Hungarian Heritage Review, 1988 (17. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-01-01 / 1. szám
==^ungartan~J\mmcana== IN JANOS POLERECZKY’S FOOTSTEPS: A VISIT TO MAINE- By -VLADIMIR BAUMGARTEN I first set out on the elusive trail of the Polereczkys in February 1984, while on a weekend trip to Virginia. As I watched the morning fog rise from the battlefield of Yorktown, I was aware that on this spot Major J.L. Polereczky commanded the honor guard of the French cavalry at the surrender of Cornwallis on October 19, 1781.1 was also aware that the grandfather of this hero had been a commander during Rakoczi’s revolt. Since I am concerned with the political and social currents of the Age of the Enlightenment and the Age of Revolution, I was quick to establish a connection. Later, with the help of a descendant in Budapest, I was able to clarify certain misconceptions concerning the family’s history. Lately, pending a major excursion to Hungary to get to the very root of the matter, I made a trip to Maine. My purpose was to analyze the New England years of the town clerk who was known as John Polereczky. Polereczky became the first town clerk in the history of Dresden, Maine, and also the first lighthouse keeper of Seguin Island. But history played an ironical trick on Polereczky — and, for that matter, the people of Dresden. At a time when Hungarian Americans had forgotten this hero, the area was visited by Slovak sculptor and art historian Josef Cincik. Since the Polereczkys originated in Upper Hungary, it became convenient to portray John Polereczky as a Slovak hero of the American Revolution. I myself admittedly approached the study of the Polereczkys from a Slovak perspective. It eventually became clear to me that — from a purely ethnic perspective — any number of nationalities could claim them. But documentary evidence indicates that they considered themselves Hungarian noblemen even in the service of the kings of France. Objectivity took precedence over nationalism, and I found that the Polereczkys were still worthy of study for any number of reasons. Indeed, something positive has emerged from the misunderstanding. At a time when the Hungarians did not remember the The Forgotten Grave of Major John L. Polereczky, Hungarian Hussar Hero of the American Revolution The Town Hall of Dresden, where Polereczky served as Town Clerk Polereczkys, the Slovaks kept the legend alive. Now, it has become possible for a Slovak to aid in restoring this family to its rightful heritage. The road to reexamination began during America’s bicentennial celebration. A delegation consisting of the descendants of the French officers who had aided us visited our shores. Of course, representing the French cavalry were a number of descendants of Hungarian hussars. One of them, Georgine Polereczky Gundel, was a direct descendant of J. L. Polereczky’s older brother. Georgine made the acquaintance of the women of the Dresden Historical Society. These gracious ladies, particularly Miss Eleanore Everson and Mrs. Doris Souvenay, have done much to keep Polereczky’s memory alive through the collection of county documents. An examination of these documents showed that nationality was not the only trick history played upon Polereczky. Various deeds of hand indicated that many people owed him money when he first arrived in the area, yet he owed other people money before he died. He appealed to Congress for a pension, but was rejected because he had served in the French and not the American army. Congressman Wingate’s petitions were similarly rejected time and again. The last appeal came on February 20, 1830 — and the old Major died on June 8. His despondent widow immediately left the area after the funeral to stay with relatives in England. On June 29, Wingate wrote to a local notable in Dresden, asking the latter to make contact with Nancy Pochard Polereczky: the pension had been granted by special act of Congress. For Polereczky, the news had come three weeks too late. The special act of Congress, however, served as a precedent for a comprehensive package of veterans’ benefits. While combing the Main countryside for additional leads, I was ably assisted by Mary Elizabeth Schow, descendant of Transylvanian Germans and a close friend. —continued next page 10 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JANUARY 1988
