The Major-Gavay Family of Hungary, Part 5

 

The Major-Gavay Family of Hungary, Part 5

In Part 1, some background information was presented on the Major and Gavay families of Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary (now Moldava nad Bodvou, Slovakia) and surrounding towns. Part 2 provided some historical context in which our ancestors lived in old Hungary.  Part 3 covered the immigration of the Major and Gavay families to the U.S.  Part 4 has the genealogy of the Major family in Hungary and the U.S. Part 5 covers the genealogy of the Gavay family in Hungary and the U.S. 

The Gavay Family 

Franc¹ Gavay was born in Hungary, probably in Abauj-Torna county along the Bodvou River sometime in the 1830s.  He married Elisabeth Tomas (or Tamas) probably around 1855.  No marriage record has been found in the Hungarian church records, but their names are recorded as the parents of Kalman Gavay, father of Anna Gavay. Franc and Elisabeth had four known children, all born in Szepsi, Abouj-Torna (now Moldava nad Bodvou, Slovakia):

i.               Franciscus² (Frank) Gavay, baptized 30 Oct 1856

ii.             Maria² Gavay, baptized 12 Mar 1860

iii.            Rosalia² Gavay, baptized 22 Aug 1863

iv.            Kalman² Gavay, baptized 29 Jan 1868

 

The record above from the Hungarian Roman Catholic Church records for Szepsi shows that Kalman (spelled Colomanus) was born January 28 and baptized January 29, 1868 with his parents given as Franc Gavay and Elis[abth] Tomas, both of Szepsi.

Kalman² Gavay was born 28 January 1868 in Szepsi, Abauj-Torna, Hungary. He died 1 January 1951 in Stamford, Fairfield Co., CT. He married (1) on 20 August 1893, Ilona (Helen) Frankovics (or Frankovits), daughter of Franciscus Frankovics and Agnes Maurzky in Somodi Hungary. She was born 19 May 1869 in Jaszo, Abauj-Torna, Hungary. She did not come to the United States with Kalman and probably died before 1920 in Hungary. He married (2) Bessie or Barbola Gavay in 1921 in Stamford. She is probably the wife of Kalman’s deceased brother, Francis, and is likely the passenger, aged 54, on the 1920 manifest with Eugene Major and Anna Gavay Major. See Part 3.

Birth and Baptism record for Helena (Ilona) Frankovits, 19 May 1869, bapt. 20 May 1869, daughter of Franciscus Frankovics and Agnes Maurzky in Jaszo, Abauj-Torna, Hungary (now Jasov, Slovakia).

 

Marriage record of Kalman Gavay and Ilona Frankovits, 20 August 1893, Somodi Hungary. Although the marriage took place in Somodi, southwest of Szepsi, the marriage record shows that Kalman was from Szepsi and Ilona was from Jaszo (north of Szepsi).

 

Kalman was already living in Stamford, Connecticut (on Sound View Avenue) when his daughter Anna Gavay Major and son-in-law Jeno (Eugene) came to America in October 1920.  From the immigration ship passenger list for Ellis Island, he arrived on June 15, 1899 at age 31 (single) on the ship Kaiser Friedrich out of Bremen, Germany.  Although Kalman married Ilona in 1893, he lists himself as “single”.  Ilona possibly died before 1899? At some point he must have gone back to Hungary because another ship record has him arriving again on August 25, 1903 on the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse out of Bremen at age 34 and married. See Part 3.

 

He went back to Hungary again, because a ship record says he left New York City on 17 April 1907 and arrived in Liverpool, England on the ship Carmania. He may have remained in Hungary until 1910, when he appears on the passenger list of the ship SS Uranium arriving at the port of New York City out of Rotterdam, Holland, on 19 October 1910. He is traveling with his two children Maria, age 15, and Ferencz [Frank], age 14. The nearest relative for Kalman and the children are given as Ilona Gavay (wife and mother) in Hungary, so perhaps Ilona was still alive (?). Kalman is going to Stamford, but the children are going to New York City to a friend,  Lajis Hesaros. See Part 3.

