Hello,
Hi Pete. Welcome to the forum, and good luck in ascertaining your genealogy.
Whilst I don't have any direct comments for you in relation to your queries, I strongly recommend you to read God's Playground by Norman Davies (2 Volumes). His book contains an excellent description of the Prussian partition, and life thereafter, in occupied Poland.
To understand where "Prussian's" fit into the Polish dynamic, I think you must understand the complex history. Why not have a look on Google at "Prussian homage to Poland" and Prussian partition of Poland. That will set you in the right direction.
Cheers