The Major-Gavay Family of Hungary, Part 6

 

The Major-Gavay Family of Hungary, Part 6

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. Part 6 covers the DNA of the Major family in Hungary.

Genealogists depend on three kinds of DNA tests:

• autosomal DNA. Everyone inherits DNA from both parents. This is kind of test that can tell you something about recent ancestry, back a few hundred years. It measures DNA contributed by both parents (and their parents, and so on) and is very valuable in researching families back a few generations.
• Y-DNA. This is a test that only males can take. Males in inherit y-DNA from their father (and their father and so on). These tests can tell you something about the paternal line and can go back thousands of years.
• mtDNA. This a test that measures mitochondrial DNA, which is inside every cell.  Both males and females can take this test, BUT only females can pass the  mtDNA from one generation to the next. Which means that mtDNA can tell you something about your maternal line going back thousands of years.

 

autosomal DNA test contributions from both parents. Y-DNA tests only paternal line. mtDNA tests only the maternal line.
 

The Major-Gavay family is fairly well documented in the genealogical records going back about 200 years or so. The autosomal DNA tests can tell us something about distant cousins and other relationships.

 

Haplogroups

But to understand our Major-Gavay ancient origins, we would need to look at what is called the haplogroup. Think of a haplogroup is a kind of “tribe.” The haplogroup will not tell us much about individual family members, but can tell us something about where we came from. Haplogroups measure precise mutations in the DNA and can be traced back thousands of years to specific times when those mutations occur.

 

Only three testing companies can tell you the haplogroup: Family Tree DNA, Living DNA, and 23andMe. Only Family Tree DNA offer the Y-DNA and mtDNA tests. A few years ago, the National Genograhic Project (from the National Geographic Society) offered a haplogroup result, but the Project has been closed.

 

mtDNA Haplogroups

All mtDNA haplogroups are designated by a specific set of letters and numbers corresponding to mutations or branches in the mtDNA. These mutations can remain UNCHANGED for hundreds or thousands of years. If you take a DNA test, that mtDNA haplogroup number is the same that your mother has, and her mother and her mother, and her mother, back to whenever the mutation occurred…unchanged. mtDNA haplogroups are designated by seven distinct letters (the 7 daughters of Eve): U, X, H, V, T, K, and J. [1]

 

I took the National Genographic, Family Tree DNA, and Living DNA tests and they all tell me the same maternal haplogroup: U5b1c2b. That means I (and my mom and my sister…and my mother’s mother, and her mother, etc.) belong to tribe U with a mutation of U5 and another mutation of U5b, etc. arriving at U5b1c2b.  Geneticists know fairly precisely when these mutations occurred.

 

The last time my mutation, U5b1c2b occurred was about 6,000 years ago. The U and U5 haplogroups are very, very ancient. These haplogroups trace populations back about 40,000 years and is the oldest of the 7 mtDNA groups. They were stone age hunter-gatherers that lived on the southern fringes of the glacier during the last Ice Age. U5 populations were pushed back to western Europe and beyond by later populations of horsemen and farmers. [2]

 

All that means is that my maternal line goes back UNCHANGED for 6,000 years. My mom’s maternal line is Irish, so that means her maternal line could have been in Ireland for about 6,000 years. Archaeologists have dated skeletons throughout Europe and Ireland and my specific mtDNA is found amongst them, including a massive study recently that confirmed at least one Viking skeleton has the same haplogroup. [3]

 

So what does this have to do with Hungarian DNA and genealogy?

 

My DNA tests can trace our Hungarian male population back thousands of years, but there is no data on the maternal line. A daughter of my father’s female siblings (Jennie Major or Nancy Major) would have to take the appropriate DNA test to reveal our Hungarian maternal line, which would be the Gavay line.  A male Gavay would have to test to determine the paternal Gavay line.

 

 Y-DNA Haplogroups

Our Hungarian haplogroup is R-L260. More precisely, R1a1g2,L260.

