Joseph was a native of Poznan (Posen), Poland, said to have been from a notable family, he fought in the Polish November uprising of 1830, and was a Captain. He is recorded in the Alien arrivals at Dover on the 10th September, 1833. The advert above is the first record of him we have in England, his business and abode was to eventually be at 21 Ryder’s Court, Leceister Square.
31st October 1836 at St Pancras, Joseph married Mary Ann Stratton born circa 1818 Clapham. They had one daughter Mary Ann born circa 1838 who married at St Anne’s, Soho to Stanilas Helcman (Jeweller) born circa 1835 son of Ignatius a builder, witness A Krashinski (Aloizy lived with Joseph at Ryders Court). 1837 Michalski tobacconist is noted as Princes street, Leicester Square (Morning Herald, 28 March).
1871 census has the couple living at 21 Ryder’s Court former home of Joseph, Stanislas is born in Poland, no children.
In 1846 Joseph becomes a founding member of the masonic “Polish National Lodge”, he was to become a master in 1853. The following is from an article in 1970 “Anglo Polish Masonica” by Maria Danilewicz: “All of these were certainly “Czartoryskians,” as Jan N. Janowski calls them in his memoirs. Another member of the Lodge, Captain Jozef Michalski was undoubtedly one of their number. He sold tobacco and cigars at 21 Ryder’s Court, Leicester Square, London; and the business must have been well conducted since the future French Emperor, Napoleon III, was one of his customers. An annex to his shop was used as a restaurant and billiard room where, according to Janowski “reactionaries” liked to meet. None the less, Janowski often dropped in at Michalski’s and it was there that he made the acquaintance of Prince Marceli Lubomirski. Michalski’s reputation was rather besmirched by the reputation that he set fire to his own business in order to collect insurance compensation. Michalski’s grave in Highgate cemetery, was recently renovated, once again on the initiative of B. Jezewski of the Polish Memorials Preservation Fund. “
1841 census : Joseph is living at Ryder’s Court with wife Mary Ann and Daughter, neighbour is a 30 year old Joseph Rosliski? Polish army officer. In 1848 Joseph visited Belgium with his wife and daughter. 1849 applied for and got British citizenship, stating he had lived in England for 14 years. 1851 census: Joseph is at Ryder’s Court with family and Xavier Stansilas Gorski? age 23 Hungarian refugee born Poland (member of Polish National Lodge 1852) , and Augustus Wiercinski age 25, Hungarian refugee, born Hungary. Joseph was a talented musican and known to entertain at masonic meetings, in 1844 an 18 year old William Blackburn was found guilty of stealing a violin belonging to Joseph from his shop, a Joseph Catraski Professor of Music of Poland Street was a witness to the theft.
From “Thrilling and instructive developments an experience of fifteen years as Roman Catholic Clergyman and Priest” by M B Czechowski on page 223, in 1851 we have “I took temporary residence in the “Hotel D’Europe” It is necessary to observe here, that there is a London Polish Literacy Society, then under the patronage of Lord Dudley Stuart, who was its president, and whose rooms are at 10 Sussex Chamber, Duke Street, St James. Its object is to assist Polish political refugees, while in London and give them free passage to America if they desire to go there. The secretary, Szulczewski, and Michalski, tobacconist, police of the society, both Jesuits, knew of my arrival in London, with my wife, and were determined to injure me in every possible way, Michalski discovered my residence, and the same evening, whilst I was absent, went to the proprietor of the hotel, and brought such false and wicked, accusations against myself and wife, that upon my return he expelled us from the house….. I also had the pleasure of a personal interview with Lord Dudley Stuart at his residence, and exposed to him the conduct of his secretary, Szulczewski, and the wicked Michalski. He was greatly surprised, and immediately gave orders that I should receive free passage to the United States.”
Leonard Nieźwiecki 1811-1892, was an early exile in England, and in his letters mentions Michalski: stating he was an accountant in France or Belgium, and saved up £120 and moved to England, after the Uprising he was known to have numerous short term relationships with women, which continued in London where he lived in poverty with a room with a mattress on the floor. His wife appears to be the friend of one of those women that rejected him due to his poverty, with the tobacco business his fortunes improved.
1861 census has Joseph having an assistant Aloizy Krasinski who in 1855 fought in the Crimean war as an artillery man in the Sultans Cossacks, and Feliks Nowosielski, in 1863 Nowosielski was treasurer of the Polish Fund Commitee giving Ryders Court as his address.
It would appear Joseph died in 1868 as there is a cremation record then, the death however was recorded in January 1869. There is a gravestone on “White Eagle Hill” at Highgate cemetery, which records Joseph and his wife Mary Ann who died in 1869. The stone was restored in modern times
Nicolas Jouault 