Eighth Generation

232. György FEKETE (NIGRINI)^343,344 was born about 1650. He died after 1695 at the age of 45. There is no direct evidence that this man is the father of János Fekete ... but, the timing is right, and they are the only two Evangelical pastors named Fekete/Nigrini documented in western Hungary during that period. So, they are likely father and son. Rev. István Mátis who compiled the Mátis family history also believed this to be the case, according to an e-mail from his son.

This family of pastors and devout Lutherans apparently Latinized their name -- Fekete (meaning "black") -- to Nigrini. This was apparently common among Evangelical Lutheran pastors of the time. It took about a century for this affectation to subside.

He studied theology in Pozsony, was ordained at Hosszúpereszteg, Vas megye in 1674 by János Paulini. [Here his name is given as György Nigrini.] That same year he took up the duties of the pastor at Magyargencs, at the northeastern corner of Vas county. He served there from 1674-1695. György FEKETE (NIGRINI) was married about 1674.

Children were:

116	i.	János FEKETE (NIGRINI).
	ii.	Péter FEKETE was born in 1685 in Magyargencs, Vas m, HUN. He died on 27 November 1755 at the age of 70 in Felpécz, Györ m, HUN.³⁴⁵ He died at age 70 and was identified as "oreg" old Peter Fekete. The age is rather illegible, but most likely 70 or 80. At present, it is only my hypothesis that this Péter Fekete who lived in Felpécz was a son of this György. The key may be the recurring use of the names János, György, and Péter (the latter two being rather uncommon among Hungarian Protestants) in the family. See Felpécz database for details. The Fekete family in Felpécz did not use the latinized name Nigrini. But, all the early data seems to be consistent with Péter being the only Fekete of his generation in Felpécz, which leads one to believe he was born elsewhere and was married there. In all likelihood, his wife (whose name we do not know) was the daughter of a wealthy mid-sized landowner (közbirtokos) and Péter and his descendants inherited those lands. They were later repeatedly identified as nobles and as mid-sized landowners. Though the Fekete family were not identified as nobility prior to Joseph II's census, they may have claimed this distinction based on their maternal lines, as was permitted and commonly done in that census.

When done, simply close this Window (or Tab).