SYRIA-L Archives

From: "Lilly Martin" <>
Subject: [SYRIA] Mike Dave family
Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 16:33:42 +0200

Dear Alison,

Let's make a time line for your ancestors:

#1. June 15, 1883 Mike Dave is born, somewhere in Syria, which today would
be all of Syria and Lebanon as well. Lebanon was founded in 1920, from a
part of Syria.

#2. Mike and his wife Ann get married, but there names might be completely
different than "Mike and Anna", those names might be just what they invented
in USA.

#3. Then they come to USA, which you feel is probably sometime in the 1909
time frame.

#4. 1910 census, they could be anywhere in USA, but might be in PA, since
that is where they settled. I would suggest that you lok for any male about
37 yrs old, who is born in Syria, then look to see if he has a wife named
Anna. Do not pay any attention to what last name they are using, because
chances are the DAVE name is an invented name, it is probably not the name
they came with.

#5. 1920 census, West Newton, Westmoreland Co PA.
Mike ASPER , renting on Water st. He is 45 years old, born in Syria, he is
an ALIEN, not a citizen. Neither he nor his wife can read or write.
Mary Asper, 40 yrs, b. Syria.

They stated they both immigrated in 1906.

Their children were:
Amene 13, b. PA, female
Bady 9, b. PA, female
Olla 7, b. PA, female
Peter 5, b. PA, male
Julia, 3, b. PA, female
Esper 10months, b. PA, male

The reason I felt this might be your relative is:
1. West Newton, PA is the town they were in at the 1930 census.
2. Mike Dave said his middle name was ESPER.

However, this family's mother is named Mary, not Anna. Also, this family
does not have a daughter named Sarah, though Sarah and Amene are the same
age.

Perhaps Amene used the name Sarah later?

Concerning the point that Mike Dave said his middle name was ESPER: either
he meant that his original family name was Esper, or he really meant that
his middle name was Esper.
If he meant that his middle name was Esper, then we could know for sure that
his own father was named Esper, for his FIRST name.

In Syria and Lebanon, all male and female children are given a middle name,
and that name is their own father's first name. This makes it very easy to
identify a person, whether male of female, because they carry their father's
name forever.

Let's say a man is called John Joseph Nahas. The first born son will be
named Joseph John Nahas, in honor of the paternal grandfather. All kids,
male and female, will be named XYZ John Nahas. So all brothers and sisters
will carry the same middle name.

The name MIKE might be invented, or perhaps it was originally Mikhael
(Michael). Or maybe it was Michel (Mee-Shell).

In the 1910 census I found a Mike Davis born in Syria, but he was widowed.

In the 1910 census I found a Mike Asper , with his brother George Asper, but
no wife.
The clerk wrote they were SERIAN, and the index listed them as Serbian.

As you see, I could not find a perfect match for 1910 census, but since you
have access to www.ancestry.com you need to stick on this search, try many
different approaches. Try searching on first name only, born Syria, age.
Try leaving off SYRIA, in case the clerk wrote something else, like Serbia?

I believe the social security application should give you alot more to go
on. When you get that info let me know, I might help.

Best regards,
Lilly Martin

This thread:

• [SYRIA] Mike Dave family by "Lilly Martin" <>