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Post by Administrator on Jun 25, 2007 23:15:06 GMT 10
Ben,
I will post the precise dates you are seeking on my return to Sydney in three weeks. I hope that's OK.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jun 16, 2007 9:52:04 GMT 10
Ben,
I have modified your post with the additional details which are italicised for your ease of reference - I trust this gives you the information you need.
By the way, Castellorizo was never occupied by the Germans, but remained under British military occupation until the end of the War.
Rgds, Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on May 16, 2007 22:06:33 GMT 10
Mitch, The only one currently available that I am aware of is from the so-called 'Guardians of Hellenism' series issued by FM Records in Greece. It's volume 10 and it has 5 well-recorded songs from Castellorizo. Check out www.cduniverse.com for some of the tracks. There was an entire CD called just "Castellorizo" (light blue cover with harbour photo) some years ago that had a very good selection of recordings - I'll see if I can get you some details. Maybe others know...? Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on May 15, 2007 7:51:20 GMT 10
Thank you for your words, Ingerid. And a big thank you to you and to your mother for permitting us to use your family's harbour shot on the masthead of our new site.
For the benefit of members and guests of the Castellorizo Forum, the story of Ingerid's family is a remarkable one - her grandfather, a Norwegian engineer, built the former electrical station on the island (the old DEH in Pera Meria) and was largely responsible for the advent of electricity from 1928. Ingerid's mother was born on Castellorizo and the family still holds treasured memories and mementos of the years they spent there in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
It is one of the great benefits of a Forum such as this that we are now able to connect speedily with families like Ingerid's and exchange information about Castellorizo's fascinating history.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on May 12, 2007 14:10:00 GMT 10
It is surprising that an island so small, only some 9 square kilometres, can have such a fascinating and complex history. Lying at the crossroads of the earliest maritime trade between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Europe, and having one of the few accommodating harbours along the southern coast of Asia Minor, the island's early settlement appears to have commenced around 900 BC, or nearly three thousand years ago. Peoples and economic activities came and went. Ancient Greeks worshiped Apollo on the island, and built and dedicated shrines to him, as shown in inscriptions found there, and the Romans rested their war fleets there. The island's medieval history is dominated by the occupation by the Knights of St John of Rhodes, who under the Grand Master Juan d' Heredia, reconstructed the lower Hellenistic castle on the Kavos promontory. Of the many times it was destroyed, one of the most known was by the Venetian, Francesco Morosini, who also is responsible for the explosion that destroyed the Parthenon. He lay siege to the Turks in the castle and then blew it up before departing. Early pilgrims passed through to the Holy Land, leaving interesting commentary through to the twentieth century. Even the geography has changed, with the remains of a Roman road on the seabed of the Mandraki harbour evidencing that the island is still slowing sinking. And other remains evidence a strong wine making industry on the island in early years, together with the salt making industry in both harbours, that supported the coffers of the Knights of St John. And even in the remarkably brief timespan of the 50 years to 1948, Castellorizo experienced further extraordinary change. It underwent 6 forms of governance: from Ottoman (to 1913); brief self rule (1913-1915); French (1915-1921); Italian (1921-1943); British military (1943-1947); then Greek (1948- ). In that time there were also local revolts; two world wars; a massive earthquake; and a final destructive fire. The island's economy went from one of economic privilege and considerable wealth, to final near abandonment - the population dropping from some 9,000 to some 300 in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War.
This part of the Castellorizo Forum encourages the exchange of stories, questions and answers about the chequered history of Castellorizo. Readers are encouraged to share their stories of events in the island's history and to recount the memories of family members as those reminiscences have been relayed to them.
Nick Bogiatzis, Canberra Nicholas Pappas, Sydney
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Post by Administrator on Mar 14, 2008 9:24:10 GMT 10
A new member, maggie, has posted as follows under the Port Pirie thread:
Hi, my yiayia was Triantafylia (Rosa) Fermani daughter of Anastasios Fermanis & Katerina Perouni. Triantafylia married my grandfather Comninos Kiosoglous, son of Michali Kiosoglous, (not sure of mother) in Port Pirie, Sth Aust. I would appreciate any further information on my grandparents that anyone can give me. maggie
Mihail Antoniou Kiosoglou married Evangelia Mihail Economou on 14 December 1903. Evangelia was the daughter of Mihail Economou and Triantafylia Hatzidoulou Komninou.
Comninos was one of Mihail and Evangelia's sons. As maggie has observed, he married Triantafylia Anastasiou Fermani in 1937. Triantafylia was the daughter of Anastasios Yeorgiou Fermanis and Aikaterini Markou Perouni who had married on Castellorizo on 29 January 1912.