 

Kalman and Ilona had five known children, all born in Hungary (there may have been a 5th child named Ilona, but there are no records):

i.               Mary³ Gavay, baptized 2 Oct 1894 in Somodi, Hungary. She died 26 Jan 1981 in Stamford, Connecticut. She married Stephen Nyitrai, son of John Nyitrai and Mary Elizabeth Gaspar of Norwalk, Conn. on 21 August 1916 in Stamford, Conn. Mary and Steve lived at 47 Sound View Ave., Stamford, Conn. with Anna and Jeno as well as with Anna's father, Kalman. Mary Gavay Nyitrai and her husband, Stephan also lived at 127 Lockwood Ave., Stamford, Connecticut (which they owned). Stephan was a machinist in a lock shop, so he must have had enough money to buy property. They had one son:

a.     Ernest⁴ born 6 Mar 1917, died. 5 Apr 2014 in Stamford, CT. Not married.

 

ii.             Frank³ (Ferencz) Gavay, baptized 10 Dec 1895 in Somodi, Hungary as Ferencz Gavay. He died 21 Feb 1984 in Stamford, CT. He married 29 Jul 1929 Stefanie (Stefanka, Stephany)  Margaret Schwetz Gavay (born 20 Aug 1902 in Bradejov, Czechoslovakia, now Slovakia), the wife of his brother Kalman Gavay (1902-1928), after he passed away in 1928.  Stephanie was born as Stefanie Schwetz, daughter of Edward Schwetz and Veronika Kosak. She came to the U.S. in 1920 on the ship SS France out of Le Harve, France with her relatives (probably aunt and cousin). Her arrival and naturalization papers have her name as Schwetz and not Svec, which must have been a later addition. Frank and Stefanie (Stephenany, as she was called) had two children, born in Connecticut:

a.     Frank⁴ born 22 Jan 1934 in Stamford, Conn., married Gerri Burr 1 Jul 1962.

b.     Vilma⁴ born 16 Jan 1931 in Stamford, Conn. Not married.

 

Declaration of intention for Stefanja Schwetz, 20 March 1924. She declares that she was born 20 August 1903 in Bartfam, Czechoslovakia. Bartfam is the Hungarian name for Bardejov. She is short, 5'1"" and has a burn scar on her right forearm.
 

 

iii.            Anna³ Gavay, baptized 12 March 1897 in Somodi, Hungary. She died 13 April 1991 in Darien, CT. She married Jeno (Eugene) Major 5 Apr 1920 in Szepsi, Hungary (see Part 4).

 

iv.            Kalman³ Gavay, born about 1902 in Somodi, Hungary (birth records in Somodi, Hungary only go to about 1900). He died 4 Jan 1928 in Darien, Conn. He married Stephanie M. Schwetz on 29 May 1926 in Stamford (see entry for Frank Gavay).  They had one child, born in Stamford:

a.     Helen⁴ born 18 Mar 1927 married John O’Grady. Died 27 Nov 2010.

 

v.              Elizabeth³ (Betty) Gavay?), born in Hungary (?). Possible daughter form Kalman’s 2^nd marriage to Barbola Gavay? There are no records in Hungary or U.S. to confirm her birth.

 

Gavay family photo taken circa 1897 in Hungary. The photo shows Kalman Gavay [standing];

Elizabeth Tomas [old woman, seated, mother of Kalman];Ilona Frankovits Gavay [wife of Kalman, seated]. Child in white dress is probably Maria Gavay (1894) and the boy is probably Ferencz (aka Frank) Gavay (1895). Anna Gavay, born 1897 does not appear, which dates the photo to sometime before March 1897. Very possibly Ilona is pregnant with Anna in this photo.

Wedding picture of Gavay family 29 May 1926 (wedding of Kalman Gavay and Stefanie Schwetz (aka Svec). Back row from left to right: Anna Gavay Major, Jeno Major, Frank Gavay (brother of Anna), Stephen Nytrai, Mary Gavay (sister of Anna and Frank). Bottom row from left to right: Jennie Major, Eugene Major (children of Anna and Jeno), Kalman Gavay (father of Anna and siblings), Stefanie Margaret Schwetz (bride), Kalman Gavay (groom and brother of Anna, Frank, and Mary. After Kalman’s death on 4 January 1928, his brother Frank married Stefanie on 29 July 1929), Ernest Nytirai (son of Stephen and Mary).

 

 Part 6 will explore some DNA aspects of the Major family.

