A draper was a person who made cloth and fabrics - "der Tuchmacher" in German.
Guild Masters and Journeymen Weavers books found at Ceska Republika, Statni oblastni archive v Praze, Statni okresni archiv Pribram, 261 01 E. Benese 337, Pribram, Czech Republic
In the 16th century, high-quality cloth was produced in Sedlcany, Czech Republic.
Kniha tovaryšů cechu soukenického 1798 - 1859
Kniha mistrů a tovaryšů cechu tkalcovského 1828-1850
Books of the masters and journeymen of the weaver's guild maps the history of the guild, new members (trainees, journeymen) and those members who became masters during the time of the existence of the book. The book can provide an overview of the professional career of the guild members – from the time when they became trainees or journeymen, to the time when they became masters and were requesting that their own trainees became journeymen of the guild. Antonin Mohelnicky's career is a perfect example in this case – in 1836 he is accepted as a skilled worksman (and written down into the journeyman's book). Five years later he worked independently and requested to be accepted as master of the guild (i.e. the person who can teach others how to do the work).
Translation of the first page of the 1828 to 1859 book:
This book was founded A.D. 1828 when Mr. Frantisek Soukup was the inspector, and the guild elders were Matej Kavan and Matej Zeman. After an unfortunate large fire, the noble town of Sedlcany became a ruins on April 21, 1828. The fire was strengthened by strong wind which caused 185 houses of the unfortunate town to burn in one quarter of an hour. It was not possible to save those houses.
Translation of records found in the book of masters and journeymen of the weaver's guild:
Antonín Mohelnicky
On 15th November A.D. ---- Frantisek Polacek came to the draper's guild with the request that his trainee Antonin Mohelnicky was accepted as a skilled worksman. We couldn't refuse his request, because Antonin Mohelnicky was found to be skilled enough, so he was written down into the journeyman's book. Which happened in the year 1802.
Jan Prochazka, 1st elder
Josef Polacek, 2nd elder
Petr Mohelnicky, A.D. 1834
Our brother master Antonin Mohelnicky came to us during the meeting of our honest draper's guild and requested, that his son Petr was accepted as a skilled worksman. As we couldn't refuse his request, we accepted Petr as skilled worksman. It happened during the times of our elders in the old town of Sedlcany on 12th November 1834.
He has to pay Vojtech Filipek
no fee Elder guildmaster
F. Geertner Frantisek Skvorecky
Inspector Eder guildmaster
Antonin Slaba
Antonin Slaba came to our guild requesting that his son Antonin Slaba was accepted as a skilled worksman. We confirmed that he is able to work independently and he was written down into the journeyman's book.
It happend on 14th November 1809
Martin Kalina, first elder
Karel Lobosicky, second elder
On 12th May A.D. 1836 Mr. Antonin Mohelnicky brought his kind request to the weaver's guild that his son Antonin Mohelnicky was accepted as a skilled workman. We couldn't decline his request, so his son is accepted and written into the guild's book. He is obliged to pay 4 guldens and 30 forints into the guild's treasury, which he immediately paid. It happened during the times of the guild elders.
Antonin Pejsa
Martin Soukup
On 31st May A.D. 1841 Antonin Mohelnicky came to the weaver's guild with his kind request, if he can become the master of weaver's craft. As we couldn't refuse his request, he was accepted as master and written into the master's book. He has to pay 10 guldens to the guild's treasury, which he immediately paid. It happened during the times of the guild elders.
Antonin Pejsa
Jan Smrcka
On 12th May A.D. 1845 Antonin Mohelnicky came to the weaver's guild asking us that his trainee Vaclav Hlavacek was accepted as skilled worksman. We couldn't refuse his request, so Vaclav is accepted and written into the journeyman's book. He has to pay 5 guldens into the guild's treasury, which he immediately paid. It happened during the times of guild elders.
Antonin Pejsa
Jan Smrcka
Transcriptions and translations by Czech researcher, Blanka Lednicka, 2009.