To date, all researchers of the life of Kazimierz Pulaski thought that Warka was the place of his birth. In our weekly AVE (40 [118], page 13) we printed the record of the supplementary ceremony that completed the Baptism of Kazimierz Pulaski, which was preserved in the rough record book also called the "raptularz" [rapto = rapid]. But we have also found the clean [final] copy. This book is in the archives of the parish of the Holy Cross in Warsaw and is entitled "Ksiega Chrztow 1721 do 1750" [Book of Baptisms 1721 to 1750] . On the right side of karta [page or card] 144 is a copy of the text from the "raptularz" but in nice even script . Then there are two records of the baptism of Kazimierz Pulaski at the Holy Cross parish. There are also two records for Franciszek Pulaski, the older brother of the general.

Presently we have discovered the analogous records of the true baptism, that is a short note of the sacrament being given.

In the "raptularz" of the Book of Baptisms 1741-1751 on card 29, there is a Latin text (6 March 1745). I also, as above, have baptized at home, because of necessity, without ceremonies, a child born of lawful parents: the illustrious Jozef Pulaski the Warka starosta and Marianna, his wife. The name of the child is KAZIMIERZ WIKTOR (WATELAU)."

This same information appears in the final clean version (Book of Baptisms 1721 1750, page 143) is as follows "6 (March 1745). I also baptized at home without ceremony, due to necessity, KAZIMIERZ the son of the illustrious Jozef Pulaski, the Warka starosta, and his Marianna, legally married."

These two records of the actual baptism -- not of the ceremony -- indicate that the baptism took place at home, therefore not in the palace of the Czartoryskis or Poniatowskis. The records suggest that the Pulaskis had a home in Warsaw where the baptism was given to Kazimierz, and which was the place of his birth.

The fact that there was a Pulaski home in Warsaw is proved by the record of death for Wiktoria Pulaska (Liber mortuorum [Book of Deaths] 1709-1774). On page number 127 we read: "on 7 December 1755. Died in the home of her father, in our parish (of the Holy Cross in Warsaw) the illustrious Lady Wiktoria Pulaska, a maid of years Š" The age was not written in. Wiktoria was most likely the sister of Kazimierz.

So it was that Jozef and Marianna Pulaski lived in their home in Warsaw with their children.

We know now that Kazimierz Pulaski was born in this house in Warsaw. He studied at the Teatyn [Fathers'] College for nobility and at the Pages' School. Having 18 years of age he went to his property, Zezuliniec in Podole, which he received from his father. In 1764 he, with father and brothers, signed for the election of King Stanislaw August. At the end of December 1767 he swore an oath to the newly established Bar Confederation.

It will be necessary to do more archival research in order to answer the question as to where the house stood in Warsaw, and if it is still there.

Illustration: A fragment of the painting "Pulaski at Czestochowa" by J. Chelmonski

Translation: P. Obst - Nov. 5, 1997

From the Old Records (125) - The Pulaskis of the Slepowron Crest on Nowy Swiat Street in Warsaw

The fact that Jozef Pulaski, father of Kazimierz, had a house in Warsaw was mentioned by Waclaw Szczygielski in the following way, " In Warsaw on Nowy Swiat, on the corner of the newly created street, he had a wooden mansion, purchased in the mid- [17]30s from Konstancja Sanguszkowska, and several taverns, called 'of Warka'" (PSB t. XXIX, z. 3, 381). This text confirms our early deductions.

In the cycle of articles "From the Old Records" (No. 122) I wrote about finding the record of death for Wiktoria Pulaska, sister to Kazimierz. In the full text the record states: "7 December 1755, died at her family home in our parish the illustrious Lady Wiktoria Pulaska, aged 19, the daughter of the illustrious King's Notary, after taking the sacraments; she was buried in the chapel of St. Felicissima." This record changes two assumptions made by Waclaw Szczygielski:

1. Wiktoria was surely born in 1736 not in 1740;

2. Wiktoria did not live in the convent of the Canonesses after 1755, because she had died in that year. The person described by the author as the Canoness Anna, was a totally different daughter of Jozef Pulaski.

