Abradjian Family members

I received an email from Sherri Abradjian with the following family picture. Sheri tells me that Bedros had his family name changed from Ipradjian to Abradjian by Canadian officials upon entry into Canada. I will attempt to find out why? Was it just a mistake by the Canadian Official.

From Izmirian b. 1951 - 2009

Rabbit Man

Now look at this photo. What do you think is going on here? They got me. I was intrigued.

From Izmir

I approached these two guys and asked what was this all about. I should have known things were not on the up and up when the man on the right takes over. He could speak broken English. Got any idea?
He grabs the big rabbit on top and the board from the bottom and say English English. He pulls the lettice off the Rabbit and holds the board containing folded up paper under the rabbits mouth. The rabbit then pulls a peice of paper out of the board. The man on the right picks it up and hands it to me. How much is this going to cost me I ask? 5 TL. This is about $5 Australian Dollars. Ok Im in for $5. I am thinking it is some sort of lotto. I am either going to win something or lose $5. Wrong. I only have a $20 TL note. So off goes the man on the right to get change with my 20 TL and I open my peice of paper. It is like a fortune cookie. The man to my amazement returns with my change. He hands me a 5 TL note. I look at him with my I'm not amused look and he pulls out another 5 TL. I look at him again and he smirks at me and indicates he has no more money and his english seems to have left him also. I laugh and consider he needs the additional 5 TL more than I do. 10 TL for a story, a photo and a fortune phrase. Got to love a unique scam.

Odds and Ends

I found out today that my hotel is in the Old Armenian quarter of the city.

From Izmir

I returned to the Museum and spent some time with the wonderful people there. We spent more time talking about cultures and customs of our respective countries than anything else. We did not stop laughing. I was invited to come back at anytime. That was nice.

From Izmir

I am catching up with the author of the email of the previous post tomorrow. I hope there is something interesting coming from that discussion.
Seda (Cafe owner) has assisted me today, from booking an airfare to Adana later this week, working thru the pros and cons of buying a car/ renting a car with one of her customers, a travel agent to a guided tour of "the other side" of the harbour by ferry whist she picked up her children from the Nanny.

From Izmir

It is so much easier having a local person show you and explain what is what. I have received very warm hospitality from all the people here in Izmir. I would not hesitate to return here again ,it has been great fun.

Email

I received this email overnight.

Dear Stephen,

I have been referred your e-mail address by Ms.Melisa Urgandokur from the Izmir Apikam Museum. She mentions you are in search of your family roots - that of the family Izmirian based in Iskenderun.

I am a amateur-level researcher, and on the larger scale I attempt to uphold and bring together the few remaining Levantines in Turkey. So I have gathered quite a few contacts and have come across many materials.

Recently, I have come across a photo taken in Eskisehir and signed by the photographer, an Izmirliyan. If you are interested I can scan a copy and send it to you. I was not too sure if it was related to your research.

Best regards,
Andrew Simes

Izmir City

Izmir was almost totally destroyed in 1922 when the Turkish Army took control from the Greek administration. As a result the city is rebuilt and is relatively new. It is full of bustling cafes, restaurants and places of commerce. It has a beautiful waterfront in the shape of a half moon with ships sitting in the harbour. It is a beautiful city sitting in a valley right down to the waterfront. Izmir is described as "The Pearl of the Mediterranean." "The farthest East of West and the farthest West of East," "The most beautiful city under the sun." Izmir has always been a place of power and influence. If you could choose a place in the world to draw your name from, this is very attractive choice and one that would make you proud

Izmir History Museum

What a great day. I still don’t have an absolute answer but it is not from a want of trying. I eventually found an obscure museum and believe it or not it is right beside the Hilton Hotel. The enquiry I have, compounded by the fact I am not from here, and I can not speak the language seems to bring out the best in those helping me. I spent hours with three of the historical research assistants specifically looking at the Izmirian name and its connection with the city. One speaks only Turkish the other translates and when more get involved it is very lively. In the end we did not come up with a definitive answer.

From Izmir

There are many loose ends that I need to clarify with family members. In Turkey almost 99% of the Turkish population did not have a family name in 1930. In 1934 a law was passed to make Turkish people take a family name. The families took whatever name they wanted except for the name Atuturk. This name was for the founder only of modern day Turkey. When did the Izmirian family take up the name Izmirian? And Why Izmirian.

