Peter Alexander (Alexander) Agelasto

Notes:

Occupation: Lawyer, Norfolk, Va. Fentress & Agelasto, 1893-1897, over 96 Main St.; 1898, 228 Main, with William A. Fentress; solo practice, 1899-1900, 230 Main; 1901, 234 Main; 1902, 236 Main; 1903, 44-45-46 Virginia-Carolina Blg; Agelasto & Miller, 1904, same add. with Frank C. Miller; Agelasto, Miller & White, 1905, same add. with Wm. J. White; 1906, 500-504 Board of Trade Bldg; Agelasto & Miller 1907-1918, 502-503-504 Board of Trade Bldg; 1919, Ledger-Dispatch Bldg 118 E Plume R234.

Naturalization: Application filed 20 March 1888. the 1900 census says he immigrated to the US in 1877.

Residence: 1870, New Orleans with his mother; 1888-1897, 18 York St.; 1897-1912, 54 York St.; 1913-1917 426 W York; 1918, 416 W 19th St.; 1919, 1044 Spottswood Av, all Norfolk, Va.; 1920 & 1930, Sixpound, Warren, NC.

Travel: with parents, 7 Oct. 1869, arrived NYC from Liverpool aboard China.

On passport application, aged 21: 5'5" tall, high forehead, brown eyes, Roman nose, medium size mouth, medium round chin, dark complexion and full face, brown moustache.

Appears in a photo with his brothers, taken in Memphis, where his father was a founding member of the Memphis Cotton Exchange. The boys are, from left to right: Alexander Michael, Peter and Michael.

According to Peter A. Agelasto III, his grandfather, Peter A Agelasto, had to work hard to pay the debts that his younger brother Alexander ran up in trying to run the cotton business after their father (Alexander Michael) died. The Grandy family that controlled Seaboard Bank, on which great grandfather had been a board member, let them stay in their house for a few years although it was mortgaged and taken over by the bank.

24 Jan. 1908: acquitted with brother Alexander M. by jury of $83,000 larceny from Citizens Bank, Norfolk, based on alleged false warehouse receipts (Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Jan 25 1908).

P.A. Agelasto, Macon, N.C. advertised "Shooting club property for Sale" (Forest and Stream, Dec 1926, Jan & Feb 1927).

Sportsman: While his brothers played tournament tennis, Peter followed in his father's footsteps as a game sportsman, most likely dove and quail, and participated in various trap and skeet events. 26 Jan 1901: live-bird shoot sponsored by the Norfolk Gun Club, withdrawing in second event (Forest and Stream, 2 Feb 1901); 2-4 Sep 1901: second annual tournament of the Virginia State Sportsmen's Association, Richmond, Va, shooting with Portsmouth Gun Club (29 points); individually, : 13/15,17/20,13/20,8/15,10/20,17/25, withdrew (Forest and Stream, 14 Sep 1901. 7-9 Sep 1903: tournament of Virginia Trapshooters Association, Lynchburg, Va. His Portsmouth Team finished exactly in middle of the 11 teams, and among his team members he was the mean. 2nd day: 11/15,13/15,9/15,12/15,13/15,15/20,15/20,17/20 = 105/135; he tied 4th from bottom among the 29 shooters. 3d day: he broke 132/150: 12,13,14,12,13,14,14,12,15,13, placing 15 out of 25 shooters. Individual championship (with gun handicap [16] 23) he shot 81 (20-22-21-18), thus tied for 21st out of 35 shooters, 30 May 1905: sixth annual tournament of the Analostan Gun Club [Tennallytown Road, Washington DC] scored 144/200 in rifle competition, placing 25/29 shooters (Washington Post, 31 May 1905, p 14).


Argued before the Virginia Supreme Court in Wright vs. Agelasto, trustee (Washington Post, 15 Mar 1905, p 9).

1893-1900, vice-consul of Greece [city directory]; Petros A. Agelastos is listed a Greek Consul (VC) for Norfolk, Virginia, from July 31 1892. He was again appointed between 1896 and 1901. The date 31 July 1890 is given in the Register, US Dept of State (Washington: GPO, 1893).

