AHSGR, Clues, 1978 Edition
Names of Families Residing in the Volga Villages
Submitted by Gerda S. Walker
(Excerpts)
(Page 58)
In 1940 Mr. Jacob Volz or York, Nebraska, collected the following lists of names of families residing around 1900 in the Volga villages. He did this at the suggestion of Dr. Karl Stumpp who had already begun his work of collecting the names of the German immigrants to Russia. Dr. Stumpp hoped that Mr. Volz would be able to collect the names of the Germans from Russia who migrated to America. Mr. Volz found this to be an impossible task but made an appeal through the German language weekly newspaper, Die Welt Post, requesting individuals to send in the lists of names of families as they remembered them at the time they left Russia. The lists that follow are the result of this effort. Although collected in 1940 they should prove helpful to many who are trying to determine their ancestral village.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not lead to blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
(Page 59)
BAUER (Rusn. Name: Karamyschewka, also Karamyschka), Kanton: Kamyschin, Later Kanton: Kamenka, Wolost: Sosnowka.
Founded in 1766 by 231 Ev. Lutherans. Located on the Bergseite in the B-5 quadrant of the Stumpp map #6.
From a letter sent to Jacob Volz by Mr. Heinrich Schumann, 2009 A.R. 8th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 21 Sept. 1939 and published in Die Welt Post, 28 Sept. 1939, p. 7, col. 4,5.
2. Becker
Names from other sources:
1. Gärber
2. Gellerut
3. Mohr
These three men signed the letter asking Catherine II to make Bauer a Crown Colony, for it was being mistreated by deBoff as a Private colony.
Other population figures:
1788 – 331
1798 – 385
1816 – 696
1834 – 1272
1850 – 1874
1857 – 2196
1860 – 2284
1886 – 2617
1894 – 3437
1897 – 4496 (?) [sic]
1905 – 4303
1910 – 4521
1912 – 4596
1926 – 3210
“The origins of the first (Colonists) were from different areas of Germany, for instance the STIEBEN, SCHRÖDER, SCHMIDT and GELROTH’s from Hamburg; the BRUG, FISCHER, STETTINGER, REIS, SCHLUNDT, MOHR and FERTIG from the Palatinate; the EHRHARDT and EIDEMÜLLER’s from Hesse-Darmstadt; RENA from Saxony; KRÜGER, 31 years schoolteacher, 1826-1857, ren (sic) Odenwälder, and the WAGNER’s came from Switzerland. This is the entire ‘Bestand’ composition of the colony Bauer from the beginning of the immigration until the Bolshevik time.” Report of Heinrich Schumann, 2009 A.R. 8th St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
ADDITIONAL DATA ON BAUER
From a letter by Mr. Heinrich Schumann of Milwaukee, Wis. and pub. in Die Welt Post 21 Sept. 1939, p. 7, col. 4 and 5.
A report from the year 1854 gives the following information: “The colony Bauer was composed of 55 families in the beginning. The first church was built in 1807. At first they had an old ‘Kronshaus’ which they had bought themselves from a Catholic village for use as a Prayer and Schoolhouse.”
Their second church was built 1873-1874 and was dedicated on July 14, 1874 by the esteemed Pastor “Boneswetsch. [sic]”* There were two crosses, one of the steeple and the other on the Sacristy. It was a much too windy day to put up the crosses…
(Page 60)
*There were 3 Bonwetsch pastors:
Christoph Heinrich Bonwetsch was Probst of Norka Parish, 1845-1876.
Samuel I. Bonwetsch was pastor at Galka near Bauer, 1858-1874.
Nathanael Gottlieb Bonswetsch, pastor, Adj., Bergseite Volga, 1871-1874.
Pastor at Norka 1876-1877.
NEU-BAUER There are two colonies by the name of New-Bauer listed in the 1955 Stumpp list and map:
1. New-Bauer, Kanton of Krasny-Kut, later Kanton Eckheim, Wolost Jeruslan, founded in 1859. It was located on the Wiesenseite, Ev. Lutheran and located in the F-4 quandrant of the Stumpp map #6.
