Genealogy of Shevchenko’s mother Kateryna Boyko

Abstract

The article explores the genealogy of Shevchenko’s mother Kateryna Boyko based on archival materials of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Kyiv, the State Archive of Kyiv Region and the State Archive of Cherkasy Region. The author investigated this family tree starting from the end of the 18th century and until 1859, when Shevchenko visited Ukraine for the last time. In particular, the history of the poet’s family in connection with his grandfather Omelian Boyko was analyzed. The assumption that family line of Shevchenko’s mother originates from Carpathian rebel and contemporary of Oleksa Dovbush Ivan Boyko was rejected. Some details about the closest relatives of T. Shevchenko, namely his uncle Pavlo, aunts Dariya, Yevdokiya and Anna, have been clarified. Information about two unknown writer’s aunts Varvara and Motria has been found. The assertion that the mother’s family line lacked descendants was refuted. The surnames in marriage of the five Shevchenko’s aunts, having maiden surname Boyko, have been determined. They were Varvara Kryvenko, Motria Zavaliy, Dariya Diachenko, Yevdokiya Diadenko, Hanna Shkurup. By now we have information about forty nine poet’s cousins, seventy four nephews and three great-grandchildren of his aunts. The comprehensive analysis of the archival materials allows the researcher to deny the existence of Ahafiya Yakymivna Boyko, the alleged poet’s mother according to some media reports. The article also refers to the administrative structure, nature and geography of the village Moryntsi in the first half of the 19th century. The life of Ukrainian peasants is discribed based on the story “Kniahynia” (“Princess”) by T. Shevchenko as well as archival documents and research works by V. Hrabovetskyi, V. Orlyk, L. Pohylevych, O. Stepanyshyna.