Alexander (Michel) Agelasto^{[1, 2, 3]}

1833 - 1906  (73 years)

• Name	Alexander (Michel) Agelasto
  	The Alexander Michel Agelasto photo album. His marriage certificate lists his mother as Maria Negroponte.
  Birth	10 Sep 1833	Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece
  	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.
  Gender	Male
  Death	01 Dec 1906	54 York St., Norfolk, Virginia USA
  	His will was proved 11 Dec 1906, P.A. Agelasto serving as executor. Cause of death: pneumonia
  Burial	02 Dec 1906	Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
  	Elmwood Cemetery record: AGELASTO, ALEXANDER M I28111 Section ELM, Block 7TH A E, Lot 15, Space 10 0 12/01/1906 Lot 15, 7th A. East Elm.
  Notes	Cotton and grain merchant. 1860-61, Negroponte & Agelasto, commission merchants, 119 Gravier St., New Orleans, LA; 9 Jan. 1861, Bark Ella Virginia, Bark Dodo, 5 Oct 1861, coffee from Rio Janeiro; 1871, 1873 & 1874, 173 Gravier St., New Orleans; 1872, solitary commission merchant; 1873-74, com. mer. 173 Gravier; 6 May 1873, coffee shipment from Rio; 20 Apr 1874, partner in Memphis [TN] Cotton Exchange; 1874-75, cotton buyer and com. mer, r. Europe, with John F. Voisin, representative; 1i>8175: cotton buyer & com. mer., Room 11, 2 Carondelet St, New Orleans; employed bookkeeper; 1876, commission merchant, 76 Baronne, New Orleans, but lists residence in Memphis, TN; 1877, cotton buyer (not merchant), 76 Baronne St; 1878, employed a bookkeeper and Felix S. Voisin, clerk in rue Valence, cor. St. Charles, New Orleans; cotton buyer, Memphis, Tn.: 1872-1874 358 Front; 1874 358 Front and 12 Union; 1874-1880 336 Front; 1888-1891, agent, cotton exporters, Norfolk, Virginia. The 1861 New Orleans directory lists the names of the Negroponte & Agelasto firm as John P. Negroponte and AM Agelasto; firm's address 119 Gravier, New Orleans (1861) and 64 and 72 Beaver, New York (in 1862 and 1864 respectively). 'Negreponte & Agelasto (represented A.Ralli & Co. of London)' , established 1861, is on Contopoulos' list of principal Greek commercial houses in New York City. [4, 5] Residence: 1858-1860 USA; 1866, Syros; 1867 Malabar Hill, Bombay, India; 1869, Syros; 1870, New Orleans; 51 10th St, New York City; 1870 & 1872, Esplanade St, bet. Broad & Dorgenois St, New Orleans, LA [may have lived in a house on Broad St. before moving to Esplanade St.]; 1873 & 1874, states residence as Europe; 1873-77, New York directory listings: mer. 80 Beaver, h L.I. 1873-74; h N.J. 1875; cotton buyer 131 Pearl; Memphis Tn 1872-1873 bds Peabody Hotel; 1874 rooms Magnolia Block, w4 (with A & D. Paterarchi); 1876-1877 312 Poplar; 1878-1880 272 Lauderdale; 1880-81, Oconomowoc, Waukesha, Wisconsin, on vacation [1880 census; "Oconomowoc, Wisconsin - A. M. Agelasto, of Memphis, has rented a cottage here for the season," Chicago Tribune, 12 Jun 1881, p 17]; 1882-1883 24 Botetourt, Norfolk, Va.; 1885- Norfolk, Virginia [he was given a permit to build a $10,000 house on York St. (The American Architect and Building News, 26 Dec 1885, p xi)]; 1888-1891, 18 York St., Norfolk, VA; 1900, 24 York St., Norfolk, VA. [6] Naturalization: Intention for citizenship dated 3 May 1872, filed 31 March 1875; Renounces allegiance to the King of Greece, 3 May 1872; Naturalization 2 April 1875, signed by Hamilton Ash, indicating height as 5'8". The 1900 census, however, says that he and his wife immigrated to the US in 1859. Travel: Alex Agelasto, 31, arrived Boston from Liverpool on the Niagra 29 Mar 1858, normally belonging in France, seeking to live in the USA. (New York City arrival 1858 stated in citizenship papers); aboard Columbia from New Orleans to New York, 4 Apr 1864; 18 May 1864, NYC to Liverpool aboard Scotia with E. Ralli & A. Pateraki [his brother-in-law]; 1865, house-hunting in New Orleans, writes financee; 1865, married in Greece; 21 Oct. 1868, Liverpool to NYC aboard Russia; scheduled arrival Bombay from Marseille, 25 Sep 1969 (Allen’s Indian Mail, 21 Jul 1869); 7 Oct. 1869, Liverpool to NYC aboard China (with nephew Demosthenes Pateraki; wife and son Peter, 7 months after bearing her second child [who is not with them] and 13 months before delivering her third child; 1870, returns to New Orleans; 17 Sept. 