She was likely born in the late 1850s or early 1860s. She is believed to be the sister of Sarkis Basmajian, and their children called each other first cousins. Their parents' names are not known, but there are various possibilities from the 1846 census, including a Sarkis born 1846 who was the son of Ghazar Osibian Basmajian, but this isn't confirmed. According to a descendant, Surmalou and her husband Melkon Fereshetian died around 1905 due to disease, possibly typhoid, but this year is not likely correct because per their son's ship manifest from September 1909, he was leaving his father "Milian" (Melkon?) in Arapkir, so perhaps she and her husband were still alive at this time. In the 1846 Arapkir census, there is a Melkon Fereshetian born in 1840 who was the son of Baghdasar, this could be her husband but no guarantee especially becacuse there are no other known Baghdasars in their family. Based on the story of Surmalou and Melkon both dying due to an epidemic around the same time, they presumably died prior to the Armenian Genocide of 1915 when the Armenian population of Arapkir was deported and much of the population killed, so we are left with 1909-1914.
She was likely born in the late 1850s or early 1860s. She is believed to be the sister of Sarkis Basmajian, and their children called each other first cousins. Their parents' names are not known, but there are various possibilities from the 1846 census, including a Sarkis born 1846 who was the son of Ghazar Osibian Basmajian, but this isn't confirmed. According to a descendant, Surmalou and her husband Melkon Fereshetian died around 1905 due to disease, possibly typhoid, but this year is not likely correct because per their son's ship manifest from September 1909, he was leaving his father "Milian" (Melkon?) in Arapkir, so perhaps she and her husband were still alive at this time. In the 1846 Arapkir census, there is a Melkon Fereshetian born in 1840 who was the son of Baghdasar, this could be her husband but no guarantee especially becacuse there are no other known Baghdasars in their family. Based on the story of Surmalou and Melkon both dying due to an epidemic around the same time, they presumably died prior to the Armenian Genocide of 1915 when the Armenian population of Arapkir was deported and much of the population killed, so we are left with 1909-1914.
Family Members
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