Education: 1888, Law, University of Virginia.

Treasurer of Dixie Manufacturing Co., 1906

1908-1909: P. A. Agelasto sec-treas, A. M. Agelasto & Son (Inc), cotton brokers Front St., Norfolk, Va. Brother A.M. Jr. was v-pres.

The family is mentioned in several notes in The Warren Record [Warrenton, North Carolina], 1918: "Mrs. P. A. Agelasto and Master Alexander Agelasto, of Norfolk, have returned to their home in Six Pound for the summer. Mr. Agelasto will come up from Norfolk to spend every other week end with his family." (28 Jun, p. 3); "Mrs. P. A. Agelasto and Master Alexander Agelasto, of Six Pound, were in town Wednesday." (26 Jul 1918, p. 3.); "Mrs. P. A. Agelasto and Master Alexander Agelasto of Norfolk are spending sometime at their bungalow in Six Pound." (24 Dec, p. 3).

1900 US Federal Census for 54 York Street, Norfolk City, Virginia, headed by Alex M Agelasto, 67, b. Feb 1833, Greece; naturalized, parents b. Greece, Cotton Buyer, own home, Married 1866 (34 years); wife Polyrene M Agelasto, 53, b. Jan 1847, Greece; parents b. Greece, both immigrated 1859, 41 years in US; sons Peter A Agelasto, 31, b. Mar 1869, India, lawyer; Michael A Agelasto, 29, b. Apr 1871, Greece, electrical engineer, both immigrated 1877, naturalized, 23 years in the US; Alex M Agelasto Jr, 26, b. Dec 1873, Louisiana, all single, cotton buyer; and one servant.

1910 US Federal Census for 54 York Street, Norfolk City, Virginia, headed by Mrs. P. Agelasto, 62, b. 1848, Greece, widowed, parents b. Greece, naturalized, own home, married 40 years, 3/3 children living; son P Agelasto, 40, b. 1870, India, immigrated 1900, Married, parents b. Greece; lawyer, naturalized; Daughter-in-law Catherine Agelasto, 29, b. 1881, Virginia, parents b. Virginia, 5 years married; grandson Alex Agelasto Jr., 5, b. 1905, Virginia; father b. India; mother b. Virginia; sons Mickey Agelasto, 38, b. 1872 Greece; immigrated 1890, naturalized, single, parents b. Greece, Cotton Mill manager, Alex Agelasto Sr., 37, b. 1873 Louisiana, Married, parents b. Greece, clerk cotton mill, married 7 years; Daughter-in-law Mary W. Agelasto, 26, b. 1884, Virginia, parents b. Virginia, all native English speakers, can read/write.

1920 US federal census for Blacks Road, Sixpound Township, Warren, North Carolina, household headed by P A Agelasto, owner, 51, b. India, parents b. Greece, alien, naturalized, arrived USA 1869, parents b. Greece, native tongue English, lawyer, home owned free; wife Catherine Agelasto, 38, b. Virginia, parents b. Virginia, alien [incorrect]; Alexander Agelasto, 14, b. Virginia, parents b. Virginia, pupil, all able to read/write.

1930 US federal census: Sixpound Township, Warren, North Carolina household headed by Peter A Agelasto, owner, 60, 35 y.o. when married, b. India, parents b. Greece, naturalized, arrived USA 1871, orchardist, apple orchard; wife Catherine C., 46, 20 y.o. at marriage, b. Virginia, parents b. Virginia; Sallie A. Long, 30, cook, Melvin A. Long, 5, son, both b. North Carolina.

Birth:
more on Malabar Hill

Buried:
Lot 15, 7th Alley East Elm.

