The Danenberg Family

Dāvis Sirlaks 1886–1952

Peter's great-great-uncle.

Also recorded as David Sirlak (1886, 1912); Dāvids; Davids; Dāvis.

Dāvis Sirlaks was born on 16 Apr 1886 in Vīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia2,3,4,5, the son of Pēteris Sirlaks and Marija Gibboja3,18,19. He married Alma Leontīne Āboltiņa about 1915 in Salaca parish, Vidzeme, Latvia20. He died on 1 Mar 1952 in Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia4,13,14 and was buried at Jaunrauna cemetery, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia15,16.

Family

Parents
Pēteris Sirlaks 1847–1896 and Marija Gibboja 1853–1925 documented
Wife
Alma Leontīne Āboltiņa 1887–1959 · married about 1915 in Salaca parish, Vidzeme, Latvia
Children

Life events

EventDatePlace and details
Born16 Apr 1886Vīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
Old Style (Julian) date: 4 Apr 18862,3,4,5
Lived1931Vīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia6,7
LivedJul 1938Vīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia8,9
Buried1952Jaunrauna cemetery, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia15,16
Died1 Mar 1952Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia4,13,14
EducationOnly three years of schooling; then self-taught (wrote essays, c. 60 poems, p. 22).10
WorkRīga, Vidzeme, Latvia
Bricklayer/building worker in Rīga before marriage ("25 gadu vecumā būvstrādnieks", c. 1911, p. 22); later farm owner (saimnieks) of Lejas Vīstuči, horse-trader, founder of a brass band. Weakens lead davis-sihraks-policeman (a Rīga town policeman in 1909).11
WorkLauksaimnieks
According to an online family tree12
NoteVīstuči farm, Jaunrauna, Rauna, Cēsis district, Vidzeme, Latvia
Children: Jānis (1916–1918), Velta (1918), Aina (1920), Ilga (1922), Valdis (1924). p. 9 lists Valdis before Ilga, but the dated registers (pp. 22, 34) put Ilga first.17

Photographs

Marija Sirlaka with her sons Kārlis, Mārtiņš, Dāvis and Augusts and Mārtiņš's wife Emma, c. 1911–1913
Marija Sirlaka with her sons Kārlis, Mārtiņš, Dāvis and Augusts and Mārtiņš's wife Emma, c. 1911–1913. Standing, centre (tall, dark suit): 'son Dāvis'. Family photograph, Peter Danenberg's collection.
The same portrait in the family album, with its handwritten Latvian caption
The same portrait in the family album, with its handwritten Latvian caption. “Mana tēva māte Marija Sirlaks, pa kr. viņas vecākais dēls Kārlis, pa labi dēls Mārtiņš ar sievu Emmu, stāv no kr. dēls Augusts un dēls Dāvis. Trūkst meitas Anna un Erna.” (My father's mother, Marija Sirlaks; on the left her eldest son Kārlis; on the right son Mārtiņš with his wife Emma; standing, from the left, son Augusts and son Dāvis. Missing are the daughters Anna and Erna.). Family photograph, Peter Danenberg's collection.

Open questions

Sources

  1. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS PIEKTO BĒRNU DĀVIDU".
    Kaut gan dzīvē lietoja vārdu Dāvis, kristītais vārds ir Dāvids.
    Translation: Although in life he used the name Dāvis, his baptismal name is Dāvids.
  2. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 7, section "PĒTERA MĀRČA DĒLA ĢIMENE".
    Davids 1886.4.IV-1952.III … Visi dzimuši “Vīstučos”.
    Translation: Davids, 4 April 1886 – March 1952 … All born at "Vīstuči".

    parents: Pēteris Sirlaks and Marija Gibboy (5th child). = 16 April 1886 Gregorian. As printed in the memoir; a 19th-century church-book date, so almost certainly Julian (Old Style).

  3. Rauna Latvian congregation births and baptisms 1877–1891, 1886 no. 134, LVVA f. 235, apr. 7, l. 517, image 322 (right page, folio 314), LVVA f. 235, apr. 7, l. 517, image 322.
    April, vierten, nachmittags 3 U. | April dreizehnten | 134 Neuhof, Lj. Wihstuz. Dawid Sirlak. Elt. Wth Peter Sirlak u. d. Fr. Marie geb. Gibboy, beide lutherisch. Pth. Wth Dahw Bitte, Wth Mahrz Sirnis u. d. Fr. Lihse. Get. vom Wirth Dahw Gudre im Hause, bestät. den 10 August v. Past. [Sirne?] in d. K.
    Translation: Born 4 April, 3 p.m.; baptised 13 April. No. 134. Neuhof, Lower Vīstuči: Dawid Sirlak. Parents: farmer Peter Sirlak and his wife Marie née Gibboy, both Lutheran. Godparents: farmer Dahw Bitte; farmer Mahrz Sirnis and his wife Lihse. Baptised at home by farmer Dahw Gudre; confirmed 10 August by Pastor [Sirne?] in church.

