Hello Listers,
I hope this is not too much off topic?
In 1826 the 6th Duke of Devonshire travelled to Russia for the coronation of Tsar Nicholas
I.
On his return the following year he brought with him a coachman known in England as Peter
WISTERNOFF, the Russian Coachman. Until 1843 he was employed as the Duke’s coachman at
Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, England.
There are family stories of noble birth but without knowing what his Russian/Polish name
was we have never had much hope of finding anything about his life before he went to
England.
BUT on a recent search of Google Books I came across his name listed in a book on Polish
genealogy and I am desperate to know more!
The book is called “Materialy do biografii, genalogii i heraldyki polskiej: zrodla I
opracowania” by Szymon Konaarski (Google translates this as Material for a biography and
genealogy Polish heraldry: the origin and development).
Only a snippet is shown of the page in Volume 3 which lists
WISTERNOFF, Piotr, Polska (Ros.) 16. VI. 1871 (A 379)
I assume the numbers and letters refer to other publications which should be listed
somewhere else in the book.
Apparently the original is in the University of Michigan and I am wondering if anyone can
tell me what would be the best way for me to access the information.
I would be extremely grateful for any assistance and if I can reciprocate with any lookups
in New Zealand I would be happy to do so.
Best wishes
Victoria Wisternoff
New Zealand