Descendants of Wołowski, the merchant – lawyers, insurgents in the 19th century

Abstract

The aim of the presented article is to present the lives of the Wołowski brothers, Jan Tadeusz and Hieronim, and to bring them out of the shadow casted by the most eminent and not related to them Jan Kanty Wołowski. Jan Tadeusz Wołowski had a long professional career and was recognized as a model barrister. Hieronim Wołowski had shorter professional practice as a lawyer, but was also a November insurgent. Jan Tadeusz and Hieronim Wołowski were cousins of the famous pianist Maria Szymanowska née Wołowska, what definitely affected their lives. As it turned out, the known lawyer Feliks Jeziorański was related to Jan Kanty Wołowski. They all descended from the baptized Frankists families. The myth of the existence of one Frankist Wołowski family is contrary to the information presented in Minakowski’s Great Genealogy. The leading subject of this study is to present the twenty years of the professional career of Hieronim Wołowski against the background of his family’s history. It shows the descent of Hieronim from Franciszek Wołowski, the spice merchant, and Teresa Lanckorońska. The secondary subject is to spread knowledge about the life and career of the famous advocate, Jan Tadeusz Wołowski. Hieronim’s life and professional choices were influenced by Jan Tadeusz’s vocational advice and observation of his matrimonial failures and successes. The involvement of Hieronim and his brother Andrzej in the November Uprising is also recalled. Finally, the participation of two sons of Hieronim in the January Uprising is mentioned.