More Pictures

I was lucky enough to have someone send me more photos of Thomas Slechta and his family.  They were taken here in the U.S.  Young Thomas appears to be age 12-14.  Not really sure at this point, but I am planning to go meet with the person who sent them to me to see what he knows.

Found a Photo

YES!!! Had to share my excitement!  I FINALLY found a picture of one of the children of my ancestors from Bohemia I was looking for.  It is her wedding picture and now that I have that, 2 of my unknown pictures are now known.   So I can now finish putting together the book I have been working on.  So all you Slechtas who know you are descendants of Thomas and Anna, as I am, give me until June then send me your latest family photos and I will update them.   Oh and if you have any other family stories or photos for the book send them my way.       To all other Slechtas I am still searching back further and if you can trace your roots back to Bohemia/Czech Republic, I am still interested in trying to connect the trees.

Renee Martinson

Posting this to Renee Martinson.  I would like to find out you're Slechta History.    Please post a message to me via facebook with your e-mail so I can contact you.   I you do not want to use facebook, post a comment to this message indicating how I can reach you.

Still Researching

Wow! Time sure passes fast.   Yes,  I am still researching the Slechta name.   I just have slowed down due to work keeping me busy and making me not really want to come home and sit in front of the computer anymore.    I am still looking for the link in the Czech Republic to connect my lineage to another tree.  I hope someday I can find it.   If anyone knows any new online sites that have been adding records from the Czech Republic archives, I would appreciate the link.

Thank you,
Paul Slechta

Guest Book Added

I added a guest book at the bottom of the page.  If you have any comments or questions feel free to added them and I will respond to them as soon as possible.

Thank you,
Paul Slechta

Slechta's from Vrbová Lhota

I am currently researching Slechta's from Vrbová Lhota.  Anyone have Slechta ancestors from that location?  If so please contact me.  You can find me on facebook or post a comment here.

Thanks Paul

Is Szlachta a version of Slechta?

Had a facebook conversation the other day(see below).  Cecilia reminded me of something I read awhile back, but never did anything with it.  Is Slechta a version of Szlachta?  Or maybe the other way around.  I have found records of both names back to about the same time.  Could they be related?  There is a good chance since they both mean nobility in there respective languages.  Szlachta is Polish and Šlechta is Czech/Bohemian.  

If you take look at the area over there it is not very large( see map below).  Since the Czech Republic is roughly the size of Iowa, movement of people over a number of years makes it possible for the names to have the same origin.  What is that origin?  Is it Czech?  Is it Polish?   Could it be German?  Both Slechta and Szlachta have hints that they were derived from German words.   

"Szlachta" derives from the Old German word "slahta" (now "(Adels) Geschlecht", "(noble) family")
Slechta  see previous post  http://slechtahistory.blogspot.com/2009_11_01_archive.html

Someday I hope to find out.  If there is anyone out there that knows more or has a resource to help prove or disprove, I would love to hear from you.

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  Cecilia Burkhart

  • Hi Paul,
    I read your blog about the origin of the name "Slechta". I was born Cecilia Marie Slechta , father is Henry, grandfather is Bohumil.
    
    The origin of the name comes from the name Szlachta from Poland. They were the nobility of Poland. In the 1700s, the Polish economy began to deteriorate. Some Szlachtas emigrated to what is now Czechloslavia and Austria.
    
    Sorry, couldn't figure out how to use your blog page so I came to Facebook.
    Cheers, Cecilia
    
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  Paul Slechta

  • Thanks Cecilia! Yes I have looked in to the name Szlachta. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szlachta I believe the name originated from a German area called Schlechtbach. A research center I contacted years ago mentioned this to me. However the area over there is so close together it is hard to say without concrete proof. Hopefully someday I will get that proof.
    
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    Szlachta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    en.wikipedia.org

    The szlachta (Polish: szlachta, [ˈʂlaxta] ( listen), Belarusian: шляхта, šlachta, Lithuanian: šlėkta, šlėktos or bajorai ) was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333–1370 reign of Casimir the Great.[1] I...
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  Paul Slechta

  • Do you mind if I repost this on my blog?
    
  • On another note. Are you a Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinios or Texas Slechta?
    
  • Looking at my information I would say Nebraska.
    
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  Cecilia Burkhart

  • You can post it on your blog. I live in Nebraska. Go Big Red!
    
  • Oh, also, my greatgrandfather owned a farm outside of Prague. It was rare for people other than the aristocracy to own property. I don't know how long it was in the family, however. My ex-husband was the one who stumbled on the Polish connection. He loves reading big, thick, dry history books.
    
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  Paul Slechta

  • What town was the farm near? Was Prague the closest? I like to plot out locations were any Slechta lives or once lived. It let me see where most Slechta's were located.