2. The other Neu-Vauer listed is also on the Wiesenseite in the Kanton of Krasny-Kut, location F-5 on the map with only 86 persons in 1912.
The following is from the 11 April 1940, p. 8, c. 5 & 6 of Die Welt Post. From a personal visit with Mr. Alexander Wagner of Clearfield, S. Dak., who was born in Neu-Bauer on the Weisenseite of the Volga: “It was founded by settlers from the Mother colonies in the years 1850/52… Wagner came with a number of families to Mexico in 1900, and because the immigrants were not accustomed to the climate many of the died of Fever (Malaria?). They quickly left the area and crossed the border into the U.S.A. where they separated. He moved first to Oklahoma and later to South Dakota. The family has a dozen children, ten daughters are married and one son and one daughter are at home.” Jacob Volz.
Population:
1897 – 2042
1912 – 2344
1926 – 1002
(Page 61)
BRUNNENTAL (Rssn. Name: Kriwojar) Kanton: Seelman, Wolost: Bisjuk.
Brunnental was founded in 1855 by families which resettled from the villages of Walter, Frank, Norka and Kolb, with perhaps a number from other villages. It is located on the Wiesenseite in the D-5 quadrant on the Stumpp map #6. Names of families were published in Die Welt Post, 22 Fe. 1940, p. 8, col. 5.
(MY NOTES: This is the complete list given in this particular publication.)
1. Melcher
2. Braun
3. Baum
4. Block
5. Hergert
6. Steinmetz
Nagel is listed but a correction was sent in 14 Mar. 1940 by John Brehm who said Nagels came from Norka.
Population:
1897 – 4520
1912 – 4944
1926 – 2411
(Page 62)
DINKEL (Rssn. Name: Tarlykowka) Sometimes known as: Oberholstein.
Founded in 1767 by 179 Ev. Lutherans. Located on the Wiesenseite, east of the Volga River in D-4 quadrant of Stumpp map #6.
Pub. in Die Welt Post, 15 Feb. 1940. Jacob Volz does not say who sent in the names.
46. Wagner
47. Weber
Population:
1897 – 3050
1912 – 3586
1926 – 1711
DÖNHOF (Rssn. Name: Gololobowka, also Alt Gololobowka) Kanton: Balzer.
Est. in 1766 by 151 people, Ev. Lutheran Colony. Located on the Bergseite on the B-4 quadrant on Stumpp map #6.
Published 21 Sept. 1939, p. 6, col. 2 in the Dakota Freie Presse. Submitted by John Becking and Henry Kraus of Windsor, Colorado.
7. Becker
Names from other sources:
1. Kaiser/Keiser
2. Stecker/Stecher
3. Wagner
Population:
1788 – 711
1798 – 870
1816 – 1436
1834 – 2508
1850 – 3846
1857 – 4465
1860 – 4593
1886 – 4886
1891 – 6499
1894 – 6416
1897 – 7833
1905 – 7516
1910 – 8017
1912 – 8330
1926 – 5039
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Village Names
AHSGR, Work Paper No. 23, Spring 1977
Present-Day Names of Former German Volga Colonies
By Emma Schwabenland Haynes
(Excerpts)
(Page 1)
Officially, no Soviet Germans are allowed to reside in the colonies from which they were deported in 1941, and as time passes on, the present-day Russian inhabitants have a tendency to forget that these villages were founded by German-speaking people. On the other hand, the descendants of emigrants from Russia, now living in the New World, who have always heard these villages referred to by their German names, would have trouble finding their position on a modern map of Russia. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp has undertaken the tremendous task of trying to determine the names by which the former German colonies are now known. In order to do this, he acquired modern Russian maps of the various regions (oblastj) in which the Germans used to live. Then he compared these maps with those showing German names before 1941. He recently sent to me the results of his work as far as the colonies on the Volga are concerned, but is continuing his research on the Black Sea and other German groups. These findings will eventually be printed in some publication of the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland.
