудскій”, is written in the last column on the right.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ пятого года Апреля девятого дня въ Сорокпольскомъ Римско-Католическомъ Костелѣ окрещенъ младенецъ по имяни Іозефъ Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ съ совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Дворянъ Томаша и Маріанны урожденной Долматувны Валентиновичовъ Законныхъ Супру: Сынъ родившійся сего года 3 Апреля въ Зуловѣ Сорокпольскаго прихода. Воспріемниками были Дворянъ Іозефъ Пилсудскій съ Юліею Пилсудскою дѣвицею.
In English: In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, on the ninth day of April, in the Roman Catholic church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński baptised an infant named Józef with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of Tomasz and Marianna née Dołmat, the noble Walentynowicz couple, lawful spouses, born on the 3rd of April of this year in Zułów in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the nobleman Józef Piłsudski with Miss Julia Piłsudska.
1867 and 1869: the same font
In December 1867, in the same church, the same priest baptised the son of Józef Wincenty and Maria, Józef Klemens, the future Marshal. The font from that day still stands in the church in Powiewiórka.
Two years later Antoni Billewicz held his own grandson Adam at the font. The same man was a godfather in the Piłsudski family and in ours.
Józef Piłsudski's entry is the top row, just below the printed table heading. The columns on the left give his birth on 23 November and baptism on 3 December.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча восемь сотъ шестьдесятъ Седьмого года Декабря третьяго дня въ Костелѣ Римско-Католическомъ Сорокполь Окрещенъ младенецъ по Именамъ Іозефъ Клеменсъ Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ Настоятелемъ тогожъ Костела съ Совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ таинства. Благородныхъ Іозефа и Маріи урожденной Биллевичевной Пилсудскихъ Законныхъ Супруговъ Сынъ, родившійся сего Года Ноября 23 дня въ Мызѣ Зуловѣ Прихода Сорокполя. Воспріемниками были Благородные: Іозефъ Марциновскій съ Констанціею Рогальскою.
In English: In the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, on the third day of December, in the Roman Catholic church at Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński, parish priest of this church, baptised an infant with the names Józef Klemens with all the rites of the sacrament. He is the son of the nobly born Józef and Maria née Billewicz, lawful spouses Piłsudski, born this year on 23 November at the manor of Zułów in Sorokpol parish. The godparents were the nobly born Józef Marcinowski with Konstancja Rogalska.
Adam's entry is the last row for that year. Below it is the closing note of the register with signatures.
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.
1877: a seven-year-old godfather
In August 1877 a daughter, Anna, was born to Zofia's parents. She was the younger sister of our great-great-grandmother. Her godfather was seven-year-old Adam Piłsudski, the future Marshal's younger brother.
A seven-year-old godfather was rare. The rule that a godparent must be fourteen came only with the Code of Canon Law of 1917, so in 1877 the priest could enter a child from the manor as godfather. Adam later became deputy mayor of Vilnius and a senator.
Anna's entry is the first row below the words “Мѣсяцъ Августъ”, the month of August. The godfather, “Адамъ Пилсудскій”, is written in the last column on the right.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча восемьсотъ семдесятъ седьмого года Августа 14 дня въ Приходскомъ Римско-Католическомъ Костелѣ Сорокполя окрещенъ младенецъ по имени Анна Ксендзомъ Томашемъ Волинскимъ съ совершеніемъ всѣхъ обрядовъ Таинства. Дворянъ Томаша и Маріи изъ Долматовъ Валентиновичовъ Закон: супр: дочь родившаяся сего года и мѣсяца 9 дня въ Деревни Войткунахъ Прихода Свенцянскаго. Воспріемниками были Дворяне: Адамъ Пилсудскій съ Зофіею Потоцкою дѣвицею.
In English: In the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, on the 14th day of August, in the Roman Catholic parish church of Sorokpol, Father Tomasz Woliński baptised an infant named Anna with all the rites of the sacrament. She is the daughter of Tomasz and Maria née Dołmat, the noble Walentynowicz couple, lawful spouses, born on the 9th day of this month and year in the village of Wojtkuny in Święciany parish. The godparents were the nobles Adam Piłsudski with Miss Zofia Potocka.
Two families, one parish
In February 1884 Zofia married Bolesław Markowicz in Święciany. From this couple a direct line leads to grandmother Alina and to us. In September of the same year Maria Piłsudska died in Vilnius.
In 1892 the Piłsudskis lost Zułów. The estate was in debt and mortgaged to the land bank. The debts were not paid, so the bank sold Zułów. Józef Wincenty tried to save the estate with the help of Prince Michał Ogiński, who bought Zułów through a front man. The authorities found out and the estate went to a Russian from Riga, because from 1865 Poles were not allowed to buy land in Lithuania.
