Rzehorz Research

I just returned from a trip to the Czech Republic. I had planned to spend some time in the Opava Land Archive and concentrate on extending my husband’s Rzehorz line from the village of Lhotka. I wanted to find more information about Joseph Rzehorz, my husband’s great- great-grandfather. However, I did not know who his parents were because I was unable to find his marriage to Paulina Wlczkowa. I hoped that perhaps his death record would give me some clues. My first step was to evaluate the information I already had in my PAF and come up with a timeline.

Joseph’s son Frantisek was married in 1894. Joseph is listed on the marriage record of his son as a laborer from Lhotka. Frantisek died in 1908, at which time his father was already deceased. It appeared that Joseph died sometime between 1894 and 1908. I searched the entire period twice and did not find the death record. I knew from other records that the family did not move and therefore Joseph’s death had to be recorded in Lhotka.

While looking at the death registers I found a death record of one of Frantisek’s children in 1900. A person who came to report the death was Paulina Wlczkowa, Joseph’s wife. She was listed as a widow. So once again I checked the death registers, beginning in 1900 and working back in time until 1894. Joseph was not listed.

Then, after a sincere prayer, inspiration came to check before 1894. I did and found Joseph’s death in August 1893. His death record includes the names of his parents. I do not know why Frantisek’s marriage record did not indicate that Joseph was deceased. Usually the recorder puts a little cross before the name. But I am grateful that I was led to Joseph’s death record and can now research another generation.