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Document Details : Title: Armenians in America Author(s): PAPAZIAN, D. Journal: Journal of Eastern Christian Studies Volume: 52 Issue: 3-4 Date: 2000 Pages: 311-347 DOI: 10.2143/JECS.52.3.565605 Abstract : Armenians were among the first Europeans to come to America. A man called ‘Martin ye Armenian’ was among those who lived in the British colony at Jamestown (founded in 1607), arriving either 1618 or 1619. Later, to help with the raising of silkworms, two more Armenians were invited to the colony. One of them, ‘George ye Armenian’, according to the records, was offered an inducement of 4,000 pounds of tobacco to persuade him to remain and continue his work.2Nothing, apparently, came of these efforts to raise silkworms in America. Aside from such isolated cases, we have no record of other Armenians reaching America until the early nineteenth century, when young men from the Ottoman Empire first appeared seeking an education. The first of these, apparently, was a student named Khachik Oskanian who arrived in 1834. To understand his appearance, we must go back in history. |
