Saturday, December 26, 2015

2015

There were 20 new posts this year. 
15 new registered readers.
221 new comments (wow). 

Thanks to all of you who read this blog and use it for your research. We are happy we can help you trace your Czech ancestors, help you find answers to your questions. 

Special thanks belong to our supporters - there were 4 donations done this year and we really appreciate them. These donations help us find some more time to write new blog posts so we can provide you more interesting information from Czech past. 

And what can you expect next year? I'd like to finish third part of "Houses of our ancestors" - town houses. I'd also like to show you how the localization research is done (that's the type of research when we don't know where exactly the family came from). Another post I plan will be about craftmen and their work. 

I would also like to ask you - what would you appreciate reading in this blog? What topics are interesting for you? 
I think there is much from Czech history and family research covered, that's why I'm asking - to be sure I'm not missing bits important for the research. 


Thanks and good luck in your research in 2016!

10 comments:

  1. I recommend people to this blog a lot, because there is so much here that is very difficult to learn about from an English-speaking country. Everyday Czech customs, Czech history, even basic things about how the country is set up help me as a researcher to make hypotheses when faced with a difficult researcher question. So thank you!

    As far as other topics or questions, I'd love a post on wandering occupations, most particularly, shepherds in the 17th and 18th centuries. Were there any sorts of registries of these people? I understand in the case of shepherds, they weren't serfs, even though they worked for the estate. I've trawled through an awful lot of parish books, trying to catch them, but I'm wondering if there was a registry of such families (or at least heads of household) on the estate. Were there other occupations that involved moving a lot? Are there any kind of occupational records that might give an idea of the geographical range people in these occupations might cover?

    Thanks again for all the wonderful information. And šťastný nový rok!

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    1. Thanks a lot for your post, Rose. I really appreciate it.

      Wandering occupations keep repeating so I'll prepare a blog post about them. I have a great example as I'm right now working on a family of wandering shepherds. :)

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  2. Blanka, you have such an interesting and packed full of information blog that is hard to improve on. I also recommend it to other people. We do not know the language and learning about the Czech Republic's history and customs is very important. Thanks for everything! Happy New Year! :)

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  3. I enjoy reading your blog. I am interested in knowing more about land owner records and serfdom.

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  4. Hi Blanka, Thank you very much for your always very interesting blogs. I have enjoyed reading them for years and they have definitely helped me in my research. A suggestion for a future blog could be: when, where and why were Kroje worn. Have a great New Year!

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    1. Ah, kroje. :) I'll ask Michaela to write about them as she knows them more. :)

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  5. Hello, Blanka:

    Just happened upon your blog this morning, and I am excited to read through the whole thing!! Applause, applause, for sharing your knowledge with us knowledge seekers!

    If I come across the answer to my question (I have so many), I will send another note, but here is a question for you that may apply to others.

    My great-aunt wrote an autobiography about her life in Nova Ves between Pacov and Posna. In the book, she mentioned that she schooled at the church in Posna, but that her parents would go "to the big church" in Pacov for worship. Is that odd? Is it more a social thing to go to the bigger village church? Was the "bigger" church in Pacov perhaps a cathedral? Trying to understand why they would go to two different churches.

    Happy New Year to all!

    Clara

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  6. One more question--who was chosen to be godparents? In Germany, it was often the unmarried teenage sibling of one of the parents. However, I can't seem to see much consistent familial connection between a child being baptized in Bohemia, and the godparents. Were there any particular rules to who might be chosen for this role? Were there people that often were in the role of first choice for this?

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  7. Thanks so much for the very useful blog that you have provided. It's really unique and gives non-Czech readers invaluable insights. My suggestions for future topics:
    1. Czech women's rights (18th-19th century); especially property rights. My own research show examples that czech women had control over their own property, unlike English-American women who lost all control to their husbands when they married. In my own family I see this characteristic carried on in America in my Czech ancestors; the women had their own separate property. These property rights for Czech women (in Austria) seemed to be supported by legal contracts.
    2. Could you write about finding military records? How does one find service records for individual soldiers online or any resources available in the US? I have an ancestor in a regiment that fought in the War of the 5th Coalition 1809-1811; can I find his service records to confirm that he served in combat (or not?)
    Thanks again for all your great work...and congratulations on your beautiful new daughter Salome!

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  8. Interesting qyestions...I have not gotten that far in my research but eventually I will.

    I am very interested also in the reasons for coming to USA. Was it political, quality of life issues, financial, religious freedom? My great grandfather served 7 years in army and was facing another 7 years (mandatory service?). Something like that. But I would love to know about these type of things.

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