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Anthony Sadowski
Born
Antoni Sadowski

c. 1669
Poland
Died (1736-04-22)April 22, 1736 (aged 67)
Amityville, Pennsylvania
Occupation Trader, interpreter, settler
Spouse(s) Marya Bordt (Mary Bird)

Anthony Sadowski (born around 1669 – died 1736) was an important person from Poland. He came to America and became a successful trader. He also worked as an interpreter, helping people understand different languages. The governor of Pennsylvania hired him to work with Native American groups.

Anthony Sadowski's Life Story

Early Adventures

Antoni Sadowski was born in Poland around the year 1669. His family came from a town called Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. His father, Marcin Sadowski, worked for the Polish king. He helped manage the king's lands and was a respected official. Antoni received a good education when he was young.

In 1701, during a big war called the Great Northern War, Antoni and his brother were captured. This happened in a city called Riga. Luckily, Antoni managed to escape. He traveled to Scotland and then to England. From there, he sailed across the ocean to the British colonies in America. He arrived in New York City in 1704.

Life in America

Sadowski marker on Allegheny Co Courthouse
A historical marker honoring Sadowski in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

After arriving in New York, Anthony Sadowski married Marya Bordt. Her English name was Mary Bird. They had six children together. Their oldest son, Andrew, and three daughters, Justina, Anna, and Sofia, all grew up and had their own families. Two of Anthony's grandsons later became famous pioneers in Kentucky.

In 1712, Sadowski moved his family from New Jersey to Pennsylvania. They settled on a large piece of land, about 400 acres, near the Schuylkill River. In 1719, he helped start a new community called Amity Township. Another founder was George Boone, who was the grandfather of the famous frontiersman Daniel Boone.

Anthony Sadowski worked hard to build good relationships with the Native American people living nearby. He learned their languages, including Delaware (Lenape) and Iroquois. This made him a valuable interpreter for other settlers.

He became a successful trader, traveling far into the western lands. He even reached a village called Logstown. In 1729, he opened a trading post with two other traders. This post was located in what is now Kittanning, Pennsylvania. In 1735, he officially became a citizen of Pennsylvania.

His Lasting Impact

Anthony Sadowski passed away on April 22, 1736. He was buried in Amityville, Pennsylvania. His grave is at the cemetery of Old St. Gabriel's Episcopal Church in Douglassville, Pennsylvania.

His gravestone has a special message. It says he was a great Polish frontiersman in colonial times. It also mentions he helped start Amity Township and founded the Sandusky family in America. Some old French maps from 1718 show Sandusky Bay as "Lac Sandouské." This suggests a possible connection to his name.

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