After the Volga colonies were founded (1764-1776), the inhabitants formed the habit of referring to their villages by the name of the first mayor. Eventually Russian names were assigned, but the people had become accustomed to the German terms and used the Russian nomenclatures only in official documents. The only exceptions to this rule can be found in the colonies of Jagodnaja Poljana, Kamenka, Krasnojar, Norka, Orlowskoje, Paulskoje, Semenowka, and Schtscherbakowka. In the same way the Black Sea colonies also had Russian names in addition to the German ones.
(Page 2)
…In ten cases, the Russian name is different from the one used before 1941 but still bears a noticeable resemblance. These can be found in the colonies of Bettinger, Boiroux, Frank, Kolb, Krasnojar, Kukkus, Oberweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak. Today it is simply known as Medweditza.
…But, since information about the former colonies is practically non-existent, it is possible that some of these places are neighboring Russian villages. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp requests that anyone having exact information about the present name of these sixteen German villages should let him know.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only village names which may pertain to known relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
GERMAN VOLGA MOTHER COLONIES
German Name:
Frank
Russian Name Before 1941:
Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak
(MY NOTES: David lists this official name in his family bible as the birthplace of his father.)
Russian Name After 1941:
Medweditza
PARTIAL LIST OF VOLGA DAUGHTER COLONIES
German Name:
Brunnental
Russian Name Before 1941:
Kriwojar
Russian Name After 1941:
Kriwojar
Present-Day Names of Former German Volga Colonies
By Emma Schwabenland Haynes
(Excerpts)
(Page 1)
Officially, no Soviet Germans are allowed to reside in the colonies from which they were deported in 1941, and as time passes on, the present-day Russian inhabitants have a tendency to forget that these villages were founded by German-speaking people. On the other hand, the descendants of emigrants from Russia, now living in the New World, who have always heard these villages referred to by their German names, would have trouble finding their position on a modern map of Russia. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp has undertaken the tremendous task of trying to determine the names by which the former German colonies are now known. In order to do this, he acquired modern Russian maps of the various regions (oblastj) in which the Germans used to live. Then he compared these maps with those showing German names before 1941. He recently sent to me the results of his work as far as the colonies on the Volga are concerned, but is continuing his research on the Black Sea and other German groups. These findings will eventually be printed in some publication of the Landsmannschaft der Deutschen aus Russland.
After the Volga colonies were founded (1764-1776), the inhabitants formed the habit of referring to their villages by the name of the first mayor. Eventually Russian names were assigned, but the people had become accustomed to the German terms and used the Russian nomenclatures only in official documents. The only exceptions to this rule can be found in the colonies of Jagodnaja Poljana, Kamenka, Krasnojar, Norka, Orlowskoje, Paulskoje, Semenowka, and Schtscherbakowka. In the same way the Black Sea colonies also had Russian names in addition to the German ones.
(Page 2)
…In ten cases, the Russian name is different from the one used before 1941 but still bears a noticeable resemblance. These can be found in the colonies of Bettinger, Boiroux, Frank, Kolb, Krasnojar, Kukkus, Oberweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak. Today it is simply known as Medweditza.
…But, since information about the former colonies is practically non-existent, it is possible that some of these places are neighboring Russian villages. For that reason, Dr. Stumpp requests that anyone having exact information about the present name of these sixteen German villages should let him know.
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only village names which may pertain to known relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
GERMAN VOLGA MOTHER COLONIES
German Name:
Frank
Russian Name Before 1941:
Medweditskij Krestowoj Bujerak
(MY NOTES: David lists this official name in his family bible as the birthplace of his father.)
