264. Gottfried Wolf 363 was born in 1714 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 20 October 1794 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
This relationship is noted as a possibility in the Grandma Database but I can not support it with autosomal DNA evidence. Grandma points out that the mother of Jacob would be the first wife of Gottfried. She is not identified.
Gottfried married an unknown person.
Children:
132 i. Jacob Wolf 213 (born in 1753 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in 1790 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine). Jacob married Justina Harder,214 daughter of Johann Harder, 21 July 1776 in Prussia. Justina was born 11 November 1758 in Neuteich, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 8 July 1774 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died in 1840 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
266. Johann Harder 364 was born in 1723 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 8 December 1800 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
This is probably the father of Justina Harder. He appears in the 1776 census in Willenbruchs Huben, Heubuden Gemeinde, the same village as his presumed son in law Jacob Wolf. H. Schapansky says the same thing. He was a Flemish Mennonite. In 1776 he is listed with a wife and 2 sons, and his financial condition is given as 'schlecht' meaning neither well off nor poor. He is also mentioned in the both the 1772 and 1789 Census, also in Heubuden.
He may be listed in the Grandma Database twice as #476542 and #805535.
Johann married an unknown person.
Children:
133 i. Justina Harder 214 (born 11 November 1758 in Neuteich, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in 1840 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Justina married Jacob Wolf,213 son of Gottfried Wolf, 21 July 1776 in Prussia. Jacob was born in 1753 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 18 July 1773 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and died in 1790 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Justina next married David Giesbrecht 367 about 1791 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. David was born in 1750 in Neuteich, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1800 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Justina next married Johann Epp 368 in January 1801. Johann was born 11 November 1758.
270. Heinrich Bergen 370 was born before 1720 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
I have seen this named written as von Bargen. Names such as this (using 'De', 'Von' and 'Van') generally originated in the Southern and Spanish Netherlands according to H. Schapansky. His son Heinrich was born in Leske, Gross Werder, between 1745 and 1748. Therefore Heinrich, the father, was born around 1728 or earlier. There is a Heinrich listed in the 1776 Census with an annotation indicating this is the son. There is a Heinrich listed in the both the 1772 and the 1789 Census in Leske. It isn't clear whether these refer to the father or the son but it might be that the 1772 census refers to the father and the 1789 census to the son. The Heinrich in the 1789 census is listed as a leaseholder.
I found information about his son Jacob and I quote it here. I do not have a source reference for this material.
"He was a member of the Heubuden Gemeinde and later became a member of the Orlofferfeld Gemeinde. He applied for immigration to Russia on 11 Nov 1803 but did not leave until the summer of 1805. He migrated from Neuteichsdorf, Prussia to South Russia in 1805 with his second wife and children (P. Rempel, p. 96; B. H. Unruh, p. 347). While B. H. Unruh, p. 347 states that he immigrated to the Molotschna Colony, it appears that he never actually went there and instead settled immediately in Kronsgarten. In the 1806 Chortitza Colony Census he is listed in Kronsgarten (P. Rempel, p. 19). In the 1816 Census his family is listed at Kronsgarten #12 but he is stated to have died in 1812 (Stumpp's book The Emigration from Germany to Russia, p. 873). The ages of his family members as given in that census are as of about 1812. His age is given as 64 in his 1805 emigration records suggesting that he may have been born ca 1741 (P. Rempel, p. 96). According to the Orlofferfelde church records he transferred from the Heubuden (Flemish) to the Orlofferfelde (Frisian) church in 1783. This was due to his marriage to Catharina Spenst, who was a member of the Orlofferfelde church.
According to the 1772 census of West Prussia he was a farmer living in Leske with his wife and one son under the age of 12. He owned 2.5 Morgen of land at the time. According to the 1776 census of Mennonites in West Prussia he was living in Leske with his wife, one son and 2 daughters. According to the 1789 census of Mennonite landowners in West Prussia he was living in Leske and possessed 3.5 Morgen of land as an Erbpachter (hereditary lease).
According to an inheritance document dated 8 Aug 1805 found in the Berlin archives (Berlin Archives I Ha Rep7 file B4177) when Jacob Bergen (#18813) applied to leave for Russia on 11 Nov 1803 the estate of his first wife had not been settled and inheritance was due to those children who went to Russia with their father. The administrators of the estate are listed as Wilhelm Bergen of NeuMuensterberg (#659965) and Johann Bergen of Tiegerweide (#17323). Arrangements were made for the money to be taken to Russia by Heinrich Bergen (#43827) and given to the guardians of the minor children, Jacob Braun (#53146) and Hermann Dyck (#18811). There is good reason to believe that these 4 Bergen men were brothers. If not, it is very likely that they were closely related. Jacob's father is known from the 1835 Molotschna colony census to be Heinrich. Heinrich apparently didn't leave for Russia until the summer of 1805."
Heinrich married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Hans Bergen was born in 1740 in Leske, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Heinrich Bergen 514 was born in 1745 and died in 1812.