Presently we have records of the niece of Kazimierz Pulaski, Marianna Joanna Franciszka Tekla, daughter of Antoni Aleks Suffczynski and Paula Pulaska, who was baptized 25 March 1785 on the day of her birth in Warsaw. It is possible that the Suffczynskis lived at the Pulaski house, after the tragic events of the [Bar] Confederation.

The records in our possession speak of the Pulaskis living in a mansion (home) in Warsaw, or show that the place was occupied.

An analysis of the four records of baptism for Kazimierz Pulaski that are preserved at the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw shows us that:

1. The record of baptism from 6 March 1745 is the record that has great significance. Here it is stated that the baptism was performed because of weakness (debilitatis) of the child at home. By comparing with other records of children born in the month of March, we see that the duty of immediate baptism was carried out in having each child immediately baptized right after birth, which was done for religious reasons. Religious parents wanted to have their children become members of the Church in the first moments of its life. This desire was met by "baptism of water" (sola aqua). The ceremonies were postponed to a later time.

Jozef Pulaski was a very religious man, who was even accused of religious fanaticism. No surprise then that he called the priest to baptize his son immediately. And so did his daughter Marianna who had her daughter baptized on the day of birth.

All records of baptism in this book "Liber Baptisatorum 1744-1751" indicate a one, two, or three day difference between the child's date of birth and the date of baptism. Only three records do not have a separate birth date and suggest that both days were the same - that of birth and baptism. One of these is the record for Kazimierz Pulaski.

2. The second record (14 March 1745) is written in the "raptularz" [memorandum book] and refers, as we mentioned earlier, to the completion of ceremonies of baptism.

3. The third record is the original of the record from 6 March 1745 and is written in the official (clean) record book.

4. The fourth record is the original of the record from 14 March 1745 and is written into the official (clean) record book.

In the light of the above information Kazimierz Pulaski was born on the 6 (sixth) of March 1745 in Warsaw, on Nowy Swiat street.

Translation: P. Obst - Nov. 5, 1997

From the Old Records (191) Marianna Pulaska

Kazimierz Pulaski the great-grandson of Antoni Pulaski, brother of Kazimierz, states in his "Chronicle of the Noble Families of Podole, Wolyn, and Ukraine" (Warsaw 1911, vol. 1, page 163) "Marianna Pulaska died in her 70s on 11 October 1792 in Warsaw. Her remains were taken to Warka where they were buried with ceremony by her son Antoni at the Church of the Franciscan Fathers."

This information, forgotten by biographers, should be verified in at least two archives. It seems believable as it comes from the great-grandson of Antoni Pulaski, whose progenitor was the son and organizer of the funeral of Marianna Pulaska.

It may be supposed that Marianna was buried in a tomb under the main altar or in the middle of the presbyterium of the post-Franciscan Church in Warka. This is how the founders and contributors to churches were buried. I think that archival research, archeology, and forensic medicine could yield the true place of burial for the mother of Kazimierz Pulaski. One could count on an inscription on the crypt or coffin.

The above mentioned author writes: "Marianna Pulaska nee Zielinska, Jozef's widow, was left after his death vigore juris communocativi, the life long possessor of some of the crown properties and starostwos, to which she obtained letters from the Royal Treasury Commission issued on 12 June 1769. In addition to the Warka starostwo she received some of the crown Czersk lands, among them: Niemojewice, Swidnik, Wichradzk, Brzozowiec, Strumiec and the wojt [village leader] -ships in the villages of Stara Warka and Piaseczna and the following strostwos in Podole: Czreszensk, Krasnosielsk, Nowosielsk. Later she transferred over a large part to her son Antoni. ŠMarianna Pulaska , over a long time, 'when pressed by her enemies Š in the unhappy situation of the country Š was taxed on her properties, and to some of them she could not get the papers' finally 'from the remnants she recovered her own and her children's property Š'"

As we know, Marianna Pulaska lived with her family in Warka-Winiary before the outbreak of the Bar Confederation. In the archives of the parish of St. Nicholas [Sw. Mikolaj] in Warka we can find its traces, and among the records there is: "Winiary. Manor. In the above year (1761) on the day of 14 July, I, Marek, of the monastery of St. Elijah of Mount Carmel, the Abbot in Annapol, have baptized Anna Antonina Barbara, a convert from Judaism. Her Godparents were: the Illustrious Fr. Gregory Zembrzycki the Curate of Warka and the Illustrious Marianna Pulaska, wife of the Chief Notary of the Crown and (my addition: the witnesses were) Kazimierz Bykowski and the illustrious Franciszka Opacka, the Czersk podstolina [title: the wife of the under- steward]."