The Major-Gavay Family of Hungary, Part 4

 The Major-Gavay Family of Hungary, Part 4

In Part 1, some background information was presented on the Major and Gavay families of Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary (now Moldava nad Bodvou, Slovakia) and surrounding towns. Part 2 provided some historical context in which our ancestors lived in old Hungary.  Part 3 covered the immigration of the Major and Gavay families to the U.S.  In Part 4 is the genealogy of the Major family in Hungary and the U.S.

The Major Genealogy

Note: The English spelling of the first names is used, where feasible. Many of the church records of Hungary are in Church Latin. Later records used Hungarian spellings for first names (e.g. Istvan instead of Stephano or Stephanum).

Josephum = Joseph = Jozsef

Stephanum = Stephan = Istvan

Eugenius = Eugene = Jeno

Helena = Helen = Ilona

  

The earliest known ancestor of the immigrant, Eugene Major, is Stephan Major, born probably in Nádaska, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.  Nadaska is one of the river towns bordering the Bodvou River and still remains in modern Hungary as Torna-Nádaska. Stephan Major was the father of Joseph Major, also born in Nadaska. Although Stephan and his wife, Elizabeth Kotsis, are named in the baptism records of the Roman Catholic Church in Szilas (next largest town to Nádaska) and records exist back to the 18^th century, no record has been found for the birth of Stephan.

 

Stephan¹ Major was probably born in Nádaska (Szilas, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary circa 1775. He married Elisabeth Kotsis 10 February 1794 in Szilas. There are no records of Stephan or Elisabeth’s birth in the Hungarian Roman Catholic Church records for Szilas.  The marriage record for Elizabeth indicates that she was from Somodi, Hungary.  Known children of Stephan and Elisabeth (all born in Nádaska):

 

i.                Stephan² Major baptized 4 May 1795 (died young?)

ii.              Joseph² Major baptized 18 October 1796 (died young?)

iii.             John² Major baptized 24 May 1799

iv.             Barbara² Major baptized 7 June 1801

v.              Stephan² Major baptized 13 Jan 1804

vi.            Joseph² Major baptized 21 Feb 1812

Marriage record of Stephen Major and Elizabeth Kostis in Szilas, Hungary. Stephanum Major and Elizabethum Kostis were married 10 February 1794 in Szilas, Hungary. The record indicates that Elizabeth Kotsis was from Somodi and Stephan from Nádaska. Both were Roman Catholic. From Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records from Szilas, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

Baptism of Josephum Major on 21 February 1812 in Szilas, Hungary. Parents are given as Stephano Major, Catholic and Elizabeth Kostis, Catholic; both are from Nádaska. Note: Another Josephum was born to Stephen and Elizabeth in 1796 and likely died young. From Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records from Szilas, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

Joseph² Major was baptized in Nádaska, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary, 21 Feb 1812. He probably died in Torna-Ujfalu, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary sometime after 1846.  He married on 24 November 1834 in Torna-Ujfalu, Barbara Mészáros, daughter of Andrea Mészáros and Anna Pétes.  There are three known children:

i.               Joseph³ Major baptized 12 July 1837 in Torna-Ujfalu

ii.              Barbara³ Major baptized 23 April 1842 in Nádaska

iii.           Stephan³ Major baptized 18 October 1846 in Torna-Ujfalu

 

 

Marriage record of Josephum Major and Barbara Mészáros on 24 November 1834 in Torna-Ujflau, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary (now Turnianska Nova Ves, Slovakia). Joseph's parents are given as Stephan Major and Elizabeth Kostis. Barbara's parents are given as Andea Mészáros and Anna Pétes. They are both Catholic and from Nádaska. From Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records from Torna-Ujfalu, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

 Stephan Major, called Istvany in the record, was baptized in Torna-Ujflau on 18 October 1846 to Josef Major and Barbolo (Barbara) Mészáros. In the last column, their town is listed as Torna-Ujfalu. From Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records from Torna-Ujfalu, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

 

Stephan³ Major was baptized 18 October 1846 in Torna-Ujfalu, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary. He died 16 September 1916 in Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.  At the time of his death, he was a councilman in Szepsi. His occupation in the records is an artisan/craftsman.  He married on 7 February 1875, Maria Hagan, age 18, daughter of  Janos (John) Hagan and Julianna Konavily. She was born 2 October 1856 in Szepsi and died 17 March 1928 in Szepsi.  Istvan Major, Maria Hagen and two of their children, Maria and Julianna, are buried in the Major family plot now in Moldava nad Bodvou, Slovakia.