Died:
DOD 6 Nov 1939, according to death certificate and obituary

Peter married Catherine Elizabeth (Silas) Thorpe on 18 Jun 1904 in Williamsburg, Virginia USA. Catherine (daughter of Silas Bruce (Martin) Thorpe and Susan Elizabeth (James) Foley) was born on 11 Sep 1877 in Mercer, Loudon County, Virginia USA; died on 30 Jul 1964 in Virginia Beach Hospital, 25th & Arctic Avenue, Virginia Beach, Virginia USA; was buried on 01 Aug 1964 in Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

LDS Transcription of daughter's marriage document: Catherine E. Thorpe; Gender: Female; Marital Status: Single; Race: White; Age: 24; Birth Date: 1880; Birth Place: James City Co., VA.; Marriage Date: 28 Jun 1904; Marriage Place: Williamsburg, Virginia; Father: Silas; Mother: Susan E.; Spouse: Peter A. Agalasto.

Married:
Argenti lists the marriage date as her birth date.

His uncle Michael was best man

Rev Edgar Allan Potts officiated in the home of bride's mother

1. Peter Alexander (Peter) Agelasto, Jr. was born on 03 Aug 1905 in Norfolk, Virginia USA; died on 07 May 1985 in General Hospital of Virginia Beach, 1060 First Colonial Road, Virginia Beach, Virginia USA; was buried on 09 May 1985 in Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Notes:

Education: Smyrna and Athens

Alex. Agelasto, 32, East 10th St., New York, merchant, white, unmarried, born Greece, is registered in the consolidated list of persons eligible for military service, enumerated May-June 1863, Eighth Congressional District, New York. [The draft was initiated by Abraham Lincoln in 1862 and reformed in March 1863. All men between 20 and 45 years of age were required to register. This included non-citizens. With news of the Battle of Gettysburg, the draft resistance in July 1863, primarily from Irish immigrants, caused riots in New York. Parker Agelasto]

1900 US Federal Census for 54 York Street, Norfolk City, Virginia, headed by Alex M Agelasto, 67, b. Feb 1833, Greece; naturalized, parents b. Greece, Cotton Buyer, own home, Married 1866 (34 years); wife Polyrene M Agelasto, 53, b. Jan 1847, Greece; parents b. Greece, both immigrated 1859, 41 years in US; sons Peter A Agelasto, 31, b. Mar 1869, India, lawyer; Michael A Agelasto, 29, b. Apr 1871, Greece, electrical engineer, both immigrated 1877, naturalized, 23 years in the US; Alex M Agelasto Jr, 26, b. Dec 1873, Louisiana, all single, cotton buyer; and one servant.

Name:
His marriage certificate lists his mother as Maria Negroponte.

Birth:
The 1900 Norfolk, Va. census gives his birth date as Feb 1833. Extrapolation of data from the 1869 Syros voter register (in the Greek national archives) and the digitized oath of Syros citizenship register suggest the birth year to be about 1831. The baptism registers of the Holy Cathedral Church of the Transfiguration of the Saviour Christ, Syros, available for the years 1831-1834, 1835-1851, 1852-1860 and 1897-1912, but have been examined for only for 1835, the year his brother John was born and baptized.

His passport application and naturalization papers do not give a birth date.

Died:
Cause of death: pneumonia

Buried:
Lot 15, 7th A. East Elm.

Alexander married Polyxene (Alexander) Mavrogordato on 02 Feb 1866 in Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece. Polyxene (daughter of Alexander (Michael) Mavrogordato and Polunia (Pandias) Ralli) was born on 05 Jan 1846 in Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece; died on 01 Sep 1934 in 4-C Hague Apartments, Norfolk, Virginia USA; was buried on 02 Sep 1934 in Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Residence: 1870, New Orleans presumably, but she is not listed with her 4-year-old son, who lived in a household headed by Ernilien Gallasta, 42, cotton broker, and her nephew Demosthenes (Aristides) Pateraki; 1880, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Wisconsin; 1900-1913, 54 York St., Norfolk, Va.; 1913-1917, 426 W York; 1918-1923, 800 Armistead Bridge Rd; 1923, Apt 206 Carenstead Court ; 1930, Hague Apts., Norfolk, Va.

Her sister Victoria is on the Negroponte-Agelasto tree.

Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Agelasto, of Norfolk, stayed at the Rennert (Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan 1906).