1872, Liverpool to NYC aboard Scotia; New York to Liverpool aboard Scotia (Liverpool Mercury 23 Jun 1873); 25 Sep 1873, Liverpool to NYC aboard Algeria; Feb. 1875, in New York and Washington, DC on business and lobbying; 1 Sept. 1875, Liverpool to NYC aboard Russia (with family, including youngest son, secretly baptized); 26 Oct. 1876, business trip. A. M. Agelasto departed Liverpool 10 Jun 1899 aboard the Umbria, for New York. He appears as a cotton buyer in the Dégas painting 'A Cotton Office in New Orleans' of 1872-73 (oil on canvas) where he is depicted in the background sampling a handful of cotton. He is known to the New Orleans gallery as Michael Alexander Agelasto. Wife sues for judicial separation of property and return of her £3500 (then $19,800) as "the affairs of her husband have become so disordered and that his losses have been such that she has come to fear..." Default judgment in her favor, 8 Nov 1875 for $37,600 + costs. Appears in a photograph taken at Gurney's Fifth Avenue, New York in 1872. It is signed on the back by Polyxene (his wife) and addressed to Virginia (her sister). The message is "the unsmiling one" reference to the Greek meaning of Agelasto. "Agelasto, Alexander, New Orleans, Merchant" is one of the the partners of the Bank of Alexandria Ltd, London (London Gazette 27 Feb 1873). Also included are his brother John Michael of London and his father Michael Pandely of Marseille. He bought by advance subscription two copies of Achilles Rose, Christian Greece and Living Greek (NY: Peri Hellados Publication Office, 1898. According to tax assessments, in 1862 he resided at 51 10th Street, New York City. His income was valued at $1,900 ($40,000 in today's money) and assessed a tax of $57. 5 Feb 1866: Alexander M. Agelasto, 35, married, born Chios, merchant, swore allegiance to the government at the town hall, Ermoupolis, Syros. Alexander Michel Agelasto, 38, was on the voter list for Syros, 1869. The will of Alexander Michael Mavrogordato (1816 - 1876), recorded and archived on Syros, mentions his wife's brother Petros Ralli, five of six daughters (excluding Hypatia), his son Michael and two sons-in-law, Alexander M. Agelasto and Paul Tzolas. P.P. Negroponte and M. Agelesti (sic), 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 could be either this man (if a typo) or his father. Negroponte & Agelasto was a member of the New York Merchants Exchange, corner Exchange Place and William Street, NYC. Other members included Ralli & Co., Rodocanache & Co., M. Psiachi, Scaramangu Bros. and Fachiri & Co. (New York Times 14 May 1863 p 5). A.M. Agelasto shipped coffee on the Brig Talisman (Norw.) Hansen, Rio Janerio, 22 Feb 1873 via St. Thomas 19 ds, vessel to C. Tobias & Co. New York Times 6 May 1873, p 8. He presented [presumably he paid for] the singles championship cup in the South Atlantic championship tennis tournaments, Atlanta, 12 Aug 1900; 8 Aug 1902. His son Michael, a favorite to win, lost in the quarter-finals in 1902 (Atlanta Constitution, 9 Aug 1902). Mr. and Mrs. A.M. Agelasto, of Norfolk, stayed at the Rennert (Baltimore Sun, 28 Jan 1906). O.P. Clark, the butler at the Agelasto residence in the West End, Norfolk, went missing; the police arrested and the court released a suspect (Baltimore Sun, 28 Nov 1894). Elected member of the New York Cotton Exchange (New York Tribune, 26 Sep 1906, p 14). Avid hunter with pedigreed bird dogs. He claimed the names of 'Cap' and 'Juno' for his two setter puppies by Gladstone out of Juno, purchased from Jerry Cockrell, Memphis, TN (Forest and Stream, 20 Jan 1881, p 496). President of Dixie Manufacturing Co., 1906 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. [7] According to "FROM FOOT SOLDIERS TO STATESMEN, GREEKS PLAYED A ROLE IN US CIVIL WAR." The National Herald, 17-23 Oct., 2015: The blog spot Hellenic Genealogy Geek has drawn upon newly available public sources to find the names of 39 Civil War participants who identified Greece as their place of birth (hellenicgenealogygeek.blogspot.com). All the dates of birth are approximate and as one can see these men were forced to anglicize their names. These veterans were: Alex Agelasto (b.1831)...
  Person ID	I84	Agelasto
  Last Modified	22 Aug 2024

