NORKA
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History > Norka 1775

Norka 1775

The relative economic success reported by Peter Simon Pallas during his visit in 1773 was followed by several years of instability in 1774 and 1775.  The economic position of the colony was destabilized because of attacks by Pugachev's rebels in 1774.  Added to this calamity was the loss of approximately 300 cows and 200 bulls from disease (Tierseuche) between December 1774 and April 1775, damage from rodents, and a significant number of stolen or disabled horses.  The combined blows forced the villagers to ask the Kontora for help because, in their own words, they could no longer farm.
Norka 1775 census page
A portion of the first page of the 1775 census of Norka. Courtesy of Steve Schreiber.
The 1775 census revision reports that most colonists living in Norka were diligent workers, but about 50 people were "not overzealous," especially in maintaining their homes and outbuildings.  The Russian officials believed the colonists had enough grain to last until the next harvest. Still, an additional 80 strips of wheat were allocated by the Kontora to help ensure that all were adequately fed.  The census takers noted a lack of adequate forestland and harvest of hay to feed the cattle.  Johannes Preisendorf states that the first forester in Norka was Jacob Huck (Note: It may have been Johannes Huck, born about 1746, who was among the first settlers). Cattle were being fed on unharvested grain.  Some colonists requested to be transferred to another colony and be reimbursed for their homes and personal property. Government officials suggested resettling colonists from Norka to Pobochnaya, where sufficient forestland was available. 

The Vorsteher at this time was Johann Georg Bauer, and the Beisitzer were Johann Jacob Schmer, Friedrich Köhler, and Andreas Hardt.

In April 1775, seed grain was provided to each household in Norka. In total, 395 chetverts of wheat, 117 chetverts of barley, and 345 chetverts of oats were supplied to the colonists. A chetvert is the equivalent of about 210 liters or 55 gallons.

Sources

The 1775 and 1798 Censuses of the German Colony on the Volga, Norka: Also Known as Weigand. Lincoln, Neb.: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1995. Print.

Litzenberger, Olga. Deutsche Evangelische Siedlungen an Der Wolga. Trans. Johannes Herzog and Paul Höringklee. Nürnberg: HFDR, 2013. 441-452. Print.

Preisendorf, Johannes. "Auszüge aus der Chronik der Kolonie Norka an der Wolga." Der Kirchenbote. Date Unknown.

A report by Lt. Ivanov listing the colonists able to farm and the amount of seed grain allocated to each household. April 1775. The English language translator is unknown. The original document is held by the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts (RSAAA or RGADA in Russian) located in Moscow (Fond 283, File 172 - Office of the Guardianship of Foreigners under the Senate).
Last updated November 21. 2023
Copyright © 2002-2025 Steven H. Schreiber
  • Home
    • About
    • Reviews
    • Contact
  • People
    • Founders
    • Personal Histories
    • 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
    • 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