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In today's episode, I take you on a journey through my unexpected DNA discoveries and how they've connected me to both famous and infamous historical figures. This discovery some new (but very old) Hungarian connections inspired me to research Hungarian immigrant victims of the Eastland Disaster, leading to some remarkable stories of transatlantic families.
My Family Background
- All four of my grandparents immigrated to the US from Eastern and Central Europe in the late 1800s/early 1900s
Unexpected Royal Connections
- DNA testing in 2016 revealed a surprising maternal haplogroup connection to Nicholas II Romanov, the last Tsar of Russia
- This connection was especially meaningful since my mother had always been fascinated by the Romanovs
- While this is a distant connection shared by millions, it created an emotional link to history
The Blood Countess Connection
- Recently discovered connections to Hungarian royalty through my father’s line—specifically, the Bathory family!
Hungarian Immigrants and the Eastland Disaster
- I profile the story of Paul Marton and his teenage son Paul Jr., who were labeled as Hungarian victims of the Eastland disaster
- The Marton family came from Myjava (now in Slovakia), a stronghold of Slovak Lutheranism
- The Marton family's story is a rare one: multiple immigration trips, and children baptized in both Chicago and Slovakia.
Reflections on Identity
- Eastern European identity is complex, with shifting borders, overlapping languages, and blended identities
- Many immigrants identified as Hungarian, Slovak, Austrian, or Rusyn depending on the time period
- These threads of connection to the past, whether to royalty or ordinary people, take on the meaning we give them
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