Economides (Conos) - Harbour Master

[florence]

Hi Nicholas
I am trying to find out more about my maternal grandfather Michael Economides, (naturalised as Conos) the circumstances in which he fled from Kastellorizo and his father, Theodore's role as harbour master.

Michael's father was Theodore Economides, born about 1840, died about 1913-14 (known as Ionomou) the harbour master. Theodoro's brother, Nicholas was sent to Mytalini as the harbour master. Both were originally from Istanbul.

Theodore married Maria Toulouza (born 1863) in 1888 approx. Is there a dowry contract?
Michael was born in 1889.
Evangelia born in 1890 (who married Jack Koutsoukis, the mayor's son in 1912 in Kastellorizo).
Alexandra in 1898 (who in 1918 married Antonis Gillavis in Perth). At least 4 others died as infants, 2 young girls from measles.

So the story goes .... As Theodore had such an important position on the island Michael was targeted by the Young Turks for conscription and had to flee. He pretended to go fishing for the day and rowed around the island with a couple of mates and at dusk headed off for Port Said somehow - I can't imagine in the fishing boat. Family folklore says he arrived in Fremantle in 1908 but I found a record for 1911.

Nicholas can you please find out any information on the Economides family (and in Istanbul) and in particular the role of harbour master? Was Michael's escape typical of those days? Did the Turks come and round people up for the army?

We have no record of Theodore's death. All we know that there is an account by Evangelo Spartels, of the Italians taking him on board their warship in 1912, everyone worried what they would do to him but they did release him in the end.

[Administrator]

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

[Administrator]

Florence,

Just something extra for you regarding the role of the Economides family in the island's shipping. I have found a couple of references in an obscure work of the island's historian, Achilleas Diamandaras. In this essay, he lists the υγειονομοι (literally 'sanitation officers') on the island from the 19th century until the revolt against the Turks in 1913.

The section concerning the Economides family may be translated as follows:

After Tahir Agha, Nikolaos Papadopoulos or Nikolakis, originally from the island of Antigone near Constantinople, was appointed public health officer, and in 1859 Yeorgios Papikides from Redhaistos, followed by Marinos Konidaris and, after him, Nikolaos Economides, who was succeeded until our revolution (1913) by his son Theodoros N Economides.

So, not much, but at least confirmation for you regarding the roles of father and son. As for what they did, I don't think they were purely harbour masters, but they were also responsible for the sanitation and inspection of vessels arriving and departing from Castellorizo's harbour. From the article, it appears that their appointment to the position was made by the Ottoman authorities.

Nicholas

[florence]

Thank you so much Nicholas. I am just looking up my old notes from an 1990s interview with an uncle (Peter August). His recollection was ....

that Theodore was born in Ivoli or Izmir Istanbul and was sent to Kastellorizo by the govt to take on this position... but maybe as you have found out this was not Theodore but his father Nikalos who was sent to Kastellorizo.

Uncle Peter also said that Theodore's brother, Nicholas was sent to Mytalini as a Harbour Master. Could this have been so? Nicholas was the older brother of Theodore and would a Mytalini appointment be more prestigious than Kastellorizo?

Lots for me to ponder about

Thanking you
Florence