Dura/Dury/Napawance & Related Families
Ancestors of Marion Dury Husher

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Stephan Dura/y and Anastasia (Natska) Napawance,Overview

Surname Spelling

Dura is the spelling used in Slovica and the spelling used in early records by Steven Dura, up thru the time he applied for citizenship. Steven's cousins from Schuylkill Co. still use Dura, but the spelling was changed for Steven's family to Dury.

Napawance is the spelling use on Nastka's Baptism certificate. That is her 'Old World spelling.' While Napovanic is the most used 'New World' spelling, on Natska's Marriage license the spelling was Napawonicz, Nastka's niece Anna spelled her name Napavanitz in both her husbands Obituary and her SS application.

And the "Old Country" was

The political ownership of this particular part of Europe varies greatly over the past century. The one thing that has remained, is the Galician Mountain range. The particular portion that both Steven Dura & Natska's families resided is within this Galician region. In today's, 2001, political arena, the families resided within Slovica and Poland. At the turn of the century, 1900, they were 'claimed or referenced' as Austria, Austria-Hungary, Russia, Poland, Rumanian, Slovak, Ukraine and Galician. You will see references, particularly in Immigration records, to any of these ethnics.

Emigration Patterns

Between 1880 and 1908, 2,780,00 persons immigrated from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire. The close proximity of Jersey City to Passaic, New Jersey by train after the immigrant has passed thru Ellis Island made Passaic a "first stop" for so many Carpatho-Rusyn families. Most of these immigrants lived within a 6 block radius (the lower east side) of each other and it was quite common to see the traditions performed in this city.

In reading Ship Passenger list records, the emigrant was asked for their final destination, about half or the persons within this surname group gave an address and relatives in Passaic. Another 25% gave Schuylkill Co. Pa. as their destination. Dura would primarily go to the Gilberton area or Passaic. Swalla seamed to go to Passaic, then to Gilberton, Fayette Co. Pa, Mon Valley, Pa or the Chicago area. Winsko to Schuylkill Co. Pa. (Coaldale & Shenandoah) and the New York City area.

Tradition is

"My father was at this wedding party with Mothers brother. He introduced dad to mother. Just a short time later, they decided to get married. Mother was betrothed to another man at that time, so to break off the betrothal, she told him, "would you want to marry me after I have been with him?"" note: The only marriage license issued to Anatasia was the one to Steve Dura. Perhaps there may have been a Marriage Bans that may have been published.?

Where they lived when they got here

Steven Dura came to America in 1902, Anastasia later. They were residing in Gilberton, Pa. in 24-Jan-1904 when they were married. They were residing in Gilberton in February of 1910, where Anne was born. About that same time, Paul Dura came to Gilberton from Driecna. Paul's sister Anne was already in Gilberton at that time. This group never changed the spelling and is still Dura today. Stephen and this Paul were 1st cousins, 1 time removed.

The Dury's moved from Schuylkill Co., Pa. to West Virginia and back, several times working in hard and soft coal to meet the current working conditions. When the setteled in Charleroi, Pa in 1915, Steve went to work in the steel mill.

One of the first tasks at each new location was for Steve to build an outdoor baking oven of brick/stone. This would soon become the neighborhood baking oven, shared by many. In this oven, Natska would do her weekly baking. Natska frequently took in boarders for other Slavic immigrants.

For futher info, contact
Compiler:
John Mort
2504 Rt 44, Salt Point, NY - 12578

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Ancestors and related families of Marion Alice Dury Husher (1906-1993)