Haig and Nellie

I received a beautiful email from Maria Izmirian with some additional photos. Maria's email provided me with a photo of her Father Haig and Mother Nellie.

From Izmirian b.1900-1950

Haig and Nellie Izmirian

Priest was correct

A quick check on Google soon revealed the French Priest was 100% correct with his description of the church.

IZMIR

Before I left Selcuk I was speaking to an old man who told me there was an Armenian Church in Izmir. It was beside the Hilton Hotel. The Hilton Hotel is the highest building in Izmir. I decided that this would be where I would start my enquiries. An hour or so later I arrive at the Hilton Hotel by bus and speak to the doorman. He points to a building across the road and tells me that it is the Armenian Church. The church is surrounded by a wall and Iron fence. The front gates are securely locked. Turkish men seated out the front indicate for me to go around the corner to a small door. So off I go.

From Izmir

I buzz the intercom, a lady answers. She tells me in a foreign language church closed and the rest I did not understand. She hangs up. So I buzz her again. She says exactly the same and hangs up again. I thought it was a recording so I buzz again. It was not a recording and I got a Turkish spray. Now what to do? I thought I would stop someone in the street and ask them to talk to the lady in the church. At least I would know when it is going to open. I asked probably 10 people before this lady walks past

From Izmir

I asked her if she spoke English and she replied in an Australian accent yes she does and where do I come from? Turns out she lived in the neighbouring suburb of South Yarra and is now living in Izmir. I gave her a quick rundown on the lady in the intercom and suggested she give her a buzz. Now I don’t talk Turkish but I don’t think the lady in the Church was being very Christian. Now my newest best friend Seda owns a cafe right across the road with her husband, Taskin. She needs to do some banking. We decided to meet back at her cafe when she had finished banking. Seda returns and is very very helpful. Her, her husband and 3 waiters gather together to discuss my quest, the Izmirian name and the possibilities of its origins. It is getting busy for lunch and they all get back to work. Seda has a waiter not only shows me to a local hotel but walks me to it and books me in. After I settle in, it is back to the café several hours later. Izmir is a big city and the streets are not exactly in a grid pattern. There are several intersections that have 5 or 6 roads coming together. Getting lost would not be difficult. I have got my bearings from the cafe to the Hotel. Once I find the Hilton Hotel I travel down the street turn right and come to the intersection with this sign. Don’t know what it means but I can not miss it.

From Izmir

then 3 blocks down I am at my Hotel. The waiter who showed me this Hotel also pointed out an area not to go after dark as people steal and are of ill repute. I'll check it out later if I get time. Strangely my Hotel is right on the fringe of this area.
Seda has made some enquiries for me and I ask her to check the white pages on line for an Izmirian or Izmir. With that the Internet goes down. Seda is going home soon and to avoid wasting the day she writes down three places on a piece of paper in order for me to visit. One a lookout called Asansor, then the Armenian centre not far away called Havra then a market called Kernersalti and it is great for shopping. Got a cab to Asansor and took a couple of photos. Not a sunny day but you can get a feel for the size of the city.

From Izmir

Down from the lookout and I am walking along looking for the Havra. I am not having any luck so I stop and ask a lady and man selling corn from a stall do they know where Havra is? The man speaks very broken English and indicates I have passed it by 50 metres. I thank him and head back but this man insists he will take me there BY THE HAND. So off I go 50 metres holding this broken English speaking, corn selling, married Turkish mans hand to the Havra. We get there and it is locked up more than the church.

From Izmir

Its a synagogue. I prise my hand out of the Turkish mans hand and knock on the gate. A little hatch is opened and a Policeman talks to me in Turkish. My blank look gave my hand holding assistant an opportunity to jump in and speak for me. What ever he said we were invited in behind the steel gates. I did hear him mention Australian. The policeman brings out a book and points to a phrase. "What is my occupation in English and obviously interpreted on the other side of the book. I look thru the book and find businessman. Now I am sitting in the Policeman’s security box with a Turkish only speaking Policeman, hand holding corn selling married man and me, plus a book of English phrases. We are all able to come to an agreement I would be back tomorrow after 11 am when someone else will be there who can speak English. I WAVE goodbye to both of them and make my way to Kernersalti Market. On the way I see a sign on a building that seems to say Izmir Kultur. So in I go. The first man I speak to does not speak English but gets on the phone and calls someone from upstairs to come down. A lady comes down and speaks very little English. I ask her is this a museum or similar. She goes up stairs and returns shortly with an English written book of Izmir including a list of Museums in it. She says I can have it and it is ok. I thank her very much and ask where am I? She tells me it is a school.
As I am walking past some shops a TV screen is showing some horseracing. It is a betting shop. A man called Jean introduces himself to me and immediately swaps to English when he heard my reply. He can speak English well. He invites me to have tea with him and his friends but I tell him I am going back to the hotel. As I am leaving he wants to know if I want to buy a horse. Reminds me of someone else I know back in Melbourne.
I find Kernersalti Market. It has 3000 shops and is everything I have come to expect from the Turkish markets. Lots of great smells, sights and sounds.

