Seventh Generation

90. John Nepomucene HOCHENEKKER was born in 1739. He died on 30 May 1797 at the age of 58 in Sopron, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵⁷ He died at age 58.

He was identified as a member of the Masonic Lodge ("sodalis murarius") and later as some sort of teacher or master ("victorum magister") and a citizen ("civis") of Sopron. He lived in the period when Masonry became an important movement among the burghers of Hungary's cities. The first Masonic lodge in the Habsburg domains was established in 1741. Masons in the 18th century espoused liberal democratic principles that included religious tolerance, loyalty to local government, and the importance of charity and political compromise. The first Hungarian Masonic lodge was founded in Brasso, Transylvania (now part of Romania) in 1749 by Saxon inhabitants of German origin. In Pozsony (Pressburg, now Slovakia) the parliamentary city of Hungary at the time, the first lodge was founded in 1775. Masonry began in Budapest around 1770 with military lodges and in 1781 the Hungarian Provincial Grand Lodge was formed in union with Austrian Freemasonry. This Grand Lodge, which functioned until 1786, presided over 12 Lodges. Masonic criticism of Emperor Joseph II caused a restriction of Masonic activity to county capitals crippling Masonic work. Emperor Francis dissolved the Lodges in 1792.

Only one earlier record was found with the name Hochenekker in Sopron. That was for a Sophia, the wife of György Hohenecker, who died in 1750 and who may have been our John's mother. Another possibility -- because of given names, date of birth, and family ties -- is that he was the son born to a soldier, Captain de Pachner, and Maria Sybilla in 1740 in Sopron. This is a very speculative theory that needs further study. His family name was spelled with several minor variations from the spelling given here.

In the Roman Catholic records during most of the 18th century, all given names were recorded in Latin. In keeping with the usage of this database, the standard Hungarian spellings of given names are used for his children, though their language at home was certainly German. An exception to this rule was made for Hochenekker himself. He lived in Hungary, spoke German, was named for a Bohemian saint (who we know as Saint John Nepomucene), and most of the records showing his name were written in Latin. With apologies, his English name is used.

Anna Maria GALLUS and John Nepomucene HOCHENEKKER were married on 9 September 1770 in Sopron, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵⁸ Witnesses included Ignatius Pek, who represented Sopron in the Hungarian Diet.

91. Anna Maria GALLUS was born on 14 January 1748 in Sopron, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁵⁹ Godparents were Franciscus Weilenbek and his wife Maria Anna, but in this one case her name was written incorrectly as Anna Maria. She died on 9 October 1781 at the age of 33 in Sopron, Sopron m, HUN.¹⁶⁰ She died at age 32 and was identified as the wife of Joannes Hohanöker.

Children were: