The Major-Gavay Family from Hungary, Part 1

 

The Major-Gavay Family from Hungary

The next several blogs will provide some background, historical context and genealogy of the Major and Gavay family who immigrated from that part of Hungary which is now in Slovakia in the early part of the 20th century. In Part 1, the region where the Major and Gavay families lived prior to their immigration is described. Part 2 will explore the historical context of their lives in Hungary and events that led them to leave their homeland to start a new life.

 

My grandfather, Jeno” (Eugene) Major (pronounced "My-yor") and my grandmother, Anna Gavay, immigrated in 1920 to the United States from the Hungarian town of Szepsi. Szepsi, now called Moldava nad Bodvou, is now in Slovakia (formerly part of Czechoslovakia, formerly Hungary) southeast of the city of Kassa (now Kosice) in northeast Hungary and Slovakia.  The Major and Gavay families lived along the towns around the Bodva (Bodvou) River in the former Abauj-Torna county, which now approximates the border between Hungary and Slovakia.  The Major family can be traced back to the late 18^th century through Roman Catholic parish church records. The towns where the Major’s lived include:

• Szepsi (now Moldava nad Bodvou in Slovakia)
• Torna-Ujflau (now Turnianska Nova Ves in Slovakia
• Nadaska (or Torna-Nadaska, still in modern Hungary
• Szilas, still in modern Hungary.
  

 

The Gavay family came from:

•  Somodi (now Drienovec, in Slovakia)
• Szepsi
• Jaszo (now Jarov, in Slovakia)

 

Anna Gavay and her siblings were born in Somodi although her father and grandfather were born in Szepsi.

The towns around the Bodva River.

The Major and Gavay family lived around the Bodva River in Hungary, which now straddles the boundary between Hungary and Slovakia.  Eugene (Jeno) Major was born in the town of Szepsi (now called Moldava nad Bodvou).

 

Eugene Major was the son of Istvan (Stephan) Major and Maria Hagan and he was born in the town of Torna-Ujfalu (now in Slovakia, called Turnianska Nova Ves). Stephan was the son of Jozef Major and Barbara Meszaros. Jozef was born in the village of Nadaska (sometimes called Torna-Nadaska and is still in Hungary, right on the border between Hungary and Slovakia. Jozef was the son of Stephan Major and Elisabeth Kotsis, also of Nadaska.

 

His wife, Anna Gavay was born in the nearby town of Somodi (now in Slovakia, called Drienovec). She was the daughter of Kalman Gavay and Ilona Frankovits (or Franckovics). Kalman was born in Szepsi and Ilona was born in Jaszo (now Jarov or Jasov, Slovakia). Kalman was the son of Franciscus Gavay and Elizabeth Tomas (or Tamas); both were from Szepsi.

 

Szepsi was the largest town along this part of the Bodva River.

Szepsi was the former district seat and birthplace of the Hungarian Reformed preacher and writer Márton Szepsi Csombor (1595-1622), the author of the first Hungarian guide-book, Máté Szepsi Laczkó (1576-1633) wine-improver and "inventer" of the old Tokay (wine).

 

The following is an excerpt from the Geographic Dictionary of Hungary By Elek Fenyes (1851). Translated from the Hungarian:

SZEPSI, an old well-known Hungarian city in Abauj County; 5 hour distance West of Kassa, next to the Bodva [River]; fetile [land] on the plain; 1,082 Catholics , 67 Evangelicals, 1,232 Hungarian Reformed [Presbyterian], 6 “unlisted [n.e.]” Greek Orthodox, 22 Jewish inhabitants, who were the royal wheelmakers. They were the ones that took the royal coach to the camp where liberties were bestowed upon them [by the nobility].

 

Today there are mostly craftsmen, mainly bootmakers and tanners.  There are Catholic and Hungarian Reformed Churches, a casern for the cavalry, an apothecary, three mills on the Bodva [River], a large vineyard, and a large town hall. The Catholic parish in Kassa County is not only the oldest but also the most luxurious. The grain sold in the weekly markets was especially well-known throughout the country.

 

In the past, the city was surrounded by a stone wall. On 26 November 1683, Janos Sobiesky returned with his army made up of 40,000 men. Here it was agreed upon, that districts of the lower mountain area which includes Tokaj, Tarcal, Tálya, Mád, and Benye, would promise 1,000 barrels of wine to the ruling nobility so that Sobiesky would not led his men through the area. In the agreement, the Okolicsányi family owned the most land [“had the most influence”] amongst the landowners.

The two photos below from the Magyarorszag Varmegyei Es Varosai Enciklopedaja (Sziklay, 1896). The third is a postcard of Szepsi circa early 1900s.

 

The town of Somodi, home to Anna Gavay, was first mentioned in historical texts as early as 1335.  In 1887 a large coal deposit was found near Somodi.  Somodi is the home of the Classicist Bishop Rest-home and Karstic bushforest (nature conservation area, 78 hectares).

 

The photo below from the Magyarorszag Varmegyei Es Varosai Enciklopedaja (Sziklay, 1896)