From Izmir

From Izmir

From Izmir

This is the mother of all mungals.
I pass the café and I thought I will try the front of the Church once more. As I come around the corner I see a tourist taking a photo of the Church. I asked him why he is taking the photo and he told me that it is the oldest church in the City. It dates back to 200 AD. I asked him what demonination is the church? Was it Armenian. He told me it was a Latin Catholic Church. Again I asked him how he knew this and where did he get his information from. He told me he was a French Priest who was studying the period. As I looked around there were 20 people looking at me grilling their priest guide. They all moved off.

From Izmir

That’s one line of enquiry finished for today.

Great Grand Daughters

I have received some great photos today and have updated the photo albums. Tomorrow I will be arriving into Izmir. I wonder what I am going to find.

From Izmirian b. 1951 - 2009

Melissa Kennedy (Izmerian) Elizabeth Izmerian Kaitlyn, Melissa's daughter 3 years old. Grand Daughters and Great Grand Daughter of Anania, Daughters of Elie

You Tube

You Tube is blocked in Turkey. I am unable CURRENTLY to post a video I took at Anzac Day.

ANZAC Day Gallipoli

For Non Australians, ANZAC Day is the day that we honour the sacrifices made by our war dead. The defining battle that gave young Australia its world recognition was at Gallipoli Turkey 1915. It was a massacre and we lost but the Australias had preformed remarkably. I have two reasons for being in the Middle East, one I have yet to mention here in the blog, and obviously the other the Discovery of the Izmirian story. ANZAC day was an add on activity and one that I did not expect too much from. I have attempted to write about the day and it keeps coming out like a string of Cliché or Trite. So it is best to say that it was unexpectly very emotional and leave as that.

From Gallipoli

Turkish Shave

I was feeling abit furry as I had not had a shave since leaving Australia. I wandered into a local barber to have a Turkish shave. Memet points to the chair and he starts to soap me up. He is 17 yrs old and does not speak English. I realise now he is going to preform the task. I have decided not to mention Izmir or Izmirian for once.

From Turkey

Memet gets out the cut throat razor and prepares to start shaving when all of sudden the front door opens forcefully and a male about 40 - 50 starts talking aggressively to Memet. He is obviously intimidated. The man leaves. Memet prepares himself again when the door opens again with another person. This is another customer Memet has had to turn away. Memet is now behind time. I am feeling apprehensive. Memet finally starts when a 3rd person comes in and it appears is happy to wait. Memet starts talking to this man in Turkish and waving his hands around at the same time. Right under my chin. I am now on edge. The shave comes to an end and feels great. Memet then pulls out an instrument that resembles a Kebab Stick. He wraps alot of cotton wool around the end of it and dips it into a liquid. He drags out a cigarette lighter and lights the cotton wool and we now have a serious flame coming off this thing. I mean up to 10 - 15 cm in height. Memet then puts his hands over my eyes. I’m thinking what the hell is he going to do with this. Memet then flicks the flame all over my face and into my ears. The flame is licking my face and yes the flame went into my ear. It was obviously to burn off any missed hairs. My eyebrows got a good singe. With that done Memet goes to a bottle containing clear liquid and fills his hands with it and slaps it all over my face. We have lotion going everywhere. This procedure is followed by a second lotion. I am now finished. Smooth but I am giving off an aroma that is foreign to me and extremely strong. My fleecy top also smells of this. I can best describe it as sweetly, rose like, overpowering and right under my nose. I get outside and I can finally breathe. I walk back to the Hostel and all the stray cats are looking at me. Oh my god it is Memets lotion. Everytime I stop moving the smell wafts up and gets me. How long is this going to last?

