Saturday, December 28, 2013

My Genealogical Goals for 2014

With the new year quickly approaching, I decided to make a list of genealogy goals I am going to strive to achieve in the coming year. With having begun researching my family tree well over thirteen years ago, I still have a lot to research. I've intentionally left different branches of my family un-researched, so that I'd continue to have research to do as the years went on. With how much research I have completed on my Hungarian ancestry (the majority of my research), I am far from done. A vast majority of that consists of nobility resources; there's a wealth of information to be found, and I'll likely need to conduct that research on-site in Hungarian archives. With all that being said, here is my list of goals for the new year:


1. Write more. I need to write more. A lot more. I've sorely neglected my several blogs during the year due to medical issues within the family. Things have gotten much better, and I'm regaining the time I'll be able to devote to writing. Apart from my blogs, I'm going to be dedicating a very large majority of my time to writing two books. They're going to be related to Hungarian genealogy, my area of expertise, and completely unrelated to one another. I can't go into much detail about what the books will be about yet, but know that both will be extremely helpful to any research being conducted within the former Hungarian empire.

2. The most important family for me to research this year, is the family of my 3rd-great-grandmother, Martha Ann Miller. She was the wife of James Andrew J. Costilow and died fairly young; 45 years before her husband passed. I was fortunate enough to have found a record that was a crucial breakthrough in Martha's family, which then lead me to her parents and half of her grandparents. I plan to focus a lot of attention on researching these new families.

3. I plan on indexing far more records relating to Győr city and county. It's the sixth largest city in Hungary, and the largest and most important city in northwest Hungary. It's very close to the borders of both Austria and Slovakia and is situated on one of the most important roads in Central Europe. Because of this, it was a large hub for migrants and immigration. There were six Roman Catholic parishes in Győr, comprised of 27 microfilms of data. So indexing marriage records for this city would be extremely beneficial for those researching in this area.

4. There are a handful of military organizations I would like to join. The main ones including the SAR (Sons of the American Revolution), General Society of the War of 1812, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Sons of Confederate Veterans. My goal is to obtain all the documentation required to apply for membership within these organizations. I could easily piggy-back other applicants with their membership numbers and previous documentation, but I want to do it on my own.

5. My Polish roots are aching to be discovered. I'm more Polish than anything else, yet the majority of the records aren't readily available for research. My lines from Barycz and Osobnica will be extremely difficult, as I'll have to physically write to the church and request information. It's a hit or a miss and I won't make much progress. Hence why I haven't touched at all in all the years I've been researching. Two sides that I do need to focus on, are my Adas and Domagalski families. The Adas' came from the Putzig parish and I've been able to research the family back to the 1750's so far, but the records began in 1593.. so there's LOTS to be discovered! I also need to figure out the collateral line to the Adas family, the Pletzke's. They're from a neighboring parish and there's also lots to be found.

6. I need to research my Stümpges line. Previous researchers had traced the family line back to the 1540's, but I'm not content. I need to research the family in the church records myself, and verify that the direct Stümpges line is correct. Almost all of the maternal lines are completely blank, also. Those need to be researched and known. There's so much information to be found here!

Monday, June 17, 2013

FamilySearch Find Of The Day: 1803 Will of Levi Long

Winton County Barnwell District
In the Name of God Amen, I Levi Long of the Distrct & County aforesd. being in a low state of health tho sound of memory do constitute and order this my last will and testament, first I desire I may have a decent burial, after that I desire that all my just debts be paid and the residue of my property I leave as follows: to Israel Andres five children Harriot, James, Juliot, Nancy and Sidney, I give three hundred acres of land lying on Toomers bay to be equally divided between them, also I give and bequeath to the above mentioned five children five cows and calves to be equally divided between them & to my son Fashaw I give and bequeath ten cows & calves also one hundred acres of land next adjoining the land where I now live and to my daughter Fanny I give and bequeath one negroe girl named Patt, also one hundred acres of land including the house and plantation where I now live, also ten cows & calves and to my son Nathaniel Long I give and bequeath one hundred acres of land joining the above mentioned land and ten cows & calves and to my daughter Sara I give and bequeath ten cows & calves and one hundred acres of land adjoining the above mentioned lands also I give unto James, Levi, Valentine, Jonas, David and Alford Rowel two hundred and ninety acres of land to be equally divided amongst them the land adjoining the above mentioned land also I give and bequeath to the above mentioned James, levi, Valentine, David, Jonas & Alford Rowel six cows & calves each or the value in breeding cattle. Also, I give to my daughter Sarah Long's two children Mahala and Mark Lazarus two cows & calves each and to Hardin Blalock wife Mason I give and bequeath one hundred and fifty acres of land lying on Cypress Creek and to Richard Blalock wife Martha I give and bequeath one hundred and fifty acres of land lying on Cypress Creek adjoining the above land on said Creek. Also I give and bequeath my daughters Mason Blalock and Martha Blalock six cows and calves each and to my son Lewis I give and bequeath one hundred acres of land lying on Cypress Creek and one hundred acres of land laying in the south side of Coosawhatchie also on hundred acres of land lying on the ** (page crease; illegible) ** wife I give and bequeath all the residue of my property to her lifes end _____. I leave as my last will that all that part of my property that is left to my beloved wife be equally divided between my own four children Sarah, Nathaniel, Fashaw & Fanny Long & the six sons of Elizabeth Rowel deceased, James, Levi, Valentine, David & Alford Rowel, except my negro boy named Jack him I leave to be equally divided between my four children Sara, Nathaniel, Fashaw & Fanny at the decease of my beloved wife Sarah Long and I doe nominate and appoint my wife Sarah Long Executor and Thomas Long Senr. & Thomas Long Junr. Executors to execute this my last will and testament. Given under my hand this 16th day of March, 1803.