Russian Name After 1941:
Medweditza
PARTIAL LIST OF VOLGA DAUGHTER COLONIES
German Name:
Brunnental
Russian Name Before 1941:
Kriwojar
Russian Name After 1941:
Kriwojar
David Ehlenberger
Born: 21 Aug. 1876, Brunnenthal, Russia
Married: 27 Dec. 1894 to Katherine Wagner,
Brunnenthal, Russia
Died: 21 Oct. 1971, Portland, Oregon
Buried: 26 Oct. 1971, Rose City Cemetery,
Portland, Oregon
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Passenger Lists
AHSGR, Work Paper No. 22, Winter, 1976
Passenger List
By Gwen B. Pritzkau
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not be blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
(Excerpts)
(Page 44)
Date: 16 April 1893
Vessel: Suevia To New York
From: Saratov, Rss
ELLENBERGER
Georg 23
Catherina 21
Catherina 3 mo.
Conrad 17 (bro)
(Page 45)
WEBER
Johannes 58
Catherina 56
Heinrich 16
Johannes 36
Maria 36
Catherina 15
Jacob 5
Catherine 3
Jacob 26
Catherina 28
Elisabeth 3 mo.
Wendel 19
Catherina 19
Date: 17 Nov. 1901
Vessel: Palactia To New York
From: Saratov, Rss
OTT
Peter 30
Elisabeth 30
(Page 48)
Date: 22 May 1878
Vessel: Wieland To New York
From: Frank, Rss
WAGNER
Johannes 20
Magdalena 53
Jacob 19
Conrad 18
Jacob 9
Passenger List
By Gwen B. Pritzkau
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not be blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
(Excerpts)
(Page 44)
Date: 16 April 1893
Vessel: Suevia To New York
From: Saratov, Rss
ELLENBERGER
Georg 23
Catherina 21
Catherina 3 mo.
Conrad 17 (bro)
(Page 45)
WEBER
Johannes 58
Catherina 56
Heinrich 16
Johannes 36
Maria 36
Catherina 15
Jacob 5
Catherine 3
Jacob 26
Catherina 28
Elisabeth 3 mo.
Wendel 19
Catherina 19
Date: 17 Nov. 1901
Vessel: Palactia To New York
From: Saratov, Rss
OTT
Peter 30
Elisabeth 30
(Page 48)
Date: 22 May 1878
Vessel: Wieland To New York
From: Frank, Rss
WAGNER
Johannes 20
Magdalena 53
Jacob 19
Conrad 18
Jacob 9
Travel Discoveries
AHSGR, Work Paper No. 13, December 1973
Research In Hesse
By Arthur and Cleora Flegel
(Excerpts)
…At Schotten, which lies directly north of Büdingen, we again met with remarkable success. The assistant pastor, Pfarrer Hoefle of the older Ev. Lutheran parish had spent some years in Brazil and was quite well acquainted with the Volga German history. He was helpful in reading records dating back to 1635. The following list reveals names which had related to the community for many generations. Thos names of unusual number are so indicated by the asterisk (*):
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not be blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, if need be.).
Becker**…, Ellenburger…, Wagner**….
(Page 33)
…Each family received besides many other benefits, as living provisions, two horses, one cow and of hard money, fifteen Rubels. So states one copied document of the early record books of Saratov concerning the foreign settlers of the settlers on the Hill and Valley sides of the Volga. It affirms that as an example, Jagodnaja Poljana was established on 16 September 1767 by 80 families of which 417 were male and 122 female in total 269 souls….
…We drove on to Haiger, where Pfarrer Becker of Berstadt had told us most of the records of the region were being stored. A very helpful Frau Schmidt, wife of the organist, showed us the records. Because of the lateness of the day, we dared not impose on Frau Schmidt too severely, and skimming through the lists, copied names of greatest familiarity. They follow:
Stoll, Müller, Schneider, Engelbardt, Weber, Michel, Koch, Stahl, Schmidt, Huck, Hoffman, Flick, Gerhard, Heinz, Pfeiffer, Krantz, Metz, Hartman, Frantz, Gross, Gress, Tielman.