Turkish Bath

The hostel is promoting a local Turkish Bath. Hot bath followed by a massage on a hot slab of marble. Exactly what I need. The guy behind the counter at the Hostel tells me, if he books it I get a discount. He informs me with a smile on his face It costs $35 TL for 20 minutes and the rest is up to me. I settled for a free shower downstairs.

Too good to be true

From Turkey

Rattled the door, went around the back. The shop was locked and closed. They went out of business.

Gallipoli

I am sidetracking from the Izmirian quest for a short visit to Gallipoli. I will be attending the ANZAC Day dawn service. Reading the material available, we are bused close to the site and then a 5 km walk down to the site. We should get there about 6pm and then spend the night out in the open until dawn break. A service for the fallen soldiers will be held. I believe it is a very solemn experience. Forecast is for rain and very cold. Zero degrees and a strong breeze off the water. Please dont rain.

Izmir Izmirian phonebook enquiry

Found a very small cafe where the two young guys spoke good English. They did not have a phonebook but agreed to find an Izmir or Izmirian online via whitepages of the Istanbul phone book. They spent 20 minutes going thru the online search engine within the site. Thirteen and a half million people in Istanbul and not one Izmir or Izmirian. I cannot say this was the most comprehensive of searches but there are no obvious Izmirians here to be contacted.

Photos warts and all

I wasnt going to turn this blog into a travel blog but there has been some interest in the other photos I have not posted. So I have included a link here to an album. The Album has all my photos with no work done to them at all. Everytime I have taken photos I upload them to this album. Check this link in the future for new photos Alot of photos may make no sense.

Turkey

Strange Australian

I have asked lots of Turkish people I have come into contact with about Izmir and the Izmirian family name. These people generally speaking are happy to talk to me but just don't know the answers. Not many know the history of Istanbul never mind some other city miles away. So I decide to head to people with knowledge. I went to the Istanbul Museum. It is a very impressive place. I was there as they opened the doors too be one of the first in before the crowds. It is the only place I have seen guards on duty. Not only on duty but caring machine guns.

From Turkey

From Turkey

From Turkey

Once behind this wall it opens out to some very spectacular gardens and a walk of 500metres up to another wall and gateway. You pay here to enter the Museum. Outside this gateway are personalise guides. Exactly who I was looking for and wanted to speak too. Ten Euros for 1 hour and tour. I approached the guides and spoke to Hussein who tells me he lived in Izmir for 4 years and speaks fluent English. I said I wanted to speak to him and would pay him for his services. We sat on a bench and spoke.

He was genuinely very helpful. I explained my attempt to find why Izmirian would be called this prior to the name of the city changing. He was telling me how people changed their names as a result of the changing dynamics of the country to avoid persecution etc. He could not find an answer as to why Izmirian existed pre 1923 when the city changed it name. Soon he called over all the other guides and there was much discussion amounst them. Six guides standing around and me sitting on a bench discussing Turkish history. Must have been a sight. I could tell by the scratching of the jaws and heads that this question was stretching them. They as a group suggested I go to Izmir and find the answer. I told them that sounds like a good idea and will do what they suggest. They all smiled and the discussion finished. Hussein suggested I get a ticket for entry and he was ready to take me into show me the national treasure and history of this truly remarkable building overlooking the Mediterranean. I told them I have what I am looking for and offered him 10 euro for his time. He said "No it is free for me." I headed back thru the approaching crowd. They all just shook their heads in amazement smiled and possibly thought to themselves, Strange Aussie or some derivative thereof. Nothing new in that thought.

Sareyan to Istanbul

Hacik has sent me an email which I have cut and pasted below. I wonder how many times over the course of history one family may have changed their names due to the same or similar reasons.

Thank you so much for your interest in researching the Izmirian family tree. I will endeavour to give you a short version of our family background.

As you know, my family surname is "Istanbul" but the original name was "Sareyan" Our family dates back about three generations from Northern Syria where my Great Grand Father came from. During the 1850's our family moved to the village of Bebek (meaning baby) which is about 140 kms southeast of Ankara in present day Turkey. There they farmed and grew wheat until 1915 (Armenian Genocide) when they were forced to leave by the Turkish army. All Armenians in the village were forced to leave the village within the day and only take whatever they could carry with them. My Grand Father "Hacik" (from whom I carry the same name) decided to flee to the city of Istanbul. My father "Yeprem" was ony 2 yrs old at the time. When entering Istanbul, the city officials asked my Grand Father of their family name in order to register them. My Grand Father replied that their last name was"Istanbul" to avoid persecution or possible death.