 

What does that mean?

 

The haplogroup won’t tell you specific people, but it does trace the paternal Hungarian line from my father (Eugene) to his father (our common grandfather) (Eugene, Sr.), to his father (our common great grandfather) (Stephen, our common ancestor), to his father (our 2x grandfather) (Joszef), to his father (our 3x grandfather) (Stephen), and so on, back thousands of years. In addition, my DNA has 2.1% Neanderthal and 2.2% Denisovian, which is pretty typical of European populations (whether that percentage came from maternal or paternal DNA is impossible to tell. Both of my parents have deep European roots). 

The Living DNA test gives the haplogroup as R-Z283, which R-L260 is a subclass.

 

                                                                                We are in the light green area.
 

So, where did we Hungarians come from?

The DNA tests identify specific markers in the paternal (called Y-DNA, for the Y chromosome) DNA going back 60,000 years or more. These markers identify specific shifts of populations.  The R-L260 haplogroup indicates that we left Africa about 60,000 years ago and moved north through western and Central Asia. The population then turned west across the grasslands of Russia into Europe. There they met the Neanderthals and interbred with them. Our R-L260 ancestors lived a hunter-gatherer life style, which paved the way for the settlement of Europe.

                                        We are of the lines to the right of blue.
 

Check here for more information on the R-L260 haplogroup.

 

About 13,000 years ago, our tribe was amongst the settlers of Eastern Europe grasslands, which gave rise to the Slavs and the Magyars.

 

Linguistically, Magyars are not related to Slavs at all. The Magyar language is Finno-Ugric of the Uralic class of languages and not Indo-European. There are tons of studies on the origin of the Hungarian language see [4] for example.

 

But genetically, Magyars and Slavs share a common origin. The R-L260 line is most common in Slovakia and the Czech Republic and Poland.  If you look at the map of Hungary where our Majors came from, it was a region dominated by Slavs.  All this confirms that our male Hungarian heritage is deeply rooted on eastern and central Europe and has been for thousands and thousands of years. 

 

However, our maternal Hungarian DNA origins may be quite different from our paternal Hungarian DNA origins and only a test that also gives the maternal haplogroup will be able to tell us.

 

References

[1] Brian Sykes, The Seven Daughters of Eve: The Science That Reveals our Genetic Ancestry (New York: W.W. Norton 2001).

[2] Boris Malyarchuk, et al. “The Peopling of Europe from the Mitochondrial Haplogroup U5 Perspective,” PLoS ONE 5(4) e10285. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010285

[3] Ashot Margaryan, et al. “Population genomics of the Viking world,” Nature, 585, (2020) 390-396.

 

[4] B. Csányi, et al. “Y-Chromosome Analysis of Ancient Hungarian and Two Modern Hungarian-Speaking Populations from the Carpathian Basin,” Annals of Human Genetics 72 (2008) 519-534.

Brick Wall: The Parents of Zadock B. Lacey of Sussex County, Delaware

 

Brick Wall: The Parents of Zadock B. Lacey of Sussex County, Delaware

 Every family genealogy has a brick wall - often more than one. One of my brick walls is identifying the parents, or at least the father of Zadock B. Lacey, born 25 September 1790 and died 28 March 1867. He married Mary Hopkins, daughter of Josiah Hopkins and Elon Coulter on 5 December 1812. [1] My g.g. grandfather, Thomas T. Lacey was born to Zadock B. and Mary Lacey in 1828 as recorded in a partial Bible record. [2] Zadock and his wife are buried in the Coolspring Presbyterian Church cemetery near Georgetown and Lewes, Sussex County, Delaware. [3]

Photos by author

There are no records, so far, that document the birth of Zadock B. Lacey, though he lived in and around the Indian River, Lewes & Rehoboth, and Broad Creek Hundreds of Sussex County, Delaware, where most of the Sussex Co. Lacey’s lived. The earliest recorded Lacey in Sussex County is the 1703 deed of John Lacey, where he purchased 200 acres of land on the "North side of Indian River" in Sussex County from Richard Ward, which was passed to his son Robert Lacey. [4]

