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.
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.
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.