As can be seen from this record, the baptism took place in Winiary in the manor chapel. The celebrant of the rite of baptism was the Carmelite priest Marek Jandolowiecz (1713-1799), a friend of the Pulaski family, and preacher of the Bar Confederation. From 1754 he was the abbot in Annapol (Glinki). From 1759 he was building the Carmelite monastery in Bar. He had the reputation of a miracle worker and prophet. Captured by the Russians he was imprisoned in Kiev as an "especially dangerous enemy." Mickiewicz and Slowacki referred to him as "Father Marek" in their writings.

The newly baptized woman, a convert from Judaism, took the name of Anna, possibly as a form of respect to Marianna Pulaski's daughter. It is also possible that the newly baptized Anna had something to do with the escape of Marianna Pulaska in 1769 from the burning manor, disguised as a Jewess.

The daughter of the Pulaskis, Anna - as we know - entered the convent of the Lady Canonesses of the Marywil Society in 1755 and [because of this] she had great respect from her family.

The illustrious Franciszka Opacka was most likely the mother of Salomea Opacka Deskurowa, who lived in nearby Gorzewice, and the wife of Colonel Jan Jerzy Deskura. We know that it was Salomea Deskurowa and Tadeusz Kosciuszko were the Godparents, at a certain baptism at the Church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw Š

Illustrations:
1. Anna Pulaska, canonness
2. The post-franciscan Church in Warka
3. Fr. marek Jandolowicz, carmelite

From the Old Records (113) - Kazimierz Pulaski was born in Warsaw

This sensational information is contained in two records which note the supplementary ceremonies that completed the baptism of two brothers at the Church of the Holy Cross: Kazimierz and Franciszek Pulaski, which took place on 14 March 1745. Both records are in the book of baptisms "Liber Baptizatorum ad. a 1744 d. 22 Janu. ad. a. 1751 d. Julii indusive," and are on the left side of card 29. The records are in order, one after the other, on a page that is 9 by 32 centimeters, or in a book of the then most commonly used format known as a "dutka." The page of record is confirmed by a seal with a rectangular frame (4 by 1 cm.) made with black ink containing the words: X.M.NARUSZEWICZ
DZIE:WAR:.

The Latin text of the record tells us: "14 March 1745. I, Krzysztof Faltz a priest of the Society of the Missionary Fathers, am completing the ceremony of the child of the lawful parents , the illustrious Jozef Pulaski the Warka starosta and Marianna his wife, by me on the day of 6 of this (month and year) baptized. Names: Kazimierz Michal Wladyslaw Wiktor. The witnesses of this ceremony were: the Illustrious Stanislaw Poniatowski, voivode of Mazowsze and the Illustrious (Maria Zofia) Princess Sieniawska Czartoryska, the daughter of the Ruthenian voivode. Second set: Kazimierz Rudzinski, the Czersk castellan and the illustrious Eleanora Princess Czartoryska, wife of the vice-chancellor of the Great Lithuanian Principality and others."

The record below it states: "I, same as above, at this time have completed the ceremony for a child of the above parents, that was baptized not quite a month ago at the parish church in Grabow. Name: Franciszek Piotr August Stanislaw; The witnesses of the ceremony were: the illustrious August Alexander Prince Czartoryski, the Ruthenian voivode with the illustrious Maria Antonina Rudzinska, daughter of the Czersk castellan. Also: the illustrious Michal Prince Czartoryski, vice-chancellor of the Great Lithuanian Principality and the illustrious Konstancja Poniatowska nee Czartoryska, wife of the Mazowsze voivode and others."

From the content of these records it appears that the events took place as follows: 4 March 1745 was the day of birth for Kazimierz Pulaski (probably he "chose" the name by being born on the feastday of St. Casimr); on 6 March 1745 he was baptized "by water" by Fr. Krzysztof Faltz CM (the actual baptism); on 14th of March 1745 the supplementary ceremonies took place. It was the celebration of the baptism and gathered the illustrious godparents and witnesses of the baptism.