(Page 36)
…Before we left Kirburg, the Pfarrer Stephan related an incident which had taken place in this community during 1890. A sizable number of the Kirburg parish members decided to emigrate to Russia at that time for religious principles. After less than a decade in Russia, the Germans, terribly disillusioned, returned almost en masse to the Westerwald. The records he possessed disclosed the Pastor’s admonition to his parishoners [sic] counseling them not to leave—evidentally [sic], much the same as had taken place a century earlier.
(Page 37)
…Retracing our route on Highway 414, we stopped at Hachenburg, one of the larger parishes. After a lengthy search, we located the parish house, but it was Saturday afternoon, and no one who could help us was to be found. Continuing east, we came to Herborn, a city in the vicinity of Giessen. Here we hoped to find information on the names “Heiser” or “Heuser.” The lists were very extensive and worthy of further study. However, that must be reserved for another time. Skimming over the names, the villages and towns most common to the family names we copied were: Amdorf, Braunfelz, Herborn and Hobach. A few of the marriages 1762-1767 follow:
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not be blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
Joh. Jacob Clauss / Anna Katharina Weber
Joh. Jacob Weber / Christina Elis. Jung
Gottfried Weber / Anna Elisabeth Clauss
Research In Hesse
By Arthur and Cleora Flegel
(Excerpts)
…At Schotten, which lies directly north of Büdingen, we again met with remarkable success. The assistant pastor, Pfarrer Hoefle of the older Ev. Lutheran parish had spent some years in Brazil and was quite well acquainted with the Volga German history. He was helpful in reading records dating back to 1635. The following list reveals names which had related to the community for many generations. Thos names of unusual number are so indicated by the asterisk (*):
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not be blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, if need be.).
Becker**…, Ellenburger…, Wagner**….
(Page 33)
…Each family received besides many other benefits, as living provisions, two horses, one cow and of hard money, fifteen Rubels. So states one copied document of the early record books of Saratov concerning the foreign settlers of the settlers on the Hill and Valley sides of the Volga. It affirms that as an example, Jagodnaja Poljana was established on 16 September 1767 by 80 families of which 417 were male and 122 female in total 269 souls….
…We drove on to Haiger, where Pfarrer Becker of Berstadt had told us most of the records of the region were being stored. A very helpful Frau Schmidt, wife of the organist, showed us the records. Because of the lateness of the day, we dared not impose on Frau Schmidt too severely, and skimming through the lists, copied names of greatest familiarity. They follow:
Stoll, Müller, Schneider, Engelbardt, Weber, Michel, Koch, Stahl, Schmidt, Huck, Hoffman, Flick, Gerhard, Heinz, Pfeiffer, Krantz, Metz, Hartman, Frantz, Gross, Gress, Tielman.
(Page 36)
…Before we left Kirburg, the Pfarrer Stephan related an incident which had taken place in this community during 1890. A sizable number of the Kirburg parish members decided to emigrate to Russia at that time for religious principles. After less than a decade in Russia, the Germans, terribly disillusioned, returned almost en masse to the Westerwald. The records he possessed disclosed the Pastor’s admonition to his parishoners [sic] counseling them not to leave—evidentally [sic], much the same as had taken place a century earlier.
(Page 37)
…Retracing our route on Highway 414, we stopped at Hachenburg, one of the larger parishes. After a lengthy search, we located the parish house, but it was Saturday afternoon, and no one who could help us was to be found. Continuing east, we came to Herborn, a city in the vicinity of Giessen. Here we hoped to find information on the names “Heiser” or “Heuser.” The lists were very extensive and worthy of further study. However, that must be reserved for another time. Skimming over the names, the villages and towns most common to the family names we copied were: Amdorf, Braunfelz, Herborn and Hobach. A few of the marriages 1762-1767 follow:
(MY NOTES: This is in no way a complete list. The following contains only family names which may or may not be blood relatives. I will expand this list later on, need be.).
