Appolonia Schäfer
Appolonia (family name unknown) was born about 1723. She married a man with the family name of Schäfer about 1743. Appolonia and her husband had a least two children: Christian, born about 1748 and Catharina, born in Büdingen in 1752 according to the Norka 1834-45 Family Register. Preliminary research by Maggie Hein in the Büdingen parish records did not reveal a baptism record for Catharina or Christian.
Appolonia's husband likely died sometime before the spring of 1766. The family was probably living in or near Büdingen, a recruiting center and gathering point for colonists migrating to Russia. In 1766, Appolonia and her two children decided to accept the offer described in Catherine's Manifesto and migrate to Russia.
The family sailed with other colonists from the north German port of Lübeck aboard the Russian ship “Vologda” and arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia on August 10, 1766. They were recorded as farmers of the Reformed faith from Isenburg. Appolonia is recorded as a widow. A number of families that settled in Norka were aboard this same ship.
Over a year later, Appolonia, Christian, and Catharina were among the founders who arrived in Norka on August 15, 1767 and are recorded there on the 1767 Census as Household No. 37.
Catharina married Johann Heinrich Walter about 1773. Christian married Elisabeth Haas about 1780. It is not known if Appolonia married again or when she died. Her courage created the opportunity of a better life for her children and their descendants.
Researched by Steve Schreiber from the sources shown below.
Appolonia's husband likely died sometime before the spring of 1766. The family was probably living in or near Büdingen, a recruiting center and gathering point for colonists migrating to Russia. In 1766, Appolonia and her two children decided to accept the offer described in Catherine's Manifesto and migrate to Russia.
The family sailed with other colonists from the north German port of Lübeck aboard the Russian ship “Vologda” and arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia on August 10, 1766. They were recorded as farmers of the Reformed faith from Isenburg. Appolonia is recorded as a widow. A number of families that settled in Norka were aboard this same ship.
Over a year later, Appolonia, Christian, and Catharina were among the founders who arrived in Norka on August 15, 1767 and are recorded there on the 1767 Census as Household No. 37.
Catharina married Johann Heinrich Walter about 1773. Christian married Elisabeth Haas about 1780. It is not known if Appolonia married again or when she died. Her courage created the opportunity of a better life for her children and their descendants.
Researched by Steve Schreiber from the sources shown below.
Sources
Hein, Maggie. Research in the German parish records.
1834-45 Norka Family Lists, Household 103. Digital copy held by the Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, Portland, Oregon.
Pleve, Igor. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. Page 309. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Vol. 3, Page 238, Household 37. Print.
1834-45 Norka Family Lists, Household 103. Digital copy held by the Center for Volga German Studies at Concordia University, Portland, Oregon.
Pleve, Igor. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. Page 309. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Vol. 3, Page 238, Household 37. Print.
Last updated December 12, 2018.