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Świtala & Waliński Family (pronounced Shveetala & Valeennskee)

SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

DE(E)RING (Eng) deor Meaning: dear, by name meaning: beloved; The son of Deora.

MALICHNOWSKA (Pol) maly. Meaning: small.

PALAKAWSKA (Pol) palacz. Meaning: stoker, fireman.

SWITALA (Pol) swit. Meaning: dawn, daybreak.

SZWOCHA (Pol) szwoch. Meaning: uncle, relative.

WALINSKI (Pol) from name element Wal- as from Walenty. Meaning: strong, healthy.

WYSOCKI (Pol) wysoki. Meaning: tall, elevated, high.

ZELINSKI (Pol) ziel-/ziol-. Meaning: primarily connected with the colour green and with growing things, herbs.

Joseph Walinski (1821-1872), son of Simon Walinski & Marianna Eltowa married (1852 Gardschau), Franciska Szwocha (1829-1925), the daughter of Albert Szwocha & Annie Wysocka.

While residing in Borroschau, West Prussia, in the ethnic region of Kociewie in the district of Gdansk, Poland, Joseph & Franciska Walinski had three children being: Catharina (1853-1924), Anna (1855-1932), & Barbara (1858-1858).

The family moved east to the village of Klein Malsau (Malzewko), in the Parish of Liebschau (Lubiszewo Tczewskie) where they had a further five children being; Marianna (1859-1934), Rosalia (1862-1863), Johann (1864-1864), Franciska (1865-1866), & Joseph Adam (1866-1867). The family then moved to the village of Stenzlau (Stanislawie) where Franciska gave birth to Agnes Juliana (1869-1870) & Antoni (1871-1915). On the 5th of February 1872, Joseph died at the age of 50 in the village of Stenzlau. A year later on the 1st of January 1873 in the Liebschau Parish, Franciszka (Fanny) married for the second time, to Johann Switalla and to which was his third wife.

Johann Switala was born in the village of Starenschin (Starzecin) (1827-1913) and was christened at the Parish of Subkau (Subkowy). Unfortunately records for this date are missing but believe his parents to be Albrecht Switala and Marianna Dering. While in the village of Starenschin they had another son, Joseph (1831). The family moved as yet unknown and had a child Abrecht (1835-1852). The family are then discovered residing at the village of Rathestube (Radastowo) in the Parish of Subkau where they gave birth to Anna (1836). The family moved again, destination unknown, where they had a daughter, Marianna (1844-1852). The family are finally located residing in the village of Gross Malsau (Malzewo) in the Parish of Liebschau. During 1852 the family lost four members of its family to cholera, being both parents Albrecht & Marianna on the 15th of September, Albrecht their son on the 16th and their daughter Marianna on the 17th. All where buried at Liebschau

Two years later, Johann was first married on the 18th of October 1854 in the Parish of Liebschau to Josephina Malichnowska (1834-1860), the daughter of Batholemus Malichnowski & Anna Pallakawska. Together Johann & Josephina had three children being: Marianna (1855-1861) at Malsau, Johann (1857-1933) at Liebschau & Stanislaus (1860-1860) at Piwnitz. Josephina died just two weeks from giving birth to Stanislaus on the 23rd of May.

Johann then married Catharina Zelinska, the daughter of Johann Zielinski & Marianna Giancen, on the 14th of October 1860 in the Liebschau Parish. Together they had five children being: Michael Nicodem (1861), Franz (1863-1863), August (1864-1920), Anna Julianna (1867-1868) & Jacob Martin (1869-1934).

Catharina Walinska, the eldest daughter to Joseph & Franciska, married Johan Wroblewski on the 28th of May 1872 in the Parish of Liebschau. Together Catharina & Johann Wroblewski along with her younger sister, Anna Walinska, left for Hamburg, via Gdansk, in the hope of starting a new beginning in a promised land.

