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JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

MITĖNIŠKIAI MANOR, NEAR ŠĖTA

After the death of Józef Montwiłł, his nephew Władysław Montwiłł inherited Mitėniškiai Manor in 1911.

After the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania, the manor was nationalized. Understanding the danger that had arisen and seeking to avoid repression, W. Montwiłł and his wife Maria Montwiłł and her mother, Ludwika Kończa attempted to cross the USSR-German border illegally and seek refuge. However, their escape attempt did not succeed. On 1 August 1940 the family was arrested outside Kybartai by border guards of the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs of the USSR (NKVD). They were prosecuted for their attempt to cross the state border of the USSR illegally.

According to the 26 April 1941 protocol of the Special Deliberation of the USSR People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs, W. Montwiłł, M. Montwiłł and L. Kończa were sentenced to three years’ loss of liberty in a labour correction camp. W. Montwiłł died in the camp in 1942. M. Montwiłł managed to escape from prison and return to the family’s Mitėniškiai Manor, where she lived until the end of World War Two. As the Red Army encroached on Lithuania, she fled westwards and later left for the USA. She died in 2002.

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Part of Map of the parishes of Šėta, Pagiriai, Siesikai and Bukonys in the Ukmergė District of Kaunas Gubernia. The Jasūdai and Mitėniškiai Manors belonging to the Montwiłł gentry family are marked.

Mid-19 cent., in Russian.

LVIA, f. 525, ap. 8, b. 1386, fo 2

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Lists of the families of the brothers, Stanisław Adam, Wincenty and Józef Montwiłł (Stanisław’s son), gentlemen of Ukmergė District.

Stanisław Adam, bachelor, lives in the town of Troškūnai, Wincenty lives in Vaivadiškiai village, Józef, bachelor, in Mitėniškiai village.

Printed material, written document. 30 June 1881, in Russian.

LVIA, f. 708, ap. 2, b. 928, fos 230–231

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Cartes de visite of Stanisław Montwiłł (Józef’s eldest brother).

Printed material with handwritten additions. 1912–1913, in Polish.

LVIA, f. 1135, ap. 21, b. 621, fos 136–137

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Product labels from the Panevėžys yeast and spirits factory, which Józef’s eldest brother Stanisław Montwiłł set up in 1890. End of 19 cent., beginning of 20 cent.

The factory was closed down during the First World War.

From the personal collection of Dr Judita Puišo.

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Plan of plan parcelling out lands at Mitėniškiai and part of Normainiai Manors in the Šėta Valščius of Kėdainiai District. Drafted by the land-surveyor of the Land Regulation Department, Edmund Bolecki.

Draft, 1928, in Lithuanian.

LCVA, f. 1250, ap. 4/4, b. 569, fo 1

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Normainiai Manor Chapel (Jonava District).

Brick chapel from end of 18 cent. built in memory of the Confederation of Bar (1768) at Normainiai II Village on the way from Šėta to Mitėniškiai, dating back to the time of the Brunnow manor owners.

An inscription surviving on the chapel reads: “Renovated by his grandson Baron Prosper de Brunnow, 25 June 1852”.

The wooden manor house at Normainiai disappeared long ago.

Photo: Violeta Pansevič, 30 March 2025.

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Information from Władysław and Maria Montwiłł to the tax inspector of the city of Kaunas concerning the plot of land and a three-storey dwelling house they owned at 42 Gedimino St, Kaunas.

Data on individuals and flats in this building.

Printed matter, written document. 27 August 1938, in Lithuanian.

KRVA, f. 209, ap. 3,b. 3904, fos 1–1 a. p.

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Plan of Władysław and Maria Huszcza Montwiłł and Ludwika Kończa’s attempt to cross the USSR border, drafted by the Tauragė Border Force Squad of the USSR NKVD.

Plan, written document. No earlier than 1 August 1940, in Russian.

Lithuanian Special Archive (LYA), f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 16

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Władysław Montwiłł (Józef’s nephew) in the Kaunas Hard Labour Prison.

Photograph, no earlier than 1 Aug., 1940, in Lithuanian.

LYA, f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 7-1

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Finger prints of Władysław Montwiłł.

Printed material. 14 Nov. 1940, in Lithuanian and Russian.

LYA, f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 7-3

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Extract from the USSR NKVD commissar’s record of the special sentencing of Władysław Montwiłł.

W. Montwiłł is sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in a hard labour camp for his attempt to cross the USSR border illegally.

Printed matter. 26 April 1941, in Russian.

LYA, f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 92

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Maria Huszcza-Montwiłł (Władysław’s wife) in the Kaunas Hard Labour Prison.

Photograph, no earlier than 1 Aug., 1940, in Lithuanian.

LYA, f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 42-1

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Extract from the USSR NKVD commissar’s record of the special sentencing of Maria Huszcza-Montwiłł.

M. Montwiłł is sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in a hard labour camp for attempting an illegal crossing of the USSR border.

Printed material, 26 April 1941, in Russian.

LYA, f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 93

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Extract from the USSR NKVD commissar’s record of the special sentencing of Ludwika Kończa.

L. Kończa is sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in a hard labour camp for attempting an illegal crossing of the USSR border.

Printed material. 26 April 1941, in Russian.

LYA, f. V-1, ap. 1, b. 4988, fo 94

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Wayside Chapel of the Blessed Virgin Mary near the entrance to Mitėniškiai Manor.

Photo: Violeta Pansevič, 30 March 2025.

JUOZAPAS MONTVILA [JÓZEF MONTWIŁŁ] – THE GREAT PHILANTHROPIST (LVIA)

Site of Mitėniškiai Manor (Jonava District).

Photo: Neringa Češkevičiūtė, 30 March 2025.