The Slovak Yankee

Slovak Genealogy is Getting Easier and Easier

When I started pursuing my Slovak roots, oh so many years ago, there was the communist country of Czechoslovakia and dealing with them was difficult by mail.  That was 1979.  Twenty years and one velvet revolution later, the way to do Slovak genealogy was board a plane and get to Bratislava and go to the Archives.  There were all the parish records from Slovakia.  At that time some of the books were indexed some were not.  Mostly the baptisms and marriages were indexed and deaths were not.

Then came the next leap.  The Mormons microfilmed all the parish records.  Suddenly you only needed to go to Salt Lake City to use these records.  What's more they microfilmed the 1869 census as well.  This led to many trips to Salt Lake City to use these records.  I was the first to use them (and how do I know this?  Because I had to recall each film from the vault which was off-site).  It took me three separate trips to get all I needed.

But technology advanced again.  These microfilmed records were placed on the Internet at www.familysearch.org/.  So, now you could browse these records from your own home and save on the air fare to Bratislava (which I sadly paid in the 1990s). 

Most recently I was on that site and noticed that they had begun indexing the records into a searchable database.  From my many searches, I could see that baptisms have been indexed but not yet marriages or deaths.  Of course, there's no control page to let you know what's going on.  It's totally flying blind.  I found that you had to search by surname alone since Slovak parish records are in multiple languages.  George is listed in Latin as Georgius, in German as Georg and in Slovak as Juraj.  And when you search, of course, they do a wide search and you retrieve thousands of hits.  Your town may be first, but other towns follow.  I tried to do an exact search and came up with nothing.

However, since I was pressed for time when I was doing my genealogy I only did my direct lines.  Now I can search and retrieve all the siblings of my direct ancestors and see their families as well.  It should make for a fuller tree in the end.  It will be nice when all the records are indexed (and there is an obvious sign saying so).

But, for now, Slovak genealogy is taking another leap forward in convenience.  You can search the parish records from home.  Some are even now indexed.

The Vitek Family of Vrbovce, Slovakia

1. Stefan Vitek was born say 1715 and was the father of:

2. Jan Vitek was born about 1740.  He married on 1 February 1761 at Vrbovce, Slovakia, Susanna Sule, born say 1740, daughter of Jacob Sule.  They were the parents of:

3. Jan Vitek (Jr.) was baptized 5 June 1770 at Vrbovce, Slovakia.  He married Katharina Vitek (or Witek).  They were the parents of:

4. Elisabetha Vitek was born 15 December 1791 at Vrbovce, Slovakia.  She married on 2 November 1812 at Sobotiste, Slovakia, Martin Kristofik, born 10 November 1794 at Sobotiste, died there 15 December 1842, son of George and Elisabetha (Malany) Kristofik.  They had at least one child: Pavel.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Sobotiste and Vrbovce available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org. 

Umrtia (Deaths) 1817-1850, p. 438, FHL Film #2420737.

 

The Valuch Family of Vrbovce, Slovakia

This is another case of the Slovak double name.  It is also from the village of Vrbovce which is the only village that I've noticed the double name use.  I'm sure these lines connect somehow but the records don't go back far enough to connect them.

Line #1

1. Jan Valuch alias Benovsky was born about 1765.  He married Alzbeta Brnal.  They were the parents of:

2. Jan Valuch born about 1790 at Vrbovce.  He married on 29 June 1818 at Vrbovce, Anna Chalupka, born about 1800.  They were the parents of:

3. Jan Valuch-Malarik born 26 December 1822 at Vrbovce, died there 12 June 1881.  He married on 31 January 1848 at Vrbovce, Alzbeta Valuch, born 9 November 1831, and died after 1895, daughter of Jan and Anna (Skok) Valuch (see below).  They were living at house #578 at Vrbovce in the 1869 census.  Jan and Alzbeta had five children: Anna, Alzbeta, Zuzana, Jan, and Barbara.

4. Anna Valuch-Malarik was born 22 January 1849 at Vrbovce and died there 16 April 1921.  She married at Vrbovce on 22 November 1869, Jan Chodur-Janovych Dolinsky, born 22 September 1838 at Vrbovce and died there 15 September 1915, son of Pavel Chodur-Dolinsky and Alzbeta Tomecek.  They had four children: John (Jan), Pavel, Anna, and Martin.

Line #2

1. Pavel  Valuch born about 1720.  He was the father of:

2. Martin Valuch born about 1750.  He married at Vrbovce on 25 November 1770, Katharina Malarik, daughter of  Pavel Malarik.  They were the parents of:

3. Jan Valuch baptized 30 June 1781 at Vrbovce.  He married there on 10 February 1800, Katharina Sussak, baptized 27 August 1777, daughter of Martin and Katharina (Nessak) Sussak.  They were the parents of:

4. Jan Valuch (Jr.), born 24 May 1805 at Vrbovce.  He married at Vrbovce on 17 November 1823, Anna Skok, born 23 September 1807, daughter of Jan and Katharina (Valassek) Skok.  They had two children: Jan and Alzbeta.

5. Alzbeta Valuch married Jan Valuch-Malarik, see above in line #1.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Vrbvoce available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.  Death certificates from the Slovak Archives.