They left Hamburg on the 29th of July 1872 aboard the ship "Palmerston", the third ship with assisted and nominated Polish immigrants to New Zealand sent on behalf of the Vogel Scheme. They are later recalled in the "Wroblewski family".

Just over a year later the Walinski/Switala family decided to leave their homeland and go to New Zealand. The family consisting of Johann 47, Francisca 45, Johann 17, Michael 13, August 9, Jacob 5 & Anton Walinski 3, left Hamburg, Germany on the 10th of May 1874 aboard the ship "Reichstag", arriving at Wellington, New Zealand on the 6th of August 1874. From here they set forth arriving at their final destination, at the Polish settlement of Greytown (Allanton) in the South Island.

Together Johann & Franciszka Switala had two children born in Greytown, firstly Joseph (1875-1952). The second child, a male was born (1878-1878), only surving three hours.

The following is a letter written to Franciszka Switala (nee Swocha) & family from her nephew & Godson, Joseph Willman (born 1849 Labuhnken) who kept in contact since their arrival in New Zealand.

Gruppe, 25 June 1876

Dear Aunt, Uncle and Siblings

I received your worthy letter while in the best of health and would like to express my most sincere thanks to you. Firstly I would like to send very best wishes from us all over the seas and continents to you. We were very pleased to get your letter and to learn that you are all still healthy, alive and doing well. We too are all healthy, happy and doing quite well. Firstly I want to describe the state of our affairs here. The grandparents (Adalbert & Elisabeth Szwocha [second wife]. Both died in 1880.) are still alive and in the same situation. Grandfather is still rather ill but he is now stronger than he was earlier. They are still much the same as they have always been. What I do not know is where old Schweder is. Behrendt (Franciszka's brother-in-law) has a new lodger in the room where Schweder used to live. I can not say how Behrendt and Willman are getting on, but there is certain to be the same old argument.

My father (Jacob Willmann) still lives in Locken with Lyskowski's father [OR: with old von Lyskowski]. Much has changed in his [my father's] family since I last wrote to you. He has married off three of his children. That is me, Michäl [sic] and Marie. We all married last year in October. As I wrote to you in my last letter, I have married well. My wife has received a good deal of wealth: Beds and some livestock. So I am living quite happily now and so is Aniela, who is in service in Locken as a housekeeper. When I last wrote to you I was in Graudenz but there is another village this side of Weichfeld. Marie married well too. She married Wizenty Hesieki, who is steward on an estate in Locken. They have been allotted good land, have two cows grazing in the master's [i.e. the local landowner's] fields; a pretty house and garden for the winter and the summer costs 80 Thalers, 24 bushels of rye and 4 bushels of wheat. They are doing well. Michael is well and what is even better is that he has married a girl and is living together with her parents. Soon he will be farming an allotment in Jenin. Only Father still has his problems. He is well but still having so many children and having to feed them costs a lot 13 children. He asks whether you could send him some money, if you really do have so much. He wants to come to you soon. If it were up to him he wouldn't want to come even as far as here, but he does want to make the little children happy. At Whitsun he was here with us in Gruppe and said that when I wrote I should ask you to help him back on to his feet, since Mother is also wanting to go on a trip. My dear Aunt and Uncle, I must also tell you that when we look around here many people have gone to Australia. Your old neighbour, Witkowski, has gone, six families have gone from Locken and 40 families have gone from the Kakosk estates, (presumably the village of Kokoszkowy where some families are aboard the ship "Fritz Reuter" from Hamburg 12 April 1876 sailing for New Zealand to settle in the Taranaki region of New Zealand) apart from that, nothing much has happened here. The hay harvest is taking place now. There is no word about war to be heard here. Crops here are as I described to you in my last letter. I was wed twice too, first in the registry office and then in the church. The monasteries have all been dissolved and where a priest dies, no one takes his place. We hope that God's help will all get back to how it used to be.