Joh. Jacob Clauss / Anna Katharina Weber
Joh. Jacob Weber / Christina Elis. Jung
Gottfried Weber / Anna Elisabeth Clauss
Among Other Items…
AHSGR, Work Paper No. 13, December 1973
Research In Hesse
By Arthur and Cleora Flegel
(Excerpts)
(Page 26)
Among other items at Schlitz, we found copies of historical transcripts of the 1762-1767 emigrations. Excerpts from these articles in the original German with English translations follow (MY NOTES: I have included only excerpts in English.):
“…On the 8th of April, the first group of people left from Queck and Rimbach in the Schlitzerland for Russia. The man received 15 Kreuzers and his wife 10 Kreuzers daily stipend. This stipend was supplied by the Russian Commisars who had established recruitment stations throughout all of Germany and more specifically in Hess.” If the writer of the daybook reports that at that time the first people emigrated from our immediate area and refers specifically to Queck and Rimbach, it can be assumed that others also followed them. Unforunately more detailed information which would be of interest to us is missing as to the numbers and names of the emigrants….
…He writes in detail, “Well, I intend to list daily, every caravan of people passing through this district intent on leaving Germany for Russia with the reasons, for otherwise, no one can understand or comprehend why the people are leaving for a foreign land. The treks are composed of German people who gathered at Büdingen under the Russian Commission and have been accepted as immigrants to Russia. On the 13th of May, the first transport moved through Schlitz. Also farmers form the Schlitz area secretly joined the treks leaving their possessions and stating that those in authority were too demanding and the work too oppressive. Within the 7 caravans through Schlitz, an estimated 500 people per trek are happily looking forward to finding a better land than this. In reality, they are no better than swindlers. Mostly such, along with some who are leaving with heavy hearts because of their burdensome debts. The children no longer mind their parents but want to emigrate for Russia. Even the farmers no longer want to work. The cost of living continues to rise, also the money is stolen out of one’s purse due to the money devaluation….” No, it was the terrible economic distress which at that time drove the people from their beloved Hessian homeland. The Seven Years War, 1756-1763, brought with itself unusually difficult conditions into the Upper Hesse and Schlitzerland. – during the course of this war, 160,000 troops were quartered in Schlitz. – Weissbeck wrote, “Here is great distress with bread and money. On the 12th of April, bread was requested from Fulda and an entire wagonload of bread came from there.”…
(Translations.) “The Russian Ambassador at Regensburg… furthered the recruitment efforts by the employment of two Agents… and in spite of all hindrances was able to send a large number of willing Emigrants from this area to Russia. In February 1766, the Elector of Mainz brought to the attention of the Hessian government the promotional activities of the agents. –This overwhelming emigration would result in a depopulation of the area. –Thus, he pleaded for the checking of this imminent danger…. Through reference to ordinances of 1630, 1658, and 1697, secret emigrations were threatened with a punishment of confiscation of all possessions. – On the basis of this survey, a statement was sent to all courts, dated April 11, 1766, covering the following provisions: Emigration without specific approval would be punishable by confiscation of property. Those eager for emigration are to be under surveillance. Proceeds from previous sale of goods will be seized. Lazy and indolent subjects may, with rare exception, be permitted to leave after fulfillment of all obligations and payments of outstanding taxes, must however, forego any thought of possible return and acceptance. Borders would be carefully watched to prevent anyone from secretly leaving or an agent from sneaking in. – Anyone observing a Russian Agent operating in the principality of Darmstadt and reporting him, would receive 12 Florins reward. Subjects who have made themselves indebted to the recruitment would be subject to imprisonment.
A list of requests for departure lie among the articles of the State Archives. For instance, one Johan Adam Walther of Dauernheim wrote “I have not so much property as 15 alb is worth, (Ed. Note: Impossible to translate “alb”. Conjecture: possible error in original transmittal, could mean 1 Kalb – 1 calf.) – even if one should include his bed, to which all people hereabout will witness. Since I no longer can provide for my children with the day’s wages, I am determined to migrate to Russia where I can find livelihood through my own efforts.”