1869 census, house #578 LDS Film #2192677.

Baptisms 1822-1846, FHL Film #2435337, entry #26.

Deaths 1881-1895, FHL Film #2435373, Entry #58.

Baptisms 1822-1846, FHL Film #2435337, p. 141.

Marriages 1816-1822, FHL #2435336-2435337, p. 325.

Baptisms 1783-1815, FHL Film #2435336, Entry #107.

Baptisms 1783-1815, FHL Film #2435336, Entry #150.

 

Katharina Valassek 1791- of Vrbovce, Slovakia

1. Martin Valassek was born about 1740.  He married about 1763, Katharina (---).  They were the parents of:

2. Michael Valassek was baptized 14 July 1764 at Vrbovce, Slovakia.  He married at Vrbovce on 11 November 1783, Elisabetha Mareczek, baptized 12 March 1766 at Vrbovce, daughter of Jan and Katharina (---) Mareczek.  They were the parents of:

3. Katharina Valassek was baptized 13 April 1791 at Vrbovce.  She married at Vrbovce on 3 November 1806, Jan Skok baptized at Vrbovce on 19 August 1787, son of Martin and Anna (Nevocny) Skok.    They had at least one child: Anna.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Vrbovce available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.

 

Alzbeta Ussak 1824-1886 of Myjava, Slovakia

1. Stephan Ussak born about 1761 and died 18 June 1801 at Myjava, Slovakia.  His death notice appears as: Stephanus Ussak od Sowincza circiter 40. an natus ex hectica.”  He married on 23 November 1784 at Myjava, Juditha Zabka or Pavlak.  She is called Pavlak in her marriage record but Zabka in the baptismal entry for her children.  She was born about 1764 and died 29 March 1804 at Mjava.  Stephen and Juditha were parents of:

2. Stephan Ussak (Jr.) was baptized 18 September 1792 at Mjava.  He married on 7 November 1809 at Mjava, Judith Szoviss, daughter of George.  Juditha is possibly the same person baptized in 1790.  They were the parents of:

3. Alzbeta Ussak baptized 16 September 1824 at Myjava, and died there 14 September 1886.  She married at Myjava on 21 November 1843, Jan Michalec (Jr.), baptized at Myjava on 16 May 1822 and died after 31 December 1879, son of Jan and Anna (Dinzsik) Michalec.  They had at least two children: Jan and Pavel.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Myjava available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.

Death Records from the Lutheran Church at Myjava, Deaths 1872-1897, p. 372.

Deaths (Umrtia) 1783-1805, p. 626 (FHL Film#2408361).

Deaths (Umrtia) 1783-1805, p. 652 (FHL Film#2408361).

 

Alzbeta Tomecek 1814-1870 of Vrbovce, Slovakia

1. Jan Tomecek was born about 1793.  He married on 22 November 1813 at Vrbovce, Slovkia, Alzbeta Walek born 14 September 1792, daughter of Pavel and Barbara (Hornak) Walek.  The actual marriage record in Latin reads: Honestus juvenis Johannes Tomecek of Vrbovce 20 [years old] and Elizabetha Walekova [age] 20 honesta virga.  They were the parents of: Alzbeta, Jan, and Susanna.

2. Alzbeta Tomecek was born 4 October 1814 at Vrbovce and died there on 20  August 1870.  She married on 29 September 1834 at Vrbovce, Pavel Chodur-Dolinsky, born 9 January 1817 at Vrbovce and died there 26 April 1891, son of Jan and Anna (Chodur) Chodur-Dolinsky.  They were the parents of: Jan, Pavel, and Juraj.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Vrbvoce available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.  Death certificates from the Slovak Archives.

Death Records 1867-1880, FHL Film #2435372, Entry #114.

Death Records 1881-1895, FHL Film #2435373, entry #36.

Vrbovce parish records, christenings 1783-1815, Entry #156, FHL #2435336, item #3.

Vrbovce parish records, christenings 1816-1822, 9th entry, p. 6, FHL  #2435336, item #4.

Marriage Records 1783-1815, FHL Film #2435336, entry #48.

Baptisms 1783-1815, FHL Film #2435336, Entry #141.

 

Martin Szukuptsak 1765-1828 of Sobotiste, Slovakia

1. Martin Szukuptsak was born about 1765 and died 12 November 1828 at Sobotiste, Slovakia.  He married on 23 May 1785 at Sobotiste, Elisabetha Oszleg, baptized 14 April 1766 at Vrbovce, Slovakia and died 30 June 1825 at Sobotiste, daughter of Jan and Susanna Oszleg.  They were the parents of:

2. Kristina Szukuptsak baptized 17 June 1795 at Sobotiste, Slovakia.  She married on 20 February 1814 at Sobotiste, Jan Plessa, baptized 19 December 1788 at Vrbovce, Slovakia, son of Jan and Katharina (Migavec) Plessa.  They were the parents of Anna Plessa.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Sobotiste and Vrbovce available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.  Death certificates from the Slovak Archives.

Umrtia (Deaths) 1817-1850, p. 374, FHL Film #2420737.