    Born 4 Apr 1886 Julian (= 16 Apr 1886 Gregorian), 3 p.m.; baptised at home 13 Apr 1886 by farmer Dahw Gudre, confirmed (bestätigt) in church 10 Aug 1886 by the pastor [Sirne?]. Legitimate son of farmer (Wirth) Peter Sirlak and his wife Marie née Gibboy, both Lutheran. Godparents: farmer Dahw Bitte; farmer Mahrz Sirnis and his wife Lihse. Same parents and farm as Mārtiņš Vilhelms (1883 no. 324), so the two are full brothers. The relative's tree date 4 Apr 1886 is the Julian date.

  4. Aina Jurciņa, timenote person id 11610902.
    Dzimšanas datums: 00.00.1920 Miršanas datums: 18.03.2003 … Pirmslaulību (cits) uzvārds: Sirlaka … Kapsēta: Gulbene, Vecie kapi … Dāvis Sirlaks — Tēvs — 1886–1952; Alma Sirlaka — Māte — 1887–1959; Valdis Jurciņš — Dēls — 04.03.1947–04.09.2019; Alberts Jurciņš — Vīrs — 14.12.1916–1953
    Translation: Born 1920, died 18 Mar 2003; maiden name Sirlaka; cemetery Gulbene Old Cemetery; father Dāvis Sirlaks (1886–1952), mother Alma Sirlaka (1887–1959), son Valdis Jurciņš (1947–2019), husband Alberts Jurciņš (1916–1953)

    Identity of the memoirist. Timenote (nekropole.info) memorial pages give Aina Jurciņa, maiden name Sirlaka, born 1920, died 18 March 2003, buried in the Gulbene Old Cemetery. They name her father Dāvis Sirlaks (1886–1952) and mother Alma (1887–1959); her husband Alberts Jurciņš (b. 14 Dec 1916, d. 1953); her son Valdis Jurciņš (4 Mar 1947 – 4 Sep 2019, also Gulbene); her sisters Velta Grīslis (1918–2015) and Ilga Stangaine (1922–2011); and her brothers Valdis Sirlaks (1924–1995) and Jānis (1916–1918). So Aina is Elvīra's first cousin through Dāvis of Vīstuči, exactly as Raimonds said ('Elvīras māsīca'). Her married name JURCIŅA is the name to search in catalogues; the memoir is probably an unpublished family typescript held by her descendants (Jurciņš family, Gulbene) or by Raimonds.

  5. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I16 (person-6000016), GEDCOM lines 676–734.
    BIRT · 4 APR 1886 · Vīstuči, Jaunrauna

    Date: Julian (Old Style), as in the church books: = 16 Apr 1886 (Gregorian), as we have it.

  6. Jaunraunas pagasts, Lauksaimnieku un citu zemes īpašnieku adresu grāmata, 1931.
    Sirlaks, Emīls, Kalnvīstučos, c. J. * Sirlaks, Dāvis, Lejas un Jaunvīstučos, c. J. Strubis, Jūlijs, Vidusvīstučos
    Translation: Sirlaks, Emīls, at Kalna-Vīstuči; Sirlaks, Dāvis, at Lejas- and Jaun-Vīstuči; Strubis, Jūlijs, at Vidus-Vīstuči

    Landowners' directory: 'Sirlaks, Emīls, Kalnvīstučos' and 'Sirlaks, Dāvis, Lejas un Jaunvīstučos'. So Vīstuči was split into Kalna-, Lejas-, Jaun- and Vidus-Vīstuči. Emīls Sirlaks (son of Reinholds, b. 1900, of Vīstuči) was deported on 25 March 1949 (per the 1949 deportation list for Cēsis district, archiv.org.lv, snippet only). Today 'Vīstuči' and 'Kalna Vīstuči' are addresses in Priekuļu pagasts near Jaunrauna cemetery (57.3374 N, 25.4608 E).

  7. My Life and Times (1912–1949), ¶13.
    my father’s mother had driven to our house in a horse-drawn wagon from Raunas Vīstuči. She lived with on a farm with my father’s brother Dāvis
  8. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, 38.
    | Dāvis Sirlaks | "Lejas Vīstučos" |
    Translation: Dāvis Sirlaks — at 'Lejas Vīstuči'

    Owner (saimnieks) of Lejas Vīstuči, which his widowed mother entrusted to him; listed as owner of "Lejas Vīstuči" in the p. 38 table of the farm’s owners.

  9. Pie tiesas galda., Cēsu Vēstis, Nr.265 (29.07.1938), pp. 2–3.
    Dāvis Sirlaks no Jaunraunas pag. Vīstučiem lūdz tiesu piespiest Emīli Sirlaku atdot viņam piederošu bišu saimi. Arī šo prasību kā nedibinātu atraida.
    Translation: Dāvis Sirlaks of Vīstuči, Jaunrauna parish, asks the court to compel Emīlis Sirlaks to return a bee colony belonging to him. This claim too is dismissed as unfounded.

