Product Description
by O. David Gold (Author)
The Gold Family History: Eleven Generations from Moravia to Pennsylvania With the initial question of, "How did a large group of ethnic Germans come to live among the Slavic Czechs in Moravia?" The Gold Family history is traced back to the 1600's and chronicles the Gold's modest beginnings in Moravia, including the influence of the Thirty Years War as well as their time in shackles for their religious beliefs. It continues to the community of Herrnhut and across the ocean on the Ship Irene. Upon their arrival in the United States, the family resided in the Pennsylvania Moravian community of Bethlehem and were members of the "Great Wedding." "When you get older, you start thinking about how it all began. I became curious about my ancestors who came from Czechoslavakia. So, possessing some academic and research ability, I began my quest. I found out early on that the records of the Czech Protestant Moravians (called the Unitas Fratum Brethren 400 years ago) were destroyed way back when by the Catholic Jesuits. But, I found a young Czech college student who researched the old Jesuit records. That was an exciting experience for me. The other amazing story in my quest was the trip that my wife and I made to Czechoslovakia and the area where my forebearers lived. The natives who live there now (all Czechs and not German Moravians) have started a museum based on the Moravian experience in their town. Another highlight of this book is my ancestors lives when they came to Pennsylvania during colonial time with the occupations of 19th century "grist millers."
