Our Ancestors: Thomas Hayes (1877-1957)

Based on the research of 

Stelios Chagias

Great-nephew of Thomas Hayes

Co-ordinator of Family Trees of Southern Parnon

Colourised photograph of Thomas Hayes, seated front centre, pictured on a return trip to Karitsa in 1926 with members of his extended family: Sousana Apostolakos (nee Malavazos), Diamantis Panagioti Chagias, Panagiotis Chagias, Alexandra Panagioti Chagias, Chrysanthi Panagioti Chagias, Diamantis Georgiou Lampros, Metaxia Chagias (nee Profyris), Diamantis Stylianou Chagias, Angeliki Malavazos (nee Chagias), Anastasia Lampros (nee Chagias), Panagiotis Nikolaou Apostolakos.

Thomas Hayes (aka Athanasios Adamantiou Chagias), b 1877, was one of nine children of Adamantios Chagias (1835-1929) and his wife Margarita (1846-c.1930), a child bride abducted by force of arms for marriage in 1862 in Karitsa.

Thomas, aged 14, migrated to the United States on 7 October 1892 aboard the steamship Massilia. Travelling with him on the vessel were fellow villagers Konstantinos Ioanni Lampros, Christos Leonida Chagias, and Ioannis Malavazos.

In the early days in the new country, he worked as a candy maker but after he brought over his younger brother Stylianos in 1906 the two were involved in several produce businesses. In the US, Thomas lived mostly in Baltimore, but also for a short stint in Norfolk Virginia.

In Baltimore in 1911, aged 34, he married 16-year-old Georgia, the American-raised only daughter of tobacco and candy proprietor Thomas Majors (aka Efstratios Thiamegkos) who hailed from Levetsova of Lakonia. Once married Tomas lived with his in-laws, Thomas and Lillie Majors, and was involved in their businesses.

In the first eight years of married life, Thomas and Georgia had six children; two girls and four boys: Pauline (Panagiota) 1912, Daniel (Adamantios) 1914, George 1915, Stephen (Efstratios) 1916, James (Dimitrios) 1918, and Athena 1919.

In 1926, 34 years after farewelling his beloved Karitsa, Thomas, aged 49,  made an emotional return trip to his ancestral village where he had the opportunity to reacquaint himself with his extended family. 

Thomas passed away, aged 80, on 10 July 1957 in Baltimore, Maryland.

He was survived by all of his children and by his wife Georgia who passed away 23 years later, aged 85, in December 1980.

Find Thomas Hayes (Athanasios Adamantiou Chagias), on Family Trees of Southern Parnon at:
https://www.tribalpages.com/tribe/browse?userid=karitsa&view=0&pid=9&randi=490259696

Should you wish to include photographs or details about ancestors, descendants, or yourself in the Family Trees of Southern Parnon, please contact the co-ordinator, Stelios Chagias, either by private message on Facebook or email: sghagais@optusnet.com.au

Family Trees of Southern Parnon is sponsored by the Pan-Laconian Society of South Australia, and the Karitsa Community of South Australia.

Thumbnail pictures:

Alexandra Panagioti Chagias

Anastasia Lampros (nee Chagias)

Angeliki Malavazos (nee Chagias)

Chrysanthi Panagioti Chagias

Diamantis Georgiou Lampros

Diamantis Panagioti Chagias

Diamantis Stylianou Chagias

Metaxia Chagias (nee Profyris)

Panagiotis Chagias

Panagiotis Nikolaou Apostolakos

Sousana Apostolakos (nee Malavazos

Thomas Hayes