    He sued an Emīlis Sirlaks for the return of a bee colony; the suit was dismissed. Confirms the memoir: Mārtiņš's brother Dāvis on 'Vīstuči', which is in JAUNrauna (not Vecrauna).

  10. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS PIEKTO BĒRNU DĀVIDU".
    Pēc trīs klasēm rudeņos sāpīgi izjūt, ka nevar iet uz skolu.
    Translation: After three classes he feels painfully, every autumn, that he cannot go to school.

    Only three years of schooling; then self-taught (wrote essays, c. 60 poems, p. 22).

  11. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS PIEKTO BĒRNU DĀVIDU".
    Par mūrnieku Rīgā strādādams uzsāk pašmācību.
    Translation: Working as a bricklayer in Rīga, he began to teach himself.

    Bricklayer/building worker in Rīga before marriage ("25 gadu vecumā būvstrādnieks", c. 1911, p. 22); later farm owner (saimnieks) of Lejas Vīstuči, horse-trader, founder of a brass band. Weakens lead davis-sihraks-policeman (a Rīga town policeman in 1909).

  12. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I16 (person-6000016), GEDCOM lines 676–734.
    OCCU · Lauksaimnieks
  13. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 22, section "LEJAS VĪSTUČOS SAVU DZIMTAS KOKU IESTĀDA MĀRČA MAZDĒLS DAVIDS".
    Davids mirst traģiski 66 gadu vecumā. Pie būves Jaunraunas “Staļos” viņam uzkrīt augšā velkamā spāre.
    Translation: Davids dies tragically at 66. At a building site at "Staļi", Jaunrauna, a rafter being hauled up falls on him.

    Accident: struck by a rafter being hoisted. Date "1952.III" (p. 22, 7); "1952.g. saimnieks Dāvis Sirlaks mirst" (p. 34). Our data: 1952-03-01.

  14. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I16 (person-6000016), GEDCOM lines 676–734.
    DEAT · MAR 1952 · AGE 65
  15. S-sweep-sirlaks-frontier-https-cemety-lv-public-deceaseds-340472-type.
    Dāvis Sirlaks Dzimšanas datums: 1886, Miršanas datums: 1952
    Translation: Dāvis Sirlaks, born 1886, died 1952

    born 1886, died 1952. Probably a son of Pēteris × Marija (not in the memoir list): NEW candidate child. Alma Sirlaka (1887–1959), in the same plot, is probably his wife. Jānis Sirlaks (1916–1918) is probably their child.

  16. MyHeritage family tree 'Dzimta' of Peter's third cousin (his family site), member GEDCOM export of 26 Oct 2026, I16 (person-6000016), GEDCOM lines 676–734.
    BURI · Jaunraunas kapi, Latvija
  17. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, pp. 9, 21, 26, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS PIEKTO BĒRNU DĀVIDU".
    Viņiem ir pieci bērni: Jānis, Velta, Aina, Valdis, Ilga. … Mūsu vecākā māsa- 1918.gada septembrī. Mēs, pārējie trīs bērni, ik pēc 2 gadiem. … Mēs …
    Translation: They have five children: Jānis, Velta, Aina, Valdis, Ilga. … Our eldest sister, in September 1918. We, the other three children, every 2 years. … …

    Children: Jānis (1916–1918), Velta (1918), Aina (1920), Ilga (1922), Valdis (1924). p. 9 lists Valdis before Ilga, but the dated registers (pp. 22, 34) put Ilga first.

  18. My Life and Times (1912–1949), ¶13.
    my father’s brother Dāvis
  19. Studio portrait of Marija Sirlaka (née Gibboja) with her sons Kārlis, Mārtiņš, Dāvis and Augusts and Mārtiņš's wife Emma, c. 1911–1913; mounted in a family album with a handwritten Latvian caption.
    standing: 'son Dāvis'
  20. Ainas Sirlakas atmiņas ("Vīstuči"), Aina Jurciņa née Sirlaka, Priekuļi, 1998, p. 9, section "PAR PĒTERA UN MARIJAS PIEKTO BĒRNU DĀVIDU".
    Davids apprecēja Almu Āboltiņu no Salacas, iepazīdams Rīgā darba gaitās.
    Translation: Davids married Alma Āboltiņa of Salaca, having met her while working in Rīga.

    spouse: Alma Leontīne Āboltiņa. Wedding in Salaca church (p. 23: "Salacas kāzās baznīcā nobučoja sievas mātei roku"). Year: Emīlis married in 1930, "15 years later than Davids" (p. 22), so c. 1915; first child Jānis b. 1916.

See in the family tree