Let me know if there is anything that you need to further your research Stephen.

Best Wishes

Hacik

Istanbul name change

That enquiry didnt take too long. The city changed its name on 29 May 1453. What is interesting to me, keeping in mind why Armenians may have this surname name is Sultan Mehmed II "the Conqueror" captured Constantinople after a 53-day siege and proclaimed that Constantinople was now the new capital of the Ottoman Empire. Sultan Mehmed's first duty was to rejuvenate the city economically, creating the Grand Bazaar and inviting the fleeing Orthodox and Catholic inhabitants to return. Captured prisoners were freed to settle in the city whilst provincial governors in Rumelia and Anatolia were ordered to send four thousand families to settle in the city, whether Muslim, Christian or Jew, to form a unique cosmopolitan society.

From Turkey

From Turkey

Istanbul

I was delighted to have recieved a new photo from Annie Istanbul, daughter of Alice Izmirian.

From Izmirian b. 1951 - 2009

I find it amazing that we have another Izmirian with a surname from a city in modern day Turkey. I am sure Istanbul changed its name centuries ago, but if not it may help me answer the Izmir question. Annie’s husband is going to email me with his families origins. I am sure it will end up here in Istanbul. In the meantime I am off to find when Istanbul changed from Constantinople.

Hapets Uniform

Hapets Uniform in the photograph by himself is currently the most solid clue as to his whereabouts between 1915 - 1919. We have been told it is possibly from the French Foreign Legion. So I have been in contact with the French Foreign Legion and they have returned my contact. I have forwarded them the photograph and they said they would look at it and get back to me with their thoughts.

Williams Picture update

The picture several posts ago is of Hapet Izmirian. It looks like a passport photo or similar. The writing on the back has been interpreted. The numbers written on the back look like a date to me. 1982. Do these numbers mean something else as there is no way William was in school on those dates? William says he got it in 4th grade about 1951. What do the numbers mean? The photo was not intended for William. It was for his father. It says something along the lines of.
“How are you? I am sending you a photo of your brother and I will send you a photo of your sister later.” Then it is signed by a person unknown to Sarkis and Lucy. Sarkis believes it may have been from a man who did travel between Jerusalem and Beirut.

Left Australia

After a fantastic lunch with the family, I was given all my last minute instructions by each member of the family individually 3 times. Then it was Bon Voyage and off to the airport for Lisa and me.
Thank you all for the concern and wonderful well wishes.

From Izmirains

Corroboration

It is 11.30 pm here and I have been on the phone to Jean and Hasmig. Jean discovered in his big book called MEMORIES OF MUSADAGH

On November 21, 1916 in Port Said a French Foreign Legion was formed by the French.
Made up of 600 Musadagh volunteers from tent city. These Armenians were trained in Cyprus. Sarkis believes this photo was taken in Cyprus. On September 19, 1918. This Legion was victorious (VICTORY OF ARARA) against Turk and German coalition forces. I am not told where this event took place. I assume it is in Turkey.

This sheds some light on the date of Hapet's photo in uniform. Now to find the cousin.

Investigators Input

I have progressed the line of enquiry into Hapets uniform and the single posed photo. Sarkis found the original photo in a relative’s house. The original had two men in the photo. The other man was Mariam Izmirians (Mother of Hapet) Sister’s male child. Hapets cousin. His name sounds like Mikram Askraian. He has two or more sons himself by the name of Hargop and Shahe and they live in Anjar. Please excuse all the spelling as I am hearing the names with my Australian ears and trying to spell it as the Armenians do. There is no doubt that I have the wrong spelling.

Sarkis took the photo and had 3 copies made taking the cousin out. It cost him one week wage to have this done. Garo, Sarkis and Yessayi got a photo each. This took place around 1960. I need to find the cousins family. This family may hold the information to determine if Hapet was in Musa Dagh in 1915.

Everyone who has contacted me agrees that the single Hapet is younger than the group one. Three to six years is the spread of years. I have also been informed the uniform is that of the French Foreign Legion. Sarkis says Hapet was a member of the Legionnaires. The Legionnaires did had these weapons at that time. I need to know if the cousin was in the French Foreign Legion and if so what years? I would love to see the original photo. I hope the cousin is in French Foreign Legionnaires uniform.

