Lorenz and Gertrude Kuhn
In 1766, Lorenz Kuhn, a shoemaker from Hettersroth, Birstein, Germany, and his wife Anna Margaretha, accepted the offer described in Catherine's Manifesto. The couple sailed with other colonists from the north German port of Lübeck aboard the Russian ship “Strel 'Na” and arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia on August 9, 1766. Many families aboard this ship settled in Norka one-year later. The transport list indicates that Anna Margaretha died during the journey to the settlement area on the lower Volga River.
Lorenz married again to Gertrude (née Kessel).
Gertrude was the recent widow of Christoph Weitzel from Bönstadt. Gertrude and Christoph had married in Büdingen on May 24, 1766 shortly before departing for Russia. Gertrude was born in Leÿdecken (Leidhecken). Christoph and Gertrude arrived in Oranienbaum aboard the ship "Apollo" on August 29, 1766. The couple is recorded in the transport list and they are traveling with Jacob and Anna Maria Weitzel, and Christian and Susanna Weitzel. Christoph died before the group arrived in Norka.
Lorenz and Gertrude were among the founders who arrived in Norka on August 26, 1767 and are recorded there on the 1767 Census as Household No. 178.
Lorenz married again to Gertrude (née Kessel).
Gertrude was the recent widow of Christoph Weitzel from Bönstadt. Gertrude and Christoph had married in Büdingen on May 24, 1766 shortly before departing for Russia. Gertrude was born in Leÿdecken (Leidhecken). Christoph and Gertrude arrived in Oranienbaum aboard the ship "Apollo" on August 29, 1766. The couple is recorded in the transport list and they are traveling with Jacob and Anna Maria Weitzel, and Christian and Susanna Weitzel. Christoph died before the group arrived in Norka.
Lorenz and Gertrude were among the founders who arrived in Norka on August 26, 1767 and are recorded there on the 1767 Census as Household No. 178.
Evangelische Church in Birstein, built in 1701. Source: 2011 photo by A Walther.
Sources
Baumung, Alexander. Kuhn family research in the Würzburg archives and sources listed below.
Mai, Brent Alan, and Dona B. Reeves-Marquardt. German Migration to the Russian Volga (1764-1767): Origins and Destinations. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2003. Print.
Parish records for Bönstadt (LDS International Film # 1195346).
Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. Print. Note: This source incorrectly lists Lorenz Kuhn and Lorenz Kuch.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Print.
Rauschenbach, Georg, and Andreas Idt. Deutsche Kolonisten Auf Dem Weg Von St. Petersburg Nach Saratov: Transportlisten Von 1766-1767. Moscow: pp. 119, 138. 2017. Print.
Mai, Brent Alan, and Dona B. Reeves-Marquardt. German Migration to the Russian Volga (1764-1767): Origins and Destinations. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2003. Print.
Parish records for Bönstadt (LDS International Film # 1195346).
Pleve, I. R. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical U, 2010. Print. Note: This source incorrectly lists Lorenz Kuhn and Lorenz Kuch.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in Das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 Kolonien Laub- Preuss. Gottingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005. Print.
Rauschenbach, Georg, and Andreas Idt. Deutsche Kolonisten Auf Dem Weg Von St. Petersburg Nach Saratov: Transportlisten Von 1766-1767. Moscow: pp. 119, 138. 2017. Print.
Last updated July 10, 2018.