Now I will finish and a thousand greetings to you all from us. Parents, siblings and mother, together with their wives, all send their greetings. We are all in good health and no one has died. Only Huseh [?] is still sick. He has been ill in bed for two years now, and the prospects of his regaining his health look no better. One last request: do write to us again soon. Getting a letter from you is a source of great joy for us. I will write to you again too. Once again best wishes, and my wife also send her best wishes.

I remain yours affectionately

Josef Willmann

My address to Willmann - Rural Delivery Recipient in Gruppe, Schwetz District, Marienwerder Province, West Prussia

• Johann Switalla, Anna Junge (nee Walinska) & Franciszka Switalla (nee Szwocha) outside the Switalla sod cottage situated on the corner of Castleton & Caernarvon Street, Allanton:
  In the 1882 Free Holders List Johan Switalli was listed as owning one acre to the value of 150 pounds, in the township of Greytown. On the 14th of November 1893, Johan was naturalised as a New Zealand citizen.

Here Johann built the family home, a sod cottage, which consisted of two rooms. Originally with a thatched roof, it later adopted a galvanized iron one which enabled water to be collected. The earth floor was frequently covered with fresh straw to keep the place warm and dry through the winter months. Emily Sophia Pedofski, a granddaughter, recalls having to do this task as a young girl.

Johann Switalla died on the 31st of January 1913. Mrs. Lomas a great grand daughter of Johan remembers his death. He was lord on a horsehair style sofa, curtains were drawn and candles lit. All the woman folk (children included) gathered at his home. Once inside the praying started and would have continued until the candles burnt out or some other sign was made. In this case the candles were very nearly all burnt out when a mouse appeared under the table, moved around the room once or twice then faded into the darkness. With that the prayers ceased for the day as they had witnessed the lord coming in one of his many guises to take the soul of the departed safely to his kingdom.

• Johann & Franciszka Switalla:
  Franciszka Switalla, a quiet loving lady and known to everyone in Allanton as Granny was midwife for the Allanton region. She was required to be out at all times in all types of weather, usually accompanied by someone with a lamp to guide the way. She mainly wore black with which she would wear a plain white collar and cuffs with a sack apron while doing her daily chores. In the afternoon she would then change to a lace collar and cuffs with a white apron for the afternoon. The grandchildren would come to visit granny Switalla after school where she would be sitting patiently in her rocking chair. In the pocket of her apron there would be some sweets for the eager waiting youngsters.

Mona Todd (Granddaughter) recalls staying with her grandmother:- "All cooking was done over an open fire which, had iron bars on which a large black kettle was always boiling. It had an oven at the side in which cakes, scones and bread was baked. It was a real treat to turn the churn to make butter. Arms felt like dropping off but I never gave in. Then the best part was making the lump of butter into pats with two wooden pats lined and like two small tennis bats. Butter for the table was rolled into small balls or what they called rolls. There was a large garden where every kind of vegetable was grown. Apples, pears, plums and greengages, red and black currents, gooseberry and raspberries were among the variety of fruit grown. A few hens' eggs were never in short supply. Parsnip and elderberry wine and apple cider were always made each year. There was a room at the back of the house where stores were kept. It had a stone floor and was always cold. Strings of onions and rolls of bacon were found hanging from the ceiling. Now and again Granny came to Dunedin for a few days and stayed with Mum. I always hoped I would look as elegant as she did in her very best clothes. These were kept in a tin trunk in the bedroom and only worn on a very special occasion. Taffeta petticoats were worn under her frock which made a swishing noise as she walked. A black frock, black boots which were buttoned on the side, black beaded bonnet and beaded purse, black gloves and cape completed the outfit. Granny always wore black. Black apron was worn to do the housework but in the afternoon a beautifully embroidered white apron was worn. She was always knitting, sewing, embroidering or doing crochet. I never saw a pattern but she did some beautiful crochet supper cloths."

