Fifth Generation

24. Mihály MÁTIS^149,150 was born on 11 August 1768 in Beled, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵¹ He died on 30 October 1828 at the age of 60 in Beled, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵² In the death record, he is identified as a citizen, farmer and shepherd ("polgar, gazda és juhasz") and it gives his age as 63. He died of typhoid fever (hagmászbetegség).

This age information leaves some question about the identification of his parents. The age at marriage indicates he was probably born in 1766, the age at death indicates he was probably born in 1765. Both ages were given long after his birth, and may be incorrect. The Vadosfa/Beled birth records show that the only Mihály Mátis born in Beled between 1758 and 1774 was born to the parents indicated. Therefore, it seems highly probable that all three vital events given are correct, and involved the same person.

After the edict of religious toleration of King Joseph II, on 29 January 1788 the first evangelical public worship in Beled in over 60 years was held in the barn of Mihály Mátis. It is recorded that the singing of Psalm 103 was part of the service. His barn remained the "home" of the evangelical community in Beled until a church was built.

Our family tradition indicates it was this Mihály Mátis who hosted that worship. But, there was at least one other man in Beled with the same name, and being 10 years older and married makes him a more likely candidate for such a leadership role. Éva SZALAI and Mihály MÁTIS were married on 17 January 1792 in Vadosfa, Sopron m, HUN.^153,154 The Latin text of the marriage register reads: "1792 -- Die 17 Jan Copulatus Juvenis Michael Mátis Anor 25 cum Sponsa sua Virgine Denesfaen Eva Szalai Anor 17. Pronubis Michaele Mátis et Stephano Buti Beleden." Which translates: "On the 17th day of January of 1792 the young man Michael Mátis, aged 25, and his betrothed maiden Eva Szalai of Dénesfa, aged 17, were married. Witnesses were Michael Mátis and Stephan Buti of Beled."

25. Éva SZALAI was born on 2 March 1774 in Beled, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵⁵ Godparents were Adam Mátis and István Pálfi and their wives. She died on 5 March 1846 at the age of 72 in Beled, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵⁶

Her marriage record indicates she was born about 1775, though her death record indicates she was older. Her marriage record also says she lived in Dénesfa -- which is 5 km WSW of Beled. From this and other evidence it seems reasonable that she was born in Beled, the daughter of the Szalai István and Letenyei Zsuzsanna, and that her mother died either in childbirth or soon thereafter. Her father remarried in 1777, and she was brought up in Dénesfa by him and her stepmother.

Children were: