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​People > Founders > ​​​​​​​​​Joseph and Evan Elisabeth Letke

Joseph and Eva Elisabeth Letke

Joseph and Eva Elisabeth Letke to Russia in 1766. The first evidence we have of this family are the birth records from Büdingen, a gathering place for the colonists. While in Büdingen, a son named Johann Facius was born on June 12, 1766 and baptized on June 14, 1766 (Note: the Decker book lists the birth as May 12). The newborn was named in honor of his godfather, Johann Facius, the Imperial Russian Commissar in charge of recruitment of colonists. Facius was represented at the baptism by his secretary, Mr. de Rome, who held the child during the ceremony. The baptism record states that Joseph is from Lille in Flanders (now Lille, France). We know from the 1775 census that Eva Elisabeth was previously married to a man named Schäfer and they had a son, Johann Peter, who is with his mother and Joseph Letke on the journey to Russia.

The Letke's arrived in Oranienbaum as public colonists on August 14, 1766 aboard the Die Jungfer Frederika commanded by Hans Christian Korsholm. Their two sons: Johann Peter (Schäfer), age 11 and Johann Facius, age 2 months were with them upon arrival. Joseph stated that he was a Catholic from Flanders. 

The surname is spelled phonetically in a number of ways including: Lütke, Litke, Leckei, Likai, Lechai, Lekagi, Legai, Lequai and Legue. It is uncertain which of these spellings match Joseph's birth record.

The Letke family was recorded as household 169 in the 1767 census of Norka. Joseph is 46, and again stated that he was a Catholic craftsman from Flanders. His wife Eva Elisabeth is 40 and their two sons are listed: Johann Peter, age 12 and Johann Joseph (aka Johann Facius and Johann Bonifacius), age 1 and 1/2. The family arrived in Norka on August 26, 1767.

The Letke's are listed in the 1775 census as household 160. Jospeh is now 53 and Eva Elisabeth is 46. Johann Bonafacius is age 10. A new son, Oswald has joined the family and is listed as age 6. The 1775 census reveals that Johann Peter is a stepson of Joseph. His father's name is Schäfer, and he is now age 20.

The 1798 census does not list Joseph or Eva Elisabeth. It is assumed that they have died by this time. The census did record that Johann Bonifacius and Oswald have moved to the colony of Huck. The surname does not continue in Norka after this time.

Johann Peter Schäfer remained in Norka and married Anna Maria Schreiner (born about 1755), the daughter of Johannes Schreiner and Magdalena Gerdt.

Sources

Decker, Klaus-Peter. Die Auswanderung Von 1766/67 Aus Der Grafschaft Ysenburg-Büdingen Nach Russland. Geschichtswerkstatt Büdingen, 2015. Page 194.

Mai, Brent Alan, and Dona B. Reeves-Marquardt. German Migration to the Russian Volga (1764-1767): Origins and Destinations. American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2003. Page 171.

Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. Print. Page 366. ​

Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Print. Page 274.
Last updated February 13, 2021.
Copyright © 2002-2023 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
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    • 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
    • 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
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        • 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
    • Prayers
    • Baptism
    • Confirmation
    • Communion
    • Weddings
    • Funerals and Burials
  • Religion
    • Planning and History >
      • Norka Reformed Church 1767-1864
      • 1909 Norka Parish Report
    • Pastors >
      • Johann Heinrich Fuchs
      • Johann Georg Herwig
      • Johannes Baptista 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 >
      • 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
    • Related Links