Ottoman 1914 Land Deed Vineyard in Adana Karaenbiya Title Armenian Family Armenia

Ottoman Vineyard Title Deed – Karaenbiya Village, Adana (1914)

Description:

This Ottoman-era title deed documents the ownership and inheritance transfer of a vineyard located in Karaenbiya village, Adana. Dated 16 February 1329 (1 March 1914), the record concerns a vineyard measuring twelve dönüms, explicitly covering both the land itself and the grapevines planted on it. The boundaries of the property are described through neighboring plots, including references to individuals such as Bezirci oğlu Karabet’s wife Marta to the east and Maraşlı Esteban to the west, clearly reflecting the Armenian presence in the rural landscape of the region. While some additional names appear in the boundary descriptions, the Ottoman cursive handwriting makes them challenging to read, though they remain legible and could be accurately identified by a specialist.

The document further records that 21 shares out of 64 of this vineyard belonged to Karabet Avidisyan, who passed away on 10 Teşrin-i Sani 1326 (23 November 1910). Following his death, his share was inherited by his wife Anuk (daughter of Mikail), his son Ruben, and his three daughters. The daughters’ names are written in Ottoman Turkish script and are clearly present in the document; however, due to the difficulty of reading handwritten Ottoman text, the current holder has not been able to confidently decipher them, though another expert may do so. One of the daughters’ names appears to possibly be Perupsimi. By mutual agreement, all five heirs transferred their inherited shares free of charge to one of the daughters. The document contains numerous Armenian-language signatures and seals, making it a particularly strong primary source for studying Armenian land ownership, inheritance practices, and community life in late Ottoman Adana.

Key Features:

• Document Type: Ottoman title deed (tapu)

• Language: Ottoman Turkish, with additional Armenian signatures and inscriptions

• Date: 16 February 1329 (1 March 1914)

• Location: Karaenbiya village, Adana

• Property Type: Vineyard (including land and grapevines)

• Size: 12 dönüms

• Ownership Share: 21/64 shares originally belonging to Karabet Avidisyan

• Heirs: Wife Anuk (daughter of Mikail), son Ruben, and three daughters

• Transfer Details: Inherited shares transferred free of charge to one daughter (possibly named Perupsimi)

• Historical Significance: Highlights Armenian rural property ownership and inheritance structures in early 20th-century Adana

• Physical Characteristics: Multiple seals, stamps, Ottoman handwriting, and Armenian signatures present