Ottoman 1919 Land Deed House in İzmit Adapazarı Title Armenian Citizens Armenia
Ottoman House Title Deed from Adapazarı – Hocazâde-i Gayrimüslim Quarter, Karaağaçdibi Street (1919)
Description:
This Ottoman Turkish title deed records a residential property located in Adapazarı, within the Hocazâde-i Gayrimüslim Mahallesi, on Karaağaçdibi Street in İzmit. The document is dated 13 Temmuz 1335 (Rumi), corresponding to 13 July 1919 (Gregorian), and reflects a detailed inheritance-based transfer within a multi-heir ownership structure.
The property is described as a two-level house consisting of four rooms and a sofa (hall) on the upper floor, and on the ground floor a laundry room and an entrance section, together with a garden, forming a residential complex. The deed specifically records a half-share of this house, indicating joint ownership within the property.
The boundaries (hudud) are described with notable detail: on one side, a property formerly belonging to Bazbazoğlu with its garden, now replaced by a road; on another side, the access road to the house of Sahak oğlu Hacı Arsenik; at the rear, again the garden of Sahak oğlu Hacı Arsenik; and at the front, the house courtyard and a dead-end street. These boundary descriptions provide a clear sense of the dense and structured neighborhood layout.
The deed was issued following the death of the original owner, Ekmekçi Kara Agop oğlu Agop. It is recorded that he left behind his sons İstepan, Misak, Zareh, and Bogos, and his daughters Kazarik and Maryam, with no other heirs identified. Among these heirs, İstepan, Misak, and Kazarik had not yet requested the formal transfer of their shares. Therefore, the remaining undivided shares were transferred according to an inheritance certificate issued by the Sharia Court, formalizing the ownership structure.
The registered ownership reflects ten total shares, of which four shares (two each) are assigned to the sons Zareh and Bogos. This highlights the partial and ongoing nature of inheritance distribution within the family.
The document bears revenue stamps and official seals, confirming its administrative authenticity. The assessed value (kıymet) of the property is recorded as 3750 kuruş.
Beyond its legal content, this document provides a significant glimpse into the Armenian presence in the Karaağaçdibi area, which during the Ottoman period was one of the neighborhoods with a dense Armenian population. The area was known for its active commercial and social life, hosting numerous shops, workshops, residences, and communal spaces belonging to the Armenian community.
For collectors, this is a particularly rich and layered document. It combines detailed architectural description, inheritance law, and community history within a single record. Its strong connection to Armenian urban life and late Ottoman social structure makes it highly desirable for those interested in İzmit, Adapazarı, and non-Muslim community history.
Key Features:
• Type: Ottoman house title deed
• Date: 13 Temmuz 1335 (Rumi) / 13 July 1919
• Location: İzmit, Adapazarı, Hocazâde-i Gayrimüslim Mahallesi, Karaağaçdibi Street
• Language: Ottoman Turkish
• Property Type: Two-level residential house with garden (half share)
• Property Size (Mikdar): 361 zira (atik)
• Ownership Structure: 10 shares total; 4 shares (2 each) held by Zareh and Bogos
• Original Owner: Ekmekçi Kara Agop oğlu Agop
• Heirs: İstepan, Misak, Zareh, Bogos, Kazarik, and Maryam
• Transfer Reason: Inheritance following the death of the owner; partial transfer based on Sharia Court inheritance certificate
• Boundaries (Hudud): Former Bazbazoğlu property (now road); access road to Sahak oğlu Hacı Arsenik; rear garden of the same; front courtyard and dead-end street
• Assessed Value (Kıymet): 3750 kuruş
• Community Context: Armenian residential and commercial presence in Karaağaçdibi, a prominent non-Muslim neighborhood in the Ottoman period
• Physical Features: Revenue stamps and official seals present
• Collectible Significance: Strong relevance for collectors of Ottoman urban property, inheritance records, and Armenian community history