Johann Georg Herwig
The Rev. Johann Georg Herwig, son of teacher Conrad H. Herwig and Elisabeth (surname unknown), was born in Aue near Eschwege (Germany) on July 11, 1714. He married Sophie Elisabeth Stippius in Willershausen, Hessen (Germany) on February 12, 1742. She was born in Willershausen on October 29, 1710.
Philipps-Universität Marburg. Source: Hydro, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Herwig began his theological studies on September 25, 1736, at Philipps-Universität Marburg, founded in 1527. He passed his candidate examination in 1741 in front of the theological faculty. From 1741 to 1756, he served as pastor in Willershausen near Herleshausen. Herwig resigned from his position in Willershausen to avoid being involuntarily discharged. It is not known what he did before traveling to Russia as one of the original colonists.
Pastor Herwig arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia, on July 24, 1766, with over 1,000 colonists of the private recruiter Beauregard. They departed from Lübeck aboard the English barque "George" commanded by Adam Bairnsfair. He was listed as a single pastor from Hessen. Pastor Herwig traveled to the lower Volga River settlement area as part of the Oberleutnant Ditmar transport group. He was listed as a Reformed pastor and likely ministered to the colonists during the long journey.
Upon arrival in the colonies, Herwig became pastor of the Reformed congregation in Katharinenstadt in 1768, where he served until 1769. In 1769, he became the Norka Reformed parish pastor, serving until his death on April 29, 1782. He was one of the few clergymen in the Volga colonies during the early years of settlement. In his memoirs, Rev. Johann Baptist Cattaneo, who succeeded Rev. Herwig in 1784, states that Herwig lost his small fortune before he died but provides no other details. Having lived in Hessen and served as a Reformed pastor before migrating to Russia, Herwig was well suited to understanding the language, customs, and religion of the people who settled in Norka, most of whom came from the same region and were practitioners of the same faith.
Pastor Herwig arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia, on July 24, 1766, with over 1,000 colonists of the private recruiter Beauregard. They departed from Lübeck aboard the English barque "George" commanded by Adam Bairnsfair. He was listed as a single pastor from Hessen. Pastor Herwig traveled to the lower Volga River settlement area as part of the Oberleutnant Ditmar transport group. He was listed as a Reformed pastor and likely ministered to the colonists during the long journey.
Upon arrival in the colonies, Herwig became pastor of the Reformed congregation in Katharinenstadt in 1768, where he served until 1769. In 1769, he became the Norka Reformed parish pastor, serving until his death on April 29, 1782. He was one of the few clergymen in the Volga colonies during the early years of settlement. In his memoirs, Rev. Johann Baptist Cattaneo, who succeeded Rev. Herwig in 1784, states that Herwig lost his small fortune before he died but provides no other details. Having lived in Hessen and served as a Reformed pastor before migrating to Russia, Herwig was well suited to understanding the language, customs, and religion of the people who settled in Norka, most of whom came from the same region and were practitioners of the same faith.
The Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church) in Willershausen where Rev. Herwig served prior to immigrating to Russia. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Amburger, Erik. Die Pastoren Der Evangelischen Kirchen Russlands Vom Ende Des 16. Jahrhunderts Bis 1937: Ein Biographisches Lexikon. Lüneburg: Inst. Nordostdt. Kulturwerk, 1998. 348. Print.
Lind, Carsten. Archiv der Philipps-Universität Marburg im Hessischen Staatsarchiv Marburg, Friedrichsplatz 15, 35037, Marburg, Germany. Email to Steven Schreiber dated August 8, 2017.
Pleve, I. R., and Richard R. Rye. The German Colonies on the Volga: The Second Half of the Eighteenth Century. Lincoln, Nebraska: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2001. p. 319. Print.
Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov State Technical University, 2010. p. 289. No. 4477. Print.
Rauschenbach, Georg, and Andreas Idt. Deutsche Kolonisten Auf Dem Weg Von St. Petersburg Nach Saratov: Transportlisten Von 1766-1767. 2017. p. 211. No. 4502. Print.
Rauschenbach, Georg and Idt, Andreas. Auswanderung deutscher Kolonisten nach Russland im Jahre 1766. (Moscow: 2019): p. 33. No. 54.
Schnurr, Joseph. Die Kirchen Und Das Religiöse Leben Der Rußlanddeutschen. Stuttgart: AER-Verl., 1978. p. 143. Print.
Lind, Dr. Carsten. Archiv der Philipps-Universität Marburg im Hessischen Staatsarchiv Marburg (UniA MR 305m 1 Nr. 4) and (UniA MR 307a Nr. 437 Protocollum facultatis). Email dated August 8, 2017.
Lind, Carsten. Archiv der Philipps-Universität Marburg im Hessischen Staatsarchiv Marburg, Friedrichsplatz 15, 35037, Marburg, Germany. Email to Steven Schreiber dated August 8, 2017.
Pleve, I. R., and Richard R. Rye. The German Colonies on the Volga: The Second Half of the Eighteenth Century. Lincoln, Nebraska: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2001. p. 319. Print.
Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov State Technical University, 2010. p. 289. No. 4477. Print.
Rauschenbach, Georg, and Andreas Idt. Deutsche Kolonisten Auf Dem Weg Von St. Petersburg Nach Saratov: Transportlisten Von 1766-1767. 2017. p. 211. No. 4502. Print.
Rauschenbach, Georg and Idt, Andreas. Auswanderung deutscher Kolonisten nach Russland im Jahre 1766. (Moscow: 2019): p. 33. No. 54.
Schnurr, Joseph. Die Kirchen Und Das Religiöse Leben Der Rußlanddeutschen. Stuttgart: AER-Verl., 1978. p. 143. Print.
Lind, Dr. Carsten. Archiv der Philipps-Universität Marburg im Hessischen Staatsarchiv Marburg (UniA MR 305m 1 Nr. 4) and (UniA MR 307a Nr. 437 Protocollum facultatis). Email dated August 8, 2017.
Last updated February 8, 2024