Both Anastasios and Aikaterini (Katina) were to die young, the latter in a tragic drowning accident in 1922, leaving their four children orphaned.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Mar 13, 2008 8:46:14 GMT 10
Anellie,
Thanks for your support of the website. Please spread the word!
Do you know the first names of this family? There is a Iakovos Hatzistefanou who married in 1908. He had a sister, Papadia, who married in 1903. Am I on the right track?
Nicholas
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Sergis
Mar 10, 2008 16:25:28 GMT 10
Post by Administrator on Mar 10, 2008 16:25:28 GMT 10
Nick,
A Yeorgios Ioannou Sergis married a Panayiota Theodosiou Atherinou in February 1917. Maybe this is the family you are referring to, though Yeorgios was not a priest.
There was a priest by the name of Yeorgios Sidheris, but he married a girl from the Savvas family in 1904.
The Sergis family has its origins in Russia - the name is, in fact, a Greek derivative of the name 'Sergei'.
Let me know if you find more information.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Mar 12, 2008 16:09:07 GMT 10
Presto,
No cost - e-mail me via the website 'contact' page with your details and I'll post you a copy for you to enjoy with your family.
In return, if you have any original photographs that precede your grandparents' departure from Castellorizo, I'd love to hear about them and what they depict.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Mar 12, 2008 7:37:06 GMT 10
Presto,
I have located the dowry contract for this marriage.
Curiously, the groom's name is recorded as 'Stefanos Hatzileontidou', though he has signed his name 'Stefanos Hatzileontiou'. The bride is described as Eleni Panagiotou Zorba.
The contract is dated 18 January 1914 and it states that the wedding was to take place "the following day", ie 19 January 1914. Among the gifts given to the groom is a house in the Mandraki area. The witnesses to the signatures are Nikolaos Spartalis and Nikolaos Karlos.
Let me know if you would like a copy sent to you.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Mar 10, 2008 12:23:17 GMT 10
Presto,
Please give me the name of Stefanos' wife and any other family details you have. It is possible that there are references to this individual in the dowry archive.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jan 18, 2008 8:39:25 GMT 10
Florence,
Yeorgios Konstandinou Liveris married Evangelia Panagiotou Hatzieleftheriou on 9 June 1920.
I have a copy of their dowry contract. If you contact me via e-mail through the website and give me your address details, I will send you a copy.
Birth records are kept on the island in the municipal offices.
I know of no evidence for the proposition that 'Liveris' is a French name. While it is possible, I would be surprised if this is the case. In my view, it is more likely that the name has its origins in a place name (Libya?, Liberia? or somewhere in Anatolia?) or in a term that was descriptive of a trade or someone's physical appearance.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jan 17, 2008 7:28:05 GMT 10
Ross,
Copies of both documents are available. Please give me your address offline (via the e-mail on the 'Contact' link of the website), and I will post them to you.
Vasilios Evangelou Tsakalos (described in the contract as 'Tsakalakis') married Eleni Efstathiou Panayi on 15 April 1912.
Your other grandparents, Argyris Topal-Savva (as it's spelt in the contract) and Christina Petrou Kratsi, married on 23 January 1921.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jan 16, 2008 7:18:28 GMT 10
Florence,
The dowry records only start from 1896, so unfortunately there is no trace of Theodoros Economides' wedding.
There are, however, two entries for his daughter Evangelia. The first is a dowry contract dated 18 May 1907 relating to her planned marriage to Evangelos Nikandros which, the contract says, was to occur in "early 1908". An annotation to the contract dated 9 October 1907 signed by the intended groom and Theodoros records that this betrothal was dissolved.
The second entry for Evangelia is another dowry contract, this one dated 20 January 1910, and relates to her marriage to Iakovos Koutsoukos which occurred on 14 February that year.
Incidentally, in both contracts Theodoros is described by his full name 'Theodoros Nikolaou Economides', so his father (and his eldest son?) would have been named 'Nikolaos'.
Regarding his role as the island's harbour master, I have not seen any references, but I will keep my eye out for you. The imposition of conscription on the previously privileged islands of the Dodecanese (including Castellorizo) after the Young Turk takeover (July 1908) had a devastating effect on the islanders and was the catalyst for much of the male emigration that followed.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jan 15, 2008 12:33:24 GMT 10
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
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Post by Administrator on Jan 11, 2008 14:04:36 GMT 10
Steve,
I have already opened a separate thread for the Kyriakou/Alvanos connection.
