Local heritage book of Gembitz Hauland

Community History

In 1735 13 German colonists contracted with Nikolaus von Mielecki of Gembitz, (today Gebice) to settle on his estate with a Hollander contract. In addition to rights to one hufe of land, the settlers were given a half of hufe as community property for the establishment of a Lutheran house of worship, a school, and a burial ground. Paul Dams, a former Gembitzhauland teacher, wrote in his memoir that the community celebrated its bi-centennial in 1919 suggesting that the first families arrived in the community earlier.

In 1744, Mielecki sold his estate to Martin von Radomski. Radomski forced the residents to sign a new, less favorable, contract.

By 1825 the estate had been sold again to Kasmir von Paliszewski. In 1825 Paliszewski applied to the Royal General Commission for the Grand Duchy of Poznan for redemption of the wood and grazing rights of the farmers in his forests. Five years later he signed an agreement titled, Auseinandersetzungs-Rezess von Gembicer Hauland, ceding ownership of his property to 39 Holländer families.

King Friedrich Wilhelm IV gifted the community two bells in 1835. One of the bells was later replaced by a larger bell. Today one of these bells stands in a bell tower next to the church.

Church History

The Evangelical Church in Gembitzhauland was one of three mother churches established by ministerial decree on October 4^th and 22^nd 1856 within the parish of Gembitz. Besides Gembitzhauland, the other churches were Gembitz and Fitzerie (today Maranowo), which joined in 1861.

Three other communities, Polajewohauland (today Polajewice), Glasshütte (today Niewiemko, earlier Alt Niewiemko), and Niewiemko (earlier Neu Niewiemko and later Neuhütte) joined with the community of Gembitzhauland to form the new church. Each community had formerly been part of the congregation of Gramsdorf (today Bukowiec).

In 1856 Gembitzhauland had a half-timber prayer house that was built in 1814 after the community’s 1780 prayer house burnt. The 1814 building served as the congregation’s church until it also burnt on July 11, 1893. A new brick church was dedicated on November 16, 1900. Today the building serves the Gebiczyn community as the Roman Catholic Church of Saint John of Dukla.

Source: “Geschichte der evangelischen parochieen in der Provinz Posen” by Albert Werner 1898

Church Records

1. Gramsdorf Baptism Records (1813-1817)
2. Gembitzhauland only church book (1817-1819) Only available at the Archiwum Panstwowe w Poznaniu in Poznan.
3. Kreis Czarnikau church duplicates (1857-1874). The years from 1857-1865 are only at the Archiwum Panstwowe w Poznaniu in Poznan. The years 1866-1874 are online at Szukaj w Archiwach.

Civil Registration

1. Gembitzhauland – Standesamt Sarben (today Sarbia)
   1. Birth (1874-1912)
   2. Marriage (1874-1906)
   3. Death (1874-1911)
2. Polajewohauland – Standesamt Pripkowo (today Przybychowo)
   1. Birth (1875-1914)
   2. Marriage and Death (1875-1934)
3. Glasshütte and Niewiemko – Standesamt Budsin (today Budzyn)
   1. Birth, Marriage and Death (1874-1911)

Other Records from Archiwum Panstwowe w Pozananiu

1. Rejestr mieszkancow Gebiczyna (gm. Czarnkow) 1921-1933
2. Rentenkataster von der Gemeinde Gembitz Hauland, Gebiczyn, powiat Czarnkow 1855-1922
3. Auseinadersetzungs-Rezess von Gembitz-Hauland, Kreis Czarnikau 1842
4. Mappa Holedrow Gembickich w powiecie czarnkowskim 1826
5. Delegenheiten der evangelischen Kirche Gembitz Hauland
6. Abloesungs-Rezess von Niewiemko, Kreis Kolmaer (Neu-Niewimko) 1848-1850
7. Abloesungs-Rezess von Alt-Niewiemko, Kreis Kolmaer 1848-1850

Land Records

1. Gembitzhauland – Powiatowy Urzad Pracy w Czankowie
2. Polajewohauland – Sad Rejonowy w Obornikach Oborniki Poland

Miscellaneous Resources

1. Ancestry.com
2. Findagrave.com