Jósa Miklós - Ulrich Attila: A németszőgyéni és bánházi Jósa család története (Régi magyar családok 3. Debrecen, 2005)
Summary
It seems well founded to say that Miklós' marrying into the Nyáry dynasty made his properties and real estates grow in number and size, and so did his social and then political ranking and influence. His untimely and violent death during politically turbulent times however had terrible effect on and caused an involuntary intermisssion in the family's economic upswing. It took his two sons approx 20 years to regain the family's wealth, though they had to share it with their step brothers and sisters deriving from their mother's second marriage. Despite all the initial difficulties both brothers managed to leave a heritage of some 600-600 hectares (acres?) of land, which ended up being passed down to the next generations of their daughters' and sisters' decendants. Through the minutes of family reunions regurarly held by decendants of István Jósa's daughters in the 18 lh and 19 th centuries we have written records and indepth knowledge on how they fought for landed properties or tracked down real estates believed to be long lost, how they initiated and filed lawsuits in a quest to recover whatever that might have been a family possession. These records provide an unique and indepth look into the mentality of the middle nobility of the age. István Jósa left no male heir therefore his branch bearind the name Jósa died out. We dare say that all the daughters of István Jósa married well, making it possible for their offsprings to boast many eminent ancestors like never before, which circumstance they all tried to benefit from. For the above we have devoted a whole chapter to their activities and these special circumstances. It was in the 17 th century that the family rose to middle nobility. Because its family tree could never really spread out due to many of its branches dying out early (wars, deseases, only female offsprings, etc) we have put considerable emphasis on sheding lights on favorable marriages and collateral relationships and their influence on the family's progress and prosperity. In this respect undoubtedly the marriage between Miklós Jósa and Erzsébet Nyáry bears the highest significance, because the new ties with the ancient and affluent Nyáry dynasty set the course for the Jósas as well, for the next 100 years and led to their acquisition of properties of great size and importance.
