Ottoman 1875 Land Deed Field in İskeçe Xanthi Greece Title Muslim Family Greek Balkans
Ottoman Field Title Deed from Yenice (İskeçe), Drama – Sarnıç Village (c. 1875)
Description:
This original Ottoman title deed, dated 1291 AH (c. 1875), records an agricultural field located in Sarnıç village, within Eskice township of Yenice district, in the Drama province. Written in Ottoman Turkish and bearing official seals, the document reflects early Ottoman provincial land registration practices in the Balkans.
The field is described as being situated at “dere ağzı” (river mouth or stream junction), indicating a location likely influenced by water access—an important factor in agricultural productivity. The boundaries are briefly noted, referencing Mehmed Karasu and a road, in line with traditional Ottoman cadastral descriptions that relied on neighboring landmarks and properties.
The size of the field is recorded as 2 dönüm, representing a modest agricultural holding typical of rural land distribution in the region. The registered owner is Osman bin Hasan, identified as the legal holder of the property.
The reason for issuing the deed is noted as “tebdilen,” meaning it was reissued or replaced. This typically indicates that the original document may have been lost, damaged, or required updating, offering insight into administrative continuity and record maintenance within the Ottoman land system.
Today, Sarnıç village is known as Kromniko, located in the Xanthi (İskeçe) region of modern-day Greece. This adds an additional layer of historical significance, as the document reflects the presence and land ownership of Muslim Ottoman communities in the Balkans prior to the major territorial changes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The note that the village mosque is now used as a church further emphasizes the transformation of the region’s cultural and religious landscape over time.
As a result, this deed is not only a legal record but also a rare historical artifact documenting Ottoman-era rural life in what is now Greece, making it especially appealing to collectors interested in Balkan history and Ottoman heritage.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman agricultural title deed (field deed)
• Date: 1291 AH (c. 1875)
• Location: Drama province, Yenice district, Eskice township, Sarnıç village (modern Kromniko, Xanthi, Greece)
• Property Type: Field (tarla)
• Property Location Detail: Dere ağzı (river/stream junction)
• Property Size: 2 dönüm
• Boundaries: Mehmed Karasu and a road
• Owner: Osman bin Hasan
• Transfer Reason: Reissued deed (tebdilen)
• Historical Significance: Documents Ottoman Muslim land ownership in the Balkans (modern Greece)
• Physical Features: Official seals present
• Collectible Significance: Rare example from a region that later underwent major political and demographic change