Briki History

THE BRICHACEKS FROM KNIN

First generation: Thomas and Anna

Tomáš Břicháček (1784/85?–1829) = Anna (maiden name Prachejlová) (1793/94–1861)

Manor Master Shepherd

Thomas and Anna got married on 4 October 1813 in Dobřichovice. They both originated from Manor Master Shepherd families. The information about the marriage in metrics is the oldest document found about our family.

Anna was born in Dobřichovice (sometime between 1793 and 1794). His father was Master Shepherd of local landlord Knights of the Cross with the Red Star.

Thomas came here from somewhere (perphaps area round Březnice, Drahenice) and became employee in the sheephold. He felt in love with his chief’s daughter.

Later the landlord (Knights of the Cross with the Red Star) sent Thomas to their another sheephold in Mokrsko, where Thomas became Master Shepherd. In 1816 (12 October) Thomas and Anna had their first child there – daughter Anna.

Sometime in late 1816 or in early 1817, Thomas and Anna with their little daughter Anna moved from Mokrsko to Starý Knín (Old Knin) to local sheepfold, which also belonged to Knights of the Cross with the Red Star.

The sheepfold stood here: 49.7897383N, 14.2735611E

Thomas was Master Shepherd of the local landlord till his death in 1829. The family lived in the sheepfold area till then.

CHILDREN

This first child Anna unfortunately died on 25 April 1817. The information about this sad event in local metrics is the first document proving the presence of the Brichaceks in Knin!

After that Thomas and Anna had 4 more children:

• Václav (* 7 September 1820)
• Marie (* 9 October 1823)
• Josef (* 28 November 1825)
• Jan (* 31 March 1828) – our ancestor (!)

ABOUT THE WORK OF MANOR MASTER SHEPHERD – GOOGLE TRANSLATION

(Please try to rewrite it and I will check the substance)

Manor shepherds were experts in sheep breeding at manorial estates. They provided the entrusted herd at all stages of production. They were divided into different degrees or ranks. The sheep master, also called the field master, stood at the top. He was the manager and responsible manager of the entrusted sheepfold. The sheepfold crew was subordinated to him. Among the employees of the manor, he had a special position on the border between the family and lower lordly officials. It was a relatively well-respected and well-paid profession. The master shepherd received above all the so-called deputy, ie rewards in kind from what the manor estate produced. The master usually had accommodation provided by his employers with a house near the sheepfold. He could keep a smaller farm of his own, including a small private flock of sheep. The shepherd could develop the rank of master only after many years of experience in lower shepherd positions. --- Sheep craft was often inherited in quotation marks. From an early age, children helped their parents with work and acquired the necessary skills from them. This created whole sheep families. Shepherds formed a cohesive community, which manifested itself in frequent marriages between members of the sheepdog families, as well as in the selection of godparents and wedding witnesses.

FAMILY PROGRESS IN 1820s

Thomas apparently had enough money from the lucrative job in Old Knin sheepfold. Sometime in 1820s he bought a big house in Novy Knin (New Knin), number 50, to which also some fields belonged. But the family during his life still lived in the Old Knin sheepfold. As regards the house number 50 in Novy Knin they rented it.

THOMAS DEATH

Thomas died on 9 November 1829 – the cause of – it seems – a kind of accident (fall from a high place)

AFTER THOMAS’S DEATH

Anna with her children moved to the house 50 in New Knin. She lived there till her death. She died on 30 March 1861 (aged 68 years).