1900 US Federal Census for 54 York Street, Norfolk City, Virginia, headed by Alex M Agelasto, 67, b. Feb 1833, Greece; naturalized, parents b. Greece, Cotton Buyer, own home, Married 1866 (34 years); wife Polyrene M Agelasto, 53, b. Jan 1847, Greece; parents b. Greece, both immigrated 1859, 41 years in US; sons Peter A Agelasto, 31, b. Mar 1869, India, lawyer; Michael A Agelasto, 29, b. Apr 1871, Greece, electrical engineer, both immigrated 1877, naturalized, 23 years in the US; Alex M Agelasto Jr, 26, b. Dec 1873, Louisiana, all single, cotton buyer; and one servant.

1910 US Federal Census for 54 York Street, Norfolk City, Virginia, headed by Mrs. P. Agelasto, 62, b. 1848, Greece, widowed, parents b. Greece, naturalized, own home, married 40 years, 3/3 children living; son P Agelasto, 40, b. 1870, India, immigrated 1900, Married, parents b. Greece; lawyer, naturalized; Daughter-in-law Catherine Agelasto, 29, b. 1881, Virginia, parents b. Virginia, 5 years married; grandson Alex Agelasto Jr., 5, b. 1905, Virginia; father b. India; mother b. Virginia; sons Mickey Agelasto, 38, b. 1872 Greece; immigrated 1890, naturalized, single, parents b. Greece, Cotton Mill manager, Alex Agelasto Sr., 37, b. 1873 Louisiana, Married, parents b. Greece, clerk cotton mill, married 7 years; Daughter-in-law Mary W. Agelasto, 26, b. 1884, Virginia, parents b. Virginia, all native English speakers, can read/write.

1930 US federal census: Hague Apartments, 617 Fairfax Avneue, Olney Road, Norfolk, Va. household headed by Michael Agelasto, renter, 58, single, b. Greece, parents b. Greece, arrived USA 1880, naturalized, manager cotton mill; mother Pauline [sic], 77, widow, 20 y.o. at marriage; naturalized, arrived USA 1977; Alexandria [sic], nephew, 25, single, b. Virginia, father b. India, mother b. Virginia, lawyer.

Birth:
14 Nov 1846, according to death certificate.

Buried:
Elmwood Cemetery record: AGELASTO, POLYXENE I28118 Section ELM, Block 7TH A E, Lot 15, Space 9 0 09/02/1934

Died:
2 Sep 1934, according to death certificate.

Notes:

Married:
At 6 pm, in Alexander Mavrogordato´s domicile. Date from registered marriage certificate. Argenti says 08 Nov 1865.

Ceremony was performed by Father Ioannis Lagogiannis, priest at the Holy Church of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour Christ.

Marriage Contract: Syros, Greece, 9 Feb/28 Jan 1866 (Roman/Greek calendar).

Notes:

Ralli & Agelasto operated in the silk trade in Marseille in 1860-61. See, Gregorii Valerianovich Melgunof, Das südliche Ufer des Kaspischen Meeres oder die Nordprovinzen Persiens (Adamant Media Corporation, 2004), p. 286.

He is the "Mr Agelasto" referred to in the following anecdote. According to John (Matthew) Ziffo, his father Matthew Alexander Ziffo "was born in the Island of Chios about 2 1/2 years before the Massacre. On that terrible day his Mother with her two daughters, and a young maid, carrying my Father, took to the mountains to cross the island; following a long trail of refugees and guided by shepherds over mule paths. The maid soon got tired, left the child on the mountain side and fled. A Mr Agelasto, the father of John Agelasto whose firm (Frangopulo Agelasto & Co of London and Liverpool) [Theodore (Matthew) Ziffo] joined when he came to London, was following and recognizing the child picked him up and took him to the island of Syra. By a fortunate coincidence his mother and sisters also landed in Syra. One can imagine her joy at being re-united with her boy whom she had feared lost."

He is the distinguished gentleman whose portrait is omnipresent at the top right of these webpages.

Parker Agelasto has found four copies of a photo taken in Marseille that is believed to be Michael Pandely Agelasto, same as the portrait miniature. There are a lot of similarities to the portrait miniature, but the two pictures are separated by about 20 years. Similarly, one is a real photo the other an artist likeness of the sitter.

