Couanis/Kouanis

[genc]

Hi Nicholas
Found your wonderful site a few days ago and also Allan Cresswell whom I have since communicated with. He has posted a reply to me on your forum and emailed me directly.
He suggest that I ask you to look up the Wedding Dowry Contracts perhaps relevant to Couanis family/Stavros families.
On the maternal side. Stavros Athanasos married Unknown Jacomas. Their son Michael Couanis married Mahalakena Athanasos. (could be Athanasios) They married in 1920 in Port Pirie, Adelaide.
Could you have a look for me - if you need any more information please let me know.
With thanks in anticipation
Gen Campbell

[Administrator]

Gen,

The only Couanis/Kouanis dowry contract I can find in the 1895-1930 period is for the marriage of Vasilios Hatziyeorgiou Kouanis to Maria Nikolaou Spartali on 24 December 1924. I don't know if there is any link there with the family you mention.

Most of the marriages in the dowry archive were conducted on the island itself - only rarely were overseas marriages entered into the archive, usually when property on the island was being conveyed as part of the dowry exchange.

Unfortunately, I also cannot find any reference to the second wedding you mention. Stavros/Stavrou was not a surname on the island, only a first name. The possessive version of that name was Stavrianos/u, rather than Stavros/u.

I think you should also try the National Archives database on www.naa.gov.au - try to use every conceivable spelling when you do your surname search as names were often transliterated with considerable inaccuracy!

Nicholas

[genc]

I have found out a little more of the family history of my sister-in-law that I thought you may be interested to hear about.

Firstly the name Jacomas is wrong - it is Areti Iacomos - now that is more like it. She married Stavros Athanasios. Tell me, when it is spelt Athanasiou what is the difference? Can you let me know? Can you check the dowries?
With regard to your suggestion on the National Archives, I did find information of MICHAELIS COUANIS and MIHALAKENA STAVROS ATHANASIOS which I am yet to purchase. Will let you know if anything comes to light when I get this info.

With kind regards Nicholas and hoping to hear from you soon...

Regards
Gen

[stefanc]

My paternal grandparents, Spiro and Anna Couani (Harami) were both Kassies, though Spiro was born in Egypt.
They spent some time in South Australia, family folklore focusing on a period in Thevenard, and Darwin.
However, they lived in Sydney for most of their lives, both dying there in the 1950s.
They had a fish shop at Rozelle, in Darling St near Victoria Rd, and later an additional one in Kogarah (I think).
They initially had twins in Egypt, both of whom died in infancy. They had 6 surviving children: Agapitos (Jack), Nellie, Vassiliki (Billie), John (my father), George and Constantine (Con). All lived in Sydney.
Of these, only two survive: Nellie is in her early 90s and John is 88.
Nellie is still working, being the owner (with her late husband Nick Saravanos) of the Oceanic Cafe in Elizabeth St, which is probably Sydney's longest continuously operating cafe. Her daughter Anna (Noula) and her husband Steve Pappas (a Spartan) ran the P&S cafe in Pitt St for a time, but moved to Athens some 40 years ago.

[stefanc]

Correction to my message above: my grandfather Spiro Kouanis was born in Kastelorizo according to his immigration papers. I note that these papers include certification of his personal details by a Greek Consulate in Egypt, although Kastelorizo wasn't a Greek possession then.

[stefanc]

A relative in Greece has found a link to a book by a family member: Αναμνήσεις από την Ελληνική Παροικία Σουέζ και Πορτ Τεουφίκ Αιγύπτου - Recollections of the Greek Community in Suez and Port Teufik, Egypt.
Author is Γιώργος Π. Κουάνης.
It's on the Digital Library of Modern Greek Studies, and can be downloaded here:
anemi.lib.uoc.gr/metadata/a/6/c/metadata-tnd6gd37doiqr5gpsoj0qf1ib7_1301552321.tkl

[Administrator]

Stefan,

Thanks for this great link to this valuable resource - will read with interest!

Rgds,
Nicholas

[Leanne von Stolzenheim]

Feb 10, 2008 9:24:35 GMT 10 stefanc said:

My paternal grandparents, Spiro and Anna Couani (Harami) were both Kassies, though Spiro was born in Egypt.
They spent some time in South Australia, family folklore focusing on a period in Thevenard, and Darwin.
However, they lived in Sydney for most of their lives, both dying there in the 1950s.
They had a fish shop at Rozelle, in Darling St near Victoria Rd, and later an additional one in Kogarah (I think).
They initially had twins in Egypt, both of whom died in infancy. They had 6 surviving children: Agapitos (Jack), Nellie, Vassiliki (Billie), John (my father), George and Constantine (Con). All lived in Sydney.
Of these, only two survive: Nellie is in her early 90s and John is 88.
Nellie is still working, being the owner (with her late husband Nick Saravanos) of the Oceanic Cafe in Elizabeth St, which is probably Sydney's longest continuously operating cafe. Her daughter Anna (Noula) and her husband Steve Pappas (a Spartan) ran the P&S cafe in Pitt St for a time, but moved to Athens some 40 years ago.


I can see this is my family tree, I need more information and hopefully a contact for Stefan? My grandmother is Vassiliki, she was not born under this name which I really don't understand her birth certificate has plume/blume one of these. That name was never mentioned to anyone, and therefore is a complete mystery. She was called Billie, but also went under Anne. Since Stefan wrote this his aunt Nellie, has passed away.


I would very much like to get any information you have, thank you 


Leanne

[Nikolaos V. Couanis/Kouanis]

I am the son of Vasilios (Hatzigeorgiou)Couanis/Kouanis and Maria (Marigo) Nikolaou Spartalis live in Perth W.A for the last 50 years. I'm on Face Book by the name Nick Couanis