Under Catherine the Great, Russia was able to gain land from a relatively weak Polish monarchy. In 1772, Prussia, Austria and Russia decided to take equal portions of Poland. In 1793, after continued political unrest in Poland, more land was taken by the three major area powers, Prussia, Austria, and Russia. The western portion of Poland was taken over by Prussia, while eastern portions including most of Volhynia were taken over by Russia. In 1795, the remaining land that was once Poland was split and Poland ceased to exist as a political entity. During this time, Prussia established a new type of German settlement called a colony. Most colonists in the early years were Swabians from Wuerttemburg. Many of the early immigrants to Poland were cloth makers who settled around Lodz. In 1807, Napoleon took control of central Poland including Warsaw and established the semi autonomous state called the Duchy of Warsaw. Anti-German sentiment by Poles at this time resulted in massive migration of Germans out of Poland to Bessarabia. In 1815, Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo. The Congress of Vienna convened after Napoleon’s defeat and renewed most of the previous partition boundaries between the major powers. An exception was that Prussia lost some land to Russia. Germans continued to migrate to the central and eastern areas of Poland. This area has been known by a variety of names over the years including Russian Poland, Congress Poland, the Kingdom of Poland and the Vistula territory. In addition to the Swabians previously mentioned, large numbers of Kashubians, Pommeranians and other Germans joined the migration to the Vistula territory. Most of the Germans who migrated to the Vistula territory were either cloth makers or farmers. Most of the land at this time was divided into large estates. Estates were typically divided into the manorial farm and village land. There were different classes of farmers. The peasants lived in the village and had some land to provide for their own subsistence. Villagers farmed the manor land under compulsory/paid labour. The peasant had no legal right to his land. Upon a peasant’s death, the land that he was on was typically assigned to a son, but this was not a legal requirement. The landlord had a lot of flexibility with how the land and workers were managed. This resulted in the different conditions even amongst neighboring manors. Most German colonists in the Vistula territory were of Lutheran faith. There were also some Mennonites, Baptists, Moravians and Catholics.
It is presently believed that in around 1761 Johann Werner was born in Torun. In 1793 Johann married Eva Kroening in Ilow, Poland. Known children from this marriage were Johan(b.1799), Michael(b.1811) and Christian(b.1814).
Christian Werner was likely born in Wilkow, Ilow parish area of present day Poland. Christian's first wife was Dorothea Sembke. She was born to George Sembke and Kristine Ewald in 1816 in Borki, Poland. It is believed that Christian and Dorothea had at least one child, that child named Ludwig. There were likely other children from this union but their names are not presently known.
Christian Werner's second wife was named Regine Polnau. Regine was born to Samuel Polnau and Eva Zittlau in 1826 in Borki, Poland. Regine came from a large family with known siblings named Kristine(b.1821), Michael(b.1828), Eleonora(b.1832), Eva(b.1835), Maria(b.1837), and Samuel(b.~1839).
Regine's grandparents appear to have been in the Borki area of Poland since at least the 1790's. Samuel Polnau, Regine's father, was born in Borki, Poland in 1793 to Simon Polnau and Anna Wolschlaeger. Presently we lose track of where Simon and Anna were born or married. Research continues.
Regine's mother Eva Zittlau was born on January 4th, 1799. Although her birth location is not known, it is assumed to be the Borki area of Poland since her known younger siblings named Anna(b.1802) and Christian(b.1806) were born there. Eva's parents were Jakob Zittlau and Eufrosine Pankratz. Again, the trail goes cold here.
Christian Werner and Regine Polnau were married in Ilow, Poland on November 1, 1846.This family lived in a settlement called Januszew, located approximately half way between Borki and Wilkow, along the Vistula River and seven miles east of the Ilow parish. Four known children of Christian and Regina (Palnau) Werner were Christian Jr, Julianna born around 1855 in Januszew, Charlotte born February 16, 1858 in Januszew, and Gustav born May 17, 1865 in Januszew. Christian had a son called Ludwig, thought to be born around 1845, from his first marriage.
It is believed that Christian
Jr remained in the Januszew area, married Maria
Seidel and had children Lydia
(b.1886), Emil
(b.1889), Gusta
(b.1892), Rudolph
(b.1895), Herman
(b.1898), Waldemar
(b.1901), Gustav
(b.1904) and Edmund
(b.1906). In 1909, this family moved from their rented house to their newly
built farm home. This home was built by Christian Jr. with iron ore and mortar.
Around 1916, Waldemar was caught trying to evade the army draft. He was held
in Warsaw until 1921 when his release from prison was negotiated. Shortly
after Waldemar's release, Christian Jr. and family made their way to North
America, initially traveling to the Bruderheim area. The book “For His
Names Sake”, written by Noma
Werner provides insight into the Christian Jr. family.
Michal
Heise, born around 1774 and Regine
Elizabeth Minkley, born around 1778 married and had children Elizabeth
(b.1794), Karolina
(b.1800 or 1803) and Kristine
(b.1813). All three girls were born in Secymin, Ilow parish area, Poland.
At the time of her confirmation in the Ilow parish on April 8, 1813 Karolina resided in Deutch Secymin. Secymin is located very close to Wilkow. Karolina was married twice. Her first marriage was to Peter Eichelt. Her second marriage was to Jakob Schattschneider. During her first marriage, Michael Eichelt was born in Secymin on June 20, 1825. Michael may have had up to seven children with his first wife although no historical documents have been located to confirm this yet.
With Michael Eichelt's second wife, Anna Fenske, one child called Eva was born. Anna Fenske was previously married to Christian Kroening and may have had up to seven children, one thought to be named David. Eva Eichelt was born to Micheal Eichelt and Anna(Fenske) in Uderch, located just three miles northeast from the Ilow parish in Poland on September 1, 1866.
Anna Dorothea Fenske was born in 1824 at Secymin, Poland to George Fenske and Eva Pankonin. Anna had siblings named Paul (b.1827), Heinrich Ferdinand (b.1831), Georg (b.1839) and Christian (b.1841). Anna and Paul were born in Secymin while the younger children were born in Januszew, Poland.
