Post by Administrator on Nov 6, 2007 7:15:42 GMT 10
One of our members from the USA, Toni Monaghan, has authorised me to post her e-mail to me regarding her branch of the Kalafatas family:
Dear Nicholas,
I am of Kastellorizian and Symiot hertiage on my father's side, English on my mothers's side. I grew up a little bit Greek and a lot American. We began as a small branch here in the U.S. of extended family still in Greece. I do not speak Greek. I have always had a love of my Greek heritage, but it took many years for me to question what that really meant and realize how little I knew. Then I had questions! I began a little at a time, hitting many brick walls over the years. One of the biggest obstacles was the name changes, spellings both here and in Greece. I have been able to develope a basic time line, with some facts, dates, documents, photos and a lot of speculation. There is still much information I hope to find.
One of the most helpful resources for me has been a number of wonderful books such as yours. Of course you might remember I purchased "Castellorizo" and "Near Eastern Dreams" from you a few months back. These books were a blessing! Knowing my ancestors is important, but understanding their lives is my true desire. I read your books with much pain, many tears and great pride. These books were a fantastically written history. They gave me so much needed understanding. I thank you for your love of Kastellorizo, your talent and willingness to share through your books and now the Castellorizo Forum. I appreciate your gifts. As Michael Kalafatas and I like to say, " The grandfathers are smiling". Michael and I have not been able to establish if we are related? But friends we are.
I am the oldest grandchild, having the privilege of knowing my grandparents and my great-grandmother Virginia. My great-grandfather Antonios died in Greece before I was born. I was not told any stories about Kastellorizo that I remember. I was told that we were of Kastellorizian sea captains, and that were of the Kalafatas family of Kastellorizo, by my grandfather Vasilias. Their name changed from Kalafatas to Kastellorizios when they went to Olimpos, Karpathos and again in America. Some here are Kastellos and some Anthony's. Why all the name changes? I was Toni L. Anthony.
I was told by cousins in Rhodes in 1980 that our Kastellorizian Heritage began with,
Giannis Kalafatas, b. in abt 1780's. Wife unknown? The number of children they had is unknown, except for one son, Capt. Basillis Kalafatas.
Capt. Basillis Kalafatas, b. in abt 1810 on Kastellorizo. He may of had two wives, names unknown? They had five sons and one daughter that we know of to date. They are as follows:
1st Capt. Giannis Kalafatas, b.1834 on Kastellorizo. He later moved to Olimpos, Karpathos and his name became Capt. Giannis Kastellorizios. He had two wives. With the 1st he had two sons. With the 2nd Kalliopi, they had four sons born in Olimpos, with the last names Kastellorizios. Giannis Kalafatas Kastellorizios d. 1914 in Olimpos. I do know some of his children's families. Some are in the U.S. in Baltimore, Md. and some are in Olimpos and Rhodes.
2nd Mihalis Kalafatas, b. 18??, on Kastellorizo. Wife unknown? I do believe he had a daughter Sophia and a son Vasilias. I heard they were living in Kalymnos and may have kept the name of Kalafatas.
3rd Capt. Antonios Kalafatas, b. 21 Nov. 1873 on Kastellorizo. At some point moved to Olimpos? There his name became Capt. Antonios Kastellorizios, why? He married Virginia in abt. 1897/98? Where they married? Virginia was b.1880 in Symi. Her family name is unknown, but I would like to know. Antonios Kastellorizios emigrated to the U.S. in 1906. He returned to Greece in abt. 1929, due to a family tragedy in Olimpos and was never able to return to the U.S.. He d.1941 in Piraeus.
Virginia came to the U.S. in 1924 an remained there until her death in 1958 in Baltimore, Md..
Antonios and Virginia are my great-grand parents. They had two sons, Vasilias and Nicholas who came to the U.S. and one daughter, Marina who remained in Olimpos. Marina died under strange circumstances in 1929 in Olimpos. Marina had a daughter, Maria b.1921 in Olimpos. After her mothers death, her grandfather Antonios took Maria to Piraeus. She grew up there and in abt.1940 or 41 she married a, George Xanthis. When my great uncle Nicholas died in 1977, we lost our link with Maria, as know one here wrote or spoke Greek. At last we knew she lived in Athens, and had one son and one daughter. I am trying to find her family.
4th Nicolas Kalafatas, b. 1875 on Kastellorizo. He did go to Olimpos at some point? He also made several trips to Burgettstown, Pa., U.S.. His wife was Marigho. I know nothing else about where he went. I have found two records of his passage to N.Y., for a Nicolas Kalafatas. I also have a photo of him with his brother Antonios.
5th Marina? Kalafatas b. 187? on Kastellorizo. I know almost nothing of her to date. I am not 100% sure her name was Marina? I was told that her married name was Marina Mihanicou, but I am also uncertian of the spelling? She would have most likely have remained in Kastellorizo and recieved her mother's house. I very much would like to find out more about her, maybe her dowry contract would lead me to her mothers name and family? Do not know where they went to?
