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Note from Louis D Welna (LDW): The spelling of the surname Philipsek has several variations. While
Sister Julianna spelled it ‘Philippczik’, the spellings ‘Philippczyk’ and ‘Philipczyk’ are found in the Mechnitz church
records. In Twardawa, the following spellings are found: Philipsek, Philipciek, Philipczik, Filippchic, Filiptschik,
Filipffchik, Filipczyk, Fillipczyk, Philippozyk even Flilpska”. The spelling of the surname on the Suevia’s ship’s
manifest was ‘Phielipscheck’. Florence Center introduces some older history with perhaps an older spelling,
‘Philipsic’, but I did not find that particular spelling in the Twardawa records. The correct Polish pronunciation is:
‘Phil LEEP chick’ although in Holdingford it was pronounced ‘FLIP sick’.
Mechnitz is the German spelling while Mechnica is the Polish spelling.
Mechnica’s birth, marriage, and death records begin in 1790.
Mechnica
Entering the town of Mechnica, you can see the church spire under the sign.
The village of Mechnica is located in the district of Koźle about 11 miles north from the
town of Koźle. In the13th century, Mechnice belonged to Bożogrobcy (which means “an order of
knights protecting God's grave” which was centered in Miechów, but also had a branch in Nissa
(now called Nysa). Currently (i.e. in 1880) there is a parish church that was built at the end of
the 18th century on the site of the old church, which was damaged by a fire. In 1845 there were
2
102 houses and 650 Catholic inhabitants. The parish at Mechnica, belonged to the diocese of
Kościęcin (now Gościęcin) and had 1839 souls (in 1869).1
1
Source: "Słownik Geograficzny Królestwa Polskiego i Innych Krajów Słowiańskich"("Geographical Dictionary of Polish Kingdom and Other Slavic Countries")
Warszawa 1880, Vol. 6, page 223. Translated by Zenon Znamirowski.
3
Outside the Philipsek gate in Mechnica Inside at the main entrance at the Philipsek house