Socrates Patterson

ohn Socrates Papanagnosti emigrated to the United States in 1893.  Ship manifests and his passport applications document him leaving Constantinople on 20 October 1893 [1], then departing Liverpool, England around 29 October 1893 aboard the Lucania, and arriving at New York Harbor on 3 November 1893 [2] [3].  He lists his birthdate as 28 September 1872 [4] [5] [6], so he had just turned 21 years of age when he left Constantinople. He lists his place of birth varyingly as Vathe, Turkey [7] [8] and Vathi, Greece[9], his legal name as J. Socrates Papanagnoste [10], John Socrates Papanagnoste [11], or Socrates Patterson [12], and his father as Nicholas Papanagnoste [13], although records for his siblings give their parents' names as Notas and Helen [14] [15] [16]. It's possible that the spoken name "Notas" was mistranscribed as "Nicholas" on Socrates' passport application.

 Following Socrates’ arrival in the U.S. in 1893, he resided in New York and New London, Connecticut.  In 1902 and 1905 passport applications, he gave New York City addresses and contacts (John P. Diamantopolis at 3 Cedar Street, and D. Barrow at 55 Dey Street), indicating that he still spent some of his time in New York City [21][22].

According to the family, Socrates moved to New London in 1896.  He purchased a horse and buggy and sold ice cream on Bank Street in New London, saving his money until he could purchase a shop of his own (Colby, 1987).   In 1898, he was listed in partnership with Vasil Vardopoulos, running a confectionary at 113 Bank Street and rooming at 29 Gold Street.[23] By 1899, they had moved the business to 82 State Street, still rooming at the Gold Street Address[24].

On September 12, 1899, six years after his arrival in the U.S., he became a naturalized citizen of the U.S. at the Court of Common Pleas in New London, Connecticut[25].

Socrates continued in the partnership with Vardopoulos until 1901, at which point Vardopoulos left for Greece[26].  In June 1901, Socrates paid passage for his nephew, Stavros Panayotis (who later changed his name to Stavros Peterson) to travel to the U.S. from Artaki [27]. Stavros was 13 years old, the son of Socrates' older sister, Smaragdi.  Stavros soon began helping Socrates with the confectionary business. Later in 1903, Vasil Vardopoulos returned to the U.S. and worked as a manager for Socrates. [28] Vardopolis later settled in Meriden, Connecticut, where he opened the Meriden Candy Kitchen.[29]

Socrates ran his confectionary at 82 State Street through 1903[30], while he roomed at various locations on Golden Street and Main Street. [31] [32] [33]

On 23 December 1902, Socrates applied for a passport[34], stating that he intended to return to the United States “in four months”.  An article in the 26 January 1903 New London Day noted that he had arrived in London, with plans to visit Paris and then proceed to Greece.[35] Socrates' marriage to Helen Kelessidis took place in Constantinople or Cairo in the summer of 1903 [36], so the purpose of the trip must have been to marry her. It was likely an arranged marriage; he was 30 years old and she was only 17.

 A  17 July 1903 article in The Day reported that Socrates' store at 82 State Street had been broken into and money ($5) had been taken from the cash register.  The article noted that Socrates was away in Greece and the store was under the charge of Vasil Vardopolis, who had closed the store at around 11 p.m., leaving about $5 cash in the register.  The next morning, Socrates' nephew, Stavros Peterson, opened the store and found no cash in the register.  Stavros notified Vardopolis who discovered that a window had been broken into at the back of the store and notified police.[37]

Socrates returned to the United States with his bride in late summer or early fall 1903.  There is a ship's passenger record for an S. Patterson and Mrs. Patterson, naturalized citizens, arriving in New York on 17 October 1903.[38]  S. Patterson was age 30, so born about 1872-3, which is the right age for Socrates, however the age of Mrs. Patterson was given as 25, much older than Helene's actual age of 17. It's possible they felt the need to hide her true age.  Socrates' passport gave his name as J. Socrates Papanagnoste, but he was using his anglicized name for business, however it's not known how closely ships records followed the names on passports. No information was given on this couple's place of birth or final destination, so there's no way to be certain if this was Socrates' and Helene's record.  No other ship record has been found for them in 1903.  Shortly thereafter, Socrates moved his confectionary business to 86 State Street, which he named the Crystal Candy Kitchen. 

