Introduce Yourself! (location, occupation, etc.)

[philaw]

Hello folks:

My name is Doher Joseph Ferris. I work as an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, USA. My family came to the U.S. in the mid-1920's. My great-grandfather, Doher Elhash, under suspicious circumstances (seems he got himself into some trouble). He changed his name to Doher Ferris at Ellis Island. My Great-Grandmother, Yasmine Moses, is from Jezz (I'm sure I butchered the spelling, sorry!).

I grew up hearing about a large maronite church in that town (from the stories, it is mountainous). The folklore is that my great-grandfather was the only person large and strong enough to hoist the bell to the top of the Church. My life dream is to visit this Church one day. If somebody could figure out just where the hell I am talking about, I would more than appreciate it. I plan to take a visit this summer.

Nice meeting everybody!

DJ

[Rabih]

Ya halla

Could it be that you mean Jezzine?

[philaw]

It may be Jezzine. I just always heard my grandparents pronounce it with one syllable. It may have just been the accent. Is this a predominantly Christian town? Mountainous?

[Hassoun]

Hi and welcome to the Forum,Jezzine is a predominantly Christian Mountainous town

check this thread out for more info and pics.

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=397138

[-Zippo-]

Originally Posted by philaw

Hello folks:

My name is Doher Joseph Ferris. I work as an attorney in Philadelphia, PA, USA. My family came to the U.S. in the mid-1920's. My great-grandfather, Doher Elhash, under suspicious circumstances (seems he got himself into some trouble). He changed his name to Doher Ferris at Ellis Island. My Great-Grandmother, Yasmine Moses, is from Jezz (I'm sure I butchered the spelling, sorry!).

I grew up hearing about a large maronite church in that town (from the stories, it is mountainous). The folklore is that my great-grandfather was the only person large and strong enough to hoist the bell to the top of the Church. My life dream is to visit this Church one day. If somebody could figure out just where the hell I am talking about, I would more than appreciate it. I plan to take a visit this summer.

Nice meeting everybody!

DJ

Originally Posted by philaw

It may be Jezzine. I just always heard my grandparents pronounce it with one syllable. It may have just been the accent. Is this a predominantly Christian town? Mountainous?

Hi Doher

If you're looking for a Christian Maronite mountainous town with a big church in Lebanon, you're gonna find a lot. Actually, I can't recall a Maronite town (not a Maronite city) without those characteristics...

The name "Jezz" immediately brings "Jezzine" to mind, which (naturally) has the above-mentioned characteristics. Furthermore, Jezzine has also a resident "El Hajj" family (which is what you meant by "Elhash" I believe), as well as a "Moussa" family, which is the Arabic translation of "Moses" (albeit a couple houses only).

However, I have a personal theory that will blow up that option. (Just when you thought you've got it)

You were named "Doher" after your great-grandfather, right? Actually that name doesn't really exist (at least in its current form), but the name "Daher" is an old Lebanese name common in the mountains. The reason your great-grandfather (and you) were named "Doher" in English is simply because of the Northern accent/dialect in Lebanon, where the sound "ah" is pronounced "oh", like in Doher.

The problem is that "Jezzine" is in the South, so unless you have more information than the 4 common letters, I would eliminate that option, at least for now.

Now, if we target our search to the North, we find a Maronite mountainous town (1200 meters above sea level) by the name of "Jaj" (or "Jej" according to the Lebanese pronunciation), which is closer to "Jezz" (phonetically) than "Jezzine".

This town has a big church (The Mar Abda church) on a hill overlooking the town. Here's a Wikimapia link for that town, although the church is covered by clouds! (talk about misfortune)

Anyway here you go:
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.1642595...17&l=0&m=b&v=1

Here's the Mar Abda church in Jaj



The problem however is that there's no "Moussa" family nor "Elhajj" in "Jej", but there's a "Mouzaya" family, which can be the origin of "Moses" (which can't be Lebanese in its current form anyway).

Please note that I am only trying to help by providing options, and am not saying that this is it. I would love to help you fulfill your "life dream" by all means, and am quite resourceful and know my country, but with only the given info that you provided, it won't be an easy task...

You're the attorney here, so get yourself a good investigation from your parents (maybe ask about your relatives here, description of that town, of the church, neighbors family names, etc.. ), and come back with more info, and I'll be waiting.. :-)

Good luck

[melkart]

Wow Zippo that is some impressive research you got there, although I am not surprised. after reading the post above I did some research myself and came across the hajj family history. I found some similarities to your research so I will post. Hope it will help and not add to the confusion.

Hajj Family

The Hajj family history traces back to the 17th century when its ancestor Hanna el-Hajj fled his hometown Beit Mellat, a village in Akkar in the North. He finally settled near the river at the southern edge of modern day Mansourieh.

Stories have it that Hanna 'Hawwa' el-Hajj, was son to a family of seven brothers and a sister named Hawwa (Arabic for Eve), hence the surname. The whole family, Christian by denomination, worked at a flour mill owned by a Muslim Emir. A dispute broke out between the Hajj family and the Emir, which led to the Emir’s murder and the banishment of the Hajj family. Some of the family members escaped to Jbeil and later moved to other villages.

Little is known of Hanna, but his journey and dwellings in different places (Jbeil, Antelias, Achrafieh, Chiyah), proves him an expedient man willing to fight for his rights and possessions. Quarrels with local inhabitants forced him to change places, finally settling in the Zireh-Daychounieh area south of Mansourieh.

