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From: "John Townsend" <>
Subject: Used Books: Gattenburg original Roman Catholic register
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 19:00:07 -0000


[Austrian Burgenland] [Manuscript Book] An original Roman Catholic
register of baptisms, marriages and burials (C 1682-1762, M 1684-1762, B
1696-1762) for Gata (Moson, Hungary), later called Lajtakata (Hungary), now
Gattendorf, Burgenland, Austria, lying about 35 miles to the S.E. of Vienna.
The area was part of Hungary before WW1 and had a largely German and
Croatian population. Today the Burgenland village of Gattendorf has a
population of about 1,200. The register is substantial and was kept in
Latin by successive priests. The first, Paulus Ribich, is described in 1682
as "Reverendus Dominus Parochus". In 1715 Joannes Vrbanicz became priest,
and in 1740 Georgius Csudics took over and introduced himself, as follows:

"Istam Parochiam Gattensem aquisivi Anno 1740 die 9 Mensis Martii, et
copulavi sequentes ..."

The parish is referred to throughout by the name, Gatta, while the
parishioners are called Gattenses. Godparents (patrini) are named in
baptism records, and the witnesses (testibus or assistentes) to marriages
are also named. Often a person being married is referred to as parochianum
meum (= my parishioner), or all those involved are referred to,
collectively, as omnes Gattenses, but sometimes a marriage mentions another
place of origin of one of them, e.g. one of the nearby villages of Parndorf
and Zurndorf, or from further afield:

1716 " ... oriundum Naikirhi in Germania ..."

1716 " ... copulavi Cristianum Helmshrot natum in Austria Obstorf ..."

1717 " ... Maria Anna Stimlmann ex Bavaria Maspurg ..."

1718 " ... Nozinger ex Bohemia vulgo Hasprun ..."

Ages are often given with the burial entries, and the phrase omnibus
sacramentis provisus is sometimes included. In addition to sepultus, the
expression obiit in Domino is also used. There are a few mentions of
nobility, e.g. in the year 1757:

Die 6 Januarii est sepulta Domicella Josepha Baronissa de Pernsperg Annorum
32

Die 27 Junii est sepultus Illustrissimus Dominus Comes Carolus Esterhazi
de Gallantha omnibus sacramentis provisus aetatis suae 33 et sex mensium
annorum

This last entry refers to a member of the Hungarian nobility at Esterhazy
Castle, which was a few miles away at Eisenstadt. Other personnel from the
castle were buried here, e.g. venator (= huntsman). Another local
occupation is that of flour miller, e.g. molitor hujatis.

A unique and important historical record. As well as furnishing
irreplaceable baptism, marriage and burial data over a lengthy period, this
register also offers a fascinating insight into the community and way of
life in a West Hungarian parish in that era.

Over 730pp, plus a few blanks; small 4to; contents a little faded in places
but nearly all legible, some underlining in pencil, contemporary mottled
half-calf, rubbed, a piece chipped from bottom of spine, a firm volume.
1,750.00

Provenance: A 1970s London booksellers card, loosely inserted in the
book, suggests that it had earlier changed hands in the U.S.A. book trade
and that it had come to the U.S.A. from Moravia. No evidence to support
these statements is known.

All prices and payments in Pounds Sterling (GBP). Postage at cost.

Always a good selection of used books on Genealogy on our web site:

http://www.johntownsend.demon.co.uk

Best wishes,

John Townsend
(Wokingham, England)




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