Ottoman 1905 Land Deed Farmland in Karahisar Afyon Title Deed
Ottoman Tapu (Deed) – Farmland in Sipsin Village, Karahisar (1905)
Description:
This Ottoman land deed, dated 15 Kanunievvel 1321 AH (28 December 1905 CE), documents a plot of farmland in Sipsin village, near Karahisar. The field, measuring six dönüm-i atik, is clearly defined by its neighbors: Konyalıoğlu to the east, Hüseyin to the west, Müştakoğlu Halil to the north, and pastureland to the south.
The owners of the property were Dudu and Zeliha, daughters of Ahmed and Abdurrahman, sons of Hasan Kethüda. In the Ottoman era, a kethüda was a trusted figure who managed affairs for wealthy individuals or high-ranking state officials. The sisters sold the land to Mehmed Ali, son of Hoşduzade Mehmed Ali Bey, for 1,400 kuruş, although the deed also records the property’s value as 2,025 kuruş.
Preserved with its original stamps and seals, this deed not only illustrates the economic activities and land transactions of provincial Ottoman families but also reflects the roles of women as inheritors and sellers of property in the early 20th century.
Key Features:
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Date: 15 Kanunievvel 1321 AH (28 December 1905 CE)
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Location: Sipsin village, Karahisar
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Type: Farmland
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Size: 6 dönüm-i atik
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Boundaries (Hudud): East: Konyalıoğlu; West: Hüseyin; North: Müştakoğlu Halil; South: Pasture (Mera)
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Owners: Dudu and Zeliha (daughters of Ahmed & Abdurrahman, sons of Hasan Kethüda – Ottoman citizen)
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Buyer: Mehmed Ali, son of Hoşduzade Mehmed Ali Bey
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Sale Price: 1,400 kuruş
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Recorded Value: 2,025 kuruş
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Paper/Condition: Original Ottoman deed with official seals and stamp preserved. Some yellowing parts
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Language: Ottoman Turkish
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Cultural Significance: Example of women’s property ownership and sales in the late Ottoman Empire; reflects rural landholding patterns and the role of the kethüda class