This site is graphic intensive--Please be patient and allow ALL the pictures to load.
Kisgejõcz,
Kis Gejocz, Kisgejocz, Kisgejoc, Kis Gejoc, Kisgeocz, Kisgeoc,
Kis Geocz, Kis Geoc
 |
“A picture paints a thousand
words…,” words
flooding my mind as I look through the fifty plus pictures, which have
arrived via the Internet and e-mail, of this small village lying just
across
the Hungarian border in southwestern Ukraine. Although I have
never
been there, it is beginning to feel more and more familiar to me and I
find myself dazing off into nowhere, thinking, wondering, trying to
imagine.
To absorb.
Like the region in which it lies, it is quite possible for
the village
of one's birth to also have acquired several names. Although in a
person’s lifetime they may have never lived anywhere else, a record of
baptism in 1916 might show Kisgejõcz, Hungary as the birthplace,
Malê Gejovce, Czechoslovakia as the place of marriage in 1935,
and
in 1978, Mali Hejivci, Ukraine as the place of death. Nor would
it
be unusual for changes in governments, policies, laws, etc., to create
new variations for an old name. Thus, Kisgejõc, Kis
Gejõcz,
Kisgeõcz, Kisgeõc, Kis-Gõcz, and its current name
Maloye Geyovtse, along with those
mentioned
earlier, are all one and the same place.
 book of marriages, I had no idea, whatsoever, what it spelled, and although eventually I was able to decipher the place as Kisgejoc, it would be many hours, tired eyes, and dollars spent before I was able to determine where it was. Today, on the other hand, with a computer, Internet connection, and websites like the Ellis Island Passenger Search and Hungarian Village Finder and Gazetteer for the Kingdom of Hungary, it is quite possible to not only learn the place of origin in less than 30 minutes, but to pinpoint it on a map and determine what, if any, vital records might be available on microfilm through the LDS Family History Library Catalog, as well. Like most people, though, who quickly find themselves lured into the addiction of genealogy, just knowing the location of Kisgejõcz was not enough, and admittedly, found myself becoming obsessed with learning anything and everything I could about this small village. This, unfortunately, was more difficult than anticipated and although much to my delight, I was eventually able to find some historical background, pictures were nowhere to be found. That is, until I came across a website offering the services of photographer, Imre Harasztosi, who was willing to travel to Ukraine for me and not only photograph the villages of my ancestors, but to find some of my cousins, as well! Finally, my Kisgejõcz has come to life.
All photos in this
collection by www.stillhungary.com
(Translation from Magyarlakta Telepulesek Ezredéve Kárpátalján by Jozsef Botlik and Gyorgy Dupka, 1993) Kisgejõc is a predominantly Hungarian village, renamed Mali Hejivci in 1946 when it was acquired by Ukraine. It is adminstratively connected to its sister city, Nagygejõc. It lies along the Latorca River, and is 20 kilometers south of Ungvár. The history of the village is interwoven with that of Nagygejõc. In 1851 Elek Fényes described the village, “Kis-Gejõc, a Hungarian village in the county of Ungh, south of Ungvár, inhabited by 204 Roman Catholics, 72 Greek Catholics, 455 Reformed (Calvanist), and 42 Jewish. It has a Reformed Church and good soil. Plenty of forests provide acorns. The earliest historical data is from 1394 when it was Geyeuch, Ramoca-Geyewch” *(Cs. I., 390). Population: 794 in 1828, 953 in 1869, 897 in 1910, 937 in 1928, 1007 in 1940, 980 in 1944, 745 in 1989, of these 710 are of Hungarian mother tongue; 736 in 1993, of these 704 are Hungarians. History: Kisgejõc first appears at the end of the 14th century as Ramoca-Geyewch. The property of the Ramocsai family, the village has no great significance or importance since, in addition to the descendents of the family, in 1849 the Butkays also gained parcels of land there. In 1567 the serf population was listed by name and were Hungarian. At this time, the village had ten serf families and eight peasant familes. Four dwellings were found abandoned, their tenants believed to be the casualties of the pestilence raging county wide. In 1599, the village was called Ramocha-Geõtz and had twenty-five dwellings. It belonged to Paul Deregnyõi, also known as Paul Bessenyõi. In 1696, it is listed as Kis-Gehõcz with five serf and one peasant dwelling. The inhabitants were Hungarian. The Hungarian population prevailed through the 18th century. In 1828, the village had 100 dwellings. At this time, the principal occupation of the inhabitants was farming. A gypsy colony, Egri farm, Latorca puszta, and Ruszin* colony were also noted as inhabited locations within the village area. When Kisgejõc was given to Czechoslovakia the name of the village became Malê Gejovce. During this time there was a Hungarian public school of Reformed denomination with one class and a Ukrainian State elementary school with two classes. The situation in the village remained the same until after 1938. At that time, there were 203 dwellings. In 1940 the population remained predominantly Hungarian except for the noted 102 *[Ruszins], and one Slovak. The religious breakdown was 147 Roman Catholic, 305 Greek Catholic, 516 Reformed, 38 Jewish, and one of another faith. During WWII, thirty five people perished. The Stalinists dragged away 19 men, of which 17 of those died in captivity. During the purge, one person was condemned and executed. Economy: The land, about to be privatized, belongs to the local collective where many people work. The younger generation look for better working opportunities by commuting to Ungvár. The successful domestic farming is comparable to that of Nagydobrony. A tradition preserving settlement. The population is slowly diminishing. Religion: The Reformed church was founded in 1648.