He was in partnership as merchants, at Marseilles, under the firm of Petrocochino, Agelasto & Co.; at Constantinople, under the firm of E. M. Vuro and Co.; at Galatz [sic], under the firm of D. C. Climi and Co.; at Ibraila and Bucharest, under the firm of Parembli and Climi; and at London, under the firm of Petrocochino and Co., until it was dissolved 31 Dec 1861. The other partners included George Petrocochino, Michael Vuro, M. Parembli, Anthony Vlasto, J. M. Agelasto, A. D. Syngros and A. N. Damiano (London Gazette 28 Mar 1862). An earlier notice appeared 18 Mar 1862 with the typo M. P. Agelasts.).

Michel Agelasto, 55, merchant, allees des Capucines 15, was a signatory witness to the marriage of Michel Parembli and Aspasia Dromacaiti, 4 Jun 1857.

He was a signatory witness to the 1849 marriage of Antoine Nicholas Petrocochino and Euthalie George Petrocochino.

Michael Agelasto signed a letter to the provisory Greek Parliament in 1825 demanding it include a Chiot deputy. This suggests he lived briefly in Syros after fleeing Chios in 1822 and before settling in Marseille.

27 Nov 1834: Michael Agelasto, 32, married, born Chios, merchant, arriving Syros 1824, swore allegiance to the government at the Syros tribunal (before the town hall was built). Stephen Agelasto [possibly his third cousin Stephanos (Augustis) Agelasto], who arrived on Syros also in 1824, took the oath the same day.

M.P. Agelasto was among the 327 Chiot refugees in Syros who signed a letter dated 10 Jul 1829 to the Governor of Greece.

M. P. Agelasto was co-administrator of the will [see source] of a parish priest who set up scholarships for young Marseille Chiots in 1861.

P.P. Negroponte and M. Agelesti, both with the firm Negroponte & Agelastl (sic) were among the more than thirty merchants, "citizens of New Orleans and inhabitants of Louisiana," who signed an open letter written under the seal of the City of New Orleans to Dr. John E. E. Ealino in The Charleston Mercury 19 Jan 1860, p 2, praising the physician's skills as his former patients and welcoming him as a winter resident of New Orleans. This man's son, Alexander M., settled in New Orleans after an 1860 visit on which, perhaps, he was accompanied by his father.

"Brig Walter Scott, Leighton, Matamoras 30 ds., with cotton to Negreponte & Agelasto. Oct. 18 [1863], off Tortugas, was boarded by U.S. gunboat Clyde" (New York Times 6 Nov 1863, p 8.

Michel Agelasto is referenced as one of the 1822 massacre refugees who arrived in Marseille (Echinard); This Michel fled to Syros and didn't arrive in Marseille until at least after 1835.

1871 England census: 22 Pembridge Crescent household headed by J M Agelasto, 35, merchant, b. Syros, Greece; wife Aglaia, 29, b. Marseille; sons Michel, 5; Pendley, 4; daughters Katherine, 3; Mary, 2 mos., Alexandra, 11 months; all b. London; father Michael P., 68, retired merchant; mother Marie M., 57, both b. Chios [Scio, Turkey]; & 6 servants.

Philanthropy: in 1867 M(ichael) P. Agelasto donated 100 Francs to Chios Schools; Michael Agelasto & Son donated 250 Francs and M(ichael) P. Agelasto 100 Francs to the Chios Hospital according to unpublished research by Demetrios Melachrinoudis. In 1972 Michael P. Agelasto again gave 200 Francs to the hospital. According to Reports on Hygiene Institutions of Chios by the same author, he contributed to the hospital in various years from 1874-1880.

M. Agelasto, Marseille, is listed among the diaspora Greeks donating 300 fr. to a fund for the Thebes earthquake in 1853.

Petrocochino-Agelasto, Marseille, is listed among the diaspora Greeks donating 250 fr. to a fund for the Thebes earthquake in 1853.

Died:
Argenti incorrectly says 20 Oct 1886.

