The History
Of
Besarab/Beszerak/Beserock Families
And
Nagy, Csontos Families
5/23/08

This geneology will cover both the Beserock and Nagy roots of the Bill and Boyd Beserock families.

BESEROCK ROOTS
This history starts with Nicetas Besarab (Ukraine spelling) and Susanna Gaja. Nicetas Besarab is Michael Beszerak in Hungarian. Nicetas came to Hungary from Zubivka, Ukraine which is about 49 km. south of Uzhorod, Ukraine. Nicetas and Susanna were married January 9, 1857 as recorded in the Greek Catholic church record at Matovce, Slovakia.

Their children were Julia, Elizabeth, Joseph, born March 14, 1861, George born October 12,1870, and Michel born November 21, 1876.

The Besarab name was changed to the Hungarian version Beszerak.

Julia: No data

Elizabeth: Has a great granddaughter Ilona Ocsenas 79 years old in 2007, lives in Velke Kapsuany. Ilona has a sister Maria Majoros who also lives in Velke Kapsuany and is 83 (2010).

Joseph: First marriage was to Erzsebet Resetar. From that marriage were three children, John born February 10, 1891, a brother ?, and Elizabeth.

Joseph: Second marriage was to Erzsebet Magyar. From that marriage was Steven and four other children?

George: Married to Elizabeth. From that marriage were two children George Jr. and Joseph.

Michel: Married to Julia. From that marriage were four children. Marget, Michael, Joseph, and Frank.

Steven: From a second marriage. Died at the age of 25.

Joseph Beszerak

Joseph Beszerak: Born 1861 in Hungary and died 1922 at the age of 61. Joseph was four years old when his mother died and his father remarried. From the second marriage a son Steven, who died at age 25. Joseph made three trips to America. The first trip was on June 26, 1895 at the age of 33 years. He sailed from the port of Antwerp, Belgium on the ship Pennsylvania. He came from NagyKapos, Hungary and went to stay with his brother Michel in Homestead, PA. Joseph had $8.00 on his person. He entered the port at Philadelphia.

Joseph first wife Erzsebet Resetar had 3 children John born Feb 8, 1891. A son (?), and a daughter named Elizabeth. Joseph and his second wife Erzsebth Magyar had one child named Steven. Other children not known.

His second wife Jozsefne at age 22 came to America to visit Joseph in November 26, 1897 along with two other ladies from Nagykapos. Istvanne Sirki and Karolyne Balog, all going to join their husbands in Homestead, PA. Each had $3.00 on their person. They entered the port of Ellis Island. They traveled on the ship Karlsruhe from the port of Bremen, Germany. Jozefne was born abt 1875.

Joseph made a second trip in March 12, 1905 at the age of 44. On this trip he came from the port of Bremen, Germany on the ship Gera. Again he came to his brother Michel at (something) 430 Homestead, PA. Joseph had $10.00 on his person. He entered to port at Ellis Island.

Joseph made his third trip to American at the age of 51 on June 10, 1912. On this trip he came from the port of Bremen, Germany on the ship George Washington. The ship manifest listed his birth place as Alsovadasz, Hungary which is not far from Muscony, Hungary. Joseph came to 332-14(something) Homestead, PA. He came to Frank Magyar? Joseph had $200.00 on his person. He entered the port at Ellis Island. In 1920 Joseph was a border with Charles and Sarah Balough in Munhall, PA.

While in America Joseph got to listen to Count Karolyi Mihaly in Pittsburgh who was addressing the Hungarians letting them know the conditions in Hungary during WW1. Joseph was always sending money home to his wife and children. Mail went from America to the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany. From his letters Joseph retained very little to live on. Joseph’s health was poor and he was very depressed. Joseph wanted to return home but he was afraid that he would be arrested in England as a prisoner of war because England was at war with Hungary and Germany.

Joseph returned to NagyKapos in 1922 and died within a few weeks after returning home.

George Beszerak

George Beszerak was born October 12, 1870 in Hungary and died November 1967 in America. His wife’s name was Elizabeth and they had two sons George Jr. and Joseph. Elizabeth died August 22, 1944. George came to America in 1895. In 1900 George was living with his brother Michael and his family in Mifffin, PA. Then he lived in Munhall, PA where he rented a room and between 1920 and 1930 he moved to Homestead, PA. In June 23, 1919 George filed for United States citizenship. John Kotrincsek was a witness at his citizenship. In 1920 George worked in the steel industry and George Jr. was a messenger boy for an Westingtonhouse Electric Co.


