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Rekowski Family (pronounced Rekovskee)

SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

PACHOLSKI (Pol) pachol. Meaning: boy, lad.

REKOWSKI/REJKOWSKI (Pol) rak. Meaning: crab, cancer.

ZYMON (Czech) zeman. Meaning: yeoman, squire or Szymon (Simon).

Franz Rekowski (1833-1920), the son of Nicolas Rekowski & Marianna Gendziersczonka, married Johanna (Julianna) Pacholska (1833-1893), the daughter of Michael Pacholski & Agniszka Zymon, on the 16th of November 1856 at the Roman Catholic church of the Holy Trinity in the Parish of (Liebschau). The family first settled in the village of Stenzlau (Stanisławie) in the Parish of Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie), West Prussia, ethnically the region of Kociewie, in the district of Danzig (Gdańsk), Poland. Here they had their first two children being; Paulina Catharina (1859-1942) & Michael Jacob (1862-1872).

The family then moved south to the village of Liebschau where they had the rest of the family being; Rosalia Anna (1865), Franz Martin (1867-1868), Josef August (1869-1870) & August Francis (1871-1943).

The family left the village of Stenzlau for Hamburg, via Gdańsk, where they set aboard the ship "Palmerston" on the 29th of July 1872 arriving at Port Chalmers, Otago, New Zealand on the 6th of December 1872. The family listed aboard ship were Franciszek 39, Johanna 39, Paulina 11.5 & August .75.

• August Francis Rekowski & Mary Ottrey on their wedding day, Milton (14 October 1896)
  Franz & family were sent down to Greytown (Allanton) along with their countrymen, to work on the Southern Railways. The family later moved to the township of Waihola where they had the youngest member of the family being; Rose Mary (1876-1949).

In the '1882 Freeholders', Franz is listed as owning 2 acres to the value of Ł100 in Waihola & 83 acres to the value of Ł207 in the Milton area. He was naturalised on the 26th of June 1912 residing at Loudens Gully, Milton. All his life he was engaged in farming and the sod chimney of his house was still standing in the 1980's which was situated 8 miles outside Milton at Akatore. At one stage, he owned a small farm at Loudens Gulley where he was reputed to have been a very careful and thrifty all round farmer.

Julia (Johanna) Rekowski died on the 31st of July 1893 & Franz Rekowski died on the 20th of November 1920 at Raurekau. Both are buried at the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton. Grave

Paulina Rekowski married Francis Barra in 1896 aged 38. Polly (as Paulina was called) always carried a vivid recollection of the voyage to New Zealand and from all accounts it is clear that she enjoyed every minute of it. Even during a water shortage on board the "Palmerston", when approached by the Captain and offered all the water she desired in an exchange for a kiss, she laughed it off as only a 14 year old teenager could. She died on the 2nd of December 1942 at the age of 85 years and was buried at the Fairfax Cemetery, Milton. Grave

August Francis Rekowski married Mary Ottrey in 1896. In his adult life he was farming or labouring in the Moneymore area, Tokomiriro and it was understood that he was as careful and as thrifty as his father. He was regarded as a cheerful and jolly gentleman who often would play his squeeze box for the grandchildren when he visited. He died on the 18th of October 1843 at Moneymore and is buried with his wife at Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. Grave

Rose Rekowski married Bernard Barra (brother of Francis). She died during the Second World War and is buried at the Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. Grave

Editorials

Rekowski Family Tree