Marriage record of Istvan Major and Maria Hagen 7 February 1875 in Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary (now Moldava nad Bodvou, Slovakia). Istvan's birthplace is identified as Torna-Ujflau and Maria's as Szepsi. He is 26 and Maria is only 18.
From Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records from Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

Baptism of Maria Hagen on 2 October 1856 in Szepsi, Abaú-Torna Hungary. Her parents are given as Janos Hagen and
Julianna Konavily., both from Szepsi. From Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records from Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

 

Istvan [Stephan] Major and Maria Hagen Major. Photo taken in Kassa (now Kosiče, Slovakia) circa 1900.

The family has in their possession the death notices of Istvan Major and Maria Hagen Major from Szepsi Hungary. These are shown below with their translations. Hungarian death notices are unique in that they name all of the living relatives and in-laws.

 

Hungarian Death Notices for Istvan Major (1916) and Maria Hagen (Istvánné = wife of Istvan)

 
The Major family of Hungary is buried in the Major plot in the Moldava nad Badvou town cemetery (formally Szepsi, Hungary). Also buried in the same plot are: Istvan Major, Maria Hagen Major, daughters Martiska Major and Juliaska (Julianna) Major Heczey and grabdaughter Marta Heczey.

 

Major family plot in Moldava nad Bodvou town cemetery. From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/222664265/istvan-major; http://www.virtualnycintorin.sk/en/cintorin/1118.

Istvan and Maria had the following children, all born in Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary:

i.               Stephan [Istvan]⁴ Major, baptized 13 May 1876.  He died 3 Feb 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio.  This is the Cleveland, Ohio Major line. Stephan arrived on 3 August 1906 on the ship “Graf Waldersee” out of Hamburg, Germany. He is listed as age 30 and a shoemaker from Kassa. He is traveling with a young child, Arpad Kallella, Age 9. Istvan is going to Franck Kalella (brother in law) of Cleveland, Ohio. This is the girl’s father and both of their passages were paid by Franck Kalella.  Stephan and Arpad were detained and admitted on 4 August 1906.  Stephan’s wife, Pauline, and son, Stephan [Istvan]), arrived at Ellis Island on 9 May 1909 from Hamburg, Germany on the ship SS Amerika. He married Pauline Anna Marie Parilyak on 6 April 1909 in Kassa (now Kosiće, Slovakia), Abauj-Torna, Hungary, daughter of Ferdinand Parilyak and Anna Balogh. She was born 3 June 1883 in Felsogagy, Brosod-Abauj-Zemplen, Hungary. She died 22 February 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio. They had three children:

a.     Stephan [Istvan]⁵ Major, born in Hungary 27 May 1904. Married Marie Hegyi  (Hegge) and had a son:

                                               i.     Donald⁶ born 2 Novenber 1933 in Cleveland, OH

b.     William⁵ Major, born 15 Feb 1911 in Cleveland, OH. Married Ethel Lasco 26 Jul 1934 in Cleveland, OH and had:

                                               i.     Carol⁶  born 5 Mar 1938 in Cleveland, OH

                                             ii.     Susan⁶ born about 1942 in Cleveland, OH

                                            iii.     William⁶ born about 1948 in Cleveland, OH

c.     Mary⁵ Major, born 28 November 1912 in Cleveland, OH. Mary Major married John Steber 27 August 1936 in Cleveland and had:

                                               i.     Paula Marie⁶ born 6 April 1940, Cleveland, OH. Married Bertram (Bert) Samerdyke 22 June 1963, Cleveland, OH. Died 5 Mar 2020, Solon, OH. Married Richard Visocant.

                                             ii.     Janet⁶ born 22 November 1942, Cleveland, OH and died 28 October 2007 in Cleveland, OH. Married Richard Visocan.

                                            iii.     Constance Faith (Connie)⁶ (named after Constance Faith Rogers Major), born 25 Feb 1947 in Cleveland, OH and died 11 May 2014 in Euclid, OH. Married Louis DeLuca.

ii.               Maria⁴ Major, baptized 29 August 1880 in Szepsi, Hungary. She probably died before 1916.

iii.              Julianna⁴ Major baptized 23 February 1883 in Szepsi, Hungary.  From the Hungarian death certificate of Istvan (Stephan) Major, Julianna married Eugene Heczey in Hungary and had five children. She died sometime after 1928.

iv.            Joseph⁴ Major baptized 26 April 1888.  He died 28 November 1889 in Szepsi.

v.            Eugene⁴ Major (Jeno) baptized 11 April 1895 in Szepsi, Hungary.