  
  

  Father	Michael (Pandely) Agelasto,   b. 1802, Chios, Greece d. 19 Oct 1886, rue de la Biblioteque 24, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Maria (Ioannis) Parembli,   b. 1811, Chios, Greece d. 18 Feb 1893, quartier Sainte Marguerite, Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,France (Age 82 years)
  Marriage	12 Mar 1831	Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece
  Family ID	F43	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Children	1. Victoire Alexandria (Alexander) Agelasto,   b. Abt Dec 1861, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA d. 13 May 1863, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA (Age 1 year)
  Family ID	F564	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Jul 2011

  
  

  Family 2	Polyxene (Alexander) Mavrogordato,   b. 05 Jan 1846, Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece d. 01 Sep 1934, 4-C Hague Apartments, Norfolk, Virginia USA (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	02 Feb 1866	Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece
  	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).
  Children	+ 1. Peter Alexander (Alexander) Agelasto,   b. 23 Feb 1867, Malabar Hill, Bombay, British India d. 06 Nov 1939, Warren, North Carolina USA (Age 72 years)   2. Michael (Alexander) Agelasto,   b. 10 Mar 1869, Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece d. 20 Sep 1949, Norfolk, Virginia USA (Age 80 years)   3. Alexander Alexander [Michael] (Alexander) Agelasto, Jr.,   b. 14 Nov 1870, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA d. 22 May 1947, Alexandria, Virginia USA (Age 76 years)
  Photos » Slide Show		Polyxene Mavrogordato Agelasto Wedding Gown Presumably made in the 1860s in Syros. This photo is from the Chrysler Museum when the dress was put on display for a private dinner in the galleries in the early 1990s.
  		The wedding gown worn by Polyxene Mavrogordato.
  		353 Botetourt St, Norfolk, Virginia When they first arrived in Norfolk, Va., in 1882, the family lived at 24 Botetourt Street in a cottage on the Selden estate. Today, the house has apparently been renumbered: 353.
  		Cottage next to Selden House photo 2011
  		Selden House, Norfolk, Virginia photo 2011
  		2522 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans (1979) source: Jeff Lamb, Flickr
  		2522 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans (2009) source: Infrogmation, Flickr
  Documents		Agelasto-Mavrogordato 1866 marriage
  Family ID	F64	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	7 Jul 2011

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 10 Sep 1833 - Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece Marriage - 02 Feb 1866 - Syros, Cyclades Islands, Greece Death - 01 Dec 1906 - 54 York St., Norfolk, Virginia USA Burial - 02 Dec 1906 - Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, Virginia, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos		Alexander Michel Agelasto
  		2543 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana Home of AM Agelasto (photo 1986; more photos)

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Alexander Michel Agelasto Passport Application
  		Alexander Michael Agelasto Naturalization Papers 1875
  		Alexander Michael Agelasto (US Tax Assessment 1862 - New York )
  		Alex Agelasto's first trip to the USA Niagra manifest of 29 Mar 1958
  		AM Agelasto obituary and probate
  		Alexander Michael Mavrogordato Last Will and Testament The will of Alexander Michael Mavrogordato, recorded and archived on Syros, mentions his wife's brother Petros Ralli, five of six daughters (excluding Hypatia), his son Michael and two sons-in-law, Alexander M. Agelasto and Paul Tzolas. Source: Dying on Syros in the 19th Century: Testimony of the Wills
  		Alexander Michel Agelasto Passport Application (reverse)
  		Notary Public statement attesting to the citizenship of A. M. Agelasto, 16 Apr 1875
  		Dixie Manufacturing Co., 1906 A.M. Agelasto president, P.A. Agelasto treasurer; reported in Textile World Record, 1906, v 31, p 184
  		Interment Certificate - Norfolk Elmwood Cemetery Alexander M. Agelasto
  		Biography of A.M. Agelasto from William H. Stewart, History of Norfolk County, 1902, pp 531-532.
  		Building Permit for Home on York Street - Norfolk, Virginia The American Architect and Building News, 26 Dec 1885; 18, 522.
  		The name Cap claimed for Setter dog puppy "Kennel Notes," Forest and Stream" 20 Jan 1881, 15, n 25, p 496.
  		Alexander Michael Agelasto - Naturalization Application New Orleans, LA, 30 May 1872
  		Alex Agelasto Civil-War Draft Jun 1863
  		Mr. Agelasto on passenger list, Marseille to Bombay, 1869 Allen's Indian Mail, 21 Jul 1869, p. 694
  		Card index for Alexander Michel Agelasto naturalization New Orleans, Louisiana, 31 March 1874

  
  

  Headstones		Alexander Michael Agelasto (1833-1906), Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk, VA
  		Agelasto Family Plot Elmwood Cemetery, Norfolk VA photo 2011 (Parker Agelasto)

  
  

• Sources

  [S119] Philip P. Argenti, Argenti 1955, (London Oxford University Press). Included in Philip Argenti's Agelasto family tree, number 84. [S38] Greek State Archives (Athens). #1165 Voter list, Syros, 1 Mar 1869. [S107] UK National Probate Calendar Indexes, 1858-1966, 1973-1995. [S60] Michael Contopoulos, The Greek Community of New York City, (New Rochelle, NY: A.D. Caratzas, 1992, ISBN 0-89241-518-5), 38. [S88] Demetrios Melachrinoudis, Chiot Emigrants, (unpublished research 2009). The firm Negroponte & Agelasto was registered in New York in 1861, as was Agelasto & Co in 1868. [S39] Greek State Archives (Syros). Registry of Oaths of Alliegance [S137] 1900 U.S. Federal Census.