Wolfgang Blaha's name originally was known from the
records search commissioned by Ludwig A. Heger in about 1985.
Everything I know about our Blaha family is related to the village
of Bernetzreith, a small village just southeast of the city of Tachau (also known
as Tachov in Czech). Bernetzreith was also known as Bernhardsreith
a long time ago, and is now called Pernolec in Czech.
The descendents of Wolfgang Blaha who emigrated to Minnesota came
there from Bernetzreith.
There are records of a Blaha family in Grossgropitzreith which
are dated just before the earliest records I have of the Blaha family
in Bernetzreith (which is the birth of Wolfgang's son in 1776).
Grossgropitzreith is another village about 2 km west of Bernetzreith.
These Blaha records from Grossgropitzreith include three marriages:
31 Jan 1764 Georg Seyerling married to
Catharina Blaha, daughter of Heinrich Blaha.
20 Nov 1764 Johann Blaha, son of Johann Blaha, married to
Magdalena Kasecker, daughter of Sebastian Kasecker.
2 Jun 1767 Matthaus Blaha, son of Johannes Blaha, married to
Kreutzer Eva, vidua (widow).
So perhaps the Blaha family was from Grossgropitzreith before moving to
Bernetzreith? Matthaus, at least, also came to Bernetzreith as
the Bernetzreith records show members of his family there.
Johannes, a 28 year old son of Matthes and Eva Blaha married
in Bernetzreith (House 8) on 13 Jan 1807 to Catharina Hainzl (or Hoinzl).
Thomas Blaha, son of Matthes, age 29,
married Margarete Seierling, age 24, on
16 Jun, 1795 at Bernetzreith (House 8). Thomas and Margarete have a
a son Johann on 12 Oct 1798 (House 6)
and a son Johann Michael on 22 Feb 1805 (House 22).
That son Johannes has a son Josef on 3 Oct 1829 (house 2)
Johannes died at Bernetzreith (House 2) 10 May 1838, age 39 years and 7 months.
Thomas and his son Johannes were Taglöhners (day laborers).
Maria Blaha, daughter of Matthes, died 19 Apr 1797, age 16 years,
at Bernetzreith (House 8).
Martin Blaha, Bauer (farmer)
died at Bernetzreith (House 8), on 15 Aug 1807, age 70 years.
Perhaps Martin was a mistaken entry for Matthes/Matthaus?