When Fanny Switalla had to go into the Little Sisters of the Poor due to old age, the sod cottage remained unlived in from that day. She died on the 31st of May 1925 in Allanton. Both Johann & Franciszka are buried in the Allanton Cemetery. Grave

Anna Walinska arrived in New Zealand with her older sister Catherina. It is said that Anna was very seasick and homesick. She was in the process of throwing herself over board when a German by the name of George Schrüffer stopped her from doing so. From then on he took her under his wing. Once arriving in New Zealand, five months later they married on the 19th of May 1873 at St Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin.

George was 30 at the time of arrival to New Zealand and was believed to be an engineer. On the shipping list he is listed as a labourer. Together Anna & George had three sons being; John (1876), George (1877) & Joseph (1879-1968), all of who were born in Greytown (Allanton).

Tragically just after the third child was born, George died as the result of injuries on the 14th of March 1879 aged 36 years. He is buried at Allanton Cemetery. The following are a couple of articles regarding the accident, which occurred on the 6th of March 1879.

A serious accident occurred at Kirk's Ballast Pit, near Greytown on the 6th, when a considerable quantity of gravel suddenly gave way and fell on George Schrifford, one of the workmen, covering the lower parts of his body. A boy named Stewart, after vainly endeavouring to release Schrifford, gave the alarm, and the men from Mackay's Pit adjoining ultimately got him out, after narrowly escaping themselves a second fall that occurred. Dr Brearty, who was called in, found that Schrifford had two of his ribs broken and had sustained severe internal injuries. Schrifford has a wife and three young children.

George Schafford, who was recently buried by a fall of earth at Kirk's Ballast Pit near Greytown, has been suffering very severely, but has now passed the critical period, and hopes are entertained for his ultimate recovery.

Later Anna married another fellow passenger from the "Palmerston" by the name of Carl (Charles) Junge (1852-1924). They were married at Riccarton (East Taieri), Roman Catholic Church on the 28th of December 1879.

• Junge Family 1880's:
  The Junge family originally came from Schleswig-Holstein, Denmark. Around 1870, Germany had declared war with Denmark claiming the area. Arriving at Hamburg, Germany, Carl & brother Claus Junge, set aboard the "Palmerston" for New Zealand. They were the sons of Peter Nicolaus Junge & Christina Margaretha Schluter.

It is believed the Kaiser of Germany in the 1860's wanted a deepwater port, so he forced troops into the neighbouring country of Denmark. The Commander of these troops set up his Camp and Headquarters on the farm belonging to the Junges. After a year or so under canvas he moved into a room of the farmhouse, and over following years he took more and more space. After five years of occupation, the Danish people were told they had to speak in German.

After 8-10 years the Junge family were told that the Officer in charge would be taking over the farm and the house and that the family could either move out and live in one of the barns, or take what they could carry plus 30 pounds, and leave. They chose the latter and walked to the Baltic Coast where they met up with other people in the same position. The farm they left in Denmark had been in the family for some 300 years.

Carl & Anna Junge first resided in Greytown where they had the following children being: Peter John (1881-1906), Francis (1883-1891), Carl (1884-1977), Christina (1886-1944), Franziska (1889-1975), Anna (1890-1980), Antonius (1892-1967) & Mary Margaret (1895-1973).

About the turn of the century Carl, Anna & family moved south to Chaslands where the land was being cleared for settlement. Here the family built their home. They built a "Bung House", a house made of tree ferns or pomngas. Before the coming of the sawmills, timber had to be transported by bullock dray for quite long distances. Corrugated iron made for both roofing and chimney, and glass and timber were kept to a minimum.

Mrs. Hayes, of Tahakopa, (nee Annie Junge) recalls her parent's house in the Chaslands; "We gathered moss to pack between the bunghies and then plastered the inside walls with clay. When finished they were as smooth as any modern house." The outside was soon picturesquely covered with the ivy and creepers they planted. A very different residence from the five-roomed wooden house they had left. Most of these houses had clay floors kept smooth and clean. Fireplaces were big open hearths, and bread was baked in camp ovens from yeast fermented at home. The fireplace in the Junge house held four camp ovens, two at the back and two at the front, and the family had a "bunghie wash-house" too, with a fireplace for boiling the washing in Kerosene tins.