Buried:
Cemetery 1886 register line entry 9141 midi carré 1, ter grec, no. 2, residence rue de la Biblioteque 24. Register notes: 15 Oct 1894 [year after his wife's death] he was moved to carré 1, ter grec, 3d rue, no. 11.

Michael married Maria (Ioannis) Parembli on 12 Mar 1831 in Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece. Maria (daughter of Ioannis Parembli and Arghyro Damiano) was born in 1811 in Chios, Greece; died on 18 Feb 1893 in quartier Sainte Marguerite, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France; was buried on 19 Feb 1893 in St. Pierre Cemetery, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Residences: The 1851 London census registers "Maria Agelasto, Greek native, a merchant's wife", as living with her daughter, Lucy, her son-in-law and their newborn daughter, Angelica. The 1861 London census reports "Maria M Agelasto", merchant’s wife, hotel visitor; until 1889, 24 Rue de la Bibliothèque, Marseille; 1889, 1 Rue des Trois-Mages, Marseille; 1891-93, 17 allée de Meihan, Marseille.

She likely had a brother named Michael; her sister Despina (Ioannis) Parembli is on the Negroponte-Agelasto tree. Her nearest sibling may have been a boy named Matthaos, born about 1811. He was a student in Munich sometime between 1826 and 1844, according to Konstantin Kotsowilis, Die griechischen Studenten in München unter König Ludwig I. von Bayern (von 1826 bis 1844): Werdegang und späteres Wirken beim Wiederaufbau Griechenlands (Ausländerbeirat der Stadt München, 1995). He was from Chios and his father was murdered when he was only 11 years old. He had 6 brothers and sisters who moved to Livorno and then Marseille (Parker Agelasto).

1871 England census: 22 Pembridge Crescent household headed by J M Agelasto, 35, merchant, b. Syros, Greece; wife Aglaia, 29, b. Marseille; sons Michel, 5; Pendley, 4; daughters Katherine, 3; Mary, 2 mos., Alexandra, 11 months; all b. London; father Michael P., 68, retired merchant; mother Marie M., 57, both b. Chios [Scio, Turkey]; & 6 servants.

Buried:
It is likely she is buried with her husband, in the tomb to which he was moved a year after her death. She was initially buried midi carré 1, ter grec, no. 2.

Died:
DOD from death certificate. Argenti incorrectly says 28 Feb 1893.

Notes:

He is on the Negroponte-Agelasto tree with another daughter, Victoria.

Alexander Michel Mavrogordato was in partnership with Scarleto Michel Mavrogordato, John Michel Mavrogordato (who left the partnership 5 Aug 1853), Demetrius Michel Mavrogordato, George Michel Mavrogordato, and Peter [Pietro] Ralli, as Merchants, in London, Manchester, Constantinople, and Syra (London Gazette 9 Aug 1853).

Alex. M. Mavrogordato was in partnership with D. M. Mavrogordato, Constantin M. Mavrogordato, Pietro Ralli, G. M. Mavrogordato and Scarlato M. Mavrogordato as Merchants, at Constantinople as D. M. Mavrogordato and Co.; at Trebizonde (Ottoman Empire) as Georges M. Mavrogordato; at Syra as Pietro Ralli and Co.; at Marseille as Constantin M. Mavragordato and Co.; at Manchester as Scarlato M. Mavrogordato and Co.; and at Tauris and Resht, both in Persia, as Mavrogordato Brothers until 1 Jan 1862 (London Gazette 3 Oct 1862).

2 Nov 1840: Alexander Mavrogordato, 27, unmarried, born Chios, arrived Syros 1827, merchant, swore allegiance to the Greek government at the town hall, Ermoupolis, Syros.

Alexander married Polunia (Pandias) Ralli. Polunia was born in 1819 in Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece; died on 17 Feb 1857 in Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She is also on the Negroponte-Agelasto tree with another daughter.

Notes:

Held hostage and hanged by the Turks in the Massacres of Chios.

Pandely married Loula (Stephanos) Ziffo. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Parembli was among the Chiots held hostage and hanged by the Turks, 23 Apr 1822. Uncertain if this is he.

Ioannis married Arghyro Damiano. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]