Hohnstein Families
There were three related Hohnstein families that settled in Norka in 1767. Johann Adam Hohnstein and his son, Johannes, headed two of the households. Johann Nicolaus Hohnstein, a first cousin to Johann Adam, headed the third household.
Johann Adam Hohnstein (also Hohenstein), the son of Johann Caspar Hohnstein and Anna Catharina Franck, was probably born in Himbach. He was baptized at the parish church in Eckartshausen on April 20, 1717. This area was part of the County of Isenburg at the time. The counts of Isenburg practiced the Reformed faith (Calvinists) but were known for their religious tolerance. As a result, people of many different faiths lived under their rule at this time.
Johann Caspar was a leaseholder at the Beuntenhof estate near Wiedermus (now Altwiedermus). He died in 1761 at the age of 75. His burial record notes that he was an Inspirierter, a member of the Community of True Inspiration. Due to his religous beliefs, Johann Caspar was "buried in silence" (without a sanctioned funeral service). At the time, Pietists were considered radicals and were banned from many political jurisdictions. Many had come to County of Isenburg in the early 1700's to take advantage of the religious tolerance of the counts.
Johann Adam married Catharina Elisabeth, daughter of Christoffel and Julianna Kraft, on August 10, 1741, at the Ronneburg Castle. In 1736, Count von Zinzendorf and his Herrnhut Brethren (Moravian) community moved in, transforming the castle into a widely-visited place of pilgrimage. Catharina Elisabeth was born in Eckartshausen and was baptized there on November 2, 1719.
Johann Adam and Catharina Elisabeth became parents to at least seven children. The first child, Johannes, was born in Himbach, a major center for the Inspirationalists at the time. The remaining children were born in nearby Bergheim (now Langen-Bergheim).
The parish registers show that some of the children were baptized in Eckartshausen, and some appear to have not been baptized at all due to the parent's religious conflict with the established Reformed church. For example, the birth record for an unnamed daughter (born July 20, 1752) indicates that the father would not allow his daughter to be baptized by the parish priest. As a result, no given name is listed in the entry. We know from other records that she is Anna Maria.
Johann Adam Hohnstein (also Hohenstein), the son of Johann Caspar Hohnstein and Anna Catharina Franck, was probably born in Himbach. He was baptized at the parish church in Eckartshausen on April 20, 1717. This area was part of the County of Isenburg at the time. The counts of Isenburg practiced the Reformed faith (Calvinists) but were known for their religious tolerance. As a result, people of many different faiths lived under their rule at this time.
Johann Caspar was a leaseholder at the Beuntenhof estate near Wiedermus (now Altwiedermus). He died in 1761 at the age of 75. His burial record notes that he was an Inspirierter, a member of the Community of True Inspiration. Due to his religous beliefs, Johann Caspar was "buried in silence" (without a sanctioned funeral service). At the time, Pietists were considered radicals and were banned from many political jurisdictions. Many had come to County of Isenburg in the early 1700's to take advantage of the religious tolerance of the counts.
Johann Adam married Catharina Elisabeth, daughter of Christoffel and Julianna Kraft, on August 10, 1741, at the Ronneburg Castle. In 1736, Count von Zinzendorf and his Herrnhut Brethren (Moravian) community moved in, transforming the castle into a widely-visited place of pilgrimage. Catharina Elisabeth was born in Eckartshausen and was baptized there on November 2, 1719.
Johann Adam and Catharina Elisabeth became parents to at least seven children. The first child, Johannes, was born in Himbach, a major center for the Inspirationalists at the time. The remaining children were born in nearby Bergheim (now Langen-Bergheim).