A possible candidate is Hezekiah Lacey of Sussex County. His father was Robert Lacey, grandson of the John Lacey that first settled in 1703. Hezekiah’s father died in 1781 and the Orphans Court of Sussex County describes three children of Robert and Mary: Robert, Hezekiah, and Ann: all minors under age 14 in 1781. [5]

It is known that Hezekiah Lacey married an Elinor Barker on 23 Feb 1790 and Zadock was born in September 1790. [6] Perhaps the “B” is his middle name is for “Barker?”  In the 1800 census for Angola and Indian River Hundred, Hezekiah Lacey has one male in the family under 10, which could be Zadock and one male age 10-16. [7]

Of all the Lacey inhabitants in that area of Sussex County, Hezekiah Lacey seems to be of the appropriate age to be the father of Zadock B. Lacey.  Hezekiah Lacey disappears from the records after about 1828. Without any direct evidence, the research will continue in deeds and probate records and hopefully a more definitive answer as to the parents of Zadock B. Lacey will be found.

 

References

[1] C.H.B. Turner, Genealogical notes, Manuscript, Sussex County and Kent County, Delaware, Somerset County and Worcester County, Maryland: Surnames H-K, familysearch.org (https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2686366: accessed 15 April 2021), transcription, “Mary Hopkins – Zadock B. Lacey marriage, 5 December 1812,” Hopkins Family Bible, p. 250; crediting Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

[2] Gene R. Major, A Delaware Record: Kent County Families: Moore, Wyatt, Lacey, Rogers (Wilimington, DE, Delaware Genealogical Society, April 1987).

[3] Personal visit by author.

[4] Sussex County, Delaware, Deed Book C-2 (1690-1710), p.89-92; Delaware, U.S., Land Records, 1677-1947, database with images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61025/ : accessed 1 January 2000), John Lacey from Richard Ward, 1 Feb 1703, image 72/518;citing  Land Records, 1677–1947, Recorder of Deeds, Sussex County, RG 4555, Subgroup 000, Series 030, Delaware Public Archives, Dover, Delaware.

[5] Sussex County, Delaware, Orphans' Court Records, Liber C #3, 1780-1783),  p. 183-184, Mary Lacy, 1 August 1781; Delaware Public Archives, RG4840, Dover, Delaware.

[6] F. Edward Wright, Vital Records of Kent and Sussex Counties Delaware 1686-1800: "Lewes and Coolspring Presbyterian Church, Lewes, Delaware: Marriages" (Silver Spring, MD: Family Line Publications, 1986), p. 133. Note that the 1905 transcription of the church records: United Presbyterian Churches of Lewes, Indian River and Cool Spring 1756-1855, LDS film 441,441,  has
"1790 February 25 Hezekiah Lessee to Elinor Barker at Mr. Lessee’s." There is a later transcription by the WPA in the 1930s, which records a different entry: " Feb. 23, 1790. Hezekiah K.Lessee to Elinor Booker." The location of the original church records are not known, but the 1905 transcription seems to be a more careful and accurate transcription. Elinor's maiden name was likely Barker as there were many Barker family members in the Indian River Hundred area, but no Bookers.

[7] 1800 U.S. Census, Sussex County, Delaware, Dagsboro Hundred, p. 418, line 38, Hezekiah Lacy, image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/7590/ : accessed 1 January 2021); citing NARA, RG29,  microfilm publication M32, roll 4.

The Ancestors of Faith Constance Rogers Major who arrived during the Great Migration (1620-1640)

 

The Ancestors of Faith Constance Rogers Major who arrived during the Great Migration (1620-1640)

 

The Great Migration of immigrants from England to the colonies occurred between the landing of the Mayflower in 1620 to 1640. Over 20,000 immigrants came to New England, mostly between 1634-1640. The first large group of about 1000 immigrants came in the Winthrop Fleet of 11 ships in 1630 supplementing the first wave of colonists at Plymouth.