Umrtia (Deaths) 1817-1850, p. 359, FHL Film #2420737.

 

The Szowiss Family of Myjava, Slovakia

One of the main differences in conducting Slovak v. New England genealogy is that there are no compiled Slovak genealogies available.  By the time you have an ancestor back to the year 1800 in New England, there is typically a surname-centric genealogy for that person.  No such analogue exists for Slovak genealogy. 

So here I have two Szowiss families in Myjava that I can't connect.  It is clear they are from the same family, but the church records don't go back far enough for me to connect the two branches.  It is very typical in small villages to be descended from the same people over and over again.  It happens in all genealogy.  In fact, I read once that mankind on average marries their third cousin.

First Family:

1. Jan Szowiss born about 1760.  His wife's name is not known.  His name is only known from his daughter's marriage record.  He was the father of:

2. Catherine Szowiss born about 1785.  She married on 16 May 1810 at Myjava, Stephen Polak (or Poliak) born about 1785, son of Jan Poliak.  There are many Catherine Szowiss's baptized at Myjava, one in 1785, another in 1784, 1786 or 1792.  In her marriage record she is called a widow, the relict of Thomas Zmeko.  They were the parents of Katharina Poliak.

Second Family:

1. George Szowiss born say 1760.  His wife's name is not known.  His name is only known from his daughter's marriage record.  He is possibly the George Szowiss who married on 22 November 1779 or the who married on 17 January 1777 both in Myjava.  He is the father of:

2. Judith Szowiss born about 1787.  She married on 7 November 1809 at Myjava, Stephen Ussak, baptized 18 September 1792, son of Stephen and Judith (Zabka) Ussak.  They were parents of Alzbeta Ussak.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Myjava available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.

Marriages of Myjava 1806-1835, p. 358, FHL #2408361.

 

Anna Skok b. 1807 of Vrbovce, Slovakia

1. Stefan Skok born say 1740.  He married Anna (---).  They are known from the records of their son.  They were the parents of:

2. Martin Skok was baptized 30 September 1764 at Vrbovce, Slovakia.   He married there 22 November 1785, Anna Nevocny, born about 1765.  Martin and Anna were the parents of:

3. Jan Skok was baptized 19 August 1787 at Vrbovce, Slovakia.   He married there 3 November 1806, Katharina Valassek baptized 13 April 1791 at Vrbovce, Slovkia, daughter of Michael and Elisabetha (Mareczek) Valassek.  They were the parents of:

4. Anna Skok born 23 September 1807 at Vrbovce, Slovakia.  She married there 17 November 1823, Jan Valuch (Jr.), born 24 May 1805 at Vrbovce, son of Jan and Katharina (Sussak) Valuch.  Anna and Jan had at least two children: Jan and Alzbeta.

Sources:

Slovak Lutheran (Evangelium) Church records of Vrbvoce available on microfilm at the LDS Library and digitized by them on their site, www.familysearch.org.  Death certificates from the Slovak Archives.

 

Kristina Simek 1827-1899 of Tura Luka, Slovakia

1. Martin Simek born say 1710 and died before 1765.  He married about 1734 Helena (---).  They had at least three children: Martin, Pavel, and George.  Martin and Helena's names are known from the baptisms of their children as well as the marriage record of George.

2. George Simek born about 1740 in Tura Luka, Slovakia.  He married 3 February 1765, Katharina Gzaiczak, daughter of Jan Gzaiczak.  They were the parents of:

3. Pavel Simek baptized 17 June 1774 at Tura Luka, Slovakia, he died before 1844.  Pavel married 6 October 1794 at Tura Luka, Judith Babyar, born about 1768, died 18 March 1844 at Tura Luka, daughter of Martin and Anna (Valussek) Babyar.  They were the parents of:

4. Jan Simek, baptized 9 November 1800 at Tura Luka, died there 5 May 1879.  He married 5 November 1820 at Tura Luka, Kristina Holic, baptized 2 November 1800 at Tura Luka, died before 1855, daughter of Pavel and Alzbeta (Welowjak) Holic.  Jan married secondly about 1855, Kristina Wdovjak, baptized 17 June 1815 at Myjava, Slovakia and died 27 December 1891, daughter of Daniel and Anna (Manyak) Wdovjak.  By his first wife, Jan had three children:  Kristina, Jan and Pavel.  By his second wife he had another son Stefan.

5. Kristina Simek baptized 18 July 1827 at Tura Luka, died there 21 February 1899.  She married first about 1847, Matej Holic, baptized 30 September 1815 Tura Luka, died there 10 February 1863, son of Jan and Alzbeta (Fusek) Holic.  Kristina married secondly on 25 September 1881 at Tura Luka, Stefan Istok.  By her first husband Kristina had four children:  John, Susanna, Stefan, and Pavel.

Sources:

Evangelium (Slovak Lutheran) Church records for Tura Luka available on microfilm or digitized online at www.familysearch.org.

1869 Hungarian census in Tura Luka, Nitra (LDS #2192674).

Deaths (Umrtia) 1864-1881, p. 140/318, FHL #243183.

Umrtia (Deaths) 1822-1849, p. 589, FHL #2431382.