Grocholski Mikołaj (1781-1864), Podolian governor. Born on 11 September in Pietniczany in the Vinnytsia district, as the son of Marcin, Voivode of Bracław, and Cecylia from the Chołoniewski family; he graduated from a gymnasium in Lviv. After staying in St. Petersburg, he inherited the estate of Strzyżawka in the Vinnytsia district from his father and expanded its agricultural and horticultural operations, exporting fruits to Russia. He transformed the family manor on the Bug River into a fortified castle, surrounded it with an extensive park, and furnished the interior with a rich library and art collections.
In 1817, G. was elected Podolian provincial marshal for three years, but he did not distinguish himself in this position with energy or concern for the interests of the population; nevertheless, Alexander I, visiting Podolia in 1822, appointed him vice-governor, and in 1824, civil governor. Although the abolition of the military governorship at that time increased Grocholski’s prestige, he placed more emphasis on representational duties, interventions in Kyiv and St. Petersburg, and reporting based on the reports of his subordinate officials, rather than on actual political gains for Podolia (financial, judicial, and educational matters were not within his competence at all). He failed, for example, in 1827 to mitigate the implementation of the decree on the conscription of Jews into the army and the draft of Jewish boys, known as Cantons. G. focused entirely on enhancing his own fortune and hosting lavish receptions for the imperial court during their travels through Podolia (in 1828 first for the Empress, then for Nicholas I on his way to the war with Turkey); however, he failed to gain the trust of the Podolian nobility due to his secrecy, unapproachability, and aristocratic pride. At that time, G. was a member of the highest degree of the 8th French-Russian Masonic lodge “Les amis reunis” in St. Petersburg.
After the outbreak of the November Uprising, Grocholski began cooperating with the Union of Patriots, which raised funds for the uprising, equipping volunteers, and providing material support to the parents of absent insurgents, political prisoners, and exiles. Grocholski made a substantial monetary donation for these purposes, warning those threatened with searches or arrests. After the fall of the uprising, the authorities launched an investigation against Grocholski, and when facts of his support for the Union of Patriots were revealed, he was removed from the governorship and taken to the fortress in Terespol. After contracting typhus, he was placed under police supervision in Bender. After several years, he returned from there to Podolia and settled in Kamieniec Podolski. To dispel any suspicions, he even destroyed the literary manuscripts of Prince St. Chołoniewski, entrusted to him for safekeeping years earlier.
Near his manor in the Polish Folwarks near Kamieniec, he left a large building of the Visitation convent, founded by his wife’s sister. Together with his wife, Emilia from the Chołoniewski family, he gathered representatives of many wealthy French, English, German, and Russian families in his salons during numerous treatments in Graefenberg. Grocholski died on 9 October 1864 without a male heir. His daughter Maria married Wojciech Morawski in 1843, who ruined and indebted the estate after Grocholski.
“Polish Biographical Dictionary” volume VIII National Institute of Ossoliński, PAN Publishing House Wrocław – Kraków – Warsaw 1959-1960
auth. Karol Rolle, pp. 587-588
GROCHOLSKI Mikołaj (1781-1864) – political activist. Born 11 September in Piatnyczany, Vinnytsia district. He was the son of → Marcin and Cecylia from the Chołoniewski family. He graduated from the Lviv gymnasium. He spent some time in St. Petersburg and then returned to Podolia. He was engaged in farming, especially agriculture and horticulture.
He inherited from his father Stryżawka, Pereorki, and Ławrówka in the Vinnytsia district, as well as Moskowitowka and Kurhanowka in the Zasław district. He gave the last two to his brother Michał in 1808, receiving in exchange Michajłówka and Kołomyjówka in the Vinnytsia district. He married on 3 October 1808 in Janów the daughter of → Rafał Chołoniewski, his cousin Emilia. He was supposed to obtain “the consent of the Apostolic See to eliminate the canonical impediment [to the marriage], which arose from such close kinship” *. Emilia received a dowry of 200,000 zł. and 115,000 zł. in jewelry from her parents, and 50,000 zł. from her uncle → K. Chołoniewski. After the latter’s death, she inherited Salnik in the Vinnytsia district and part of Melnykiwciw in the Gajsyn district. G. chose Stryżawka as the main family estate, where he built a palace between 1806-11 and also founded a church of Our Lady of Sorrows in 1827.
