[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] The New Rozyszcze Death Records

[William Remus]

The new death records from Rozyszcze Parish in Volhynia are really quite good. These are important records tracking the people migrating both in 1833 and 1860's into Volhynia. The records run from 1862 to 1895 and all are clearly written (film number 2380030 to 2380033). They are in the order that the pastor traveled rather than death or burial date but that is interesting since it clumps the records by village. In each year in the 1880's there were about 800 deaths in this parish so it is tedious looking though the records. Note that the St Petersburg Archive death records on the web only go to 1885 so these also cover new ground.

Unluckily, there is no index so you have to read though all the records. The good news is each person’s place of birth is listed so you can find out where your family might have come from prior to Volhynia. This is usually a place in Russian Poland like Petrikau. Other good news is that for children usually the father and mother with her maiden name are provided. For older people, the spouse’s name (or maiden name) is provided. And the village of the death listed. Since this is a death record, the village is usually the village where they lived. 

The records are in clear German script until 1891. Thereafter the records are in clear Cyrillic Russian although the dead person's Christian name and Surname are in parenthesis in German script. The dates need to be translated from Russian and also the other names in the record (this can be tricky). But after 1893, the records seem to be presented twice for each year; that is, there are two versions of the annual records. In these post 1893 records, it seems there are several hundred Rozyszcze records in one set but the other set is about double the size. So in 1893 to 95 more villages are included.

regards bill