In January 1915, during the Great War, Zofia's mother, Maria née Dołmat, died on the Podworniki farm. In the death record the priest listed her children. Among them were Zofia and Józef, the godson of the Marshal's father. Maria was buried in the cemetery of Sorokpol parish.
Maria's entry is the top row. Her surname, Валентиновичева, is written in the left margin.
Original text (Russian): Тысяча девятьсотъ пятнадцатаго года Января десятаго дня, въ фольваркѣ Подворникахъ скончалась Марія изъ Долматовъ Валентыновичева отъ старости, бывшая пріобщена Св. Таинъ. Дворянка имѣвшая отъ роду 75 лѣтъ, вдова по мужу Антону Валентыновичу, оставила дѣти, сына Осипа, дочерій Зофію, Стефанію, Аполонію, Казимиру и Анну, прихожанка Сорокпольскаго Костела. Тѣло ея похоронилъ Настоятель Ксендзъ Станиславъ Щемирскій на Сорокпольскомъ приходскомъ Кладбищѣ двѣнадцатаго Января сего года.
In English: In the year one thousand nine hundred and fifteen, on the tenth day of January, at the manor farm of Podworniki, Maria Walentynowicz née Dołmat died of old age, having received the holy sacraments. A noblewoman, she was 75 years old, the widow of her husband Antoni Walentynowicz. She left children: a son Józef and daughters Zofia, Stefania, Apolonia, Kazimiera and Anna. She was a parishioner of the Sorokpol church. Her body was buried by the parish priest Father Stanisław Szczemirski in the Sorokpol parish cemetery on the twelfth of January of this year.
June 2026: Romuald in Powiewiórka
In June 2026 Romuald, grandmother Alina's son, went to Powiewiórka. All he knew was that he had been baptised in this church in 1956, as the Marshal had been in 1867. He stood at the font and signed the visitors' book.
He did not yet know what the old baptism registers of this parish held. Only later, record by record, did we read in them that the Marshal's family had held children from our family at the font.
Why 11 November is also a family holiday for us
On 11 November 1918 the Regency Council, the temporary Polish authority in Warsaw, gave Józef Piłsudski command of the army. On the same day the Great War ended in the west. Since 1937 Poland has celebrated that day as Independence Day.
Our family used to say that the Piłsudskis were our neighbours. The registers say more. The story about neighbours turned out to be a story about godparents.
In the spring of 1865, when Poland was not on the map, the priest in Powiewiórka dipped his pen in ink and wrote two names in one record. Ours and the Piłsudskis'. No one knew then that in the nearby manor a boy would be born who would give Poland back its freedom. We know now.
In the church where Romuald stood, the Marshal's grandfather, mother, father and seven-year-old brother bent over children from our family. A godparent promises a child care for life. The registers have kept the record of those promises for more than a century and a half.
That is why we celebrate twice over on 11 November. When flags hang from the houses and all of Poland remembers Józef Piłsudski, we will also remember the family that once held ours in their arms.
Their name stands in our registers, next to the names of our ancestors. And there it will stay.
Your family has a story too
Almost every family has a sentence that passes from one generation to the next and that nobody has checked. Sometimes there is a record behind it, in a register that has survived for two centuries. Write and tell us where your ancestors came from. We will check for free how far back the records of that area go.
Sources
- Sorokpol parish baptism registers for 1862, 1863 and 1865: Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, fond 772, inventory 1, file 7 (records 20/1862, 46/1863, 23/1865).
- Sorokpol parish baptism registers for 1867, 1869 and 1877: the same archive, 772/1/8 (records 53/1867, 57/1869, 42/1877).
- Sorokpol parish death register for 1915: the same archive, 772/1/15 (record 3/1915).
- The loss of Zułów in 1892: R. Roguski, Rocznik Kresowy 2019, no. 5. The 1865 ban on Poles buying land: R. Jurkowski, Studia z Dziejów Rosji i Europy Środkowo-Wschodniej, 2019.
- 11 November 1918: Institute of National Remembrance, Przystanek Historia, “Listopadowy przełom”.
Scenes in the film marked “Staged scene” are reconstructions. The documents are real.
More from this parish
- Seven baptism records of Józef Piłsudski's brothers and sisters from the same registers
- Sorokpol (Powiewiórka, Pavoverė, Powiewiorka, Pavovere) parish
- Short film: the Marshal's grandfather as godfather, 1862
- Short film: the Marshal's mother as godmother, 1862
- Short film: the Marshal's father as godfather, 1865
- Short film: the Marshal's seven-year-old brother as godfather, 1877