The congregation
numbered 350 heads in 1991. Their minister is Miklós
Stefán.
The present church was built in 1844; it burnt down twice in between
times.
Ferenc Egri made its bell.
Institutions and Language: Since 1945, Kisgejõc has had an elementary school where the education is in the Hungarian language. In 1990, a secondary school was established. During the 1991.1992 school year, eleven teachers taught 63 students. The parents requested the opening of the secondary school in the 1990/1991 school year. Arrangements to take the secondary school final exams can be made and taken at the Gábor Dayka #2 Secondary School in Ungvár. The kindergarten can accommodate 50 students and the education is taught in the Hungarian language. The cultural building was built during the last decade and can seat 330. It is also the cultural focus of the region where Hungarian presentations are held. Hungarian material in the Library is in modest supply. The 165 members of the *KMKSZ organization of Kisgejõc separated from the organization of Nagygejõc on April 2, 1990. The president is Ferenc Fegyverneki. They are initiating the formation of the independent self-government of Kisgejõc, the organizing and administration of the cemetary, and the preservation of the traditions. Memorials and Sights: Kisgejoõc is the birthplace of Ferenc Egri, the famous maker of church bells. The foundry building was transformed into an agricultural warehouse after the war, but the remains of the bell making implements can still be found there. The local organization of the KMKSZ placed a monumnet in the local cemetery on November 1, 1989. They dedicated a memorial to the victims of the Second World War and of the Stalinist despotism [purges]. *Botlik, József and Dupka,
György.
Magyarlakta Települések Ezredéve
Kárpátalján.
Ungvár—
*Cs. I., 390 may stand for History of Hungary by Csolnoky, Vol. I, page 390. *Although the exact ethnicity of the term “Ruszins” is unknown by the translator, it is most likely meant to be Rusyns and not to be confused with Russians. *KMKSZ --Karpataljai Magyar Kulturális Szövetség meaning the Hungarian Cultural Association of Karpatalja. Botlik, József and Dupka, György. Magyarlakta Települések Ezredéve Kárpátalján. Ungvár—Budapest: Intermix Kiadó. 1993. From: The Trajedy of the Hungarians of Transcarpathia
KISGEJOC Administratively linked to Nagygejoc, this village had 980 inhabitants in 1944. Two lists were prepared in Kisgejoc on July 7, 1945 and found in the district archives. On one figure the 53 names of men who, as soldiers, were absent from the village. The second list contains 29 names of men who, according to the local judge and secretary, were deported to the Szambor labourcamp. The list of the village's losses compiled by the local.
KMKSZ (president:
Fegyverneki Ferenc) tells us that of the 82 men, 16 never returned from
the camps and 19 died in action in W.W.II.
From: Kisgejoc List of the Dead
Kisgejoc--List of the Dead Bogathy Ferenc, Csakany Karoly, Hajdu Jozsef, Hajdu Miklos,
Halasz
Janos, Halasz Jozsef, Kalman Bela,
WW II losses:
From: Hungarian Village Finder, Atlas, and Gazetteer for the Kingdom of Hungary (CD-Rom version) Ung Megye/Varmegye (County) County Seat (Székhely):
Ungvár
1) Ungvár Járás,
Ung Megye
From: Hungarian
Village Finder, Atlas, and Gazetteer for the Kingdom of Hungary
(CD-Rom version)
Villages, towns, and cities within an 8 mile radius of
Kisgejõcz
Kereknye (Ung megye)
**LINKS**
Have you ever wondered what the village of your ancestors looks like? Then take a look at this service. HUNGARY GEN WEB (A Rootsweb site) Resources to help you in your genealogy research. THE CARPATHIAN CONNECTION Website dedicated to those researching former Carpathian territories including Kárpátalja.
|