On 11 July 11 1904, Socrates and Helene's first child, Dionysius, was born [39].  An article in The Day [40] announced the christening of  Dionysius according to Greek Orthodox rite on 20 July 20 1904. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Zissimos G. Typaldos, rector of the Greek Orthodox Church in New York who travelled to New London to perform the christening. The godfather was Denis C. Bossos of New York, manufacturer of Prince George of Greece cigarettes, who christened Dionysius "Denis".  Helene's parents, George and Caroline Kelessidis, travelled from Constantinople to be there for Denis' birth and christening.  He and Helene were living in an apartment at 23 Howard Street [41] [42]

Socrates, Helene and their family members traveled fairly often during their marriage:

11 May 1904: Georges and Callirhoi (Caroline) Kelessidis traveled to New London from Constantinople, probably for the birth and christening of Dionysius "Denis" Patterson. [24]

16 April 1905: Socrates was listed on the manifest of the S.S. St. Louis, sailing from Cherbourg, France to New York, likely returning from a trip to Turkey or Vathy[25].

13 May 1905: Helene Papanagnosti was issued a passport based off of Socrates' existing passport.[26] The passport listed Helene's date of birth as on or about July 1884 and her age as 21.  She was actually 18 years old. One month later, on 19 June 1905, Xenophon (Rex) was born in Cairo.  According to the family, the Kelessidis family had a summer home in Cairo.

15 September 1905: Socrates applied for another passport, probably because Helene had modified his existing passport for herself.  Socrates noted he intended to return to the U.S. “within one year” [2].

13 May 1906:  Socrates and Helene were listed on the manifest of the S.S. St. Paul along with their two young children, Denis, one year, 8 months old, and Xenophon, 9 months old, and Soteria Patterson (Socrates’ younger sister), sailing from Cherbourg, France on May 5, 1905 and arriving at New York Harbor on May 13, 1906.[27]  This was likely Sotera's first trip to the U.S.  Soteria married George Cozakos on 23 February 1910 in New London [28], and they shortly thereafter moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he worked as a confectioner.[29] The Cozakos family came from Vathy and its neighboring village, Charaki (Haraki or Herek) on the Cyzicus Peninsula.

29 June 1907: Caroline and Hariklia Kelessidis (Helene’s mother and sister) traveled from Turkey to New London to visit.[30]

12 August 1907: Socrates' older brother, Leonidas Papanagnosti travelled from Constantinople to the U.S. to visit his brother [31].

27 July 27 1911: Helene applied for a passport for herself, 4-year-old Constantine and 3-year-old George to travel abroad, probably back to Constantinople to see her parents.[32]

11 November 1911:  Helene, Constantine and George returned from Constantinople on the S.S. Rochambeau, arriving at New York Harbor from Le Havre.[33]

29 July 1912: Helene's mother, Callirhoi (Caroline) Kelessidis and 2-year-old Ponteles "Ponte" Patterson arrived in New York, embarking on the SS Athinai at Calamata, Greece. Caroline listed their last permanent address as Piraeus, Greece, and she listed George Kelessidis' cousin, Michael Kelessidis as her contact in Piraeus. It's not clear if Caroline had permanently left Constantinople or if she was just visiting Michael Kelessidis.  George Kelessidis was living in Constantinople at least until 1920.  Apparently Ponte was visiting with his grandmother on his own [34].

29 July 1912: On the same ship as Helen's mother Callirhoi (Caroline) and son Ponte, but embarking at Athens, Helene's cousin Constantine Kelessidis (Gus Kelles), age 23, arrived in New York.  He was the son of George Kelessidis' cousin Michael Kelessidis. [35]

2 September 1913: Gus Kelles’ father, Michael (Mikhail) Kelessidis arrived in New York, enroute to New London to visit his son Constantine (Gus Kelles).  He gave his birthplace as Trapazounda (historically Trapezus) on the ship manifest. [36]

30 September 1913: Helene’s father George Kelessidis, age 57, travelled aboard the S.S. Athinai, from Piraeus, Greece to New York to visit the family in New London. He listed Socrates as his "brother-in-law" on the manifest. [37]

9 October 1915: Socrates' older brother, Leonidas travelled to the U.S. to visit the family.[38]

Assisting Family and Friends with Immigration to the U.S.

In addition to travel within the immediate family, Socrates, and later Helene, were instrumental in helping many Greek friends and family members immigrate to the U.S., primarily from Turkey. Between 1906 and 1923, at least 26 individuals listed either Socrates or Helene as their point of contact in the U.S on ship's manifests. Half of these individuals identified Socrates and Helene as family members.  Some  of the names are familiar - Balassi, Tsakmakidis, Kelesside, but many are not.

During this time period, Greeks in Turkey were increasingly persecuted and mistreated.  This culminated in the Turkish-Greek Population Exchange of 1923. Many historians consider the population exchange a "legalized form of ethnic cleansing" (Pinxten & Dikomitis, 2009; Shields, 2013).  Millennia of Greek habitation and history was erased in a few short years in order to rid the region of the indigenous Orthodox Christian peoples of Turkey. 

Socrates and Bright's Disease

According to the family, some of the trips Socrates made to Europe and Asia Minor included stopovers in Paris, where Socrates sought treatment for a hereditary condition, Bright's Disease, a catch-all term for what is known today as chronic or acute nephritis.  A diagnosis of Bright's Disease in the early 20th century was grim; the condition was considered fatal.   In 1912, it was the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States.[39]  The disease was first described by Richard Bright in the 1827.  In the early 20th century, Thomas Addis was at the forefront of research and treatment for the disease.  Acute Bright's Disease was treated with local depletion (bleeding or blood-letting to reduce blood pressure), warm baths, diuretics, laxatives, and dietary modifications.[40] Unfortunately, effective treatment for the disease was not successful until the 1950s. 

At some point in later 1905 or early 1905, Socrates travelled to Europe or Asia Minor, because he is listed on the manifest of the S.S. St. Louis on April 16, 1905, New York from Cherbourg, France[25]. Perhaps this was when his treatments for Bright's Disease began.

One month later, on May 13, 1905, Helene applied for a passport for herself and her minor child, Dionysius [26].  She listed her place of birth as Büyükdere, Turkey and her date of birth as "on or about the .....day of July 1884", claiming she was 21 years old, although her actual birthdate was 10 February 1886 and she was 19 years old.  She was nearing the end of her pregnancy with her second child, because on June 19, 1905, Helene gave birth to Xenophon in Cairo where she had been visiting with her parents.  It seems that Socrates was not with her, because on 15 September 1905, he applied for another passport to travel abroad, this time intending to return to the U.S. “within one year”[2]. He no doubt was travelling to bring his young family home.  

The family must have remained abroad through 1906.  On 5 May 5 1906, Socrates, Helene, Denis - one year, 8 months old, and Xenophon - 9 months old, departed Cherbourg, France, arriving at New York Harbor on 15 May 13 1906. Socrates’ younger sister, Sotera Patterson, accompanied them [27].

Upon their return to the U.S., the young family lived at 13 Golden Street.[41]  Seven months after their return,  Socrates and Helen's third child,  Constantine Socrates, was born on November 3, 1906. He was my grandfather.