 

 

Arrival of the Winthrop Colony, by William F. Halsall. W. F. Halsall - Tappan, Eva March. An Elementary History of Our Country. New york: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1914. Public Domain. Wikimedia Commons. (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Winthrop_Fleet.jpg)
 

The line of my mother, Faith Constance Rogers Major, has deep roots in colonial New England and a number of ancestors have been identified as among those that came in the Great Migration. Most of these immigrants are highlighted in Anderson (2015) and in the “great” Great Migration series of 12 volumes available from the New England Historic Genealogical Society. A partial list is the following (page numbers refer to Anderson (2015)).

• Henry Adams arrived about 1639 from Somerset and settled in Braintree, MA, p. 2. He is the 3^rd g.grandfather of President John Adams and my 10^th g.grandfather.
• William Buell arrived about 1640 and settled in Windsor, CT p. 48. My 9^th g.grandfather.
• William Denison and sons (especially Capt. George Denison) arrived on the “Lion” in 1631; settled in Stonington, CT, p. 92. Father of Capt. George Denison of Stonington and New London, CT. He was from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire and is my 10^th g.grandfather.
• John Frary, arrived about 1637 and one of the founders of Dedham, MA, p. 121. My 10^th g.grandfather.
• Edward Fuller, arrived on the “Mayflower” in 1620. P. 123. One of the Pilgrim’s, he and his wife died the first winter 1620-21, but his sons Mathew and Samuel survived. The Fullers were from Reddenhall, Norfolk. My 10^th g.grandfather.
• Matthew Fuller, son of Edward Fuller, was in Barnstable County by 1640. He came later during the Great Migration. My 9^th g.grandfather. [MacGunnigle, 1990].
  
• Robert Goodale arrived on the “Elizabeth” in 1634 with his family and settled in Salem, MA, p. 134. My 9^th g.grandfather.
• Robert Jennison arrived about 1635 and was a settler of Watertown, MA, p. 184. My 9^th g.grandfather. My 9^th g.grandfather. [Hill, 1908]
• Robert Lay arrived before 1637 and settled in Saybrook, CT. My 9^th g.grandfather.
• Thomas Lord and wife arrived on the “Elizabeth and Ann” and settled in Hartford and Stonington, CT, p. 211. One of the first founders of Hartford. The family was from Towcester, Northamptonshire. My 10^th g.grandfather.
•  Joseph Morse arrived on the “Increase” in 1635 with his family and settled in Medfield, MA, p. 233. My 9^th g.grandfather.
• Henry Rowley arrived about 1632 to Scituate and Barnstable. His son, Moses Rowley married Elizabeth Fuller, daughter of Matthew Fuller and granddaughter of Pilgrim Edward Fuller, p. 290. My 9^th g.grandfather.
• Thomas Skidmore came about 1635 and settled in Saybrook, CT and then Huntington, Suffolk, Long Island, p. 306. He was from Westerleigh, Gloucestershire. My 9th g.grandfather.
  
• Thomas Stanton arrived on the “Bonaventure” in 1637. Eventually settled in Stonington, CT. p. 318. One of the founders of Stonington. He was a native American interpreter during the Pequot War. My 9^th g.grandfather.
• William Tuttle and wife Anna arrived on the “Planter” in 1635. The family was from Ringstead, Northamptonshire; settled in New Haven, CT, p. 344. My 9^th g.grandfather.

 

Source:

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Directory: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1640: A Concise Compendium (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2015).

 

Edwin A. Hill, “The Descendants of Robert Lay of Saybrook, Conn.” New England Historic and Genealogical Register 68 (1908), pp.172-173.

 

Bruce Campbell MacGunnigle, Edward Fuller of the Mayflower: Mayflower Families Through Five Generations (Plymouth: General Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1990) 4:5-6.