Please also become a member (it's free!) so that your details are correctly recorded with your posts.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jan 11, 2008 11:09:32 GMT 10
A guest of this Forum has posted the following query:
HI, I AM RESEARCHING MY FAMILY HISTORY. MY MOTHER'S MOTHER'S NAME WAS ANASTASIA POULLIS MARRIED TO MICHAEL SITZIMIS FROM LIVISI MAKRI. THANKS!!!! Steve Alvanos
Steve,
I am pleased to report that I have located the details of your grandparents' marriage in 1916. By dowry contract dated 29 September 1916, Mihail Haralambous Sitzimis was betrothed to Anastasia Apostolou Poulou. The wedding apparently took place on Castellorizo 4 months later.
Both parties are recorded as being originally from Kalamaki in Anatolia and the house given by the bride's family by way of dowry was also located there.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Jan 11, 2008 10:54:02 GMT 10
A guest of this Forum, Steve Alvanos, has posted the follwing query:
HI, I AM RESEARCHING MY FAMILY HISTORY. THE NAME IS ALVANOS. MY FATHER AND MY GRANDPARENTS' WERE FROM CASTELLORIZO. MY FATHER'S NAME WAS KONSTANTINOS, MY GRANDFATHER'S NAME WAS THEOCHARIS. THANKS!!!! Steve Alvanos
Steve,
I am happy to report that I have located a copy of the short dowry contract for your grandparents' marriage on 16 January 1900. It records that your grandfather, Theocharis Kyriakou (who is described as being orginally from Macedonia), married Anna Konstandinou Alvanou on that day. The dowry the groom received was a house in Kalamaki (Anatolia) and jewellery.
The bride is represented in the document by her then widowed mother, Doukissa.
I hope you find this information of interest. I would be grateful if you could become a member of this Forum to make future communication easier.
I will open a separate thread in relation to your other query regarding your mother's family.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Nov 23, 2007 9:39:42 GMT 10
One of our members, Katina, wrote as follows on the Port Pirie thread:
Hi Nicholas,
This is the first time I've written and I'm finding this subject very interesting.
My father and several of his brothers also worked in Port Pirie in the early 1920s before finally moving to Melbourne and Sydney. Their surname was Kambouris. My dad was Con and his brothers, Paul, Jim and Mick. Jim finally moved to Brazil.
Their sisters were Katina (New York) Pareskevou Parthenos (Sydney) and Anastasia Diamond (Sydney) Anastasia is the oldest Kassi in Australia (Bill's grandmother).
Thanks for a very informative forum.
Katina Collett (Kambouris) [/color]
Could you please give me the name of your paternal grandfather so that I may see if any documents in my archive tie up with your father's family. Was it Nikolaos? And did Katina marry a certain Evangelos Kyprios?
Please let me know and I'll see what I can dig out for you.
Nicholas
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Haramis
Nov 14, 2007 6:39:00 GMT 10
Post by Administrator on Nov 14, 2007 6:39:00 GMT 10
Leviss,
Your great grandparents, Evangelos Yeorgiou Mavros and Maria Kyriakou Harami, married on Castellorizo on 23 June 1929.
Their dowry contract records the fact that the bride was 'given away' by her elder sisters Evangelia (the unwed teacher) and Christina (who was married to Mihail Tsakounis), presumably because both parents had died by that date.
The gifts given include a house in the Ayiou Nikolaou precinct and two plots of land in Pera Meria (given by Christina).
If you would like a copy of the contract, please give me your address details offline and I will post a copy to you.
Nicholas
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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
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Post by Administrator on Dec 18, 2007 7:49:33 GMT 10
Vanessa,
I have checked my records regarding the young child in the wedding portrait of Emmanuel and Despina.
I was told back in April 2001 by Dorothy Stavropoulos (nee Afaras) that the child is Despina's niece, Katina Kazagli (later Passari), the daughter of Vasilios Afkouliotou Kazaglis and Maria Papapanagiotou. Not sure of this is correct, but thought you should know...
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Nov 23, 2007 10:07:14 GMT 10
Vanessa,
Thank you for the fascinating documents you kindly posted to me. I have sent you a private e-mail about them.
Rgds, Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Nov 6, 2007 7:34:43 GMT 10
Vanessa,
Tersannah, or Tarsanna, is the old Greek name for a small island in the Bay of Makri, to the west of Castellorizo (it now belongs to Turkey). The island featured in the offensives between the Turks and the French between 1916-1917.