 By 1907, the family had had moved to a home at 193 Montauk Avenue.[42]  In the summer of 1907, Caroline and Hariklia Kelessidis (Helen’s mother and sister) arrived from Turkey for an extended visit.[30]  Later that summer, Socrates' older brother, Leonidas Papanagnosti arrived from Turkey.[31]

Over the next several years, business at the Crystal Candy Kitchen flourished.  Socrates began investing in other ventures as well.  In April 1907, he filed a certificate of incorporation with John A. Scott, Edward S. Doton, Walter S. Calvert, and Leolin A. Comstock for The People's Coal Company of New London.[43] The authorized capital stock was $20,000 ($582,057 today) and business began at $2,000 ($58,206 today).

Socrates continued to run the confectionary business at the 86 State Street address, but by 1908, he had joined in partnership with his nephew, Stavros Peterson [44] for the Patterson & Peterson confectionary at a new store at 127 State Street.

On April 23, 1908, Socrates and Helen's fourth child, George was born.  A November 1908 article in The Day reported that Socrates and family had moved from 193 Montauk Avenue to 10 Pearl Street.[45] 

On October 9, 1909, Socrates and Helen's fifth child, Pontelius (Ponte) was born.  The 1910 census [46], taken on April 28, 1910, shows the family back at the 193 Montauk Avenue address again.   Socrates, age 38, appears as head of the household with wife Helen, age 24, and five children under the age of seven: sons Dennis, age 6; Xenophon, age 5; Constantine, age 3; George, age 2; and Pendleton [sic](Pontelius), age 6 months.  Nephews Peter Peterson, age 23; and James Peterson, age 19 were also listed as members of the household, along with Helen’s mother, Caroline Kelessidis, age 48.  The nephews were Stavros (Panayotis) Peterson, who also went by Peter or Pete, born March 20, 1887, and his younger brother, James (Demetrio Panayotis) Peterson, born August August 12, 1889.  Both young men helped Socrates with his confectionery business.

During this time, Socrates began acquiring land in New London.  An April 11, 1910 article in The Day reported that he moved from the Pearl Street address to "his farm on Ocean Avenue".[47] This may have been a tract of land that several years later Socrates began to develop on Bentley Avenue, which intersects with Ocean Avenue and was the main thoroughfare to Ocean Beach Park.[48]

As Socrates' business, land holdings and family grew, so too did the population of the Greek community in New London.  Most of the Greeks in New London came from Turkey, and many of them developed successful businesses.  Socrates and Stavros Peterson were not the only confectioners in town, as several new businesses developed in the early 20th century, including the Boston Candy Kitchen, the Pequot Candy Kitchen, the New London Candy Kitchen, the Colonial Candy Kitchen, and the Capitol Candy Shoppe.

Ironically, despite the fact they had established residence, citizenship, businesses, and landownership in the U.S., the Turkish government maintained a strong influence over many of the Greek immigrants in New London. A May 1, 1909 New London Day article documented the plight of New London's Greek residents who immigrated from Turkey [49]. An excerpt of the article is provided below:

Local Greeks Pay Taxes
The Greek residents of this city and country pay taxes of amounts varying according to their conditions - that is a merchant pays more than a clerk or a laborer and the amount of the merchant’s tax is regulated by the extent of the business.

“Why do these Greeks thousands of miles beyond the reach of the sultan continue to pay tribute to him?” you ask.  It is not through any desire to get rid of their money, it is not through any love for the sultan, whom they hate with an intense hatred, but because they know and fear the consequences if they fail to send their tribute to the sultan.  The consequences may be feared too.  If a Greek in this country fails to pay his taxes, his property, if any he has in his former home, is confiscated, sold and the money applied against the tax; of he has no property he may have relatives and if so these relatives, innocent as children of any wrongdoing, must pay the penalty.

If they have property it is sold at public auction; if they have neither property on nor relatives the tax is not lost t the greedy sultan, but the amount of unpaid taxes is added to the levy and the people in the township or province are more heavily assessed to offset the loss.  Thus the sultan loses not a penny of tribute.  If a Greek returns to his former home for a visit, even if it is his first visit in ten or a dozen years, and has not paid his taxes while in America, the fact is not forgotten; he is seized and obliged to pay all his taxes back.

