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Konkel/Kąkol Family (pronounced Konkol)

SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

KONKEL/KAKOL (Pol) kakol. Meaning: corn cockle.

MALECKI (Pol) malec. Meaning: The little man. This was both a nickname for a physically small man and a pet name for a child, which sometimes retained in adult life.

WITTING (Ger) Witt x Weiß. Meaning: white, esp. a person with light coloured hair.

Franz Konkel married Barbara Patza and lived for some time in the Parish of Kladau (Klodawa), Danziger Höhe (Pruszcz Gdanski), West Prussia (Poland). I have located three children being: Franz (1833) in the village of Bösendorf, Philip Jacob (1837) & Johann Stanislaus (1840) both in the village of Katzke (Kaczki), in the ethnic region of Kociewie, in the district of Danzig (Gdansk).

Philip Jacob Konkel (1837-1918) married (1861 Kladau) Bridget Malecka (1834-1925), the daughter of Michael Malecki & Christina Witting. Philip worked as a farm labourer moving regularly around the area for seasonal labour. Together Philip and Bridget had five children in Poland being; Francisca (1862-1868) Trampken (Trabki Wielkie), Anna Maria (1864-1864) Roschau (Rosciszewo), Rosalia (1865-1949) Gardschau (Godziszewo), Michael John (1868-1951) Stenzlau (Stanislawie), & Marianna (1871-1872) Damerau (Dabrowka Tczewska).

The family left the village of Damerau for the city of Hamburg, via Gdansk, where they set aboard the ship "Palmerston". They set sail on the 29th of July 1872 being: Philip 35, Brigita 38, Rosalia 7 & Michal 4. The arrived at Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on the 6th of December 1872.

Philip & family were among those who were contracted to work on the railways and were transported down to the settlement of Greytown to set up camp. While residing in the township of Greytown, Philip & Bridget had two more children being: August (1873-1929) & Frank (1875-1954).

In the township Philip bought sections 17, 18, 19 & 20 of Block 12 on the 11th of May 1880. In the 1882 Freeholders Jacob is listed as owning 1 acre to the value of Ł150 in the settlement of Greytown.

• Rosalia Secher (nee Konkel):
  Sometime during 1883 the family sold their property to a fellow Pole, Friederick Tejke, and decided to move to Dunedin and settled in the district of Pine Hill overlooking the city, where a small number of fellow countrymen where already residing. It is believed the family lived in a corrugated iron house near where the trig station is today and that they sold wood and timber around town. Bridget's younger sister, Anna and husband Antoni Piernicki also left Greytown to reside in Pine Hill.

Philip Jacob Konkel was naturalised as a New Zealand Citizen on the 18th of May 1900 as a bushman residing in Pine Hill, Dunedin. His wife Bridget was naturalised on the 14th of August 1899. Both August & Frank Konkel provided entertainment for the local district dances playing the fiddle and accordion.

Philip died on the 16th of June 1918 & Bridget died on the 14th of December 1925. Both are buried in the Southern Cemetery in Dunedin. Grave

The following is a couple of articles that were published in the local paper concerning Philip's death:

A man named Philip Jacob Konkel, 82 years of age, died suddenly yesterday afternoon at his home, where he resided with his relatives, at Pine Hill. As he had not been attended by a doctor for at least 2 years, the Coroner was informed, and an inquest has been deemed necessary. Otago Daily Times", 17th June 1918.

INQUESTS

An inquest was held at the Morgue yesterday into the circumstances attending the death of Philip Jacob Konkel, who died suddenly at his home at Pine Hill on Sunday afternoon. The enquiry was held before Mr. J. R. Bartholomew, S. M. (Coroner), and the police were represented by Senior Sergeant Murray. Evidence was given by Michael John Konkel, (son of deceased), and Dr. Evans. On Sunday afternoon the deceased, who was 81 years of age, was seized with a fainting turn, to which he had been subject for the last two years. He died very quickly. Two years ago he was attended by Dr. Batchelor for heart weakness. The medical evidence was to the effect that the cause of death was cardiac failure, due to senile decay. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. "Otago Daily Times", 18th June 1918.

Editorials

Konkel Family Tree