The photograph below shows Theodoros Tsimpidis standing in the rear wearing a fustanella (skirt) and tsarouhia (shoes). The young man is his son, Evangelos. Others are unknown. He was the son of Gregory Tsimpidis and the grandson of Georgios Tsimpidis

Theodoros Tsimpidis was born in the mid 1850's and died 1942 in Doriza, Greece. He had three wives. His first wife Rebecca Sarangelis bore him three sons. His second wife, Tresevgeni (Theresa) Karahalios, bore him two sons and three daughters.

Three of his 8 children emigrated to Western Pennslyvania, Basili (Bill) Giorgios (George) and Efstathios (Steve). The name Tsimpidis was shortened to Pedas.

He secured a dowry for his sister when he uncovered buried gold pieces making possible his sister's marriage with the Alexopoulos family.

His eight children include Basili (William),  Georgios (George),   Mitchell,   Evangelos,  Katerina,   Stavroula,   Rebecca,   Efstathios (Steve).

Family recollections include that of his grandson, Theodore of Clifton, New Jersey. He remembers his Grandfather as a tall, blind old man who sang songs at Manaraki. Unable to see he would ask those around him to identify themselves. Another grandson, Theodoros (Ted) Pedas of Farrell, Pa. recalls how his Dad (Efstathios Tsimpidis/Steve Pedas) managed during World War II to secure through the International Red Cross, at a cost of $1,000, the 'miracle drug' penicillin which was shipped to Doriza to his ailing father.

It was his grandfather, Georgios Tsimpidis, who had amassed a huge herd of goats and 5,000 sheep. Doriza provided good grazing land in summer but in winter the dried up river beds and cold weather necessitated moving the sheep closer to Argos and Naphlion.

On one occassion while en route to the winter grazing lands the large Tsimpidis herd caught the attention of the Pasha (Turkish ruler under the Turkish occupation) who inquired as to its owner and requested a meeting with Tsimpidis. The Pasha was so impressed with Tsimpidis that he named a spring for him near Kranidi. Local herdsmen would speak of taking their herds to "the waters of Tsimpidis" (tin vrisi to Tsimpidi).

How is it that during the oppressive Ottoman occupation of Greece a family of shepherds were able to amass vineyards, herds of goats and sheep and stake a claim to a coveted water source (ta nera tou Tsimpidi)? How was it they merited a song of their own, still popular today, rejoicing in the marriage of Tsimpidis's son who by the way was no slouch as he owned 1,000 sheep and 500 goats. We continue to tell the story of our proud family which has been lovingly passed down to us by our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, koumbari, godparents and their fellow countrymen with whom they journeyed to a new world.

This popular traditional demotic folk song announces the wedding of Margioro to the son of Tsimpidis - probably the son of Georgios Tsimpidis of Doriza who was one of the 3 brothers who fled Ikaria and resettled in the Peloponnesus. The song tells us that the groom comes into the marriage with 1,000 sheep, 500 goats and a few vineyards. The song continues to be sung today throughout Greece. Below are the original words of the song:

Click on this link to watch the YOU TUBE performance of the Tsimpidis Wedding Song performed by Saragoudas in Arkadia Greece where the Tsimpidis family legend originated....Enjoy and Yiasoo!

The following history of the Tsimpidis family was written by Miss Kostandina Tsimpidi whose family had settled in Greece at Manaraki in the Pelopponessus. She is the daughter of George Tsimpidi and Maria Bilida. She has recorded the family history at the urging of her grandfather John Tsimpidi and her uncles the film producers Ted and Jim Pedas (Tsimpidis) of Washington, D.C.

Kostandina Tsimpidi traces the Tsimpidi family to 1750 when "three Tsimpidi brothers from Ikaria left for the Peolponessus after one of them killed a Turkish pasha to protect their sister's honor. The Tsimpidi family dominated the island of Ikaria which today is still known as "Tsimpidia" and the inhabitants are know as 'Tsimpidianoi'. Many island/insular songs confirm this fact."

Kostandina records the Tsimpidis family history as follows:

"When the three brothers arrived in Peloponnesus - one settled in Mani, known as Laconia, the second went to Pyrgos and the third went 12-15km south of Tripolis where George Tsimpidis and other families built the village of Doriza. At first they stayed at a high ground/knoll about 1km from where Doriza is today. That place was called 'Paliohori' which was located 850m above sea level. About 1810 they left Paliohori and built another village at the foot of the mountain 'Valetsovouni' at a place known as Megavouni. George Tsimpidis's family was among the first 10 families who settled at Doriza."