So the Greek who were driven from the sultan’s domain by continued persecution, to this country, submit to the unjust tax for they know they must or suffer the dire consequences.

The amount of tax paid by the New London Greeks to their “beloved ruler” varies.  On the average it is about $7.50 annually.  While this is not a large amount it falls hard upon many and it is particularly a burden when the sender realizes that it is a personal tax and that in return he is receiving absolutely nothing; it is barefaced robbery with the sultan hiding behind the powerful organization he has built about him to rob his subjects.

The article names several of the Greek residents of New London - Dimon Balassi, Stavros Peterson, John Traggis, Socrates Patterson and John Patterson, brother of Socrates.

The Mysterious John Patterson, Brother of Socrates

The latter man mnetioned above, John Patterson, is especially interesting, because he is identified in the article as a brother of Socrates Patterson and manager of the candy store at the Schwaner Building (perhaps where Schwaner's City Market was located on 40 Main Street).  The following entry was in the article:

 John Patterson Has Visited Turkey.

"John Paterson, a. brother of Socrates, and manager of the candy store in the Schwaner building, has been in America since 1879, but although he has not lived in Turkey for some time he has visited there twice and on one of those visits had an experience which gave him an unpleasant acquaintance with the despotic rule of the sultan and his men. He had left the country and when the adair, which corresponds to the directory man in an American city, came around he was told that John Patterson was dead and so took the name off the list of taxables. Returning to the country on a visit Patterson was seized and told to pay the taxes that had accumulated in his absence. This he refused to do, and he was thrown into prison.

Being an American citizen Patterson appealed to the American consul through a telegram. The consul came down immediately to Ardek and forced the authorities to turn Patterson over to him. Although he spent but 24 hours in jail it was not a pleasant experience, for even 24 hours in a Turkish prison is anything but bliss.  Patterson was harassed by the officials and was advised to leave the country.  He did, returning to this country.

Patterson in point of number of years’ residence here leads all the local Greeks. He was for 12 years in the U.S. service as a man behind the guns. He was on the Brooklyn in the Spanish-American war and is proud of his service beneath the stars and stripes, saying "that he’s as good a citizen as any man in New London.” He has none but condemnation for Abdul Hamid, whom he laconically termed “a very bad man.” John is rather more or a pessimist than the others and even in the ascension or Mohammed Rechard Effendi he does not see much hope of better things. “The country is not good unless another power come in there,” he declared with a woeful shake or the head. “They tax you for everything.” “America,” he said, with a wide sweep of the hand, “is the freest country in the world,” and that is what all his fellow countrymen say as they rejoice at living in this freedom and prayerfully hope for better things for father, mother, brother and sister in the far off land of the Orient.”

Less than a year later, an article appeared in The Day of 17 January 1910:

“John Patterson, one of the first Greeks to locate here, died suddenly of a heart attack while sitting in the store of Dimon Balassi at 129 Main Street.  He was a brother of Socrates Patterson, candy merchant, and had served many years in the U.S. navy.”

This information was corroborated by an entry in the records of “Deaths in the Town of New London” for January 1910:

The Patterson Family Grows and Socrates' Business Flourishes

On 27 July 27 1911, Helene, claiming citizenship through the naturalization of Socrates, applied for a passport from herself, four-year-old Constantine and three-year-old George, probably to visit her family in Constantinople. [32]  A ship manifest confirms the trip they took, returning aboard the Rochambeau from Le Havre on 11 November 1911.[33]

Five months later, Socrates and Helene's sixth child, Demosthenes, was born on 16 April 1912.  A 21 August 1912 article in The Day reported that Demosthenes was christened in a ceremony at the family home on Montauk Avenue by the Reverend Thomas Pappageorge of Newark, New Jersey. [53]