New updates

From Trip

Photos have been added today into all categories

A Story via William

William son of Anania was in 4th grade in Jerusalem when a priest hands him a photo attached. On the back of the photo is writing in Armenian. William does not know how to read Armenian. Nor do I for that matter. He did not know who the photo was and took it to his father Anania. Anania got very excited upon seeing the photo and told William it was a relative and they had to find the Priest immediately. At this time there was no direct communication between Israel and Lebanon. To communicate you needed a third person in another country to assist you. Anania would have seen this as a way of contacting his relatives that he had been cut off from. I could imagine his urgency to find this Priest. William believes this photo had the word Beirut on the back of the envelope. Anania found the Priest but was disappointed as the Priest said that he got the picture from another Priest to pass on and knows nothing about the circumstances. William kept this photo and sent me the photo and the writing on the back. He wants to know who is the picture of? and what does it says.

From Trip

From Trip

Clue as to Hapets whereabouts. Investigators required

From Trip

There has been some discussion about the individual photo of Hapet and the year it was taken.
This is a screenshot of Hapet Izmirian in a group photo next to another photo of Hapet Izmirian in a posed photo. Don’t read any more until you have examined both photos. In which photo is Hapet the youngest? What is the age difference between them? At this stage I don’t know the answer. So your opinion is as strong as any.

Got your opinions. According to a book Jean Abrahamian has, the group photo was taken in 1920. Add or take your age difference off 1920 and we have the year Hapet had the individual photo taken. The individual photo was definitely not taken at Musa Dagh. The family members who have been discussing this with me agree the Uniform is too good to have been from the Musa Dagh region. The gun is also very modern for that era.

I am trying to gather facts to determine if Hapet was on the mountain in 1915 and taken to Port Said with the 4000+ Armenians or whether he was elsewhere.

Look who has arrived

Thank you Antranig Abrahamian for photo.

From Izmirian b.1900-1950

Yeghsapet Izmirian late 50s to early 60s Anjar Lebanon

Family Group Photos

I am attempting to place photos in the links beside the blog and website in family groups only. All other photos I am putting in the folder marked "Izmirians". The youngest member of the family to contact me so far has sent thru some beautiful photos. Ani Rapallo has sent me photo of her Uncle Joseph, Mother Josephine Iprajian plus Alice Abrahamian and others.

From Izmirian b. 1951 - 2009

Anthony, Ani (daughter of Josephine Iprajian), Francesco Rapallo. Toronto Canada 2009

Family coming together

Lots of new photos have arrived today. Sandro and Liz, Suzie, John and Helen, Garo and Marie plus others. check on the links beside both the blog and website to view the slide show of families. I have tried to put them in age order. More photos are coming.

From Izmirian b.1900-1950

Garo and Marie Izmirian St.Catherines Canada 2009

Sis

I have been told the correct spelling of the town where Garabed was sent by Hunchak is Sis. It is not called Sis now as I suspected. The new name is Kozan. It is in the South of Turkey and will not be hard for me to visit.


View Larger Map

Massacre of Safra Baleck

Safra Baleck has been explained to me as neither a town nor a place. Safra Baleck is a Turkish phrase that means refugee or migrant. So the Massacre of Safra Baleck would have happened all over the Ottoman Empire and does not depict a time or a spot.

Different Stories

I am just fascinated at all the different stories about the same family group depending on the family you come from. I am saddened by the thought of Anania who has been searching for his missing brother all his life, when it appears that he was killed in 1909 at Sis. I could not imagine the feeling of loss by Anania and desire to find his lost brother that must have driven him. Even William his son, was looking for his uncle or descendants through out his life. I hope this journey will assist everyone.

Alice Izmirians Update

I must thank Jean and Hasmig Abrahamian. Jean has sat down with his mother Alice as I have with Sarkis. Rather than retype the information I will cut and paste the email. It is fantasic information and has challanged previous facts.

Email from Jean and Hasmig:
Jean and his mother Alice had another info session today. When I came home from work he had a bunch of papers and scribbled dates and was putting together pieces of the puzzle. I wish we lived closer so we could do this face to face.
Here is what we can add to clarify dates according to our findings.

