Saint Stephen is the supposed father of Agatha according to Patrick Montague-Smith. A.k.a. St. Stephen canonized in 1083 and patron saint of Hungary. His feast day is August 16.
King Stephen the Great or St. Stephen of Hungary (Szent István király in Hungarian, Svätý Štefan in Slovak) (ca. 975 – August 15, 1038), was the first king of Hungary.
His father was the Magyar ruling prince Géza; his mother was Sarolt, the daughter of the Transylvanian chieftain Gyula (some Polish sources claim she was the Polish princess Adelajda from the dynasty of the Piasts, the second wife of Géza, after Sarolt's death, but this version is generally rejected by historians).
Stephen was given the name Vajk (meaning hero) at birth. Born in the town of Esztergom, Vajk was baptized, as a precondition of accepting the crown from Rome, at age 10 by Saint Adalbert of Prague and given the baptismal name Stephen (in honor of the original early Christian Saint Stephen, protector of the church at Passau).
Stephen was married in ca. 995 to Gizella of Bavaria, the daughter of Henry II the Wrangler and Gisela of Burgundy. He and Gizella had at least three children: sons Imre ("Henry" or "Emeric") and Ottó, and a daughter Hedvig. Stephen was predeceased by all his children; there were no direct descendants to claim the throne upon his death in 1038. Stephen's nephew Peter Urseolo (his appointed heir) and brother-in-law Samuel Aba contended for the crown. Nine years of instability followed until Stephen's cousin Andrew I was crowned Hungarian King, re-establishing the Árpád dynasty in 1047. Though Hungarian historiography saw both Peter and Samuel as a member of the Árpád dinasty.
Between 995 and 997, Stephen (still known as "Vajk") was the ruling prince of Nitra in present day Slovakia. Stephen achieved supremacy over other Magyar nobles, most notably his pagan uncle, the powerful warlord Koppány. This victory over Koppány was achieved also thanks to Stephen's German retinue and the military assistance from the noble Poznan and Hunt families. Thus, Stephen became the Sovereign of Magyars in Transdanubia in 997 and managed to successfully unite virtually all Magyar clans by 1006. According to Hungarian tradition, Pope Silvester II sent a magnificent jeweled gold crown to Stephen along with an apostolic cross and a letter of blessing in January, 1001, officially recognizing Stephen as the Christian king of Hungary. The "Holy Crown of Hungary" is identified with this crown in the national surmise.
Stephen intended to retire to a life of holy contemplation and hand the kingdom over to his only surviving son Imre, but in 1031 Imre was wounded in a hunting accident and died. In Stephen's words of mourning:
By God's secret decision death took him, so that wickedness would not change his soul and false imaginations would not deceive his mind – as the Book of Wisdom teaches about early death.
Stephen mourned a very long time over the loss of his son Imre (who was the crown prince and possibly the only one of Stephen's sons to reach adulthood), which took a great toll on his health. He eventually recovered, but he never regained his original vitality. Having no children left, he could not find anyone among his remaining relatives who was able to rule the country competently and willing to maintain the Christian faith of the nation. Unable to choose an heir, King Stephen died at Székesfehérvár (a city he built in central Hungary) on the Feast of the Assumption and was buried there. Both his nobles and his subjects were said to have mourned for 3 straight years afterwards
Stephen divided Hungary into 40-50 counties and continued the work of his father Géza by applying the decimal organizational system of his ancestors. He set up ten dioceses in Hungary, ordering every ten villages to erect one church and maintain a priest. He founded the cathedrals of Székesfehérvár and Esztergom, the Nunnery of Veszprém, the Benedictine Abbey of Pannonhalma, and the Monastery of Saint Peter and Paul in Óbuda. Inside the abbeys and monasteries, schools were established, and they became important centers of culture. Saint Astricus served as Stephen's advisor, and Stephen also had Saint Gerard Sagredo as the tutor for his son Saint Emeric (Imre).
Stephen discouraged pagan customs and strengthened Christianity with various laws, including ending the use of the old Hun-Magyar runic alphabet and making Latin the official language of the royal court. Stephen gave generously to the churches, personally visited them often, and supervised their construction. He often disguised himself as a peasant whenever he traveled and freely gave money to any poor people he met (in one account, Stephen was beaten and robbed by a group of beggars to whom he was giving alms, but he forgave them and spared their lives).