In 1809, he was elected marshal of the Vinnytsia district nobility. In 1811, he became the Podolian provincial marshal. For his activity and perseverance in collecting court donations for lands plundered by Napoleonic troops, in ensuring all necessary war benefits and allowances from landowners, and in maintaining order in the province, he was honored with royal grace (16 January 1813) and received a noble medal in memory of 1812. In March 1814, the Podolian nobility sent him as a delegate to the emperor to obtain money and provisions granted by the Podolian province to the Moldavian army in 1809 and 1811, and in June of the same year, to congratulate on the glorious conclusion of the war and express loyalty to the Russian throne on behalf of the Podolian nobility. On 19 October 1816, G. was appointed vice-governor of the Podolian province. From 23 May 1822, he served as civil governor, and on 31 December 1823, he was confirmed in this position. He received the rank of state councilor (1818) and actual state councilor (1827). He became a chamberlain of the Russian court (1821). He was a knight of the Order of St. Vladimir III class (1823) and St. Anna I class (1825). Carefully managing his career and increasing his own estates, he expended much effort on lavish receptions for the royal court (in 1828 first for the empress, then for Nicholas I on his way to the war with Turkey). However, the Podolian nobility considered him secretive, unapproachable, and pompous. As a member of the highest degree, he belonged to the French-Russian Masonic lodge “Les amis reunis” (“Union of Friends”) in St. Petersburg.
On 19 February 1830, he was transferred as civil governor to the Ryazan province. After the outbreak of the November Uprising, he had considerable resources from the Union of Patriots for equipping volunteers and providing material assistance to the families of insurgents, political prisoners, and exiles. He helped the insurgents with food and warned those threatened with searches or arrests. After the defeat of the uprising, he was removed from the governorship and taken to the fortress in Tyraspol. After suffering from typhus.
G. was placed under police supervision in Bendery. After several years, he returned from there to Podolia and settled in Kamieniec Podolski. According to some sources, to avoid any suspicion, he even destroyed the manuscripts of his brother-in-law – S. Chołoniewski, entrusted to him for safekeeping. However, → E. Iwanowski claims that the manuscripts were hidden in the Grocholski family and after his death****. Near his manor in the Polish Folwarks near Kamieniec Podolski, G. founded a Visitation convent, established by C. Chołoniewska, his wife’s sister. Together with his wife, during numerous trips for treatment in Grafenberg, he hosted representatives of many wealthy French, English, German, and Russian families in his salons.
He died on 9 October 1864. He had with Amelia Chołoniewska an only daughter, Maria (circa 1820-1 October 1853, Stryżawka), who married (3 October 1843, Stryżawka) Wojciech Morawski (*8 October 1810, Warsaw) and brought him a significant paternal estate as a dowry. After her premature death, the widower became a priest. The Stryżawka estate was inherited by their youngest son Józef (*21 September 1853, Stryżawka), who sold it to → T. Grocholski.
PSB (К. Rolle); Geographical Dictionary (Strzyżawka); ***Aftanazy, vol. 10, pp. 286, 394, 395, 397, 398, 405^08,
410,412 (408’>); Boniecki, vol. VII, p. 68; Chołoniewski; ****Iwanowski (3), vol. II, p. 680; Jęło wieki, pp. 130—131; **Rolle, vol. II, pp. 253, 334,412, 435, vol. ІП, pp. 261,262, 265, 282, 304, 307, 311, 339, 349 (vol. III, p. 265*); Uruski, vol. IV, p. 380; Morawski Maryan //W. Enc. Ii,; – Труды ПЕИСК, p. 217, 241, 385; Малакоя П), pp. 41-42; Теодорович M. И. Историко-статистическое описание церквей и приходов Волынской епархии, ГІоч., 1893, vol. III. p. 555; – ДАВО: ф. 200, оп. 1, спр. 6, арк. 65 зв., спр. 232, арк. 18 зв., 19, 64 зв.-73 зв.; ф. 470, оп. 1, спр. 104, арк. 395-405 зв., 410-433 зв., спр. 379, 112, арк. 272- 275 зв., 324-325 зв., спр. 866, 905. 217, арк. 151-174, спр. 487, 866; ф. 480, оп. 1, спр. 16, арк. 125-130, спр. 20, арк. 62 зв., 85, 606 зв.-609, спр. 68, арк. 29-30, *спр. 72, арк. 116 зв.–118, спр. 105, арк. 39 зв.-45.
The biography comes from the book FAMOUS POLES IN THE HISTORY OF VINNYTSIA REGION by Ms. Wiktoria Kolesnyk.