At the time, the land belonged to Druze families, mainly the Badghan clan. They hired labor to cultivate and care for their livestock. Hanna worked for those families in exchange for land. In Zireh Hanna built a small church, erect to this day although disused, known as Mar Gergis (Saint George), where he was eventually buried. Hanna had two sons Youssef and Moussa.

In those days, the entire area was under control of the Abi Lamaa feudal Emirs. Stories tell of a day when, on their way to Mtein village, some of the Emir men were caught in severe weather, forcing them to spend the night at Hanna's. Overwhelmed by their host's generosity they related the episode to the Emir who, somewhat envious, decided to get rid of Hanna and dispatched his troops to that effect. Hanna, sensing trouble, greeted them with the same hospitality, leading to a reconciliation with the Emir.

Youssef and Moussa inherited their father’s competence, generosity and cunning, strengthening the relation with the Emir. The Emir summoned the two brothers and asked them to work his land instead. They accepted and moved to uptown Mansourieh, closer to the Emir whereabouts. Married, they lived in what is known to this day as the 'Harah' in the heart of the village.

[Mesch]

Pardon my ignorance, but isn't "Hajj" a conventionally Muslim surname?

I used to think it was the title used to refer to those who have made the pilgrimage to Mecca and then developed into a surname.

[Tabouleh]

It is also a nickname for all people with the name Nicolas from what I know. Hajj means pilgrimage in Arabic, El Hajj means the pilgrim.

[Tabouleh]

With what Melkart wrote, El Hajj could actually be a nickname that was given after all village to village moves the family did. So they might have been eventually dubbed: The pilgrim (El Hajj)...

[MARTYR]

there are also "Al Hajj" in Jiyeh

[philaw]

Wow, you just intimated to me more information than I could gather over the past couple of years. I just emailed my father the substance of your response. I'm waiting for a reply. I have other family members over there with different last names. Hopefully that will help me narrow it down. I appreciate all your help! PS. I'm making Mehshi Malfoof tonight!

[philaw]

Well I just spoke with my father and, as I'm sure you anticipated, I had a few facts wrong in my prior submission.

Paternal Side:

My Grandfather's family, named El-Hajj, is from Baalbak, Lebanon. I believe my great-great grandfather's name was Ferris El-Hajj, and they owed a bunch of land (as well as horses) on property which is now on or near an airport. I realize Baalbak is fairly large, but unfortunately this is the extent of what I know. It seems he got into a religious dispute with a Muslim neighbor (unfortunately, some things never change), ended up accidentally (at least that's what they say) killing the son of a Muslim cleric. He fled to the US, stopping in Panama just prior, during the 1920's.

Maternal:

My Grandmother's family is from Jej (I believe that is it). My father said it is a tiny mountainous village, probably much less than 500 people. My great-grandfather was Joseph Moses (Yusuf Moussa), and my maternal great-grandmother was Imani Moussa.

One more hint: We still have family in Lebanon. My father says their last name is Khalifi. We was still in contact with them in the 80's, but has recently lost touch. I think his name was Paul Khalifi. They moved to the UAE for a while, and recently moved back to Lebanon (around 40 miles outside Beirut, from what I am told). Is that near where Jej would be?

Maybe this doesn't say much, but it's a start. I more than appreciate your help here. I'm also jealous you know so much about your country. Maybe if America didn't have 310 million people I'd feel more connected to it. Either way, thanks a bunch!

[-Zippo-]

If you were near me now, you would have heard me saying "Bingo"! I simply (almost) found your routs.

First, the airport that you mentioned in Baalbek is the Rayak Military Airport, and guess what, there's indeed an El Hajj Maronite family in Rayak. Note that this village is mixed, where Muslims (Shiite) and Christians (Maronite) have the same residents' proportion. (I would say a little more than 50% Maronite). El Hajj family are few however.

This is from your father's side. Now the big discovery is from you mother's side, so here's what I found:

Jej is exactly 59 kilometers (road distance) from Beirut downtown. That's almost exactly 40 miles. However I was unable to find a "Moussa" resident family there, as stated before.

The big discovery is yet to come. In fact, I was able to find a BIG Khalifi family in Jej (Martyr is not gonna like this - inside joke, forget about it :P), they are indeed Maronite, and guess what? I found a Boulous Tannous Khalifi (Arabic for Paul Khalifi), and he was born in 1946 (66 yo). He's got a big brother named Boutros (Peter) and a younger sister. He also has 3 children that am not gonna list their names in public, but I can say they are 2 boys (32 and 28 yo), and a girl (30 yo).

If this is your family in Lebanon, then I rest my case, and I would have made a record in speed and accuracy! lol

Good luck, and waiting for your reply...

[Rabih]

Zippo you are officially my favorite forum er!!

[MARTYR]

Originally Posted by -Zippo-

I was able to find a BIG Khalifi family in Jej (Martyr is not gonna like this - inside joke, forget about it :P),.

Hahahaha, touche my friend !!

[MARTYR]

Originally Posted by Rabih

Zippo you are officially my favorite forum er!!

hahaha so he's your favorite er here on the forum, did i get it right?

[Rabih]

Originally Posted by MARTYR

hahaha so he's your favorite er here on the forum, did i get it right?

How about u take that er out of your brain and you'll know what i meant

[-Zippo-]

LOL! Rabih, thanx man, am genuinely flattered
Martyr, you're a pervert!

[MARTYR]

so we're just gonna pretend that rabih's separation of "forumer" into "forum" and "er" is just an innocent mistake? I THINK NOT. After helping my brother study Freud's theories for his philosophy exam, i have to say that i believe his subconscious is trying to speak to you zippo. besides, i thought it was clear in the leb girls thread that rabih was the pervert here

[Zoola]

Israa from north Sudan