It is characteristic that the supplementary ceremonies were carried out for both sons of Jozef and Marianna Pulaski, for the newly born Kazimierz and Franciszek, who was born earlier (1743?), but who was baptized at last in February 1745 at the church in Grabow. The earlier baptism of Franciszek could be considered as an anticipatory act
before the completion of the ceremonies of baptism in Warsaw. No doubt they awaited the arrival of Kazimierz in Warsaw at the apartment of the Pulaskis which was in the Palace of Prince Czartoryski. Two days after his birth, Kazimierz was baptized -- as states the record -- in the capital.

The supplementary ceremony of baptism took place at the church of the Holy Cross in Warsaw. We think that because of the custom of noting in the parish records the place where the liturgical observances took place, in case these took place outside the church. That is why in some records we find the additional notes in Latin: "at the church of the Visiting Sisters," "at the church of the Carmelite Fathers," "in the Palace of the Prince Czartoryski," "at the chapel of the Princes Radziwill," at the chapel of the Princes Poniatowski," " at the palace of the Lubomirski Princes," "in the Czapski Palace," etc. Neither of the two records has this information.

Biographical notes most often gave the date of birth for Kazimierz Pulaski as 1747. The record which was used as a source by the author of the "Pulaski, Kazimierz" entry of the Polish Biographical Dictionary (vol. XXIX/3, 1986 p. 386-395) gives the date of 4 March 1746. This "record" is at the Regional Museum in Warka. Unfortunately it is a falsification. This "document" has no authenticity, and not only are its outward appearances false, so are its contents. The "record" does not contain the date of the child's baptism. It only gives the date of birth as 4 March 1746. But church records note, above all, the date of the liturgical event, that is the date of baptism. This falsification also is not written according to the standard formula. Instead of "Ego idem super" it should read "Ego idem ut supra." In the "record" there is no name given for the father of the child (!) which is an extraordinary omission, especially when this was the ceremonious baptism for the child of a nobleman. The third name of the child has been twisted about. The "record" from Warka has it written as Waclaw (Venceslaum), but it should be Wladyslaw (Vladislaum). Such a document could not have been created by a priest of that time, and probably not a modern one either.

It must be observed that the "record" from Warka is written on a page that contains other records, but each has a different year. Is it possible that in that parish there was only one child born per year? And then not every year?

Warka is the family seat of the Pulaskis and fully deserves to be treated as such. After all, most likely at the manor in Winiary, Kazimierz Pulaski made an oath to be true to the ideals of the Bar Confederation, and then left for Lwow with his father. In the year 1771 he defended Czestochowa from the Jasna Gora monastery "for law and fatherland, for the Faith and the [Blessed Virgin] Mary," protecting the territories of Rawa, Radom, Czersk and Warka -- his family lands.

It is too bad that we missed the 250th anniversary of the birth of this extremely popular and beloved citizen of Poland and the United States.

From the Old Records (149) - The Pulaskis from Bartodziej

At the archive of the Mszczonow parish in the "Book of Marriages 1752-1764" (page 97 and onward) there is preserved the record of Jozef Krzywicki of Bierzwiec and Katarzyna Pulaska of Bartodziej and their marriage licenses.

The Latin record goes as follows: "1781. I Antoni Laszczyszewski on the day of 22 January, have blessed the marriage between the Illustrious Jozef Krzywicki, the Kiev czesnik and Katarzyna Pulaska, the daughter of the sword bearer of Mielnick, virgin, both under the necessary rules, as for the groom as for the bride, having announced three banns, and authorized by the guardians of same in their churches, I have accepted the proofs that were given on 22 January."

To the record are attached two documents in the A4 [European letter size] format, licenses issued by the parishes of Lisow and Goryn.

