Ottoman 1866 Land Deed Field in Karesi Sanjak Edremit Title Muslim Woman

Ottoman Field Title Deed from Karesi Sanjak – Edremit (Karabey Çardaklar Village) (1866)

Description:

This original Ottoman title deed, dated 3 Safer 1283 (17 June 1866), records an agricultural field located within the Karesi Sanjak, most likely in the district of Edremit. While the district name is difficult to read due to the nature of the handwriting, the village is clearly identified as Karabey Çardaklar, a settlement historically associated with Edremit. Written in Ottoman Turkish and bearing an official seal, the document represents an early example of provincial land registration in the mid-19th century.

The property is recorded as a field (tarla) measuring 4 dönüm. Its boundaries are described using neighboring landholders, including Ali, Köçek Ali, and Yemik oğlu Halil. This method of defining land through adjacent ownership reflects standard Ottoman cadastral practices and provides insight into the local rural landscape.

The deed was issued “tebdilen,” meaning it is a reissued or replacement document. This typically indicates that the original deed may have been lost, damaged, or required renewal, illustrating administrative continuity in the Ottoman land registry system.

The registered owner is Hanife binti Kilci oğlu Mustafa, making this document particularly notable as it records property ownership by a Muslim woman. Such records offer valuable evidence of women’s legal rights to own and manage property within the Ottoman legal framework, especially in rural settings.

With its early date, clear ownership record, and official seal, this deed is both a legal document and a historical artifact. It sheds light on landholding practices, inheritance or re-registration processes, and the role of women in property ownership in the Ottoman countryside.

Key Features:

• Type: Ottoman agricultural title deed (field deed)

• Date: 3 Safer 1283 (17 June 1866)

• Location: Karesi Sanjak, likely Edremit district – Karabey Çardaklar village

• Property Type: Field (tarla)

• Property Size: 4 dönüm

• Boundaries: Ali, Köçek Ali, and Yemik oğlu Halil

• Owner: Hanife binti Kilci oğlu Mustafa

• Transfer Reason: Reissued deed (tebdilen)

• Historical Significance: Early example of Ottoman rural land ownership, including documentation of a Muslim female property holder

• Physical Features: Official seal present

• Collectible Significance: Rare mid-19th century provincial deed with strong social and legal context