Hodschag History Page
HODSCHAG HISTORY
Source: MAGYARORSZÁG VÁRMEGYÉI VÁROSI, edited by BOROVSZKY SAMU DR. 1909.
Hódság. Capital of the district, (district: Járás. It was called: Hódsági
Járás) north from Bács. Its original name being Odzlak a Turkish word (means
chimney, flue). There was an older village, name Kéménd, (means little
chimney) whose name was found in the tax lists of the County Bács - Bodrog in
1522, after it's trail being lost. Probable this village was a successor of the
place called Odos or Hodos with a Church, St. Michael and listed together with
Doroszló on the tax lists of the Papacy in 1332 - 1342.
Hódság is first listed by the Turkish tax collectors in the "nahije"
of County Bács, were it is written, taxes were paid in the village Ucsak, in
1561 seven, 1570 three, and in 1590, nine households. Hódság remains
unsettled, but in 1732 it becomes populated as a new settled village. Taxes for
the households increased to 84 Forints war taxes and 30 Forints County taxes. In
three years 1735, the Chamber village, Ocsak paid 500 Forints for the County.
The first inhabitants were first recorded in 1752. From 1756 to 1763, there were
huts built from rush reported by Cothman who wanted the area for German settlers
and delegated this "settling" to administrator Redl. Cothman
experienced much happiness seeing there were 300 German families living there by
1763, stating "the streets are large and ordered, the inhabitants are
living well, and are beginning the building of a stone church with the Chamber
helping in this endeavor." The year 1768 there were 240 German families
according to the Chamber's map. Taxes were paid in Hocsak in 1767 by 49 persons.
The inhabitants are Roman Catholic Germans.
In 1813, it was a "field town" (these towns had special rights in
Hungary and only the town had the right to give out citizenship to "new
comers") and it was possible to organize fairs. The stamp of the town is
dated from 1776. The verge of the town is 5407 "moons," and from this,
the town is 464 moons. The town is organized as being the greatest fair of hemp,
and was recently organized a hemp-spinner company.
The National Census consists of 4344 inhabitants, in 704 houses. By native
language, there are 3798 Germans, 460 Hungarians, 45 Slovakians, 29 Serbians. By
religions, there are 4224 Roman Catholics, 37 Calvinists, 34 Lutherans, 32 Greek
Orthodox, 8 of the Jewish faith.
In this district town of Hódság, there is a Post Office, telegram and railway
station. The Catholic Church of the town is one of the nicest of the county
being built in 1767 and enlarged in 1818. Many archaic "findings" were
found in the region. The social life, industry and trade are well developed.
Translation by: Lajos Reich