GARABED was born in 1862 in Musadagh---died in 1909 in Sis at age 47
He had previously moved to Sis with his family to help with the defense against the pre-1915 Genocide killings.

Garabed had 2 daughters and 4 sons.
1. NEVART born approx. 1885 in Musadadgh ----died in Anjar in the 1950"s?
2. MARIAM (Marrish) born in approx. 1888 in Musadagh --- died in Anjar in 1960's
3. HAPET born in 1893 in Musadagh ---died in 1944 in December 1944 in Lebanon
4. SARKIS born approx. 1901 in Musadagh -- died of illness in Musadagh between 1909 and 1915
5. YESSAYI born approx. 1904 in Musadagh --- was lost in 1909 in Sis during the pre-1915 Genocide killings
6. ANANYA born on March 15, 1907 in Musadagh ---died in USA

Garabed had moved to Sis with his whole family prior to 1909.
During the 1909 killings Garabed and his wife got killed.
Alice remembers her father Hapet recalling what his father Garabed said as he was dying..."I have been shot. Do whatever you can to save yourself."
Nevart, Mariam, Hapet and Sarkis managed to go back to Musadagh between 1909 and 1915.
Yessayi - no trace of him to date.
Ananya was an infant under 2 years, found injured and clinging to his dead mothers's body, trying to nurse. baby Ananya ended up in an orphanage.

Correction from Jean's previous conversation with you......
Hapet WAS in Musadagh in 1915 and ended up in Port Said along with the whole group.

Additional information about Hapet's sister MARIAM:
When they went up to the mountain in 1915, she was already married and had a daughter, Her husband BEDROS HAVATIAN was one of the 18 martyrs.
Mariam remarried INJEYAN and had 5 sons and 1 daughter. Some of the Injeyans are still in Anjar. You may get additional information from Haig in Anjar.

William Son of Anania

I have just had a fantastic conversation with William Izmerian 67yrs who lives in Arkansas USA. He states his father has told him these stories many time as they sat around the kerosene heaters. In 1908 Garabed told his kids to go and hid in the bushes as the Turkish Soldiers were attacking them on horseback. This event was known as the Massacre of Safra Baleck. Anania was struck with 3 swords to the head but lived. Garabed, his wife and son Yessayi were killed. The other son Sarkis was never found and Anania searched all his life to find the missing brother. Hapet and the two sisters escaped. Hapet along with the two sisters picked up Baby Anania and took him to a Turkish family who dressed Ananias wounds. The surviving family returned to Musa Dagh. William was adamant that his father and brother were on the Mountain at Musa Dagh over the 53 days and were rescued by the French. Anania was shot in the stomach during the 53 days on the mountain. He was 7 years old at the time. This seems remarkable to me. When in Port Said, 7 or 8 Armenian children were taken to a British orphanage in Jerusalem run by the Church of England. One of the other children taken at the time was a boy with the surname of Sarikian. William met this man in 1984 at Helen Izmirian (daughter of Garro) wedding. It made him cry.

Assistance appreciated

Thank you to Hasmig, Paul and Grace for correcting the spelling of the family member’s names. I would like this to be as correct as possible and appreciate all your input.

Another session with Sarkis pt 2.

I have drawn the conclusion that nobody knows exactly what happened to Hapet between 1915 - 1919. Conflicting information re his whereabouts indicates this. I was told He was on the Mountain fighting but did not go to Port Said. Maybe he did go to Port Said. He was fighting around Musa Dagh but not on the Mountain. So I am going to leave this point until I get some more information. I need to find the list of people who were saved from the Mountain at Musa Dagh in 1915. This list of names is apparently in Anjar. Hapets future wife was in Port Said as was both of Hapets sisters according to Sarkis. Both girls were married by now. Mary was married to a man with the surname of Injeyan. Hapets future wifes name was Yeghsapt Kourdian. Can not wait to find the list and read the names.

Another session with Sarkis

Identifying the date of Garabeds death has added some certainty to the facts. I sat with Sarkis and started to focus on some specific facts. Information from Williams email was most helpful as it prompted Sarkis and he added the rest. Garabed and Hapet apparently had an argument about Politics/fighting. Hapet was a member of the Political party Tashnug in 1912. Hapet and his two sisters did not go with Garabed to Cis. They stayed in Musa Dagh as Hapet did not agree with his father. Garabed and his family were not killed in Cis. They were killed on the road making their way back to Musa Dagh from Cis in 1908 or thereabouts. Anania was found and given to Hapets Sister Mary (Marianne). Mary was a widow and had a daughter to her husband, a soldier. Mary kept Anania at Musa Dagh for up to 4 - 5 years and then gave Anania to the British Commissioner and taken to Jerusalem, where he was brought up by the Church orphanage. He was given away as the sister could not re marry easily with a child. Marys daughter was also given to up for adoption to a Doctor in Syria.