6th A son, given name ? Kalafatas, b. 187? or even 1880/s, on Kastellorizo. I know nothing more about him. He must have remained on Kastellorizo. I have a photo of him in his traditional Kastellorizian cloths, with his brother Antonios in abt. 1906.
If there were other children I do not know of them. I am seeking any information about the Kalafatas/Kastellorizios families, and other relations connected and how? I have translated a number of post card photos that were sent to Antonios in the U.S., by nephews with names other than Kastellorizios or Kalafatas and I do not know how they fit? These are some of the names:
Manolis Makrimanolou a nephew? Louis Paragios a cousin of Antonios? and Elias Lente ot Aente a nephew? Any help, thank so much.
Sincerely,
Toni L. Monaghan
Dear Toni,
Thank you very much for your e-mail, for your kind words and for the detailed and interesting history of your branch of the Kalafatas family.
As you would appreciate, the Kalafatas family is a large one, with a presence in a number of Dodecanese islands, especially Castellorizo, Rhodes and Simi. The name features prominently in the dowry archive I have access to, but, so far, I have only found one entry that appears to be connected to the family of Vasilios Kalafatas. More about this shortly.
It was very common in the Dodecanese for the traditional surname of a family to be supplanted by the place of origin of that family. Hence, when a Castellorizian settled elsewhere he was commonly called "o Castellorizios" (ie 'the Castellorizian') and this became their surname over time. Similarly, many of the surnames on Castellorizo are actually derivatives of families' places of origin. For example, Santorinios (Santorini) Patiniotis (Patmos), Spartalis (Isparta in Asia Minor), Mouglalis (Mugla in Asia Minor), Kypraios (Cyprus), Kritikos (Crete) etc...So, what has occurred in your family is actually quite typical.
Going back to your family, there is in the dowry archive a reference to an Evangelos Vasiliou Kalafatas who married a Vasiliki Louka Tsambazi on 4 February 1898. I would guess that this is one of your great grandfather's brothers, perhaps the sixth son you refer to.
With your permission, I intend to post your e-mail and this reply on the Forum under a new thread for 'Kalafatas'. With a bit of luck that might elicit more information for you. Let me know if you're happy for me to do that.
I'll look at little more closely at your e-mail in the next few days. If anything more comes up, I will post the news on the Forum.
Best wishes,
Nicholas
Dear Nicholas,
I am of Kastellorizian and Symiot hertiage on my father's side, English on my mothers's side. I grew up a little bit Greek and a lot American. We began as a small branch here in the U.S. of extended family still in Greece. I do not speak Greek. I have always had a love of my Greek heritage, but it took many years for me to question what that really meant and realize how little I knew. Then I had questions! I began a little at a time, hitting many brick walls over the years. One of the biggest obstacles was the name changes, spellings both here and in Greece. I have been able to develope a basic time line, with some facts, dates, documents, photos and a lot of speculation. There is still much information I hope to find.
One of the most helpful resources for me has been a number of wonderful books such as yours. Of course you might remember I purchased "Castellorizo" and "Near Eastern Dreams" from you a few months back. These books were a blessing! Knowing my ancestors is important, but understanding their lives is my true desire. I read your books with much pain, many tears and great pride. These books were a fantastically written history. They gave me so much needed understanding. I thank you for your love of Kastellorizo, your talent and willingness to share through your books and now the Castellorizo Forum. I appreciate your gifts. As Michael Kalafatas and I like to say, " The grandfathers are smiling". Michael and I have not been able to establish if we are related? But friends we are.
I am the oldest grandchild, having the privilege of knowing my grandparents and my great-grandmother Virginia. My great-grandfather Antonios died in Greece before I was born. I was not told any stories about Kastellorizo that I remember. I was told that we were of Kastellorizian sea captains, and that were of the Kalafatas family of Kastellorizo, by my grandfather Vasilias. Their name changed from Kalafatas to Kastellorizios when they went to Olimpos, Karpathos and again in America. Some here are Kastellos and some Anthony's. Why all the name changes? I was Toni L. Anthony.
I was told by cousins in Rhodes in 1980 that our Kastellorizian Heritage began with,
Giannis Kalafatas, b. in abt 1780's. Wife unknown? The number of children they had is unknown, except for one son, Capt. Basillis Kalafatas.
Capt. Basillis Kalafatas, b. in abt 1810 on Kastellorizo. He may of had two wives, names unknown? They had five sons and one daughter that we know of to date. They are as follows:
1st Capt. Giannis Kalafatas, b.1834 on Kastellorizo. He later moved to Olimpos, Karpathos and his name became Capt. Giannis Kastellorizios. He had two wives. With the 1st he had two sons. With the 2nd Kalliopi, they had four sons born in Olimpos, with the last names Kastellorizios. Giannis Kalafatas Kastellorizios d. 1914 in Olimpos. I do know some of his children's families. Some are in the U.S. in Baltimore, Md. and some are in Olimpos and Rhodes.