Helene's cousin Constantine Kelessidis, who later was known as Gus Kelles, immigrated to the U.S. on 29 July 1912 and helped Socrates with the family business. [35] Constantine's father, Michael, a cousin of Helene's father, Georges Kelessidis, travelled from Athens in August 1913 to visit his son now staying with Helene's family [36].  A month later, Helene's father, George Kelessidis arrived to visit his daughter's family, but no doubt also to see his cousin and nephew. [37]

In 1915 the family moved to a home at 45 Tilley Street [55].  The following year, Socrates purchased a store at 124 State Street adjoining the Patterson & Peterson store at 127 State Street.  He moved the Crystal Candy Kitchen to 76 State Street and now listed it as a confectionary and ice cream business[56].

Running a candy store could have its hazards.  On December 15, 1915, The Day [57] reported that Socrates lost a $300 diamond (more than $7,000 today) from the ring he was wearing in a batch of molasses peppermint candy he was preparing.  He offered a reward for the return of the diamond, which he believed was included in the candy someone purchased.

A January 9, 1915 article in the The Day noted that throngs of people crowded into the opening of the renovated new store at 76 State Street. The interior was decorated with palms and flowers, music was provided by an orchestra, and souvenir calendars and tickets redeemable for boxes of chocolates were handed out. The new store featured a large soda fountain and spacious ice cream parlor.[58]

Soon thereafter Socrates sold to his nephew, Stavros Peterson, his share of the interest in the Patterson & Peterson Candy Kitchen at 127 State Street.  A March 15, 1915 article in The Day [59] clarified that Socrates had sold his interest in the joint venture with his nephew, however he had not sold The Crystal Candy Kitchen at 76 State Street and would continue to do business at this store while Stavros would continue to operate the former Patterson & Peterson's store as Peterson's Candy Kitchen.

An 8 December 1916 article in The Day [60] reported that Socrates legally changed his name from “John Socrates Papanagnosti” to “Socrates Patterson”, with equivalent name changes for his family.  At this point, Socrates' life in America was a success by all accounts.  He had fulfilled the American dream.  He built up a prosperous business from practically nothing, having arrived in this country at barely 21 years of age and with two bags of possessions to his name; he was a father of a thriving brood of children.  He was a respected resident of New London and a pillar of New London's Greek community.

Socrates contnued to acquire property in New London and the family continued to grow.  A 10 May 1917 notice in the Norwich Bulletin stated that Socrates was building a two-story cottage on Bentley Avenue near Midway Place at Ocean Beach and the cement piers had been laid for the structure.[62] A 23 May 1917 article in The Day reported that the Bentley Avenue cottage had been framed and roofed. [48]  Perhaps the cottage was located on "his farm on Ocean Avenue" mentioned in a newspaper article 7 years earlier. [47]  Another notice in the Norwich Bulletin dated 11 June 1918 reported he was building a 15-foot by 100-foot bath house at the Bentley Avenue cottage [63], but also a veranda at the 45 Tilley Street residence. [64] He was also building bath houses at Westerly Place at a cost of $1,200.[65] It's not clear whether the family ever occupied the Bentley Avenue cottage or not.   On August 14, 1918, Socrates and Helen's seventh child and first daughter, Sophia, was born.

Less than two years later, on 4 January 4 1920, Socrates applied for a passport [4] for himself and 11-year-old George to travel to Greece to visit relatives, leaving New York aboard the S.S. Megale Ellas two days later (January 6, 1920), and intending to return “within four months”. An article in the Norwich Bulletin reported on this trip, which Socrates made with his nephew Stavros Peterson and Stavros' business partner, T.S. Svoros who had preceded them the week before.[66] Young George did not accompany Socrates on the trip.  Some time in 1919, George was involved in an accident with a motorcycle and his leg was badly injured.  This is most likely the reason he didn't join Socrates on the trip. 

