After a voyage where you were seasick much of the time due to rough weather, you finally arrive in the Chesapeake Bay. Public health inspectors board the ship as it enters the bay and begin physically inspecting the passengers (Esslinger 1988). They are looking for illnesses like typhus, cholera, smallpox, tuberculosis, and trachoma. Luckily, you […]
Imagine yourself in this situation. Times in the old country are hard, food is scarce and expensive. Your family has scraped up enough money to buy you a ticket to Baltimore. There will be one less mouth to feed, and, once in Baltimore, you must get a job and send money home. You will come […]
Background information: The influx of immigrants to American shores between 1831-1930 can be arranged into 3 great waves with peaks occurring in the 1850’s, the 1880’s, and the decade before World War I. (Jones 1976) High school students at the Academy for the Advancement of Science and Technology in New Jersey have posted a chart […]
Many emigrants from Germany, Austria and Central Europe headed for the German port of Hamburg. Hamburg became a port of emigration because of its competition with Bremen as a seaport for trade. In the early 1830s, Bremen was doing well in its trade with America, while Hamburg trade was mostly with the West Indies and […]
There is very little written about every day or seasonal life, unless you look under “Holidays” which are well reported elsewhere; but since farm life did not change all that much within 50 or so years, I will translate the cycle of seasons and work schedule. Crops were distributed over all fields and measured in […]
Amplatz/Oplotec is located approximately 4.5 km northeast of the town of Hostau in the district of Bischofteinitz. The road leading through the town connects the state road Bischofteinitz – Eisendorf at the intersection Gänsberg via Hassatitz, Amplatz, Liebeswar with Route 92 (Emperor’s Route, Bischofteinitz – Plan – Eger). Connecting roads and short-cuts led to the […]
Horou was located approximately 2 km southeast of Hostau; it had belonged to the parish since 1784. In official documents, Horou was mentioned as “Horau” or “Harou” and was part of the parish of Schlattin as well. Horou was chronicled in 1379 for the first time (as per E. judges) “Horuss.” In 1388, the town […]
Melmitz (Parish for Franz & Barbara Prokosch, also Lilla – Wiesner families) The old parish village of Melmitz, located about 5 km (3 miles) northeast of Hostau, was mentioned for the first time in 1235. The village, which is located near a creek bearing the same name, was located between the Greschin (526 m) 325 […]
Berg (German) / Hora Svateho Vaclava (Czech) the Catholic Parish for 3 + generations of Prokosch families). Berg is located 2 km Southwest of Trohatin. The old parish village of Berg, (means hill) is located about 4 km (2.5 miles) northwest of Ronsperg (Poberzovice), probably derives its name from an old castle or fortress; the existing […]
The only photos of Franz & Barbara Prokosch, that I am aware of (Undated)…
SS OHIO Manifest An update on the Franz Prokosch family immigration records. I finally was able to find the correct records. Their immigration records were miss-posted in the Leo Baca Immigration Records, Volume VIII for arrival in 1874 vs. the actual year of 1879. Franz Prokosch and family (included 2 Lilla kids) immigrated to the […]
(translated from German) http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~gbhs/Heimat_Bucher/Berg_Parish/Berg_Parish.html Trohatin The stately country village Trohatin rose barely 3 km northwest of Ronsperg between twp mountains: Steinhügel in the southeast which was 480 m high, and the Schmalzberg in the northwest which was 600 m in height. In 1945 it had 85 houses with 419 residents. Dr. Ernst Richter guessed that […]
How many generations of PROKOSCH’s are there? That is a great question… So far I have worked my way back to the 1680’s… I am sure in time we will be able to go back even further… here is a snapshot of what we know… Prokosch History: 1) Josepho Joannes & Kunegunde (Beckin) Prokosch-Trohatin #6 […]
The PROKOSCH surname has a long history dating back to the 14th century. While I am still trying to verify the connection to royalty or even a hint of a connection…. According to Godroms “Deutsches Namenlexikon” (German Name Lexicon), the name Prokosch also Proksch, Broksch, Prokop and Prokopf is from St Prokop the Patron Saint […]
From all the research material I can find, it appears many of the Prokosch families made their living as farmers, at least back as far as eight generations ago. They brought this skill to the United States, where it continues today… One of the main challenges that I continue to try to resolve is: Are […]
For years I have been entertained with peoples attempt to pronounce “PROKOSCH”. Half the time they mumble something and put a “ski” on the end. NO it is not Polish… and there is no ski on the end! So if you are a telemarketer and call me asking “Is Mr. Pro%^&SKI there?” My answer will […]