Anania's Date of Birth

William, son of Anania, has been in contact with me via email and I look forward to speaking to him soon. He also gave me his Sisters details in Israel. I am very much looking forward to speaking to her too. Anania’s Date of Birth is 15th March, 1907. This is an important date as it indicates that Garabed and his family were killed sometime within the following 2 years. Why was Garabed, Wife and 2 sons killed years before the years when the general population were targeted? Does it mean he was part of the Militia? Was he unlucky? What happened to Hapet and the two girls?

Izmirian with an "e"

I have recieved some very brief and exciting news that brings me one step closer. I have recieved an email from William Izmerian. William is the son of Anania and lives in the USA. The first thing I find interesting is he spells his surname differently. We know William is a direct relative so there is no issue about being from different family. If this happened in the 1920's imagine what it was like in the 1600's 1700's and 1800's especially in less educated communities.

Old research

I had an email reply from a Richard Izmirian from San Mateo, CA in 2007. He stated that he was contacted 30 yrs ago by a lady who claimed to be an Izmirlian. She came from an aristocratic family of Izmirlians in Istanbul and was saved by a Russian Officer as a little girl. Something for me to do whilst in Istanbul.

Political Party

Garabed was in some form or another a member of the Armenian Political Party Hnchakian also called Hunchak. Almost everyone at Musa Dagh was a member of this party. He was asked to go and protect/look after/administer by Hnchakian a property/convent and/or a church in the town of Cis. This appears to be the reason why he took his family from Musa Dagh. I am yet to determine the year.

Fact, Fiction and Folk Law

In the lead up to my trip I have been speaking too many within the Izmirian family about my trip. I have spoken to several of Hapets children who are 70 to 80 yrs old. Already I have been given much information about Garabed and his son Hapet. Most of it conflicting depending on what family you get the information from. I have been told definitely Hapet was fighting on the Mountain at Musa Dagh and taken to Port Said by the French war ships. I have also been told Hapet was definitely not on the Mountain. I have been told Garabed was killed in 1909 and in 1915. I have been told Garabed was killed on the road on the way back from Izmir and I have been told multiple times he was killed in the city of Cis. I don’t know the correct spelling of this town and have been unable to find it on the map as of yet but it is 4 hours North of Musa Dagh. This has also given me a new MUST VISIT location and I haven’t even left yet. If you know where Cis or Sis is please let me know. It may be known as something else now. I have been told that Baby Anania was found by commandos and taken to a British Hospital. I have been told he was given to his sister Monushark in Musa Dagh. She kept him for 4 years and then he was taken as an orphan by the British in Egypt. The real key to this equation re Anania is his date of birth. I don’t have that at this time. Garabets death was within a year of Ananias birth as he was a baby still on the breast. Armenians were being killed in 1909, but they were the commandos/soldiers in battle with the Turkish Army, not the general population. It is unlikely that Mary and the other children were killed in 1909 and more likely in 1915 when the Armenian Population was targeted not just the militia. I am assuming that Garabed, his wife and two sons were killed at the same time and not in seperate instances. But this is just an assumption. If it is 1915 Hapet and his sisters would not have had time to return to Musa Dagh to be on the Mountian for the last fight. If it was 1909 then obviously he did, but there is no record of him in any documents being a 15 - 17 year old male on the mountian fighting. Stay tuned as we all pool our information and search for some answers.

From photos

Above is Hapet Izmirian Circa 1919.

Must Visit Locations

I am very excited about the upcoming adventure. My flight is booked and I leave Melbourne, Australia on the 19th of April. 2009, arriving into Istanbul, Turkey. I will be attending the dawn service at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli on the 25th. After that I intend to wing it thru the map below with the must visit locations marked. Istanbul, Izmir, Musa Dagh, Damascus, Beirut, Anjar, Amman and Jerusalem. As I travel thru these locations I hope to uncover parts of the Izmirian story told to me by the people I meet.

From World Wide