Research In Hesse
By Arthur and Cleora Flegel
(Excerpts)
(Page 26)
Among other items at Schlitz, we found copies of historical transcripts of the 1762-1767 emigrations. Excerpts from these articles in the original German with English translations follow (MY NOTES: I have included only excerpts in English.):
“…On the 8th of April, the first group of people left from Queck and Rimbach in the Schlitzerland for Russia. The man received 15 Kreuzers and his wife 10 Kreuzers daily stipend. This stipend was supplied by the Russian Commisars who had established recruitment stations throughout all of Germany and more specifically in Hess.” If the writer of the daybook reports that at that time the first people emigrated from our immediate area and refers specifically to Queck and Rimbach, it can be assumed that others also followed them. Unforunately more detailed information which would be of interest to us is missing as to the numbers and names of the emigrants….
…He writes in detail, “Well, I intend to list daily, every caravan of people passing through this district intent on leaving Germany for Russia with the reasons, for otherwise, no one can understand or comprehend why the people are leaving for a foreign land. The treks are composed of German people who gathered at Büdingen under the Russian Commission and have been accepted as immigrants to Russia. On the 13th of May, the first transport moved through Schlitz. Also farmers form the Schlitz area secretly joined the treks leaving their possessions and stating that those in authority were too demanding and the work too oppressive. Within the 7 caravans through Schlitz, an estimated 500 people per trek are happily looking forward to finding a better land than this. In reality, they are no better than swindlers. Mostly such, along with some who are leaving with heavy hearts because of their burdensome debts. The children no longer mind their parents but want to emigrate for Russia. Even the farmers no longer want to work. The cost of living continues to rise, also the money is stolen out of one’s purse due to the money devaluation….” No, it was the terrible economic distress which at that time drove the people from their beloved Hessian homeland. The Seven Years War, 1756-1763, brought with itself unusually difficult conditions into the Upper Hesse and Schlitzerland. – during the course of this war, 160,000 troops were quartered in Schlitz. – Weissbeck wrote, “Here is great distress with bread and money. On the 12th of April, bread was requested from Fulda and an entire wagonload of bread came from there.”…
(Translations.) “The Russian Ambassador at Regensburg… furthered the recruitment efforts by the employment of two Agents… and in spite of all hindrances was able to send a large number of willing Emigrants from this area to Russia. In February 1766, the Elector of Mainz brought to the attention of the Hessian government the promotional activities of the agents. –This overwhelming emigration would result in a depopulation of the area. –Thus, he pleaded for the checking of this imminent danger…. Through reference to ordinances of 1630, 1658, and 1697, secret emigrations were threatened with a punishment of confiscation of all possessions. – On the basis of this survey, a statement was sent to all courts, dated April 11, 1766, covering the following provisions: Emigration without specific approval would be punishable by confiscation of property. Those eager for emigration are to be under surveillance. Proceeds from previous sale of goods will be seized. Lazy and indolent subjects may, with rare exception, be permitted to leave after fulfillment of all obligations and payments of outstanding taxes, must however, forego any thought of possible return and acceptance. Borders would be carefully watched to prevent anyone from secretly leaving or an agent from sneaking in. – Anyone observing a Russian Agent operating in the principality of Darmstadt and reporting him, would receive 12 Florins reward. Subjects who have made themselves indebted to the recruitment would be subject to imprisonment.
A list of requests for departure lie among the articles of the State Archives. For instance, one Johan Adam Walther of Dauernheim wrote “I have not so much property as 15 alb is worth, (Ed. Note: Impossible to translate “alb”. Conjecture: possible error in original transmittal, could mean 1 Kalb – 1 calf.) – even if one should include his bed, to which all people hereabout will witness. Since I no longer can provide for my children with the day’s wages, I am determined to migrate to Russia where I can find livelihood through my own efforts.”
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