• Junge Family outside their punga (fern tree) cottage at Chaslands:
  Every year there was a fortnight's holiday in late summer or early autumn, a working holiday if ever there was one, for the children to cut weed on their parent's farm. Annie Junge was walking the four miles to the township for the mail one day, when a stranger on horseback asked if she had been cutting ragwort on her father's farm. She said, "I'll show you if I have been cutting weed!" and held out her blistered hands. It was the Stock Inspector to whom she showed the painful evidence," and we had to milk the cows with our blistered hands."

It is recalled in those early years of Chaslands School and, as at that distance they could not be compelled to attend in rough weather, they then missed school. Here they had some good times with tales of pig hunting and wild cattle hunting in regions of dense bush.

Anna was naturalised as a New Zealand citizen on the 13th of March 1903, listed as domestic duties residing in Chaslands. Because times were quite hard the family decided to return to Allanton.

A memory Cyril Hayes has is of their whole family being taken to visit their grandmother Anna at Allanton, this being when the Junge's were off their farm at Chaslands, and back at Allanton. Cyril's father, Ted Hayes, (Edwin) had bought an old Dodge car and they set off in this, the whole family piled in, and it was a marathon trip from Tahakopa. He remembers Anna as a very sedate lady who plied them with black current drink, homemade. This drink must have been a specialty of hers as Vincent Jung of Te Aroha also remembers it. Many of the grandchildren remember the house at Allanton. The dining room was at the right and Vincent remembers Anna sitting there reading her Polish Bible, she had not learned to read English although she spoke English with a heavy foreign accent.

Anna was known to collect sheep's wool from fences, bushes etc where she would turn it into felt. This was used for insoles in shoes, knitted into mittens or waistcoats.

Carl Junge died on the 13th of December 1924 & Anna died of peritonitis on the 20th of October 1932. Both are buried at the Allanton Cemetery. Grave

Antoni Walinski (also known as Antoni Switalla in his youth )was apparently quite an academic at school and a very good singer, singing in many concerts. Being keen in sports, he was a keen footballer & a keen cyclist, excelling in both. Antoni in his early working days worked as an apprenticed butcher at Greytown for the Ralston family also of Greytown (Allanton).

The following is an incident where Antoni aged 18, was witness:

FATAL ACCIDENT AT GREYTOWN

On Saturday afternoon a little boy named Robert Finnie son of Mr. David Finnie of Greytown, lost his life by drowning. He was in company with some other boys of about the same age and went to a creek near the railway station at Greytown for the purpose o bathing. Young Finnie was first into the water and went in at a spot where the bank was shelving for about two feet and then went perpendiculary down into 5 or 6 feet of water. The poor little fellow was quickly out of his depth, and was drowned within two or three feet of the bank. The other boys did not go in the water but ran for assistance, which, however, arrived too late. Great sympathy is felt with Mr. Finnie, who is highly respected in the district. A large number of people attended the funeral on Monday and the district school was closed in the afternoon, the pupils nearly all attending the funeral of their late playmate.

THE INQUEST

On Monday Mr. Carew, district coroner, held an enquiry concerning the death of Robert Finnie. The following gentlemen composed the jury: Messrs W. Read (Foreman), A. Scrivener, J. Williams Jun, J. Calder, W. Hollands and A. Roxburgh.

The following evidence was taken:-

David Finnie, labourer, Greytown, said that the body shown to the Jury was that of his late son Robert. He was born at Greytown and was eight years old on his last birthday. He last saw him alive between three and four o'clock on Saturday. Between four and five o'clock he heard that he was drowned. He went down towards the Taieri River and as he was going down he heard the body was in Mrs. George Irving's house. He saw it and the boy was quite dead. Dr. Allan was there at the time. He tried means for bringing the child to life, but without effect. Deceased was unable to swim.