Levi Long, his mark

Signed & Sealed in the presence of us
Simon Bryan
Frederick Bryan
Mary Parmer, her mark

Source

Monday, June 03, 2013

FamilySearch Find Of The Day: The 1908 Marriage of József Majoros & Anna Tóth in Ó-Fehértó

While doing some work on my Gombash line today, I was looking at the spouses of my great-grandfather's siblings; one of them being Michael Mayors. I know he was married to my great-grandfather's sister, Julia, on 09 Sep 1939 in Guernsey county, Ohio. Thanks to their marriage record, I knew Michael's exact birth date and the name of his parents: 18 Jun 1912 and Joseph Mayors (Majoros) & Anna Toth. Using that information, I tracked down their passenger manifest records via Ellis Island and located where they originally came from in Hungary: Ó-Fehértó, Szabolcs, Hungary. Below is the marriage record for Michael's parents:

Entry Number: 22
Place of Marriage: Ó-Fehértó
Date of Marriage: 05 Dec 1908

Groom: Majoros József
Occupation: carter/teamster
Religion: Greek Catholic
Born: 03 Apr 1885
Residence: Ó-Fehértó
Father: Majoros János
Mother: Kocsán Anna

Bride: Tóth Anna
Religion: Greek Catholic
Born: 12 Dec 1890
Residence: Ó-Fehértó
Father: n/a
Mother: Tóth Mária

Witness: Gebri Mihály
Witness: Gerzten Dániel, Ó-Fehértó

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

FamilySearch Find Of The Day: Bohemian 1717 Reichenbach-Möltzer Marriage

I've been doing more and more research into my Bohemian lines lately (they're ethnic Germans), and I'm finding more and more information. Thanks to FamilySearch initially for adding these records online, however I'm finding that the actual Litoměřice archives has digitized their collections and put them online themselves. Which I am extremely grateful for, because FamilySearch's collections seem to be missing a few register books here and there. You can also search for an exact town/community within the Litoměřice archives records, whereas you can only browse via FamilySearch. Both have their pros and cons, but I'm finding I prefer the Litoměřice archives much better. Faster loading images, also. Here is the record I found today:


Entry Number 2
Married on 31 January 1717; bachelor Johann Michäel Reichenbach of Waltersdorf and
virgin Elisabeth, deceased Christoph Möltzer gardener (farmer) in Waltersdorf' daughter.
Witness: Georg Wiesner, cottar in Nieder Politz and Christoph Hahnel, farmer in Waltersdorf.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Greene County, Tennessee Revolutionary War Land Grant: James Rodgers, 11 May 1792


North Carolina (Revolutionary War) Land Grants
Roll 12: Book 1
Ancestry.com image number 148 of 330
Page 284
(Greene County, Tennessee)

The State of North Carolina,
To all whom these Presents shall come. GREETING:

Know ye, that we, for and in consideration of the sum of Fifty Shillings for every hundred acres hereby granted, paid into our Treasury
By James Rodgers

Have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto the said James Rodgers a tract of land containing two hundred acres lying and being in our county of Greene on the north side of Nolachucky on Deals Branch of Lick Creek. Begining at a Spanish oak, white oak and dogwood. Thence east one hundred and ten poles to a white oak and ewe?. Thence south two hundred and forty poles to a white oak and black oak. Thence with said Rodgers line one hundred and thirty six poles to a stake. Thence to the begining. As by the plat hereunto annexed doth appear together with all woods, waters, mines, minerals, here did with and appurtenances to the said land belonging or appertaining to hold to the said James Rodgers his heirs and assigns forever yielding and paying to us such sums of money yearly or otherwise as our General Assembly from time to time may direct provided always that the said James Rodgers shall cause this grant to be Registered in the Registers office of our said county of Greene within twelve months from the date here of other sum the same shall be void and of none effect.

