PolishOrigins(TM) Forum

Re: Town of Pewel

Mountain Path — Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:48 pm

Author: Mountain Path

Posted: Fri Feb 14, 2025 2:48 pm

Sean.....here is a link to a list of different sites.....I have found the Genetka site to be helpful for the area you are looking at.... https://familytreemagazine.com/heritage/polish/polish-genealogy-websites/
Also this link that lists major cities beginning with 'R' - just in case. https://database.earth/countries/poland/cities?letter=r Good luck with your search. Mountain Path

Re: Town of Pewel

seananthony — Thu Feb 13, 2025 4:20 pm

Author: seananthony

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2025 4:20 pm

Mountain Path,

You mention that your grandmother was from Rychwald. I believe my great-grandfather also might have been from Rychwald. His Alien registration Form lists "Rickwell, Calais, Poland" as his hometown. There is no such place, but I wonder if it's Rychwald. Also, according to a US divorce record, his first wife was from "Wiecz". There is no such town in Poland, but I wonder if it's Zywiec, which is right next to Rychwald.

Do you happen to know if there is an online database for Rychwald births? I've been trying to find my great-grandfather's Polish origins for over 10 years.

Thanks for your help!

Sean

Re: Town of Pewel

Mountain Path — Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:44 pm

Author: Mountain Path

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:44 pm

Thank you so much....Yes, on the diocese website I did find that the parish for Pewel Mala opened in 1884, but only as a chapel. The parishioners went to the church in Jelesnia.

As Pewel Wielka did not have their own church at the time...I wondered where they went, so you have answered that question for me. Which is interesting as my grandmother was from Rychwald. So, now, I wonder if their families met before they came to America.

Re: Town of Pewel

Henryk — Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:30 pm

Author: Henryk

Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2014 12:30 pm

I read in the Słownik Geograficzny:
Pewel Wielka: 223 houses, 1221 inhabitants, parish Jeleśnia
Pewel Mała: 33 houses, 206 inhabitants, parish Jeleśnia
Pewel Ślemieńska: 157 houses, 906 inhabitants, parish Rychwałd
The 1934 Atlas gives the same parishes.

Re: Town of Pewel

Mountain Path — Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:08 pm

Author: Mountain Path

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:08 pm

Thank you so much Dave for all of the information. By the way...my grandparents met and were married in Indiana!!

Re: Town of Pewel

dnowicki — Fri Mar 28, 2014 7:45 pm

Author: dnowicki

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 7:45 pm

Mountain Path,

The Slownik Geograficzny (Geographical Dictionary of the Kingdom of Poland [published from 1880 through 1904]) lists three villages in close proximity to each other: Pewel Wielka, Pewel Mala, and Pewel Slemienska. Of the three only Pewel Mala and Pewel Slemienska are listed as a having a Catholic parish church. Currently each of the three has a parish church. The link for the Geographical Dictionary is: http://dir.icm.edu.pl/pl/Slownik_geograficzny/Tom_VIII/32 Towards the end of the 19th Century the population of Pewel Slemienska was 906 (428 males & 478 females) in 157 houses. Pewel Mala had 33 houses with 206 inhabitants (93 males & 113 females). Pewel Wielka had 114 houses with 748 inhabitants. The addresses of the Catholic parishes in each village can be found on the website of the diocese www.diecezja.bielsko.pl/strona/parafie#80p I don't know if the links will be of much value to you since both sites are in Polish. If you can figure out which of the three villages is the one where your great grandfather lived it would make it easier to search for records. If not, it would probably be necessary to contact the parishes until you find the correct one.

Wishing you success in your search,

Dave

Town of Pewel

Mountain Path — Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:38 pm

Author: Mountain Path

Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2014 2:38 pm

My Paternal Grandfather was born in Pewel, Zywiec, Galizien in 1889.

I am now trying to link a possible cousin (born in 1881) of his to the family and the records here in the United States say that he was born in Pervel. I cannot find that town on any map. My guess, from the "very little" Polish that I know is that with the "w's" being pronounced as "v's" that the town of the cousin is also Pewel.

Agnieszka tended to agree with me, but suggested that I ask all of you what you thought.

Also, can anyone tell me the population of that town at the time and also the name of the Roman Catholic Church(es) that were there then. I would eventually like to find the birth records of my grandparents.

Thank you so much.