Walter Hollands, a boy of about eight years of age, and who gave his evidence very intelligently, said he knew the deceased. He saw him on Saturday, when deceased, John Brockett, and himself went down to the creek together. The three of them took off their clothes. Finnie went onto the water first. He walked in and the water was quickly up to his neck. He seemed to get into deep water at once. He rose and sank three times; the third time witness only saw his hair above the water. Witness and Brockett, though undressed, did not go into the water because they saw it was too deep. Witness thought Finnie did not know the water was so deep; it was muddy and the bottom could not be seen. Antonio Switalla was in sight and witness ran and told him what had happened. He and Joe Read and George Irving came to the place and recovered the body. Finnie went in that place because Brockett had thrown in an apple.

Antoni Switalla, labourer, Greytown, was in front of Black's store at about half-past four on Saturday afternoon when young Hollands came to him and said that Finnie had been two minutes under the water. Witness called Black and Joe Read and he and Read went down to the place together - it is known as Scroggs Creek - the distance 300 or 400 yards. He took of his clothes and commenced wading about in the place pointed out by Hollands.

He could not find the body so he sent James Wilkie up to Pitfield's for wire. He got the wire and went into the water up to his neck and commenced looking about for the body. Twice he got it on the wire but it slipped off again, the third time he secured it and got it on the bank. It appeared to be quite dead. It was taken away to Mrs. Irving's. A telegram was sent for Dr. Allan who arrived at about five minutes past five. He tried for about an hour to resuscitate life but was unsuccessful. It was about five or ten minutes after Hollands gave the alarm when the body was recovered, it was found within about two yards of the bank. The bank slopes gradually for about two feet and goes down perpendiculary to a depth of five or six feet.

Without retiring the jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally drowned."

"The Taieri Advocate", 6th February 1889.

• Antoni Walinski the cyclist:
  

Taieri Cycling Club.

SPECIAL GENERAL MEETING

A special general meeting of the above club was held at Mosgiel this week to receive a report from the Track Committee with reference to the cost of repairing the club's track. There was a good attendance of members.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

Mr. A. F. Cheyne reported having visited the recreation ground with the committee appointed, and stated that it would require Ł60 to convert old track into a serviceable track.

The report having been discussed by those present.

Mr. Robertson moved that a bazaar be held to raise funds for repairing the track.

Photo kindly provided by Patricia Clark.

Seconded by Mr. A. Christie and carried.

A working committee consisting of Messrs A. Christie, J. Hamilton, S. Turnbull, J. Henderson, A. Cheyne, A. T. Switalla, W. Robertson, and H. Wright, was appointed, and also canvassers for various districts.

The next meeting of the working committee was fixed for Wednesday evening and the meeting closed.

"The Taieri Advocate', 3rd June 1899.

CYCLING NOTES

[BY "RAMBLER"]

NOT WITHSTANDING the unfavourable weather, cyclists have of late been plentiful round Mosgiel, as the local racing men have been getting into form for tomorrow.

There will be a fair muster of starters in the road race, as 17 entries have been received, and the handicaps look fairly even on paper.

The prizes will be: First 30s, second 10s, while the man who does fastest time amongst those unplaced will receive 10s donated by Mr. J. O'Kane. This will afford something for the scratch men to ride for, if their handicaps are too heavy for a place.

The following are the handicaps - A. T. Switalla, 30 sec behind scratch; C. Irvine, and J. Sutherland, Scratch; H Wright, 15 secs, D. Bryce, S. Turnball, D. Smith, 30 secs; W. Leisk, W Leeden, V. Matson, M. Torrance, 1 min; A. Murray, D. . Christie, ˝ mins; J. O'Kane, F. Learly, 2 mins, J. Robertson, 2˝ mins.