In Testimony Whereof, we have caused these, our letters to be made patent and our Great Seal to be hereunto affixed.
Witness Alexander Martin
Esquire, our Governor, Captain General and Commander-in-Chief at Danbury this 11th day of May, in the 16th year of our Independence and in the year of our lord 1792.
By his Excellency's Command.
G. Glasgow, Secretary.
Alexander Martin (signed)

Saturday, March 09, 2013

Surname Saturday #28: Szük

I've been interested in this family for quite some time now, mainly because of how rare and unique the surname is. I love when I'm working with a rare and uncommon surname in Hungary, it makes the records for that family "pop" out, and it makes the research just that much more exciting. Especially when no one has ever researched them before. The Szük family were of nobility, and here is their line:

1. Juliánna Szük
b. 25 Oct 1810, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
d. 21 Mar 1837, Tiszadob, Szabolcs, Hungary
m. József Tóth; 29 Jan 1834, Tiszadob, Szabolcs, Hungary

*Eszter Tóth, b. 19 Dec 1834, Tiszadob, Szabolcs, Hungary
*Mária Tóth, 22 Sep 1836, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary

2. Pál Szük
b. 21 Nov 1777, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
d. 15 May 1832, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
m. Éva Marjai; 02 Feb 1803, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Pál Szük, b. 29 Mar 1804, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*István Szük, b. 14 May 1806, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Rebekáh Szük, b. 01 Sep 1808, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Juliánna Szük, (above)
*Demeter Szük, b. 19 Mar 1813, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Erzsébet Szük, 02 Feb 1816, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*József Szük, b. 11 Apr 1819, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary

3. István Szük
b. unknown (prior to creation of the parish's church registers), Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
d. no death entry ever found
m1. Zsuzsánna Fekete; 06 Feb 1771, Megyaszó, Zemplén, Hungary
m2. Mária Nyakó; 08 Feb 1796, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*István Szük, b. 27 Dec 1771, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary

*István Szük, b. 17 May 1772, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Erzsébet Szük, b. 15 Jun 1775, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Pál Szük, (above)
*Mária Szük, b. 23 Oct 1779, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Mária Szük, b. 28 Oct 1781, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Zsuzsánna Szük, b. 20 Mar 1784, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*András Szük, b. 27 Jul 1787, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*István Szük, b. 28 Aug 1790, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary

4. András Szük
b. before 1704
d. after 1750, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
m. Erzsébet Miskolczy
*Erzsébet Szük, b. before 1738, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*András Szük, b. about 1738, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*Pál Szük, b. abt 1746, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
*István Szük, b. before 1751, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary (above)
*Zsuzsánna Szük, b. 1753/1758, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary

b. before 1670
d. between 1725/1755, Taktaszada, Zemplén, Hungary
m. unknown
*András Szük, (above)

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Food & Genealogy: What Did Your Ancestors Eat?


On my way home from the grocery store today, I began to wonder what foods some of my ancestors would have eaten. In our present day and age, we have such an enormous  amount of options to pick from at our grocery stores, some that we didn't have even just a few years ago (like the interesting Ugli fruit that I discovered last year, a native citrus from Jamaica). I started thinking of each ethnic culture of my diverse mutt-like ancestry, and what some of their well-known dishes were of their cuisine. And then I began to think.. which of these dishes existed prior to the discovery of the Americas?

Hungary:
Naturally, I'm going to begin with Hungary. How could I not? :) Whether you're Hungarian or not, you must know of their national dish known all around the world: goulash (gulyás in Hungarian); you can find my recipe here. Two of the main ingredients in gulyás, paprika and potatoes, didn't reach Hungary until well after the discovery of the Americas. Paprika, or peppers, were originally cultivated and found in tropical areas of the Americas, whereas the potato is known to have its origins in Peru.

Italy:
It's extremely hard to think of Italy and not think of pasta with homemade tomato sauce, or pizza with that bright red tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella cheese and fresh basil. But neither existed prior to the discovery of the Americas; tomatoes are originally from the Andes mountain region. And then there's also polenta. That smooth, rich and creamy corn-meal dish made famous in Italy. Prior to the Old-World's discovery of corn/maize, they used various grains to make polenta; it sometimes included different kinds of flour, millet and spelt.

Poland:
Our dear, dear pierogies. I don't know anyone that doesn't like a good potato and onion pierogi; it's making me drool just thinking about it! As I mentioned above, the potato originated from Peru and was first cultivated by the Incas. So we must thank the ancient Incas for being the first to cultivate and hybridize the ancestors of our common potato. Did you know there's almost 4,000 varieties of potatoes?  Yum!

Ireland:
And the Irish! A genealogist hears potato, and they think of the Great Famine in Ireland, which spanned from 1845-1852. Many of you reading this article may be descendants of Famine emigrants; I know my uncle is!

If it weren't for the Incas, my uncle never would have been born.. and my grandmother may have never met my grandfather. Interesting to think about, huh?