 

 ClevelandClan July 1944

Written on back (by Faith Constance Rogers):

Marie, Helen (Johnny's sister), Janet, me (Faith), Jen, Willie, Aunt & Uncle, Ethel, Susan, Donny, Steve, Paula, Carol, the whole family!

July 30, 1944, Sunday, Cleveland, Ohio

 

Marie = Marie Major, wife of Stephen Major

Helen (Johnny's sister) = sister of John Steber, husband of Mary Major Steber (he may have been the one taking the photo)

Janet = Janet Steber, youngest girl sitting, daughter of Mary Major Steber and John Steber, in Helen's arms

Me = Faith Constance Rogers, future wife of Eugene Major, Jr. (in WW2)

Jen = Jenny Major, daughter of Jeno (Eugene) Major and Anna Gavay, sister of Eugene Major, Jr.

Willie = William Major, son of Stephan Major and Paula Pariylak

Aunt & Uncle = Stephan Major and Paula Pariylak

Ethel = Ethel Lecso Major, wife of William Major, son of Stephan Major and Paula Parilyak

Susan = Susan Major, daughter

Baptism and birth record for Jeno (Eugene) Major. He was born 11 April 1895 and baptized 14 April 1895 to Istvan (Stephan) Major and Maria Hagan in Hungarian Roman Catholic Church Records for Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary.

Eugene⁴ (Jeno) Major was baptized 11 April 1895 in Szepsi, Abaúj-Torna, Hungary. He died 3 December 1952 in Stamford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married on 5 April 1920, Anna Gavay, daughter of Kalman Gavay and Ilona (Helen) Frankovicks (Frankovits). She died 13 April 1991 in Darien, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.  Eugene’s occupation was listed as a barber. He served in the Austro-Hungarian army in WW1 and served in the medical corps (unit and action undetermined).  

 

Marriage of Jeno Major and Anna Gavay, 5 April 1920. By September 1920, they were on their way to the United States.
 

 

 Jeno Major in the Austro-Hungarian Army, WW1. He is the 2nd from the left, seated with Red Cross arm band.

 

Eugene and Anna immigrated to the United States in 1920, arriving in New York City at Ellis Island on 9 October 1920 on the American Ship line vessel SS Gothland sailing from Cherbourg, France.

Eugene and Anna had three children, all born in Stamford, CT:

i.               Eugene (Jeno)⁵ Major, born 20 Jan 1921. Eugene married Faith Constance Rogers, daughter of Asa Clark Rogers, Jr. and Gertrude McDonough on 4 May 1946. They had 2 children: 

            a.     Donna⁶ Lynn Major, born 13 May 1948

b.     Eugene⁶ Robert Major, born 6 Mar 1952

ii.              Jennie⁵  (born Yolanda) Major, born 11 December 1922. Jenny married John Joseph Golden, son of John Joseph Golden and Lillian Rudamanski on 4 May 1946 (double wedding with Eugene and Faith) and they had three children:

a.     Patricia⁶ Jean Golden, b. 23 Jun 1947

b.     Lynn⁶ Joy Golden, b. 25 Sep 1952

c.     Robin⁶ Ann Golden, b. 25 Mar 1954

iii.            Nancy⁵ Helen Major, born 8 August 1932. Nancy married Peter van Steeden III, son of Peter van Steeden II and Margery Wells on 24 October 1953. They had two children:

a.     Peter⁶ Mark van Steeden, b. 26 Aug 1960

b.     Cheryl⁶ Jean van Steeden, b. 18 Mar 1963

 

The Major children born in the U.S. to Eugene and Anna Gavay Major: Eugene Major, Jr. (1921), Yoland (Jennie) Major (1922), and Nancy Major (1932).

 

Genealogy chart of the Major family in Hungary. Stephan Major (1876) and Eugene Major (1895) were the only (known) Major family to immigrate from Hungary to the U.S.

Part 5 will cover the genealogy of the Gavay Family.