The first license has the following text: " To all and separately to whom it may concern, greetings in the Lord. Written in the parish church at Lisow, in the Gniezno archdiocese. The illustrious and well born Jozef Krzywicki, the Kiev czesnik of Bierzwiec in the Lisow parish, and Katarzyna Pulaska, daughter of the miecznik of Mielnice, virgin, from the Bartodziej parish of Goryn. In three feast days, before the assembled people the banns were announced: 1. on the Sunday after Our Lord's Circumcision, 2. on the feast day of the Epiphany, and 3. on the first Sunday after the Epiphany, after these announcements there was no canonical protest, and the illustrious to-be-weds expressed verbally their intention to marry. They ask that their marriage be blessed by the excellent and most honorable Fr. Laszczyszewski, the canon at the Poznan cathedral, the provost of Mszczonow with our authorization, according to church law as set forth at the Trydencki Diet. In the best of faith and by my own hand I sign this and seal it. Dated at the rectory residence on Lisow on the 19th day of the month of January 1761 AD. Mikolaj Kazimierz Wilkowski, pastor of Lisow. (sealing wax seal)."

The second document is nearly identical it is also a license, but is issued for the Lady Katarzyna Pulaska by the Goryn pastor, Jozef Jan Pruszkowski. The document was issued also on 19 March [January?] in Goryn and sealed with the sealing wax seal of the Goryn parish.

Another record preserved at Stromiec we see that in 1776 "the illustrious Marianna Pulaska from the Goryn parish" was a godmother.

The above information is consistent with the writings of Waclaw Szczygielski (PSB [Polish Biographical Dictionary] vol. XXIX, z. 3, page 381): "On the day 7 October 1738 Pulaski (Jozef) married Marianna Zielinska, the only daughter of Andrzej, the Lomza podczaszy, connected to many senatorial families; she brought him [as dowry] at least 5 demesnes [areas with villages] ; Winiary on the Pilica [River] near Warka, Bohlewice and Rytomoczydla in the Czersk lands, Goryn in Radom county on the Radomka [River], Nuzewo and Nuzewiek on the Narwia [River] in the Lomza lands (the last four were inherited by her in 1740 from Ludwik Zielinski, who was the Lomza podkomorzy; and Iwanowka with Kaczanowka and Rozyszcze in the Halice lands."

The Pulaskis also had a manor in Goryn and lived there at various times, for example in 1767, during the Radom Confederation.

Translation: P. Obst - Nov. 12, 1997

From the Old Records (190) The Unknown Sister of Kazimierz Pulaski - Kunegunda (Kinga) Pulaska

At the archives in the parish of St. Mikolaj [Nicholas] in Warka, in the book of Weddings from 1763, there is the record of the marriage of a heretofore unknown sister of Kazimierz Pulaski - Kunegunda and the well-born Ignacy Karniewski. Here is the text of the indult written into the book (I) and the text of the record (II).

I. Warka. Feliks Pawel Turski. Priest Provost Co-adjutant and Canon of the Gniezno Metropolia, and also the vicar-confessor of the illustrious college of St. John the Baptist and Warsaw Official and also one for the Mazovia Principality.
To the honorable Pastor of Warka, I greet you as one beloved of the Lord Christ. Because of certain arguments put before us, which have been compelling, it is permissible for you to bind [in marriage] the couple: the well-born Ignacy Karniewski and Kunegunda Pulaska, a holy virgin, after consent is given by both [of them] , and if you don not find that they are related, or allied, kidnapped by their intendent, or there exists some other canonical reason, please investigate the circumstances of this matter and bless this union, bypassing the three banns during advent , at the above mentioned parish church in Warka. For this marriage, made in the name of God, I give my consent on the basis of my authority, desiring that you would be worthy witnesses of this marriage and strong in faith. The names of the witnesses are to be written into the Book of Marriages along with the indult, and confirmed .
Written in Warsaw 15 November 1763

II. Winiary. I, Grzegorz Zambrzycki the curate of the church in Warka have blest the marriage. In the above year, as per the authority of the indult issued by the Most Illustrious Official, after bypassing three banns, a marriage was made between the well-born Ignacy Karniewski and Kunegunda Pulaska, as there were no obstacles, in the presence of the illustrious Jozef and Franciszek Pulaski and others of good faith, in the presence of the church.
(Translated [from Latin] by W. Pokrywka and S. Makarewicz).

Fr. Feliks Pawel Turski (1729-1800) studied in Rome. As Piotr Nitecki states, Fr. Turski was nominated on 24 January 1765, as the Chelmno bishop, by King Stanislaw August, and appointed by the Holy See on 22 April. He then was the bishop for Luck and Krakow. It was he who received the kings oath to be faithful to the Constitution of May 3rd. He was one of the finest bishops of his time.