A common mistake new riders make is to exhaust their energies in trying to "rush" long hills. They may arrive at the top, but puffing and perspiring, when, had they ridden steadily, and practised effective pedaling, they would have made almost as much progress, and at the same prevented that tired feeling with injudicious hill climbing creates. There is a knack in hill climbing, and mere physical effort is not the only requisite.

Conservation of one's muscular powers is essential in order to obtain the best results.

"The Taieri Advocate", 29 November 1899.

CYCLING NOTES

[BY "RAMBLER"]

The much talked of road race under the auspices of the Taieri Cycling Club, came off on Thursday evening, when a good crowd collected at Mrs. O'Kane's corner to see the finish of the event.

... A. T. Switalli, who was 30 secs behind scratch, did not reduce his handicap, his time being 21 min 10secs.

... The road was in pretty fair condition throughout, and where dry it was very fast...

"The Taieri Advocate", 2nd December 1899.

• Walinski Family:
  Antoni married Martha Smolenski on the 19th of July 1899 in a double wedding ceremony at the Sacred Heart Church at Allanton, with couple Johann Smolenski & Annie Black. He had intentions of marrying her when Martha was a young girl and waited for her to become of age. Antoni & Martha first settled in Allanton where they had their first two children being; Frank William (1900) & Eric George (1901).

The family then moved to Dunedin where Antoni worked as a butcher, labourer & linesmen laying the Castle Street tramlines. Here they had the remaining family, being; Minnie (1904), Thomas Edward (1909-1972) & Mona (1913). Unfortunately Antoni died on the 18th of March 1915 and is buried in the Allanton Cemetery. Grave Both males from the double wedding died very young. As a result the family regard double weddings as a bad omen.

Martha remarried to Arthur Palmer on the 27th of December 1920. Together they had two children Phylis & Rita. Martha died on the 4th of October 1951.

From left; Martha, Antoni, Eric (front), Frank & Minnie Velenski.

Photo kindly provided by Patricia Clark.

Walinski Family Tree

John JNR. Switalla married Martha Perniski the daughter of Anton Piernicki & Anna Malecka. Martha was 9 years of age when she arrived in Dunedin from Hamburg, Germany. The Perniski family were aboard the "Dallam Tower" arriving on the 17th of February 1875.

Together John and Martha had a family of 12 children, 7 boys and 5 girls. They were Joseph (1882), Francis Patrick (1884-1949), John (1886-1926), Martha (1888), Anthony William (1890-1956), Michael James (1893-1967), Mary Emma (1895), Annie Magdalen (1898), Alice Josephine (1900-1973), Edward Alexander (1903-1958), Charles Millan (1905-1979) & Eileen Veronica (1907-1928).

Martha was described as a very good looking and fine religious lady. It was nothing for Martha when in advanced age to go to early mass and stay in church until all masses were finished then return for benediction and rosary at evening.

In the 1882 Free Holders List, John Switalli was listed as owning land to the value of 70 pounds in the township of Greytown. John was naturalised as a New Zealand citizen on the 14th of November 1893. His occupation was listed as Engine Driver. He died on the 18th of May 1933 aged 72. Martha died on the 2nd of November 1938 aged 74. Both are buried at Allanton.

August Switala married Elizabeth Templeton (previously married from Waihola), in Milton in 1889. Together they had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. August Switala died in 1920, Hororata, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Both Jacob & Joseph Switalla never married & were involved in an incident that made the news around New Zealand which was that of alleged attempted murder between the two Polish brothers on Christmas Eve of 1921. Joseph Switalla was accused of attempting to murder his half brother Jacob Switalla with an axe. Apparently Joseph had become jealous of Jacob's favouritism towards their mother. Joseph was sentenced to one year's imprisonment with hard labour. Jacob died on the 24th of November 1934 Grave & Joseph died on the 8th of July 1952. Both are buried at the Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Editorials

Switala Family Tree