History > Early Years 1767-1769
Early Years 1767-1769
Despite romanticized accounts, the colonists were not simply dropped in the middle of the Russian Steppe without any means of support. The Russian government spent nearly 6,000,000 rubles on the colonization program and wanted it to be successful.
Creating a new community and developing the land were enormously difficult tasks. The colonists were assisted by the Guardianship Office in Saratov, known as the Kontora.
After arriving in Saratov in early August 1767, each household was given 25 rubles, wagons, saddles, horses, cows, timber, and other necessary items by the Kontora. The items were provided as a loan to be repaid to the Russian government after ten years in three equal installments.
According to Russian archival records, it is very likely that some log houses, known as Krone Häuser (Crown homes), had already been built by the government before the colonists arrived in Norka. The number of houses may have been inadequate to shelter all the colonists in the first winter. Passed down through the generations are stories of a brutal first winter when many people built huts made of earth or sod. These huts were partially underground for insulation and were known as Zemlyanka. After the first winter, better housing was built, and the colonists were in a much better position.
Creating a new community and developing the land were enormously difficult tasks. The colonists were assisted by the Guardianship Office in Saratov, known as the Kontora.
After arriving in Saratov in early August 1767, each household was given 25 rubles, wagons, saddles, horses, cows, timber, and other necessary items by the Kontora. The items were provided as a loan to be repaid to the Russian government after ten years in three equal installments.
According to Russian archival records, it is very likely that some log houses, known as Krone Häuser (Crown homes), had already been built by the government before the colonists arrived in Norka. The number of houses may have been inadequate to shelter all the colonists in the first winter. Passed down through the generations are stories of a brutal first winter when many people built huts made of earth or sod. These huts were partially underground for insulation and were known as Zemlyanka. After the first winter, better housing was built, and the colonists were in a much better position.
During the first winter in Norka, the colonists may have lived in sod huts similar to these in Iceland. The same type of shelters are found in many countries and are similar to the sod houses or dugouts built during the early settlement of the American prairie. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Given that the colonists that settled in Norka arrived late in the year, they could not plant any winter rye before the onset of cold weather. While the colony was allocated a large amount of farmland, each household plowed only about 2/3 of an acre in the fall of 1767. The 218 households prepared about 150 acres for planting in the spring of 1768.
In May 1768, the colonists were issued money to purchase furniture and domestic articles, including tables, benches, beds, buckets, barrels, iron skillets, boxes, sets of six wooden plates and spoons, etc. Many families also received additional horses and cows in 1768.
From their arrival in Saratov through the first successful harvest, the colonists were given a per diem allowance to procure food and necessities from other settlements. They likely purchased goods from established Russian villages and German colonies that were settled in earlier years. This financial support from the government was critical to beginning life in a new environment.
Developing the land was vital to the success of the colony. It was planned to allocate 30 desyatina of arable land to each household regardless of size (a desyatina = 2.7 acres). Fifteen desyatina would be plowed land, five for hay lands, five for forest land, and five for orchards and vegetable gardens. Colonies like Norka on the Bergseite received nearly 40 desyatina per household.
Plots set aside for individual households were for permanent use, but farmland, forest land, and hay lands were communally owned under the Mir system.
The colonists were given seed grain for planting in the first year (primarily rye). The Kontora carefully regulated and instructed the colonists in planting, weeding, harvesting, and haying in this new and unfamiliar environment. Many people who settled in Norka were not farmers and needed help to learn these new skills. Those who did not comply with the instructions from the Kontora could be fined or receive corporal punishment in the form of 20 lashes.
Droughts were common in the Volga region, and there were several in the early years of settlement, the most notable in 1769. The Kontora was relied upon to provide grain for seed and consumption in the early years.
Contemporary reports indicated that a church and school were built in the early days of settlement. Pastor Johann Heinrich Fuchs served the community during these early years.
Count Gregory Orlov reported that by 1769, 172 residences had been built, and there were 118 barns and 168 horse stables in the colony. Many of the residences were probably duplexes accommodating two households. Orlov also reports that there were 444 horses, 410 cows/calves, 40 oxen, 7 pigs, and 0 sheep.