- Johannes (born December 17, 1741 and baptized December 22, 1741)
- Johann Heinrich (born February 24, 1744 and baptized February 29, 1744)
- Johann Adam (baptized October 20, 1747)
- Catharina (born about 1749; no birth or baptism record found)
- Anna Maria (born July 20, 1755, not baptized)
- Johann Caspar (born about 1757; no birth or baptism record found)
- Johann Philipp (born about 1758; no birth or baptism record found)
The parish registers show that some of the children were baptized in Eckartshausen, and some appear to have not been baptized at all due to the parent's religious conflict with the established Reformed church. For example, the birth record for an unnamed daughter (born July 20, 1752) indicates that the father would not allow his daughter to be baptized by the parish priest. As a result, no given name is listed in the entry. We know from other records that she is Anna Maria.
Area view of Eckartshausen. Photo by Stefan Schäfer (2014) posted on Wikimedia Commons.
Parish records note that Johann Adam worked as a Hoffmann or steward of a manor farm, a profession he almost certainly learned from his father.
Johann Adam's wife, Catharina Elisabeth, died on April 17, 1758, at the age of 38. Her death and burial record state that she, too, was an Inspirierter and was buried in silence.
Johann Adam married a second time to Anna Margaretha (surname unknown) about 1760. No marriage record has been found yet. They had a child who was born and died on August 19, 1761.
In 1766, Johann Adam and Anna Margaretha made a life-altering decision. They chose to pursue the opportunity outlined in Catherine's Manifesto and embark on a journey to become colonists in Russia. Likely, animosity towards their religious beliefs in their homeland and the Manifesto's promise of religious freedom in Russia played a role in this decision.
The Hohnstein family, including Johann Adam, Anna Margaretha, and their children, first undertook a short 8-mile trip to the gathering place (Sammelplatz) for colonists in Büdingen. There, they joined a transport group bound for the north German port of Lübeck, where they would set sail on their voyage to Russia.
In Lübeck, Johann Adam's eldest son, Johannes (born 1741), married Anna Maria Reichert on August 13, 1766, at the Reformed church.
His first cousin, Johann Nicolaus Hohnstein, accompanied Johann Adam and his family on this journey. Johann Nicolaus was the son of Johann Jacob Hohnstein (the brother of Johann Caspar) and Magdalena Kling. He was born in Wiedermus (now Altweidermus) and baptized in Eckartshausen on May 21, 1733. He married Johanna Maria Siebold from Vonhausen at the parish church in Eckartshausen on December 20, 1764. A daughter, Anna Margaretha, was born in Büdingen on May 29, 1766, and was baptized there on June 4, 1766.
The Johann Adam and Johann Nicolaus Hohnstein families sailed with other colonists from Lübeck aboard the Russian sailing ship Slon (Elephant) under the command of Lieutenant Sergey Panov. The ship arrived at the island fortress of Kronstadt, and the colonists came to the mainland at Oranienbaum, Russia, near St. Petersburg on July 19, 1766.
After an arduous year of travel to the lower Volga River, Johann Adam and his entire household arrived in the colony of Norka on August 15, 1767. Several months later, they were listed as Household 47 in the 1767 Census.
Johann Nicolaus, Anna Maria, and their daughter Anna Margaretha arrived in Norka on August 15, 1767. Anna Maria's mother, Anna Margaretha (age 70), traveled with them. They are listed as Household 49 in the 1767 Census.
A few weeks later, Johannes Hohnstein and his wife, Anna Maria, completed their journey and met their relatives in Norka on September 2, 1767. The record of their ship's arrival in Russia has yet to be found. They were officially recorded in the 1767 Census as Households 201 and 201a. Notably, Johannes and Anna Maria had taken in a nine-year-old orphan, Maria Catharina Kirchenhein, the daughter of Friedrich Kirchenhein, who died en route to the settlement area.
Remarkably, the entire Hohnstein family survived the journey to their new homeland.
Johann Adam's wife, Catharina Elisabeth, died on April 17, 1758, at the age of 38. Her death and burial record state that she, too, was an Inspirierter and was buried in silence.
Johann Adam married a second time to Anna Margaretha (surname unknown) about 1760. No marriage record has been found yet. They had a child who was born and died on August 19, 1761.
