After receiving a SS-5 today, my question is where is the next step for DOB and DOD for my great-gra
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Prior to 1923, Turkey was the Ottoman Empire. Perhaps church records could help, but you'd need to know exactly where he was born in the Ottoman Empire.
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As Scott wrote, you must have the exact town where he was born. It is possible that his town may in an area where records are available. In general, Ottoman records in present-day Turkey are not accessible. You will have to check every possible U.S. record that could have been created for him to get his village of birth. I am attaching a file which lists the US records to check.
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Also, except from Turkey, many regions of nowadays Greece, like Epirus, Makedonia, Thrace, Crete, some islands and part of Thessaly were under Ottoman control until 1912-1913. If your ancestors were originated from these areas you could luckily find records in Greece. But, as previously mentioned, you have to know the town or the area your ancestors were living in.
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As for my grandfather's POB, he gave different places. Myriophyton on his WWI draft card and Declaration of Intention. Thrace on his WWII draft registration. Sterna as at or near on his Alien Registration Form of 1940. Piraeus on the Norwegian Church Book when he married my grandmother. Constantinople on grandmother's US citizenship application. Myriophyton was named in my mother's christening document. I'm voting for Myriophyton by virtue of number of POBs. Where his parents POB and DOB are an open question.
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Yes, I believe Myriofyto or Sterna, which is very near, would be the place you are looking for. I've seen some of my compatriot immigrants from Halkidiki declaring that they were born or living in Piraeus, Volo etc., but this was their last residence (for a few days) before departure. Especially those who left Turkey around the September/October 1912. At that period, Ottoman empire called for general conscription due to the upcoming war with Greece. Many of the young Greeks, who didn't want to fight for the Ottoman Empire, or who afraid of retaliation, left in a hurry - sometimes illegally passing the borders by ship - to free Greek ports, like Piraeus and Volos.
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If this any help, grandfather emigrated to the US in 1912. On his last place before Norway (He married my grandmother there) he listed on his Declaration of Intention he gave Alexandria, Egypt as a residence. He was born in 1887 according to numerous records. He died in the US in 1974. My grandmother also died in the same year. Their siblings are deceased also. I am hopefully getting an English translation of my mother's christening document soon.
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Well, It was a good opportunity to practice my little knowledge of Norwegian I learned, when I tried to immigrate to Norway with no success a few months ago! I saw your grandparents' marriage certificate from Norway. In the field that says "father of bride and groom (Brudgommens Faders og Bemlens faders Bilde navne og borgerlige stillinger), I can read "Kjobm.[and] Comninos Constantin Comninaki", which stands for "shopman Comninos Constantin Comninaki". In Norwegian the "d" at he end is not pronunced and "Kj" is an "s" in English. The same root, shopman, shop owner. But most importantly, I believe that your grandfathers name was Comninos and not Constantin. In Euripedes, it was used as a middle name, but in Comninos must be his father's name, according to Greek name giving. I can read the same in Norwegian church books. So, you could probably go back another generation. Comninos, what a wonderful byzantine name, pretty common in the area of Thrace around Constantinople! Also, where did you find info about Alexandria? Is it a family memory?
I have not finished the research, so we'll stay in touch.
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Also I don't know if many records from Myriofito and Sterna has survived. On the 27th of July 1912, 20 days after your grandfather arrived to NY, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the area, destroying many of the villages, leaving more than 1000 people dead, 3000 injured and 50.000 homeless... Here is an article about this:
https://sitalkisking.blogspot.com/2021/09/1912.html?zx=a7a16a2ba19b6d8e
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