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Note: Johan Schroka is the earliest Sroka currently known by the family in America. The name "Sroka" means magpie in Polish and elster in German. The Sroka coat of arms includes an image opf a magpie perched on a branch. It was first documented in 1395. The name Sroka or Srocke is found in upper Silesia. (Newmann Familiennameenbuch, VEB Bibliofr. Institute, Leipzig; Bohlow. Deutsche namenlexikon, Suhrkamp, Frankfurt.)
The following is the text of a letter which Johan Sroka wrote to his son, Joseph Wilhelm Gottfried Sroka on November 14, 1791.
My Son, Take hold of yourself - yesterday you were overtaken with anger which by today I hope has vanished. You are very much in need of a calm and composed spirit. Consider the importance of your office to which the Lord has called you. Now let go of the worldly pleasures and your outlook on life. Take heed of your parent's advice, that you would like the earlier the better to come on horseback to Rosenhagen. For the examination and ordination to Oels you would need nothing else than the most needful of items which you will be able to carry easily. You probably would have to stay in Brieg. We, with the Lord's help, will take care that all which is of the most important need will be to call for at Brieg and be brought to the referred place. If you would have received the capital sum of 200 reich tellers a loan then you would only need for yourself 20 reich teller, and would have to leave the remaining money with your creditor, to which ou would need a witness, that you had only taken out 20 reich teller. Should you have no creditor, you will realize that all this is understood to fall away.
For the trip, I will again give you 2 horses and a buggy. The Lord be with you and let your eyes not fall on worldy paradise - a humble soul has in it no pleasure.
We are looking forward to meeting you with great desire and especially your Mother is waiting for you with fearful longing but also with Motherly faithfulness.
So I reamin and indeed your faithful father, Johan Sroka November , 1791 P.S. Guard your self, my son, that you refrain free from debt and also stay away from borrowed things
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