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People > Founders > ​​​​​​​​​​​Eisel

Eisel Families

The Johannes and Johann Georg Eisel (also Eÿsel or Eusel) families settled in the colony of Norka in August 1767. The two Eisel men are probably brothers.

Johannes Eisel was probably born in Herfa. His baptism was recorded at the parish church in Friedewald on 28 April 1728. He is the son of Johann Heinrich Eisel and his wife Anna Martha. Johannes married Anna Christina Becker on 4 April 1762 in Ronshausen. Anna Christina is the daughter of the colonist Anton Becker (Bäcker) from Ronshausen and his first wife, Anna Barbara Bachmann. Johannes and Anna Christina had two children who were born in Ronshausen:

  1. Joachim, baptized 23 August 1762
  2. Anna Elisabeth, baptized 4 April 1765

Johann Georg Eisel was probably born in Herfa, and his baptism was recorded at the parish church in Friedewald in November 1740. He is the son of Johann Heinrich Eisel and his wife Anna Barbara. Johann Georg married Anna Catharina Becker on 8 July 1765 in Ronshausen. Anna Catharina is also the daughter of Anton and Anna Barbara Becker. Johann Georg and Anna Christina had two children in Ronshausen prior to their marriage:
​
  1. Johann Heinrich, baptized 17 September 1762, died before 19 July 1766
  2. Anna Catharina Elisabeth, baptized 15 February 1764

Both Eisel families decided to become Russian colonists. They sailed from Lübeck and arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia, on 19 July 1766, as public colonists aboard the ship "Fortitudo" commanded by John Scott. Also aboard this ship were Anna Christina and Anna Catharina's father, Anton Becker, and his second wife, and their brother, Johann George Becker, and his family.

All of the surviving members of the Eisel and Becker families arrived in the colony of Norka on 15 August 1767.

Johannes and Anna Christina are recorded in the 1767 census as household 154. Their son, Joachim, died en route to the settlement area. 

Johann Georg and Anna Catharina Eisel, and their daughter Anna Catharina Elisabeth, are recorded in the 1767 census as household 149. 

Anton Becker and his second wife, Maria Catharina, are listed in household 160 of the 1767 census of Norka. Anton's son, Johann George, and his family are listed in household 159.

Sources

Research by Steve Schreiber. The Volga Germans website (9 Aug 2021, updated 5 May 2026).
​
Parish records of Ronshausen, Hersfeld-Rotenburg, 1714-1773 on Archion.de

Parish records of Friedewald, Landerhausen, and Herfa, 1717-1801 on Archion.de

Idt, Andreas and Georg Rauschenbach. Deutsche Kolonisten im Jahr 1766 in Oranienbaum und in den Siedlungsorten – Die Kuhlberg-Listen. 2nd Edition. Moscow 2024: Nos. 3604, 3607, 3608, and 3650.

Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767, Band 3 (Göttingen: Göttinger Arbeitskreis, 2005): Pgs. 269, 270, 272.
Last updated June 3, 2026
Copyright © 2002-2026 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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  • People
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    • Notable Norkans
    • Stories
    • Photo Identification
    • Photo Gallery
  • Community
    • Village Life
    • Entertainment
    • Agriculture
    • Climate
    • Homesites
    • Geographical Description
    • Government
    • Social Structure
    • Health
    • Education
    • A Land of Ethnic Diversity
    • Cottage Industries >
      • Sarpinka
      • Mills
    • Language
    • Population
    • Military Service
    • Crime and Punishment
  • History
    • Timeline
    • Origins of the Colonists
    • Catherine's Manifesto 1763
    • Why go to Russia?
    • Recruitment 1766
    • Planning 1764-1766
    • Johann Reinhold Forster
    • Marriages Prior To Emigration 1766
    • Voyage to Russia 1766 >
      • Ship Transport 1766
    • Journey 1766-1767
    • Founding of Norka 1767
    • Early Years 1767-1769
    • Norka 1769
    • Pallas Report 1773
    • Pugachev Raid 1774
    • Norka 1775
    • Norka 1798
    • Norka 1811
    • Napoleons Soldiers
    • Norka 1834
    • Daughter Colonies 1850s >
      • Neu-Norka
      • Oberdorf
      • Brunnental
      • Rosenfeld (am Jeruslan)
      • Neu Hussenbach (Gaschon)
    • Privileges Lost 1871-1874
    • Immigration 1875-1924 >
      • To the United States >
        • Colorado
        • Ft Collins Colorado
        • Globeville Colorado
        • Mason City, Iowa
        • Culbertson, Nebraska
        • Lincoln, Nebraska
        • Sutton, Nebraska
        • Burlington, Oklahoma
        • Weatherford, Oklahoma
        • Canby, Oregon
        • Portland, Oregon
      • To Canada >
        • Duffield, Alberta
        • Ponoka, Alberta
        • Spruce Grove, Alberta
        • Stony Plain, Alberta
        • Vegreville, Alberta
        • Arcola, Saskatchewan
      • To Germany
      • To South America
    • Famine 1891-1892
    • Norka 1898
    • War & Turnoil 1904-1906
    • World War 1914-1918
    • Revolution & War 1917-1922
    • Soviet Rule 1918-1941
    • Famine 1921-1924
    • Famine 1932-1933
    • The Great Terror 1936-1938
    • Deportation 1941
    • Repression 1941-1956
    • Cultural Loss 1957-2006
    • A Culture in Peril
    • Recent Times
  • Traditions
    • Food and Drink
    • Clothing
    • Holidays >
      • New Year
      • Fastnacht
      • Lent
      • Easter
      • Ascension Day
      • Pentecost
      • Founder's Day
      • Harvest Festival
      • Jahrmarkt
      • Christmas
      • Anniversaries & Birthdays
    • Crafts
    • Games
    • Folk Medicine
    • Superstitions
    • Nicknames
    • Folk Music
    • Church Music
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johann Baptist Cattaneo
      • Lukas Cattaneo
      • Emanuel Grunauer
      • Friedrich Börner
      • Christian Gottlieb Hegele
      • Christoph H Bonwetsch
      • Gottlieb N Bonwetsch
      • Wilhelm Staerkel
      • Woldemar Sibbul
      • David Weigum
      • Friedrich Alexander Wacker
      • Emil Pfeiffer
    • Church Practices >
      • Baptism
      • Confirmation
      • Weddings
      • Communion
      • Prayers
      • Parochial Certificates
    • Church Buildings
    • Church Organs
    • Bell Tower
    • Brethren Movement
  • Resources
    • Family Research
    • Research Resources >
      • Arrival Records 1766
      • Descendant Charts
      • German EWZ Records
      • Soviet Gulag Records
    • Maps
    • Glossary
    • Bibliography
    • Periodicals >
      • Die Welt-Post Letters
      • Sonntagsblatt der Omaha Tribune
    • Related Links