Shortly after Stephen's death, healing miracles were said to have occurred at his tomb. Stephen was canonized by Pope Gregory VII as Saint Stephen of Hungary in 1083. Catholics venerate him as the patron saint of "Hungary, kings, the death of children, masons, stonecutters, and bricklayers." His feast is on September 2, but in Hungary his chief festival is observed on August 20, the day on which his sacred relics were transferred to the city of Buda. This day is a public holiday in Hungary.
Stephen was also canonised by the Eastern Orthodox Church in 2000. The crown known as the Holy Crown of St. Stephen, has been enshrined in the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest since 2000.
More at http://www.cryingvoice.com/Christianity/HunIstvan.html
Graduating Execises were held Tuesday evening, May 28, 1895 at the Fifth Annual graduating class of Auburn School at the Auburn Opera House. Henry graduated valedictorian of his thirteen member class.
Pictures and newspaper article about Henry here
See Helen Emily Shurtleff's notes
Electronics engineer at KPIX for thirty years, Chief Engineer for Educational Television at UCSF from 1965 to retirement in 1980. Died on his beloved ranch, Stony Acres, Sonoma, CA, doing what he loved best.
A picture of his grave, along with his mother, Helen Shurtleff Stevens, and his grandmother, Lodema Caroline Percival Shurtleff is at the here (http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~historic/shurtleffONC.htm)
Justice of Peace 1872 - 1874
1828 Solon was born on January 26th in Bethel,Vermont to Oliver Stevens and Mary Mills.
(1900 US Federal Census) (1892 Placer County Great Register) (Ancestry.com family tree)
1852 Solon and Olivia Cushing were married on September 29th. Olivia was born in Vermont in 1835 and died in California on December 21. 1916.
(1900 US Federal Census) (Auburn Families: Uno Hebuck)
1854 Son Clarence was born. Clarence would marry Mary (?) and they had a son named Henry Cushing Stevens, who was born on September 23, 1879. Clarence died on July 26, 1886 at age 32 years.
(Families of Auburn: Uno Hebuck)
1855 Solon and Olivia arrived in Auburn, Placer County, Ca. via the Isthmus of Panama. Initially, Solon worked as a painter and then got into ranching where he quickly concluded that he was not cut out as a tiller of soil. He would then open a stationary store in conjunction with his role as an agent for the Western Telegraph Company and he was appointed by President Johnson as the Auburn Postmaster.
(History of Placer County pg. 415) (Placer County Historical Society)
1857 Solon built a home in Auburn located at 1157 Lincoln Way. The ravine behind his home was rich in gold during the early days of Placer County. This house was torn down in 1936.
(Placer Herald 12-3-1936)
1864 Son Frederick was born on May 23rd. He married Alberta Mitchell on February 24, 1894. They would have 5 children: Olivia married John Clement Schuster in 1918, and they had a son named, John Stevens Schuster. Madelyn married Lowell Martin and they had no children. Flora married Charles C. Crissman on May 3, 1887. Frank H. was born in 1866 and died in 1904, and Willard was born in 1867 and died in 1933.
Fred attended Auburn school’s and at the early age of 14, started working in his father’s drug store. In 1896, he would purchase his father’s interest in the drug store and remained in business for 45 years. In 1892, Fred was appointed by President Harrison as the Auburn Postmaster. While serving as the Postmaster, his father Solon issued the first Government money order in Auburn and Fred would issue the last postal note from the Auburn post office. Fred would also serve as the Director of the Placer County Bank and was a Auburn City Board Trustee. He was also one of the founders of the Native Sons of the Golden West Parlor, No. 59.
(1910 US Federal Census) (Placer County Birth Index) (Placer County Historical Society) (Auburn Families: Uno Hebuck)
1865 Son Frank H. was born in August in California. Frank would die on August 6, 1904 at the age of 38 years.
(1900 US Federal Census) (Families of Auburn: Uno Hebuck)
1866 Solon was elected as the Public Administrator in Placer County.
(Placer Herald 9-1-1866)
1867 Son Willard was born in December in California.
(1900 US Federal Census)
1870 Solon resided in San Francisco, Ca. with his wife, Olivia and sons. He wasn’t working at this time and his personal property was valued at $1,000.