It was not unusual for property to be conveyed to daughters, in advance of their marriage, upon the death of both their parents. This was usually done by way of a declaration or by will. If you would like me to look at the document you refer to, please do not hesitate to send me a copy privately.
And, yes, Vasilios Afkouliotou Kazaglis married Despina's sister, Maria Papapanagiotou, on 13 January 1908.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Nov 2, 2007 7:26:40 GMT 10
Vanessa,
Unfortunately, the dowry contracts for the 1915-1916 period are incomplete. It appears that the tumult on the island during this time led to some poor record keeping in the local council because there is a void from January 1915 to February 1916.
Nevertheless, I do have access to a separate log of weddings for this period that was kept by the priest Theodosios Simonides as the island's then senior cleric. I am pleased to tell you that your great grandparents' wedding is noted in the following terms:
No.5/167 In accordance with the written guarantee of the parish priest dated 24 April 1915, permission was granted for the marriage ceremony of Emmanuel Yeorgiou Arapis and Despina Papapanagiotou, both of whom enter marriage for the first time.
24 April 1915, Castellorizo, The Episcopal Guardian Head Priest Theodosios Simonides
You will note the different surname for your great grandfather. It was not unusual when someone arrived on the island from another place for them to be given a nickname, and for that name over time to supplant the 'true' surname of the individual concerned. Do you have any knowledge of the surname 'Arapis'?
By the way, there is a Christina Yeorgiou Arapi who married a Kyriakos Christou in October 1914. Your great grandfather (the bride's brother) is the signatory for his sister in the absence of their father who has already passed away.
I hope this is all of interest to you.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Oct 31, 2007 9:55:02 GMT 10
A new member, Vanessa, wrote as follows: hi, i'm a new member and all i have time to write is that my late grandmother's name was Paraskevi Scorde (or Scordis) and was born to Despina Papapanaioti of Castallorizo who married Emanual Scordis of Simi. They came to Australia in about 1918 and i think Despina (My great grandmother) was born in 1889. I don't know any further back than this at this stage but would love to know if anyone else does! Thanks, Vanessa While I have not yet found any reference to your great grandparents' marriage in the dowry archive, I have noticed that there are at least 3 files concerning their arrival in Australia in c. 1918 held by National Archives. If you go to www.naa.gov.au and search their collection under 'Scordis' you will see the file references come up under 'Manuel' and 'Despina'. You can order copies or have the files digitised for public access. They should give you a lot of new information about the circumstances of their arrival here. Do you know if they married on Castellorizo? If so, when? Any further details on their marriage will hopefully assist me to uncover more information from other sources. Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Oct 22, 2007 8:20:51 GMT 10
Terry,
Your grandparents, Mihalis (Mihail) & Evangelia (nee Myrikli), married on 11 April 1904 on Castellorizo. Evangelia's family had connections with the town of Myra in Anatolia and part of her dowry included land there, as well as a house on the island and other gifts.
You probably already know that your grandfather was prominent in municipal life on the island and that he served in a number of positions. His tragic death with a number of other Castellorizian refugees aboard the SS Empire Patrol is recounted in Embers on the Sea (see Literature section of http://www.castellorizohistory.com) which also includes photos of your grandparents, mother and her sister Evdokia in Gaza.
Please let me know if you seek further information and thank you for supporting this Forum.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Oct 24, 2007 8:12:47 GMT 10
I have despatched copies of the Mermingas and Asvesti dowry contracts to you today to your nominated address.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Oct 22, 2007 14:10:15 GMT 10
The original archive of dowry contracts for the period 1895-1930 is located in Rhodes. It may be inspected at the ypothykofylakeion which is run by an appointed Rhodian lawyer, Vasilia Papavasiliou Chrysi, whose offices are in the main town of Rhodes.
I have here in Sydney a complete copy of the archive which I obtained with the permission of the Nomarch of the Dodecanese on the condition that I only use it for research purposes and do not publish it in its entirety. Nothing prohibits me, however, from supplying family members with copies of individual dowry contracts connected to them.
You will need to be able to read handwritten katharevousa to decipher these documents.
Nicholas
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Post by Administrator on Oct 22, 2007 8:05:38 GMT 10
Tzimenda, The dowry archive includes the short dowry contract (dated 7 February 1898) of Andreas Mermingas & Aikaterini Yeorgiou K Skopeliti who married on the island the following day. I assume this is the marriage you refer to. If, indeed, he did travel to the USA after this date, you should check Ellis Island records via the internet - www.ellisislandrecords.orgIf you would like further information, please do not hesitate to let me know. Nicholas
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