In 1766, Johann Adam and Anna Margaretha made a life-altering decision. They chose to pursue the opportunity outlined in Catherine's Manifesto and embark on a journey to become colonists in Russia. Likely, animosity towards their religious beliefs in their homeland and the Manifesto's promise of religious freedom in Russia played a role in this decision.
The Hohnstein family, including Johann Adam, Anna Margaretha, and their children, first undertook a short 8-mile trip to the gathering place (Sammelplatz) for colonists in Büdingen. There, they joined a transport group bound for the north German port of Lübeck, where they would set sail on their voyage to Russia.
In Lübeck, Johann Adam's eldest son, Johannes (born 1741), married Anna Maria Reichert on August 13, 1766, at the Reformed church.
His first cousin, Johann Nicolaus Hohnstein, accompanied Johann Adam and his family on this journey. Johann Nicolaus was the son of Johann Jacob Hohnstein (the brother of Johann Caspar) and Magdalena Kling. He was born in Wiedermus (now Altweidermus) and baptized in Eckartshausen on May 21, 1733. He married Johanna Maria Siebold from Vonhausen at the parish church in Eckartshausen on December 20, 1764. A daughter, Anna Margaretha, was born in Büdingen on May 29, 1766, and was baptized there on June 4, 1766.
The Johann Adam and Johann Nicolaus Hohnstein families sailed with other colonists from Lübeck aboard the Russian sailing ship Slon (Elephant) under the command of Lieutenant Sergey Panov. The ship arrived at the island fortress of Kronstadt, and the colonists came to the mainland at Oranienbaum, Russia, near St. Petersburg on July 19, 1766.
After an arduous year of travel to the lower Volga River, Johann Adam and his entire household arrived in the colony of Norka on August 15, 1767. Several months later, they were listed as Household 47 in the 1767 Census.
Johann Nicolaus, Anna Maria, and their daughter Anna Margaretha arrived in Norka on August 15, 1767. Anna Maria's mother, Anna Margaretha (age 70), traveled with them. They are listed as Household 49 in the 1767 Census.
A few weeks later, Johannes Hohnstein and his wife, Anna Maria, completed their journey and met their relatives in Norka on September 2, 1767. The record of their ship's arrival in Russia has yet to be found. They were officially recorded in the 1767 Census as Households 201 and 201a. Notably, Johannes and Anna Maria had taken in a nine-year-old orphan, Maria Catharina Kirchenhein, the daughter of Friedrich Kirchenhein, who died en route to the settlement area.
Remarkably, the entire Hohnstein family survived the journey to their new homeland.
Sources
Research by Maggie Hein, Kerry Larson, and Steve Schreiber.
Eckartshausen parish records accessed on Archion.de
Büdingen parish records accessed on Archion.de
Lübeck parish records accessed on Archion.de
Decker, Klaus-Peter. Büdingen Als Sammelplatz Der Auswanderung an Die Wolga 1766. Büdingen: Geschichtswerkstatt Büdingen, 2009.
Decker, Klaus-Peter. Die Auswanderung Von 1766/67 Aus Der Grafschaft Ysenburg-Büdingen Nach Russland. Geschichtswerkstatt Büdingen, 2015. p. 131. Print
Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. pp. 259-260. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. pp. 241-242 and pp. 283-284. Print.
Eckartshausen parish records accessed on Archion.de
Büdingen parish records accessed on Archion.de
Lübeck parish records accessed on Archion.de
Decker, Klaus-Peter. Büdingen Als Sammelplatz Der Auswanderung an Die Wolga 1766. Büdingen: Geschichtswerkstatt Büdingen, 2009.
Decker, Klaus-Peter. Die Auswanderung Von 1766/67 Aus Der Grafschaft Ysenburg-Büdingen Nach Russland. Geschichtswerkstatt Büdingen, 2015. p. 131. Print
Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. pp. 259-260. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. pp. 241-242 and pp. 283-284. Print.
Last updated April 19, 2024