(1870 US Federal Census)
Solon and his family moved back to Auburn, Placer County, Ca. where he purchased a drug store. Solon and his son would become the leading druggist in Auburn, Ca. and were known for providing quality and service.
(Placer County Historical Society)
1871 Solon was elected as Justice of Peace at Township 3, Placer County (Auburn) on October 18th. He would take office in 1872, and served one two-year term.
(Placer County Board of Supervisor Minute Books)
1880 Solon resided in Lincoln, Ca. with his wife Olivia, and son. He was a druggist.
(1880 US Federal Census)
1882 Solon resided in Auburn, Ca. where he worked as a druggist.
(History of Placer County pg. 415)
1884 Solon was elected as the Supervisor of District 3 on November 10th. He would take office in 1885.
(Placer County Board of Supervisor Minute Books)
1892 Solon was a registered voter in Placer County, Ca. He was 6’ tall, with a light complexion, gray eyes and gray hair. He lived in Auburn and he worked as a druggist. He had a scar behind his right ear.
(Placer County Great Register)
1893 Solon was on the Auburn City Board of Trustees.
(Placer Herald 5-6-1893)
1900 Solon resided in Auburn, Ca. with his wife, Olivia and sons. Her was a druggist.
(1900 US Federal Census)
1910 Solon resided in Township 3, Auburn, Placer County with his wife Olivia. He was not working at this time.
(1910 US Federal Census)
1916 Solon died on January 29th at the age of 85 years. He left behind his wife Olivia, and sons Fred and Willard.
(Families of Auburn: Uno Hebuck)
Since 1870 members of the Stevens family, father and son, have been the leading
druggist of Auburn and the name has become locally synonymous with quality
and service. Frederick's father, Solon Mills Stevens married Olivia Cushing
and came to California in 1855 via the Isthmus of Panama and settled in Auburn
where he followed his trade as a painter for a time. He later tried ranching
but concluded he was not cut out for a tiller of the soil and opened a stationery
store in conjunction with which he acted as agent for the Western Union Telegraph
Co., and postmaster appointed by President Johnson. In 1870 he bought the
drug store of B. R .Wells. . He served as County Supervisor for two terms
and died in 1916 at the age of eighty-seven. Frederick attended Auburn schools
and at the early age of 14, started in the drug store business with his father.
In 1896 he bought out his father and remained in the drug store business
for 45 years. He was appointed postmaster by President Harrison in1892. While
serving as postmaster, the elder Mr. Solon Stevens issued the first Government
money order issued in Auburn; and his son issued the last postal note issued
from the Auburn post office. . . He served as director of the Placer County
Bank and city trustee and was one of the founders of the Native Sons of the
Golden West Parlor No. 59. . .
http://www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org/Pioneer.htm
Appears on the 1880 census as Silon M Stevens 51, married, living in Lincoln, Placer County, CA., a druggist and married. His, his fathers and mother's birthplace is listed as Vermont.
The household is listed as :
Silon M. STEVENS Self M Male W 51 VT Druggist VT VT
Olivia STEVENS Wife M Female W 44 VT Keeping House VT VT
Frederick STEVENS Son S Male W 16 CA At School VT VT
Fred possibly had child Madolyn Stevens who married Lowell C Martin, who died in Sacramento of a heart attack April 30, 1960. His obit mentions his wife was part of the Pioneer Fred Stevens family of Auburn..
Frank STEVENS Son S Male W 14 CA At School VT VT
Willard STEVENS Son S Male W 12 CA At School VT VT
Solon parents appeared on Familysearch.org, Film# 1239647, page 422, Reference number: 14492
Ancestry.com has parents listed as:
Oliver Stevens born 17 Sep 1796 Hartland, Windsor, Vermont, USA, died
22 Mar 1866 Royalton, Windsor, Vermont, USA
Mary Mills born abt 1803 Bethel, Windsor, Vermont, USA, died 1835
Bethel, Windsor, Vermont, USA
It was arranged for her to marry Olaf the King of Norway and she refused on the basis that she would have to convert to Christianity, staing "I will not part from the faith which my forefathers have kept before me." at which point he slapped her and she stated "This may some day be thy death." . She supported his opponents who defeated Olaf in a later Viking epic battle.
Supposedly her daughter also married Svein Forkbeard.