2nd Mihalis Kalafatas, b. 18??, on Kastellorizo. Wife unknown? I do believe he had a daughter Sophia and a son Vasilias. I heard they were living in Kalymnos and may have kept the name of Kalafatas.
3rd Capt. Antonios Kalafatas, b. 21 Nov. 1873 on Kastellorizo. At some point moved to Olimpos? There his name became Capt. Antonios Kastellorizios, why? He married Virginia in abt. 1897/98? Where they married? Virginia was b.1880 in Symi. Her family name is unknown, but I would like to know. Antonios Kastellorizios emigrated to the U.S. in 1906. He returned to Greece in abt. 1929, due to a family tragedy in Olimpos and was never able to return to the U.S.. He d.1941 in Piraeus.
Virginia came to the U.S. in 1924 an remained there until her death in 1958 in Baltimore, Md..
Antonios and Virginia are my great-grand parents. They had two sons, Vasilias and Nicholas who came to the U.S. and one daughter, Marina who remained in Olimpos. Marina died under strange circumstances in 1929 in Olimpos. Marina had a daughter, Maria b.1921 in Olimpos. After her mothers death, her grandfather Antonios took Maria to Piraeus. She grew up there and in abt.1940 or 41 she married a, George Xanthis. When my great uncle Nicholas died in 1977, we lost our link with Maria, as know one here wrote or spoke Greek. At last we knew she lived in Athens, and had one son and one daughter. I am trying to find her family.
4th Nicolas Kalafatas, b. 1875 on Kastellorizo. He did go to Olimpos at some point? He also made several trips to Burgettstown, Pa., U.S.. His wife was Marigho. I know nothing else about where he went. I have found two records of his passage to N.Y., for a Nicolas Kalafatas. I also have a photo of him with his brother Antonios.
5th Marina? Kalafatas b. 187? on Kastellorizo. I know almost nothing of her to date. I am not 100% sure her name was Marina? I was told that her married name was Marina Mihanicou, but I am also uncertian of the spelling? She would have most likely have remained in Kastellorizo and recieved her mother's house. I very much would like to find out more about her, maybe her dowry contract would lead me to her mothers name and family? Do not know where they went to?
6th A son, given name ? Kalafatas, b. 187? or even 1880/s, on Kastellorizo. I know nothing more about him. He must have remained on Kastellorizo. I have a photo of him in his traditional Kastellorizian cloths, with his brother Antonios in abt. 1906.
If there were other children I do not know of them. I am seeking any information about the Kalafatas/Kastellorizios families, and other relations connected and how? I have translated a number of post card photos that were sent to Antonios in the U.S., by nephews with names other than Kastellorizios or Kalafatas and I do not know how they fit? These are some of the names:
Manolis Makrimanolou a nephew? Louis Paragios a cousin of Antonios? and Elias Lente ot Aente a nephew? Any help, thank so much.
Sincerely,
Toni L. Monaghan
Dear Toni,
Thank you very much for your e-mail, for your kind words and for the detailed and interesting history of your branch of the Kalafatas family.
As you would appreciate, the Kalafatas family is a large one, with a presence in a number of Dodecanese islands, especially Castellorizo, Rhodes and Simi. The name features prominently in the dowry archive I have access to, but, so far, I have only found one entry that appears to be connected to the family of Vasilios Kalafatas. More about this shortly.
It was very common in the Dodecanese for the traditional surname of a family to be supplanted by the place of origin of that family. Hence, when a Castellorizian settled elsewhere he was commonly called "o Castellorizios" (ie 'the Castellorizian') and this became their surname over time. Similarly, many of the surnames on Castellorizo are actually derivatives of families' places of origin. For example, Santorinios (Santorini) Patiniotis (Patmos), Spartalis (Isparta in Asia Minor), Mouglalis (Mugla in Asia Minor), Kypraios (Cyprus), Kritikos (Crete) etc...So, what has occurred in your family is actually quite typical.
Going back to your family, there is in the dowry archive a reference to an Evangelos Vasiliou Kalafatas who married a Vasiliki Louka Tsambazi on 4 February 1898. I would guess that this is one of your great grandfather's brothers, perhaps the sixth son you refer to.
With your permission, I intend to post your e-mail and this reply on the Forum under a new thread for 'Kalafatas'. With a bit of luck that might elicit more information for you. Let me know if you're happy for me to do that.
I'll look at little more closely at your e-mail in the next few days. If anything more comes up, I will post the news on the Forum.
Best wishes,
Nicholas