She was 13 when she lost both parents
In three years, thirteen-year-old Bogumiła lost her father, her twin brother and her mother. Only her older brother Tadeusz was left. Our grandmother Alina descends from him.
The historical background
Felicjan died of smallpox in 1828. By then Vilnius had known vaccination for a quarter of a century. In 1803 August Bécu published there the first book in Polish on the vaccine. The city also had a smallpox vaccination institute. Yet many people were afraid of it.
Tadeusz was sixteen in 1830. Ten years later he married in Święciany. The line to our grandmother Alina runs through his son Bolesław.
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.
The record has two columns: the day and place of death, then the family of the deceased. At the end the priest names the children she left: her son Tadeusz and her daughter Bogumiła.
Original text (Polish): Roku Pańskiego Tysiąc osmset trzydziestego miesiąca Maja piątego dnia w Zasciańku Lipowie Umarła urodzona Angiela z Trabuciów Markowiczowa wdowa z gorączki, była u spowiedzi i Ss. Sakramentami opatrzona. Po urodzonym niegdys Stanisławie Markowiczu pozostała wdowa, maiąca od urodzenia mniey więcey lat pięćdziesiąt pięć, tegoż Kościoła parafianka, zostawiła po sobie Syna Tadeusza y Corkę Bogumiłę.
In English: In the year of the Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty, on the fifth day of May, in the hamlet of Lipowo, the well-born Angiela Markowicz née Trabuć, a widow, died of fever. She had made her confession and received the holy sacraments. Widow of the late well-born Stanisław Markowicz, aged about fifty-five, a parishioner of this church. She left a son Tadeusz and a daughter Bogumiła.
Two entries from the same day, one below the other, numbered 107 and 108 in the margin. Parts of the godparents' surnames could not be read with certainty and are marked […].
Original text (Latin): De Podmirańcy. 107. Anno Domini 1816 Mens. 9bris 11 Die. Ego Casimirus Godlewski Comm. Offi. Sorokpolensis Bap. Infantem Felicianum nat. 9 hujus. Patris G.D. Stanislai Markowicz et Matris G.D. Agathae de Domo Trabuciowna L.C. ex nobilium. Patrini fuerunt G.D. Mathias Markowicz de […] cum G.D. Francisca […] de Mirańcy. De Podmirańcy. 108. Anno Domini 1816 Mens. 9bris 11 Die. Ego Godlewski Comm. Offi. Sorokpol. Bap. Infantulam nomine Bogumiłam natam Filiam die 9 hujus. Patris G.D. Stanislai Markowicz et Matris G.D. Agathae de Domo Trabuciowna L.C. ex nobilium. Patrini fuerunt G.D. Josephus […] de Mirańcy cum G.D. Eva Trabuciowna de Podmirańcy.
In English: From Podmirańce. Entry 107. In the year of the Lord 1816, on the 11th day of November. I, Kazimierz Godlewski, administrator of Sorokpol parish, baptised the infant Felicjan, born on the 9th of this month, son of the well-born father Stanisław Markowicz and the well-born mother Agata née Trabuć, lawful spouses of the gentry. The godparents were the well-born Maciej Markowicz of […] with the well-born Franciszka […] of Mirańce. From Podmirańce. Entry 108. In the year of the Lord 1816, on the 11th day of November. I, Godlewski, administrator of Sorokpol parish, baptised an infant named Bogumiła, a daughter born on the 9th of this month, of the well-born father Stanisław Markowicz and the well-born mother Agata née Trabuć, lawful spouses of the gentry. The godparents were the well-born Józef […] of Mirańce with the well-born Ewa Trabuć of Podmirańce.
The record has two columns: the day, place and cause of death, then the parents of the deceased. The age of twelve is the priest's approximation: Felicjan was eleven years and four months old.
Original text (Polish): Roku Pańskiego Tysiąc Osmset Dwudziestego Osmego Miesiąca Marca Trzydziestego pierwszego dnia w Zasciańku Lipowo Umarł Felicyan Markowicz z Ospy, S.S. Sakramentami opatrzony. Wolnego Stanu Ludzi Stanisława i Maryanny z Trabuciów Markowiczów ślubnych małżonków Syn od Urodzenia maiący lat dwanaście, Parafianin Kościoła Korkozyskiego.
In English: In the year of the Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, on the thirty-first day of March, in the hamlet of Lipowo, Felicjan Markowicz died of smallpox, having received the holy sacraments. Son of free people, Stanisław and Marianna née Trabuć Markowicz, lawful spouses, aged twelve, a parishioner of Korkożyszki church.
Bogumiła's record is the lower row, numbered 34. The last column, about the burial, is cut off in the clip and is not transcribed. Below the record are the parish priest's certification and the parish seal.
Original text (Russian): 34. 26. 44. 1860 года Декабря 26 дня въ Застенкѣ Попелишкахъ Скончалась дѣвица Богумила, отъ вереду, причащена была Св. таинъ. Дворянъ Станислава и Агаты урожденной Трабуцiовной Марковичовъ Закон. Супр. дочь имѣвшая отъ роду 44 лѣтъ Свенцянскаго прихода.
In English: Entry 34. Day of death 26, age 44. In the year 1860, on the 26th day of December, in the hamlet of Popieliszki, the maiden Bogumiła died of an abscess, having received the holy sacraments. Daughter of the nobles Stanisław and Agata née Trabuć, the Markowicz couple, lawful spouses, aged 44, of Święciany parish.
Narration
She lost her father,
her twin brother
and her mother
in three years.
She was thirteen.
We found this in old records while searching for our ancestors.
This is our family tree.
Here is our grandmother
Alina.
And here is Bogumiła,
her great-grandfather's sister.
She was born in 1816,
with a twin brother.
She was ten when her father died.
Her mother took the children to another village.
A year later
her twin died of smallpox.
Two years later
her mother died.
Only her older brother Tadeusz was left.
He was sixteen.
Our grandmother descends from him.
Bogumiła never married.
She died thirty years after her mother.
Did anyone in your family lose both parents as a child?
Tell us in the comments.
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Sources
- Sorokpol parish baptisms, 1816, entries 107 and 108 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 772/1/1)
- Deanery copy of Sorokpol parish deaths, 1827 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 604/37/21)
- Korkożyszki parish deaths, 1828 entry 7 and 1830 entry 23 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 748/1/2)
- Deanery copy of Sorokpol parish deaths, 1860, entry 34 (Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius, 604/37/81)
Scenes marked “Staged scene” are reconstructions. The documents are real.
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