Ziemiaństwo z powiatu sokólskiego wobec zmian administracyjnych i przemian społeczno-gospodarczych na wsi

Abstract

The landed gentry had a special position in Polish economy and culture, as well as in the definitely peasant Sokolka district which after the loss of independence was under Prussian governments and Russian later. The landowners from Sokolka district participated in the November and January uprisings, therefore they were afflicted with repressions such as the tributes and confiscations of estates, a lot of which were taken over by Russian people. In the first decade after the January uprising Polish landed gentry from Bialystok region lost about 43 000 hectares of the land. In 1905 in Sokolka district there were 69 estates, which occupied the area of at least 100 hectares. The owners of mansion houses suffered from economic crises which resulted in selling some parts of the land. From 1919 to 1935 43% of prewar area of the greater property in Sokolka district was divided. Among the landed gentry of this district there were lots of eminent families, for example Rembielinski, Baehr, Eynarowicz, Tomaszewski, Sulikowski, Gasowski and Wankowicz families. Similarly to other areas, they had a lot of connections to the village community, though they remained in isolation. They also lived beyond their means and at the same time they had financial problems.