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Wiśniewski Family (pronounced Vishnevskee)

SURNAMES & THEIR ORIGINS

ORLOWSKI (Rus) orlov & (Pol) orzel. Meaning: Eagle or descendant of one with eagle-like characteristics. From the nickname Oryol - eagle.

PAROBKIEWICZ (Pol) parobek. Meaning: Farmhand, hireling.

WISNIEWSKI (Pol) wisnia. Meaning: Cherry-tree or from the word wisniak - cherry wine.

Michael Wisniewski (1838-1911), the son of Johann Wisniewski & Marianna, married (1859 Gardschau) Anna Orlowska (1837-1910), the daughter of Joseph Orlowski & Bridget Parobkiewicz.

They first resided in the village of Labuhnken (Trzcinsk)), in the parish of Gardschau (Godziszewo), West Prussia, ethnically the region of Kociewie, in the district of Danzig (Gdansk), Poland. Here the following children were born, being: Joseph (1860-1860), August (1861), & Franz (1863-1863).

From here they moved south to the village of Gnieschau (Gniszewo)), in the parish of Subkau (Subkowy) where they gave birth to Johann (1866-1866). The family moved again, north to the village of Turse (Turze), in the parish of Gardschau where the following were born, being: Francisca (1867-1867), Valeria (1869-1869), Antoni James (1871-1950) & Bernard (1873).

The family left the village of Turse (Turze), for the city of Hamburg, via Gdansk. They left Hamburg aboard the ship "Reichstag" on the 10th of May 1874 arriving at Port Nicholson, Wellington, New Zealand on the 6th of August 1874. The family on board ship were Michal 37, Anna 37, August 12.5, Antoni 3 & Bernard .75.

They travelled south to the settlement of Waihola , in the south island, where members of Anna's family were already residing. Here Michael built, with his own hands, a sod cottage & later a wooden one. Here they had the rest of the family being, Martha (1875), Francis (1877), Anna (1878), & James (1880).

In the "1882 List of Freeholders", Michael is listed as owning 5 acres to the value of Ł100 in the settlement of Waihola. Here he was naturalised on the 13th of June 1887 as a labourer.

Hyacinth Wisnesky was born on the 21St of April 1900, the son of Bernard & Henrietta Wisnesky, and he was the first child to be baptised in the Waihola Church of "St Hyacinth". He recalls his grandparents, father and auntie Anna (unmarried), looked after his sister & himself after the death of their mother while giving birth to their sister Ada Katarzyna on the 9th of May 1905. The small farm his grandparents owned in Waihola could not keep the family therefore his grandfather worked for the railways on the line up to Middlemarch. In 1907, when his grandfather was about 70 years of age, Hyacinth stayed at home looking after the 200 chickens and chopping firewood for his grandfather.

When he was bout 7-10 years old he used to drive a horse-cart or sledge for his grandfather collecting firewood or cutting ripe grass for grass-seeds. As a boy Hyacinth also used to help Mr. August Orlowski by holding the ladder for him when he was doing repairs to the church.

While at home in Waihola the old people including his father (Bernard Wisnesky), and Aunt Anna, used the Polish language. Between themselves, they spoke about Poland but never to Hyacinth.

It is noted that Michael Wisnesky was the real leader of the Waihola Community. He used to ring the church-bell on occasions such as funerals, etc. All visiting priests used to have breakfast at their home where all the meetings were held.

On Sundays Anna Wisnesky (nee Orlowski) allowed no physical work and this was very strictly observed. Michael Wisnesky used to read extracts from the bible in Polish. He could read Polish but not German or English. When they needed a letter written in German or English they asked Mr. Hilgendorf of Waihola for help. Hyacinth remembers two such occasions.

Aunt Anna Wisnesky, daughter to Michael & Anna, was the organist and washed the altar linen and cleaned the church. She was very upset when the church was moved to Broad Bay, Dunedin in 1948.

Michael Wisnesky died on the 24th of December 1911 aged 75 & Annie Wisnesky died on the 25th of December 1910 aged 74. Both are buried at the Waihola Cemetery.

The following is an account of a fire, which destroyed the house of Mr. & Mrs. Wisnesky;

FIRE AT MOMONA

A HARD CASE

ON TUESDAY night one of the Momona settlers, Mr. Wisnesky, suffered a severe loss through the burning of his house. The fire took place at 9 o'clock, and nothing is known as to the case of it. Mr. Wisneski and his wife were outside at the time, and the first intimation they had of the fire was the sight of the flames. The house was a small one, and was quickly consumed, not even a particle of furniture being saved. Mr. Wisneski's case is a particularly hard one. He is an industrious settler, who had taken up a section in Momona, and his past savings had been invested in the building of his house and the purchase of cows. Ł5 1s 6d in cash was in the house. There was not a shilling of insurance on his property, and Mr. & Mrs. Wisneski saved nothing but the clothes they were wearing. The loss is estimated at Ł160.

From what we know of the people round about Mr. Wisneski's neighbourhood we feel sure that they will have great sympathy with him in his misfortune and assist him to the best of their ability in making a fresh start. "The Taieri Advocate", 10th February 1900.

August Wisnesky at the age of 14 went to Milton and was apprenticed to a man named Chisolm who taught him carpentry. After completing his apprenticeship it appears that he moved to Dunedin where he married Wilhelmina Henke on the 22nd of January 1884 in the Presbyterian, Knox Church, in Dunedin. August was ousted from the family because his wife was German and of a different faith. As a result they both left New Zealand & settled in Melbourne, Australia. While in Melbourne he worked in a sash and door factory in Northcote. In 1894 the family returned to New Zealand and settled in Dunedin. Here August worked for the New Zealand Railways, eventually being appointed as Superintendent of the Hillside Workshops. August died on the 14th of May 1942 in Dunedin and is buried at the Andersons Bay Cemetery in Dunedin. Grave

Editorials

Wiśniewski Family Tree