richardvayfamily

Rochester, New York Genealogy Research

Richard Vay Family Tree

The first documentation I have of Richard living in the United States is his naturalization certificate dated July 6, 1876 and his address is listed as 320 8th Street, New York City.

Richard first appears in the Rochester City Directory in 1877 as a saloon owner at the corner of Brown and Wilder streets with his home being in the same location.

The 1880 census is the first time I can find Richard and his family listed, although it lists his first child, Eva, as having been born in New York and is age 11 which would mean Richard came here at least in 1869. Richard's wife is named Barbara. She was born in Germany. Their children are: Eva, Bertha, Julius, Edward, Peter and Margaret.

The 1892 Rochester City Directory lists Richard's son Julius as being an upholsterer and living at 242 Brown Street with his family. In 1893 Eva is listed as being a clerk and residing at 242 Brown Street. In 1894 Julius is listed as being a metal worker, living at 242 Brown and working at 344 N. St. Paul St. The 1895 RCD lists son, Edward, as being a clerk and residing at 242 Brown. Eva Vay marries Henry McFarlin on October 30, 1895.

Julius marries Barbara Schoen on January 20, 1896 and in the 1897 RCD it shows them as living at 21 Orchard Street. That year also shows Peter W. also working with his brother, Julius, on St. Paul St. and living at 242 Brown. 1898 shows Julius and his wife, Barbara, living at 190 Campbell. By 1899 Peter is working as a brass worker at 13 Canal. That same year Bertha Vay marries William Ecker on June 21, 1898.

By 1900 Richard and Barbara are living at 2 Wilder Street and they have been married for 36 years. Barbara is the mother of ten children, but only six are still living and three of the children live with them - Margaret, Edward and Peter. The census shows that Richard is a saloon keeper, Edward is a bartender and Peter is a brass finisher. They emigrated to the U.S. in 1863. The 1900 census shows Julius living at 432 Campbell Street with his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Edna. This census also shows Eva and Henry McFarlin as having two sons, Harold and Elmer. Bertha and William Ecker have one son name Howard.

Living next door to Julius was the Schleich family (428 Campbell Street). I believe the father's name was Peter (difficult to read the handwriting on the census), the mother was Catherine, and the children were Thomas, Fredie, Julia and Lucille. Thomas and Lucille eventually married Julius' first cousins Agnes Vay and Norbert Vay.

Edward Vay married Magadalene Freund on July 17, 1900 and by 1902 are living at 151 Campbell. In 1903 Edward is a bartender for his father's saloon at 242 Brown. By 1903 Julius is living at 42 Reis and in 1904 he is a camera maker at 333 State St.

In the 1906 RCD Margaret is listed as being a bookkeepier at 209 Powers Bldg. and boarding at 242 Brown. 1907 is the first time that Vay's Hall is listed at 242 Brown St.

By 1910 Richard and Barbara have moved to 8 Weldon Street with their children Peter and Margaret. They still have six children living. Richard is a saloon proprietor, Peter is a brass worker and Margaret is a music teacher. Eva and Henry McFarlin now have four sons (Harold, Elmer, Arthur and Royal). Bertha and William Ecker have four children (Howard, Eunice, Richard and Dorothy). Julius and Barbara live with their daughter, Edna, and Barbara's parents. Edward lives at 210 Campbell Street with his wife, Magdalena and their daughter, Mildred.

The 1914 RCD shows Edward and Peter are now operating Vay Bros. at 242 Brown Street. Richard's wife, Barbara, died in June 1914. By 1916 the RCD shows Richard as living at 8 Wilder.

Richard still lived at 8 Wilder Street in 1920 with his children, Peter and Margaret. The McFarlin family is living on Scio Street. The Ecker's have another child named Rita and live on Kensington St. Julius is living at 428 Campbell and Richard's son, Edward and wife Magdalene have another daughter named Ruth. Julius' wife, Barbara, dies in July 1920.

Richard died on April 17, 1922.

By the 1930 census, Eva's husband, Henry McFarlin, had passed away in January 1926. Eva's three sons, Harold, Arthur and Roy, live with her on Sagamore Drive in Irondequoit. By this year the Ecker's two sons have married and their three daughters, Eunice, Dorothy and Rita are living with them still on Kensignton. Julius is a boarder on Campbell Street. Edward and family are living on Salina Street. Peter does not appear in the 1930 census and Margaret is a roomer in a home on Lenox Street.

Julius remarries in 1931 to a woman named Louise Lawrence. He is deceased in October 1956.

Peter passes away in November 1942. Bertha Ecker dies in April 1955. Margaret is deceased in July 1958, Edward in January 1961, Eva in January 1964.