Previously published in PGS-CA Bulletin (Issue #88, January 2008)
Kielno
Translated from the Słownik Geograficzny (1880-1902)
by Helen Bienick
Kielno, formerly known as Kolno and Kölln [in German], was a rustic parish village. It is located on a lake in the county of Wejherowo, on the high road which runs between the town of Wejherowo and Leżno to the south. Included in the village were the following small settlements: Brzozówko, Dębnica, Jügerhof, Lis, Nowa Rola, Place, and Cegielnia kielińska. It covered 141 włoki of land. (one włok was equal to 30 morgen of land). There were 17 "gebur" (German farmers) who owned their own farms. Other inhabitants numbered 419 Catholics, 81 Evangelicals; there were 41 houses, as of the late 1800s. A parish church, a post office, and a water mill were located in the town. Kielno itself is located 3 1/4 Polish miles from Wejherowo city. Twice during the year, Kielno held fairs with the sale and trade of cattle and other goods. Kielno village and its church date back to early times and the first mention of its existence dates to 1342. Due to the Reformation movement, the church was twice confiscated by other religions. It was restored to the Catholics in 1570 by Bishop Stanislaus Karnkowski. The second recovery occurred in 1596 by Bishop Rozrażewski.
Kielno, with its large folwark (a large farmstead) was once the property of the Polish kings, who owned the following nearby villages of Szynwałd, Przodkowo, Czapły, Nynkowy, Bojany, Jeleń, and Kosowo. The kings leased these properties to their friends and favorites. Among these were Jan Wejher, the sheriff in 1590, and Ernest Wejher in 1570. In 1654, the Polish rulers borrowed 83,900 florins from a certain Jan Werd, and these properties were given to the sons of Jan, free from all taxation until repayment of the debt. In 1686 the leaseholder was a certain nobleman named Linda. In 1702 the leaseholder was Jakub Łębiński, a judge. In 1751, a Łębiński funded the rebuilding and restoring of the parish church.
Among the distinguished priests who served the Kielno church was a Zygmunt Niwicki, a canon from Włocław, who was also a royal secretary, and was a noted writer. In 1687 in Gdańsk, and later in 1692, he published two religious works in Latin. The second work was reissued in 1714. He was a Jesuit and died in Kraków. According to the diocesan schematics of 1867, the church in Kielno numbered 5,898 souls. The church was named St. Adalbert to honor its benefactor, the heir of Kielno whose surname was Dix. It is not known when and in which year the church was originally funded and built, nor when it was consecrated. Up to the year 1866, there was an affiliated church in Szynwałd, and a second affiliate in Przodkowo. Besides the 21 small out¬posts, the following small settlements belonged to the Kielno parish: Kielno Małe and Wielkie, Bieszkowice, Bieszkowo, Bojany, Borowa góra, Bożanka, Brzozowa Góra, Brzozówka, Brzozowe błoto, Czernia, Dębnica, Dębowa góra, Dobrzewino, Dębowa karczma, Głodowo, Głodówko, Glina, Glinica, Wielka wieś, Grenzfliess(?), Zielenisz, Hamowana, Jägersburg(?), Kamień, Karczemki, Kaszary, Kielińska huta, Kłosów, Kłosówka, Koleczkowo, Koleczkowski młyn, Koponiewo, Kontorwers(?), Kowalewo, Łękno, Lisewko, Marchowo, Marchówko, Marcinki, Mniszewko, Miszewka dąbrowa, Mrówczy zamek, Nowa karczma, Niemotowo, Nowa rola, Okuniewo, Oliwska dąbrowa, Orzechowo, Piecewo, Place, Piekiełko, Psale, Psalmo, Rąb, Rębiska, Renówko, Rogalewo, Sarnia góra, Czarna góra, Warzno, Warzenko, Warzeńska huta, Wielka rola, Wiślin and Zagannik.
There were three parish schools with 181 Catholic students in Kielno, 16 in Wyślinie, and over 200 pupils in Szynwałd. Over 200 children did not attend any schools.
As to the many tombstones with their epitaphs, there is a complete description of them in a publication called Echo, which featured sepulchers and was published in Peplin in 1765, and found on page 24.
The following 4 epitaphs are of special interest in the Kielno Church.
#1 The most noble Samuel de Kczewo Kczewski, a most virtuous and righteous man, who passed away in the year 1646. He was a very pious person, along with his esteemed wife, Susanna de Bakowiec Schlichtingia.
#2 The most noble Gasparus Uberfeld, born September 11, 1561 in Koleczkowo and who passed away on March 9 in 1617.
#3 The most honorable and just nobleman, Laurentius Jantzen, deceased January 2, 1632.
#4 His lordship the nobleman, Carolus Jantzen, died October 23, 1666. May he rest in peace.
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