GENEALOGY has really reinforced my feminism. I've seen how women's lives were before there was contraception as an alternative to dying young, worn out from continual pregnancies, or in childbirth itself as a real danger. I've seen how many children were orphaned in the 19th century. I've seen how few records there are of women's lives compared to men's. I've seen how men are prioritized historically.
But before I go too far on a rant about that, I would like to tell you that there is something very unique about HUNGARIAN WOMEN when it comes to documents.
As you know in the Hungarian language the surname comes first and then the given name. To me there is something very Asian about the language and that. But did you know that in previous centuries Hungarian women went through their lives traditionally being known by their maiden name? From birth through marriage and death their maiden name is recorded in church registers and other documents.
Hungarian women are listed in relationship to men surely. But say a woman was born Maria Toth and she marries Janos Nagy. She may be listed as Maria Toth, wife of Janos Nagy or Maria Nagyne. The ne ending denotes possession by a man, in this case Janos Nagy. It stands to reason that these women thought of themselves as their maiden name at immigration to the U.S,. and so, when you're looking at ship records and manifests such as the ones offered by the Ellis Island and Castle Rock sites, look for the woman under her maiden name even if she was married at the time, as well as her married name.
You may find a listing such as Maria Toth, M (married), and in the notes notice that she is going to her husband who has a different surname like Janos Nagy. The indexing that leads you to these records presently only records the name of the ship passenger, the name on their ticket. Always keep note of the place she left and the place she is going to and what the relationship is supposed to be. Then go to that American address on the census next! You may find that some of your other ancestors are all living together at that location.
One woman I found on a ship manifest coming back from a trip to Hungary was held at Ellis Island for questioning because she said she was a naturalized citizen already but was traveling alone. In this case the woman gave her married name American style. I have no idea how she proved that she had been naturalized with a husband who wasn't traveling with her when she couldn't read, write, or speak English, and she clearly had no papers to document this, but I have a feeling her husband probably had to leave Trenton New Jersey, take the train to New York, and go get her!
Posts from this series can be brought up by clicking on the label Pro Tips-Hungary Women
C 2014 MAGYAR AMERICAN BLOG - All Rights Reserved on this and all posts, including Internet and International Rights.
C 2014 MAGYAR AMERICAN BLOG - All Rights Reserved on this and all posts, including Internet and International Rights.
