VERSHOVSKI'S FAMILY HISTORY

The earliest mention of Vershovski name (spelled in French with 'ch') refers to the Napoleon war time:

...some Peter Ivanovich Verchovski was awarded with Pour le Mérite order, the supreme Prussian knight's award, on December 8, 1813, "for war service and bravery against an enemy" in war of 1812 against Napoleon.

In the list which one can find now at  www.pourlemerite.org  [1813]  he was named along with another Russian Heroes of the War of Year 1812, like

G.V.Bestushev, A.N.Raievski, Prince S.G.Volkonski, Prince A.P.Trubezkoi, F.N.Glinka, Count I.A.Mussin-Pushkin, V.V.Kotshubei, Princes A.P. and N.P.Obolenski, A.I.Michailovski-Danilevski, Prince N.S.Menshikov, A.N. and A.G.Miloradovich, M.I.Tsheodaiev, M.D.Bestushev-Riumin, Princes M.D., P.D. and S.D.Gortshakov, Baron O.I.von Korff, A.V.Engelhart, A.G.Tshavtshavadse, etc.

Of course he hardly was my ancestor - it is just an interesting fact from the family name history. But these people are definitely my relatives:

Grandfather
Grigorij Semenovich Vershovski, a cavalryman in the war of 1914 and the civil war, an officer of Red Army, participant of 3 wars.

Grandmother
Neonila Maksimovna Vershovski (Kravtcova), a housewife from bourgeois family of South of Russia

Grandfather
Vasilij Vasilievich Nilov, born in Saint-Petersburg in 1896, participant of 3 wars, in 1936 - colonel, in 1943 - artillery "break-through division" commander, during the war presented to the General of Artillery rank.
His three elder brothers: officers of Tsar Russian Army, oldest (Ivan) - colonel of Tsar Army. His far relative: Admiral Konstantin Nilov, flag-captain of Emperor's flagman yacht "Shtandart"

Grandmother
Klavdia Stepanovna Nilova (Loseva), born in 1900 in cossack family near Alma-Ata, housewife

Grandfather's sister
Ekaterina Vasiljevna Nilova, graduated from St.-Petersburg Institute for Noble Girls (Smolny), teacher.

Father
Konstantin Grigorievich Vershovski, born in Nikolaev in 1926, graduated from M.Frunze Navy college in Leningrad, Navy officer, 1st rank captain, electronic engineer and Navy regiment commander, in 1965 was awarded with "Red Star" order for disarming more than 20 war mines. Hobbies - electronics, photography, motor touring. Died in 1975.

Mother
Ekaterina Vasiljevna Vershovski (Nilova), graduated from I.Repin Academy of Arts in Leningrad, an architect

Mother's memoires

Sister
Marina Konstantinovna Zorina (Vershovski), a brilliant artist-designer in the puppet-show theatre. Graduated from Leningrad Institute of Theatre, Music and Cinematografy.

Me
Physicist (the military line breaks here :). Not much in common with the noble ancestors.
Born in Tallinn, Estonia, in 1961. Graduated from SPb State University in 1984, made Ph.D. in 1989.
Hobbies - photography, web-design, literature... and other useless stuff.

Niece
Asja Zorina, an actor, graduated from the Institute of Theater, Music and Cinematography of St.-Petersburg

Daughter
Sofia Vershovskaya, born in St.-Petersburg in 1986, University student