Ignacy Karniewski, of the Dabrowa crest, is probably the same as mentioned by Seweryn Uruski (Rodzina, Herbarz Szlachty Polskiej [Family, Armorial of the Polish Nobility] vol. VI, Warsaw 1909, p. 211) writing: "Ignacy, a sub-delegate from Rozansk in 1763, the wojski for Ciechanow in 1776, Rozansk stolnik [steward] 1785-1793, a cavalier of the Order of St. Stanislaw 1786, Wiechorsk starosta, in the Kiev voivodship he was a "nurski" [?] judge in 1778."

The Lady Kunegunda Pulaska was most likely brought up at a Warsaw convent. The term "virgo sancta" (holy virgin) certainly suggests this. She might have been a nun, but had not yet taken her final vows.

At the church of St. Nicholas in Warka the witnesses of the marriage were: the father, head of the family, Jozef Pulaski and [her] brother Franciszek. Unfortunately the exact date of the marriage does not appear in the record, it took place sometime between 25 November and 31 December 1763. Perhaps on Christmas. The history of this couple [after marriage] may be sought in the places mentioned by Seweryn Uruski.

Translation: P. Obst - Nov. 12, 1997

From the Old Records (194) - The Pulaski and Staniszewski Families

It is something to think about, that some of the noble families who lived in the vicinity of Warka would come to the Warka church and probably to the manor in Winiary, to baptize their children, seeking a participant in the rite of baptism from the Pulaski family. Among others, it appears, that the Staniszewski family of Glowaczow did this very thing.

The parish of St. Nicholas [Mikolaj] has the following baptismal record.

Glowaczow. On the day of 12 June (1755) I (Fr. Egidiusz Zielinski, the local vicar from the "Convention of the Order of the Lesser Brothers of the Holy Father Francis") baptized a child with the names Felicjanna Antonina daughter of the well-born Jacek Staniszewski and Anastazja, the lawful parents. The godparents were: the illustrious Teodor Morsztyn, Brodnick starosta; the illustrious Lady Marianna Pulaska, wife of the Warka starosta; the illustrious Joachim Morsztyn, the Wislice castellan; illustrious lady Joanna Pulaska, daughter of the Warka starosta; the well-born Marcin Staniszewski, the Chrenichow podczaszy; the well-born lady Jadwiga Suska, daughter of the Zambrow judge.

The Staniszewski family has the Pobog crest. They lived in the Czersk lands, and also in the voivodships of Wolyn and Russ (see Kacper Niesicki). The first known Staniszewski was Stanislaw of Ducka Wola, the poborca [tax collector] in the Czersk lands (1564). We also know of Wojciech, the secretary of the Luck lands, who was a deputy to the sejm of 1620, and was sent from Luck to the Radom tribunal. Most likely Jacek Stanislawski [Staniszewski?] came from the line of Stanislaw of Ducka Wola. From the records it appears he lived in Glowaczow.

Teodor Morsztyn, whose name frequently appears in the records at Warka was connected, probably by friendship, to the Pulaski manor at Winiary.

The Morsztyn family bought the Mniszewo properties from the Lubomirskis. In Mniszew they built a palace at the expense of King Stanislaw August (Fr. Jan Wisniewski, Dekanat kozienicki [The Kozienice decanate]Radom 1913, p. 91).

The lady Marianna Pulaska, the godmother, was of course the daughter of Jozef Pulaski and sister to Kazimierz. In the record we find mention of a second pair (assisting) Joanna Pulaska, sister to marianna. In the records at Warka the name of Kazimierz Pulaski does not appear. This is proof that at a young age he was away from Warka --as we know -- mainly at the pages' school and the school of the Teatyn fathers.

In the above document we also have Joachim Morsztyn, the Czernichow podczaszy. This is unmistakably Teodor's cousin. He is "paired" with Jadwiga Suska, the judge's daughter from Zambrow. It is interesting to note that many years later the famous locality of Gluchy, the place of birth of Cyprian Norwid, was bought by Bronislaw Deskur (later the leader of the January Insurrection in Podlasie) from Paulina Suska nee Norwid.

Illustrations:
(left) Slepowron, crest of the Pulaskis
(right) Pobog, crest of the Staniszewskis

Translation: P. Obst - Nov. 12, 1997