Michal Beszerak

Michal Beszerak was born November 26, 1876 in Hungary. His wife Julia was also born in Hungary abt 1876. Michal and Juli came to America in 1893. In 1900 Michael Beszerak is listed in the Cleveland, Ohio directory as living at 119 Garretson Ave. Also in 1900 Michael and family is listed in the census as living in Miffin, PA. In 1910 they lived in Munhall, PA and just down the street his nephew John Beserock was living as a border with Charles and Mary Kovatch.

Michal was a steel worker. Michal and Julia had four children, Margret, Michal, Joseph, and Frank. In 1918 Michal signed up for the United States draft. In 1920 they lived in Butler, PA, which is just North of Pittsburgh, PA. In 1906 Michal petition for United States citizenship. John Bumback was a witness for his citizenship.



John Beserock

John Beserock was born February 8, 1891 in NagyKapos, Hungary which is now Velke Kapusany, Slovakia. John worked as a wheelwright in NagyKapos and as a steelworker in America. John also liked to farm and raise horses. John was of the Greek Catholic faith.

John came to America via Ellis Island October 23, 1908. John was detained until his father, Joseph who got his mail at Box 805, Homestead, PA sent money for John’s passage from New York to Homestead, PA.

In 1910 John was a border living with Charles and Mary Kovatch in Munhall, PA.

On August 2, 1910 John married Mary Nagy in St. Elias Magyar Greek Catholic church in Homestead, PA. The two witnesses were Andrew Csore and Joseph Farkas.

Mary came to America with her mother, Teresia Csontos and her sister Julia Csontos from Muscony, Hungary on January 5, 1901 at the age of 3 years and 6 months.

John and Mary had two children. Born August 11, 1913 Michel Boyd Beserock and Born January 2, 1915 William Beserock. Both were born in Pittsburgh, PA.

On June 5, 1917 John signed up for the United States draft. John and Mary were living in Liscomb, Iowa. John and Mary were farming and raising horses. John also worked for Joe Malos (?) in Bangor, Iowa.

In 1918 they moved to Albion, Iowa and received their mail via RD #4, % D. V. Bryant. In 1922 John and Mary left Iowa and returned to Pittsburgh.

Mary divorced John February 1925 in a North Carolina Superior Court.

John met with Boyd and Bill to tell them he was returning to Hungary. At this meeting he gave each of them a parting gift. John returned to Hungary in 1929 to run the family farm. John lost the farm and his horses and wagon to the communists after WW2.

When John returned to Hungary he married Erdelyi Ilona in 1930. Erdelyi was born August 19, 1909 and died 1966. From this marriage Five children were born. Eva who died as an infant and is buried in Ungvar, Margit born 1933 now living Velke Kapusany, Josef born 1935 who died as a child and is buried in Velke Kapusany. Kato born 1936 now living in Kosice. Elizabeth, born 1942 now living in Velke Kapusany.

John had a sister named Elizabeth who came to America and returned to Hungary in 1920. Elizabeth died at the age of 32.

John died June 15, 1971 at the age of 80, in Velke Kapusany. John is buried in Velke Kapusany.

NAGY ROOTS

This line starts with Andrus Nagy and Teresia Csontos. Andrus was born in SzuhaKallo, Hungary and Teresia was born in Muscony, Hungary. Andrus and Teresia were married in Muscony November 3, 1890 as recorded in the Roman Catholic church records. Andrus was 20 and Teresia was 22 in 1890.

Andrus's parents were Janos and Maria Almasa Nagy from SzuhaKallo.

Teresia's. parents were Mihaly and Maria Lukacs Csontos from Muscony.

Teresia was born December 3, 1867 as recorded in the church record.

Andrus and Teresia had two childres: Julia Rose Nagy born April 23, 1893 and Mary born May 13, 1897 both in Hungary.

On December 22, 1900 Teresia, Julia and Mary come to America. They arrived January 5, 1901 at Ellis Island, New York. They sailed from Antwerp, Belgum on the ship Kensington. Teresia was 32, Julia was 4 1/2 and Mary was 3 1/2 when they arrived in America. They entered America using the name of Csontos.

Teresia married Stefan Sutch about 1907/1908 and they first live in South Bethlehem, PA.
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MORE FAMILY HISTORY TO BE ADDED.
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APPENDIX: Spelling of names.

During the research of census records the spelling of Beserock was found as follows:

Biserock, Berzerik, Besserak, Beserck, Besterok, Beserak, Beserock, Beserarko, Besorek, Beszorak and Beszerak.

If you wish to see the web site for the Beserock's Hungary/Slovakia Trip in April 2007, please go to http://beserock.110mb.com/HSTrip2007/.