From Jeziorka, Prussia to Russia in 1804

From Przechowka near Schwetz in Prussia two groups of settlers left the area: One group left for Kleinsee or Jeziorka in 1727, possibly even as early as 1702 (1). Jeziorka is located about 30 km northwest of Schwetz. Herbert Wiebe gives a name list for the Przechowka, Deutsch-Konopath and Kleinsee settlers as of 1772 (2). A second Przechowka group joined 28 families from Jeziorka in 1764 to settle in the Frankfurt/Oder district of Brandenburg province to establish the settlements of Brenkenhoffswalde and Franztal in the Driesen Amt along the Netze River which at that time was drained to claim more arable land for Prussia(3).

A mostly untapped source for emigration studies is the Geh.Preuss.Staatsarchiv in Berlin. Examples of what we may expect to find are the records of the General-Directorium as the central Prussian government was called prior to 1806. These records on emigrants may reveal more than what is spelled out in print by authors like B.H.Unruh or K.Stumpp and may prove worth your attention.

The Prussian census of Mennonites in 1776 lists the names in Jeziorka(4). The list of Mennonite settlers for 1789 is given in Table 1 (5).




Table 1: Mennonite Possessions in Prussia in 1789
General Nachweisung...von denen Mennonistischen Besitzungen de anno 1789



 In Jesiorki, Kreis Conitz (p.20v)                     H   - M   -       R
1.Heinrich Nachtigal                                   1   - 6   -
2.Behr.Ratzlaw                                         1   - -
3.Heinr.Schmidt                                        2   - -
4.Peter Retzlaw                                            - 15  -
5.Jacob Fouth                                              - 2   -
6.Behr.Ratzlaw                                             - 6   -
7.Andr.Kuhn                                                - 7   -       150
8.David Schmidt                                        1   - 2   -
9.Abrah.Rychert                                        1   - -
10.George Buller                                       3   - 15  -
11.Witwe Nachtigallin                                  1   - 15  -
12.Jacob Schmid                                            - 4   -       150
13.Cornel.Jantz                                        1   - 4   -       150
14.Joh.Unrau                                           1   - 7   -       150
15.Peter Becker                                            - 7   -
16.Johan Jantz                                             - 4   -
17.Peter Unrau                                             - 8   -       150
18.Jacob Becker                                        1   - 8   -
19.Peter Retzlaw                                           - 15  -
20.Peter Schmidt                                       1   - 10  -
Summa Jeziorken:                                       18  - 17  -       150

On September 15, 1803 eight Mennonites from Jeziorka appear at the Prussian authorities of Amt Schwetz in West Prussia and give notice that they and their families wish to emigrate to Russia near the town of Ekaterinoslaw on the Molotschna Wodda. They give their personal data as follows:

1. Peter Ratzlaff-age 39, and wife Anna geb.Schmidt-age 41, with 3 children Anna-15, Andreas-12, Maria-9.

2. Andreas Krahn-age 39, and wife Anna geb.Ratzlaff-age 50, with 7 children David-17, Jakob-15, Berend-11, Anna-23, Sara-21, Maria-13, Ewa-8, and parents father Andreas Krahn-age 60, and mother Anna geb.Buller-age 70.

3. Jakob Schmidt-age 33, and wife Maria geb.Schmidt-age 37, and 3 children Anna-9, Peter-6, Jakob-2.

4. Andreas Schmidt-age 26, unmarried.

5. Samuel Schmidt-age 24, weaver, unmarried, but engaged to be married to Maria Krahn-age 24.

6. Peter Buller-age 31, and wife Anna geb.Ratzlaff-age 30, with 4 children Ewa-6, Anna-5, Peter-4, Maria-1.

7. George Buller-age 49, and wife Maria geb.Koehn-age 49 with 4 children Jakob-18, David-15, Maria-12, Anna-10.

8. Jakob Foth-age 44, and wife Maria geb.Nachtigal-age 42, with 2 children Johann-15, Ewa-9.

In addition, the petitioners give detailed information on their land holdings which they intend to sell prior to going to Russia.

This list is signed with xxx by 1,4,5,6, and with their name by 2,3,7,8.

In 1804 permission to emigrate is granted which means a 10% tax on all property being taken out of Prussia.



foot notes:
(1) Menn.Enc.III, 110 (Jeziorka);
MFH 1988,34;1990,151.
(2) H.Wiebe:Das Siedlungswerk niederl{ndischer Mennoniten im Weichseltal,
Marburg 1952, p.80-81.
(3) Menn.Enc.I, p.416 (Brenkenhoffswalde and Franztal);
Menn.Bl.1928,p.90;
MFH 1985,48-50.
(4) Karl-Heinz Ludwig:Zur Besiedlung des Weichseldeltas durch die Mennoniten,
Marburg 1961, p.258-260;
LSD Film #1056552, Salt Lake City,UT.
(5) Gen.Dir.Westpr. Mat.Tit.109 ad Nr.1,vol.2 and Nr.17 (p.55-57,126:Jeziorka
emigrants,LDS Film #1056559,item 3).
The land measurements are
H=Hufen, M=Morgen, R=Ruten where 1 Hufen = 30 Morgen = 9000 Ruten = 16.7 ha =ca.41 acres.


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