Parsah Zurniyan Efendi

Parsah Zurniyan Efendi was born in Kayseri in 1845/46 (AH 1262). The record gives the community as Armenian Christian (Ermeni) and the father's occupation as Esnaf.

Schooling recorded: Ermeni Millet Mektebi (Armenian community school), with 4 years of schooling recorded. The record marks no qualification (diploma, certificate, training or decoration). Languages recorded, with the skill words of the record: Armenian, with Kitabet; French, with Kitabet; Greek (Rum), with Kitabet; Italian, with Tekellum; Turkish, with Kitabet.

First work is recorded in Istanbul in 1866/67 (AH 1283). The official was then about 20 years old. The record gives 3 years of unpaid apprenticeship (mülazemet) before the first salary. The first-salary field gives 576 kuruş a month. At the first annual entry, in 1869/70, the official was about 23 years old.

The first annual entry, for 1869/70, shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Yozgat, with 576 kuruş a month. In 1881/82 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Giresun, the salary going from 570 to 600 kuruş a month (before: Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Yozgat). In 1882/83 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Tripoli (Trablusgarp), the salary going from 600 to 800 kuruş a month (before: Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Giresun). In 1883/84 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Serandoz, with 800 kuruş a month (before: Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Tripoli). In 1888/89 the record shows Muhabere Memuru in Eskişehir, with 800 kuruş a month (before: Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Serandoz). In 1893/94 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Acre (Akka), the salary going from 800 to 600 kuruş a month (before: Muhabere Memuru in Eskişehir). In 1894/95 the record shows Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Tiberias (Taberiye), with 600 kuruş a month (before: Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti in Acre). No annual entry is recorded for 1880/81, 1886 to 1888 and 1892/93.

The highest salary, 800 kuruş a month, is first recorded in 1882/83 as Muhaberat-ı Ecnebiye Memuriyeti. 76 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less. The median salary of all officials that year was 500 kuruş. Over 32 years with a salary the median is 600 kuruş a month, with 5 rises and 4 cuts. The largest rise, 200 kuruş, is seen in 1882/83. From the first salary to the last the salary grew by 0.18 per cent a year on average. The last salary is recorded in 1903/04, when 72 per cent of the other officials with a recorded salary that year earned less.