990 She was rejected by her husband and returned to her properties in Västergötland.
995 Erik died making her a widow. She later married Tore Torleifsson Bjarkøy, and had Tore Hund
Lulea University, Sweden: (www.luth.se/luth/present/swdedn/history/
The following years two men, Harald Grenske (A small king from Norway) and Vsevolod (A small king from Russia) proposed to her. Sigrid didn't think much of them and therefore decided to teach her admirer a lesson. It's said that she drunk both of the men under the table, put them in a house, locked the door and set it on fire. Needless to say this deed had a somewhat cooling effect on her admirers and soon she got married to a more noble man, Olav Tryggvasson of Norway.
However, this marriage didn't last very long as she didn't accept the Christian faith. According to the tradition the marriage come to an end due to a box on the ear (Is this really the right word for it?), something which Olav soon would regret deeply.
Sigrid soon got married to Sven Tveskägg of Denmark and to get revenge on Olav she talked her husband, son and Olof (later to be called Olof Skötkonung) into a war against the king of norway. As a result Olav Tryggvasson was killed at the battle of Svolder.
There is some dispute over the existence of Sigrid. Some historians says that she is only a myth from the Icelandic sagas. Instead Erik Segersäll was supposed to have married a Slavonic Princess named Gunhild which later married Sven Tveskägg.
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A theory holds that she was a Slav, and the daughter of a mythical Burislav (possibly Mieszko I of Poland and Dubrawka). The medieval chroniclers seem to support the hypothesis that her father was Mieszko I.
Thietmar (Bishop of Merseburg and a chronologist 969-1019) mentions that the daughter of Mieszko I of Poland and sister of Boleslaw I of Poland married Sweyn I of Denmark and gave him two sons, Canute the Great and Harold II of Denmark, but he does not mention her name. He is probably the best informed of all medieval chroniclers, since he was contemporary with described events described and well-informed about the events in Poland and Denmark.
Moreover, the fact that Canute's mother was Boleslaw's sister may explain some mysterious facts which appear in medieval chronicles, such as the involvement of Polish troops in invasions of England.
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Sigrid the Haughty, Sigrid Storråda, (967 – 1014), is a mystic character who appears in numerous sagas, as well as contemporary chronicles. It is unclear if she was one real person at all, she may be a compound person, with several women's lives and deeds in wound a single thread. It is likely Sigrid, a noblewoman of the Vikings, is confused with Swietoslawa, maybe, a Polish princess, also known as Gunhilda, and the first wife of Swein Forkbeard, whom, his sons, Harald and Cnut, are recorded as retrieveing from amoungst the Slavs when he died, for her return as their mother, and the second wife, their step-mother, went away. In 980 (possibly 985) Sigrid the Haughty, daughter of the legendary Viking chieftain, Skagul Toste, was in a marriage with Eric VI of Sweden, which bore him Olof Skötkonung, who later became King of Sweden, although, when the connections of her to Slavic nobility are consired, it is uncertain. In 994 she wed Sweyn Forkbeard, not under her conjectural Slavic name, Swietoslawa, but under her cognomic Scandinavian name, Sigrid the Haughty, and the marriage bore five daughters, half-sisters - or sisters, if Polish princess, Swietoslawa, and the fable ridden Viking noblewoman, Sigrid the Haughty, are the same person - of Harold II of Denmark, and, Canute the Great. Estrith, and the aptly confuseing Santslau, also known as Gunhild, are the only daughters of Sweyn Forkbeard on record.
Much more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigrid_the_Haughty
Torkel Styrbjörnsson, Torgils, Sprakalägg or Sprakling is considered to have been the son of the disinherited Swedish prince Styrbjörn the Strong, the son of king Olof (II) Björnsson of Sweden. His mother was Tyra, the daughter of Harold Bluetooth (king of Denmark and Norway). He died at the Battle of Swold.
He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Bath (K.B.) in 1494. He succeeded to the title of 3rd Lord Stanley [E., 1456] on 29 July 1504.1 He succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Derby [E., 1485] on 29 July 1504. He succeeded to the title of 10th Lord Strange, of Knokyn on 20 March 1513/14.1 He succeeded to the title of 6th Lord Mohun on 20 March 1513/14. He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1520. He married Anne Hastings, daughter of Sir Edward Hastings, 2nd Lord Hastings and MaryHungerford, 5th Baroness Botreaux, before 1503. He died on 23 May 1521.1 He was buried at Syon Abbey.