During his expedition through central Russia, Peter Simon Pallas visited the German colonies of Norka and Huck in August 1773. He was clearly impressed with what he saw when he recorded these comments only six years after the founding of Norka:
In May 1768, the colonists were issued money to purchase furniture and domestic articles, including tables, benches, beds, buckets, barrels, iron skillets, boxes, sets of six wooden plates and spoons, etc. Many families also received additional horses and cows in 1768.
From their arrival in Saratov through the first successful harvest, the colonists were given a per diem allowance to procure food and necessities from other settlements. They likely purchased goods from established Russian villages and German colonies that were settled in earlier years. This financial support from the government was critical to beginning life in a new environment.
Developing the land was vital to the success of the colony. It was planned to allocate 30 desyatina of arable land to each household regardless of size (a desyatina = 2.7 acres). Fifteen desyatina would be plowed land, five for hay lands, five for forest land, and five for orchards and vegetable gardens. Colonies like Norka on the Bergseite received nearly 40 desyatina per household.
Plots set aside for individual households were for permanent use, but farmland, forest land, and hay lands were communally owned under the Mir system.
The colonists were given seed grain for planting in the first year (primarily rye). The Kontora carefully regulated and instructed the colonists in planting, weeding, harvesting, and haying in this new and unfamiliar environment. Many people who settled in Norka were not farmers and needed help to learn these new skills. Those who did not comply with the instructions from the Kontora could be fined or receive corporal punishment in the form of 20 lashes.
Droughts were common in the Volga region, and there were several in the early years of settlement, the most notable in 1769. The Kontora was relied upon to provide grain for seed and consumption in the early years.
Contemporary reports indicated that a church and school were built in the early days of settlement. Pastor Johann Heinrich Fuchs served the community during these early years.
Count Gregory Orlov reported that by 1769, 172 residences had been built, and there were 118 barns and 168 horse stables in the colony. Many of the residences were probably duplexes accommodating two households. Orlov also reports that there were 444 horses, 410 cows/calves, 40 oxen, 7 pigs, and 0 sheep.
During his expedition through central Russia, Peter Simon Pallas visited the German colonies of Norka and Huck in August 1773. He was clearly impressed with what he saw when he recorded these comments only six years after the founding of Norka:
"These colonies have since their founding produced their own grain not only for food, but for sale. They have procured for themselves all sorts of convenience and have even built their own granaries."
Norka was fortunate to be located favorably adjacent to plentiful water and fertile land, blessed with a large and homogeneous population, founded by people with various skill sets, and situated near the Kontora in Saratov, which provided assistance when needed. All of these factors, combined with the hard work of its people, provided the colony with a successful start.
Sources
Bauer, Reuben Alexander. One of Many. Edmonton, Alta.: 1965. 30-31. Print.
Dietz, Jacob E. History of the Volga German Colonists. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Printed by Augstums Printing Service, 2005. 67. Print.
Olson, Marie Miller., and Anna Miller. Reisbick. Norka, a German Village in Russia. Lincoln, Nebraska: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1986. 22. Print.
Pleve, I. R., and Richard R. Rye. The German Colonies on the Volga: The Second Half of the Eighteenth Century. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2001. 137. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Correspondence January 31, 2019.
Preisendorf, Johannes. "Auszüge aus der Chronik der Kolonie Norka an der Wolga." Der Kirchenbote. Date Unknown.
Dietz, Jacob E. History of the Volga German Colonists. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Printed by Augstums Printing Service, 2005. 67. Print.
Olson, Marie Miller., and Anna Miller. Reisbick. Norka, a German Village in Russia. Lincoln, Nebraska: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1986. 22. Print.
Pleve, I. R., and Richard R. Rye. The German Colonies on the Volga: The Second Half of the Eighteenth Century. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2001. 137. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Print.
Pleve, Igor. Correspondence January 31, 2019.
Preisendorf, Johannes. "Auszüge aus der Chronik der Kolonie Norka an der Wolga." Der Kirchenbote. Date Unknown.
Last updated December 7, 2023