The 1920 census was taken on 12 January 1920, showing the family had now moved to 58 Pacific Street, with Socrates, age 48, as head of household; wife Helen, age 33; son Dennis, age 16; Xenophon, age 14; daughter [sic] Constantine, age 13; sons George, age 12; Pandel [sic](Pontelius or Ponte), age 10; Demosthenes, age 9, and daughter Sophia, age 1 year 6 months; along with niece Fatika, age 16; and Mary Kaslyini, servant, age 38 [67].

 On 12 January 1920, Socrates sent a postcard to his 13-year-old son, Constantine.  The postcard had an image of the Acropolis on the front.  On the back he wrote:

My Dear Son Constantine
How about you behave yourself
do you go home late at night
You must go early at night
if you don't, you never get anything.
Your Father S Patterson  

A month later, Socrates wrote the following letter to his 11-year-old son George:

Konstantinople

February 11/24/20

My Dear Son George
              Just a few lines to tell you
that I am feeling fine.  Hope you
the same.  How is everybody. How
is Mother, Sophie and all your brothers.  Are you feeling any better
how is your leg steele discharging
I like to hear from you. also
write and tell me some news
How is Demos and Pandels Do dey behave themselves, or not.
Give my regards to everybody.
Wishing you good luck.
        From your loving Father
                  S. Patterson

Although the living family knows little else of Socrates' activities abroad in 1920, it is clear that his health progressively deteriorated. On 19 March 1920, the American Consulate issued a Report of the Death of an American Citizen [68], stating that Socrates Patterson, a naturalized citizen, had died 16 March 1920 at the Hospital Franchet d’Esperey in Constantinople of kidney disease.  He had been accompanied on the trip by his nephew, S.F. Peterson (Stavros Peterson).

Socrates was buried at the Şişli (Chichli ) Greek Orthodox Cemetery in Constantinople, and his effects were given to his father-in-law, George Kelezides [sic] of Passage Crespin, Pera, Constantinople.  The report listed Socrates’ residence as Pacific Street, New London, Connecticut. He was 47 years old.  Socrates was survived by Helene, now 34, and seven children between the ages of 16 and one. It is interesting that a note at the bottom of the page states, “Certificate of death issued by the Oecumenical Patriarchate March 3rd, 1920", so perhaps this was the actual date of his death, and the date of burial was March 16. Articles in The Day and the Norwich Bulletin reported on Socrates' death locally.[69; 70]

A 24 May 1920 article in the Norwich Bulletin announced that Socrates' will was filed in probate court.  His estate was valued at $100,638.48 (worth about $1,376,568.35 today), bequeathed entirely to his wife Helene.[71]  

On 15 April 1920, Socrates' older brother, Leonidas, set sail for America aboard the S.S. Presidente Wilson, departing Trieste, Italy and arriving at New York Harbor on 3 May 1920.  His stated purpose of his visit was to see his nephew, Havro (Stavros) Peterson, however he perhaps also planned to assist with the settlement of his brother's estate.  The ship manifest shows that Leonidas was deported, although the reason for deportation is not clear.[72]

The family tragedy was compounded after Socrates' death.  Young George Patterson, now 12 years old, became seriously ill from his injuries in the motorcycle accident.   According to the family, the bone in George's leg became tubercular.  Five months after Socrates' death, George died on 3 August 1920. He was originally buried at Jordan Cemetery in Waterford, Connecticut, but in 2012 his grave was moved to Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, Connecticut to be with other family members.

Helene, who in the meantime had become romantically involved with her cousin Constantine Kelessidis (Gus Kelles), gave birth to her eighth child, Mary, on 1 December 1920.  On 17 March 1921, Helene applied for a passport to travel to Constantinople and Greece to visit relatives.[73]  She set sail by herself on the S.S. Alexander the Great on 10 April 1921 and returned to the U.S. from Constantinople on the S.S. King Alexander on 11 October 1921, arrving on 4 November 1921. [74] At three months of age, the infant Mary was separated from her mother for nearly 7 months.

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