Stable Cadester & Indication Sketches

The Stable Cadaster, compiled during the years (1826-1848). It was a particular list of a real property kept according to topographic numbers. Each parcel was accurately identified and measured by a surveyor (geodesist). The result of this process of measurement became known as the Indication Sketches, a colored handmade map supplement to the Stable Cadaster in ratio scale 1:1440. By this, every cadastral township has today 150 years old plan. On that, all structures are identified with the name of their possessors, topographic numbers and building parcels also with conscription numbers.

This means that every house has conscription number (red 1 – X), as well as topographic number of building parcel (black 1 – X). These two types of numbers are not the same. It was caused by the fact that these two numberings were done in different times and for different reasons. The third set of numbers (again black 1 – X) marks land parcels.

Sketches are colored: red indicates a brick house, yellow a wooden building. Various types of agricultural land are also differentiated (fields are brown. meadows and pastures green, forests grey). We can determine through these sketches roads and pathways, watercourses and ponds (blue color), shape of a structure and form of tilled land (fields used for agriculture).

The Sketches are glued on millboard and firmed by buckram (canvas). Frequent manipulation with sketches causes physical damage; evidently, some of them (fortunately only a small number) were lost.

Today, the Indication Sketches consist of an individual archival group at the 1^st dept. of the State Central Archives in Prague.

With regards to their significance in international terms, we must underline that the sketches preserve a visual condition of settlements from just prior to the beginning of Czech emigration. Their study helps us to better understand the demographic and economic processes leading to emigration. For the needs of American genealogy, they also illustrate the connection between displaced families and the social structure of their homeland. In this way, we may also include the fields of historical demography, geography, the history of agriculture, ecology, etc.