"However, the difficulties were not over. During 1825, Ibrahim Pasha of Egypt,who was co-operating with the Turks, burned the whole of Peloponnesus. As a result the inhabitants of Doriza, including the family of George Tsimpidi, fled to the mountains, primarily to Parnonas (a mountain located at Laconia). They settled into a village which they named 'Tsitzina' until it was safe to return to Doriza to rebuild their lives."

"On the 20th of May 1825, twenty-seven residents of Doriza fought against the Turks during the historic battle at Maniaki along with Papaphlessas, one of the greatest first-rate veterans in Greece. George Tsimpidis was one of the twenty-seven brave men who took part in this fight."

 
Local legend has it that, "One day as George Tsimpidi was grazing his sheep, he met some Turks who were leading some Greek boys into agha's presence to put them to death. George was able to negotiate and purchase the release of six of the children which he employed at his farm. (Their descendents continue to live in Doriza today."

"Another day, when George was on a mountain grazing his sheep, he ran into an injured Turkish boy. Immediately, George took the boy to his home and healed his wounds, giving no thought to the long standing hatred between Greeks and Turks. The young fellow lived with the Tsimpidi family until he grew up and departed for Constantinople. There he became a Pasha and afterwards, he returned back to Greece and to Tripolis where he ordered his attendants to find George Tsimpidis, the man who had rescued him. George was located and taken to the Pasha's sarai (a palace were the Turkish Pashas resided). He had no knowledge as to why he had been summoned and did not recognize the Pasha when he saw him. The Pasha introduced himself as the young boy George Tsimpidi had saved. He asked George what gifts he would like for this deed. George Tsimpidi answered that he wanted the Fragovriso (a place with plenty of water for his sheep), the Kapsalo (a place to graze his sheep), and the Kourephtra (a place to shear his sheep). In addition, George asked the pasha to give him a deed so he could travel freely to the island of Poros (an island where he used to graze his sheep in winter). Finally, he asked for an area called Iria or Tsimpidia. The Pasha gave George everything he asked for."

"Years later, when George Tsimpidi was tending his sheep, goats and 30 horses, he met a Turkish Pasha on horseback who inquired as to who owned such a large herd. Envious of the Greek's huge herd he was preparing to kill him and seize the herd. George Tsimpidi produced the deed given him by the Turkish Pasha whose life he had saved - which in turn saved his life."

 
Constandina Tsimpidi continues her story by noting, "I think that it would be an unpardonable omission on my part if I did not mention 'Manareky', this historical house where every member of our family has lived more or less. The name 'Manareky' means the mother of water. The house was named "Manareky' by George Tsompidi because there is a lake near it as well as a spring.

It was built in 1912 by, George (Giorgios) Tsimpidis, the son of Theodoros Tsimpidis (pictured above dressed as an evzone). George had been living in the United States but returned to Greece to fight during the "Balkanik wars" in 1912-1914." In 1924 he married and departed Maneraki again for the United States with his wife, Zaharoula. He trusted Anestis, a refugee, to take care of the house. Subsequently George permitted his brother Jim to reside in the house. During World War II (1941-1945) the Italians had taken over the house for 6 months. Jim and his family lived in the stable with the animals as they did not want to desert their home and property. The defeated Italians had all but destroyed the house. Afterwards Jim with his son John repaired the damages and resumed their lives. John Tsimpidi and his wife Dina lived at Manareky until 1994."

 
Constandina Tsimpidis summarizes the family tree, "As I mentioned in the beginning there were the three brothers who left Ikaria. George was the one who settled in Doriza or "Posidonio" which was the first name given to that area. "Old George" as everybody called him, died during the Turkish occupation. He had four children, a son Gregory and three daughters. Gregory's son was Theodoros Tsimpidis (pictured above in the Evzone outfit). He was a hardwarking huge man who had three wives. His first wife, Rebecca Sartangelis, bore him three sons, Basili (William),  Georgios (George),   and Jim. His second wife, Tresevgeni (Theresa) Karahalios, bore him 5 children, Evangelos,  Katerina,   Stavroula,   Rebecca,   Efstathios (Steve). He did not have children with his third wife. Towards the end of his life, he died in 1942, he lost his sight"