135 iii. Maria Bergen 216 (born 3 February 1753 in Leske, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died about 1804 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine). Maria married Johann Peters 215 24 January 1776 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Johann was born 24 April 1754 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 9 January 1826 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. Jacob Bergen 515 was born 14 February 1758 in Leske, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 29 October 1833 in Schoenau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
312. Johann Penner 253 was born about 1685 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Johann married Maria Loewen 253 before 1717 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Maria was born about 1685 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Children:
156 i. Gerhard Penner 252 (born 21 July 1717 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 5 November 1797 in Prussia). Gerhard married Magdalena Wiebe 253 26 November 1747 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Magdalena was born in January 1720 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 5 May 1801 in Prussia.
313. Maria Loewen 253 was born about 1685 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Maria married Johann Penner 253 before 1717 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Johann was born about 1685 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
320. Gottfried Schapansky,385 son of Matthies Schapansky 516 and Katharina Janzen,517 was born 29 April 1696 in Thiensdorf, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died after 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
His parents were Matthias Schapansky and Catharina Jantzen according to records published by Erwin Wittenberg and Manuel Janz. He is listed as a landowner in the village of Jedwilleiten in Lithuanian between 1720 and 1722. He farmed the land there jointly with Gerhardt Eckert. Wittenberg and Janz published a map that shows where the farm was. Gottfried was part of the expelled group of Mennonites. He moved to the Elbing region around 1724-1726. Later in 1741 he lived in the Friedrichsgraben area. This move was in response to a program by the Prussian crown to attract Mennonites to the Memel lowlands to reclaim the swampy land and boost the economy. The project was doomed to failure because of extensive flood damage to the land prior to the resettlement. I believe the settlement was eventually abandoned. By 1749 Gottfried had left (Wittenberg and Janz published a list of settlers remaining in 1749 and Gottfried was not on the list.)
I speculate that Gottfried is the father of David Schapansky (1731) based on the research completed by Alfons Sczepanski as outlined below.
Synopsis: Alfons Sczepanski Thiensdorf Nachfahrenliste
A Sczepanski son born in the 1690s lived in Lithuania for a period of time before relocating sometime before 1730 to Thiensdorf to farm there. His wife is unknown, but he had a son named David, born around 1731 in the Thiensdorf area. [This corresponds to Gottfried Schapansky who was born in Thiensdorf in 1696, farmed in the Memel lowlands after the settlement was established in 1714, was expelled in 1724, and headed back to the Elbing area. Thiensdorf is south of Elbing and east of Marienburg.]
David Schapansky married Anna Pauls (born 1736). The marriage produced two children. Herman was born around 1754. Cornelius was born in 1765. [Henry Schapansky has written that there was also a son, David, born in 1751. It seems likely that David was a son of the elder David. Wes Reimer has written that there was a daughter, Anna. There is no information to support this assertion.]
Cornelius was born in Hohenwalde. He was baptized in 1781 in the Thiensdorf church [this is also recorded in the church records where he is listed as the surviving son of David]. He was married to Maria Phillipsen (born 1782 in Campenau) in 1800. They had one son, Cornelius, born in 1802. The son and his offspring never left Prussia. Maria died of "childbed fever" in 1803. Cornelius did not remarry. He died in Campenau in 1831.
Herman was born in Thiensdorf. He farmed in Kerbshorst and was also a carpenter according to an 1811 reference [this was probably the 1811 Elbing census]. Herman died in Schwansdorf in 1824 at the age of 70. He was married twice. His first wife was Maria Klassen, born in 1764, whom he married in March 1785. Maria died of typhus in 1800 at the age of 36. This marriage produced three sons: Herman (1785); Heinrich (1792); and Johann (1794). His second wife was Anna Heinrichs, born in Kerbshorst in 1781. They were married in 1800. She died in Ellerwald in 1857. This marriage produced eleven children: Cornelius (1801); Anna (1804); Cornelius (1806); another daughter who died as in infant (1809); Heinrich (1811); Maria (1812); Anna (1816); Cornelia (1817); Johann (1819); David (1821); and Catharina (1824).
Herman (1785) was baptised in the Markushof church in 1802 and lived in Kerbshorst. Heinrich (1792) died of typhus in 1801. Johann (1794) died of whooping cough in 1794. Cornelius (1801) died as in infant in 1801. Anna (1804) died in 1807 of "lazy fiber". Cornelius (1806) died in Ellerwald in 1861 at the age of 55. Heinrich (1811) and his offspring remained in Prussia. Maria (1812) died of typhus in 1825 at the age of 13. Anna (1816) married and had children (all unknown) and she and her offspring appear to have remained in Prussia. Cornelia (1817) died young. Johann (1819) died young. David (1821) died at the age of 10 in 1831. Catharina (1824) died in 1825 of typhus.
[Herman (1785) migrated to Chortitza in 1818. Henry Schapansky writes that the family were Lithuanian Mennonites, but it is clear that the family lived in the Thiensdorf-Markushof congregational area during the latter half of the 18th century. The confusion may stem from the repeated relocations of Gottfried. He moved to Lithuania, then returned to Elbing. Later he went back to Lithuania in 1741 for a few years, before the Friedrichsgraben settlement was abandoned. It seems that the family returned to the Thiensdorf area around 1750.]
Gottfried married an unknown person.
Children:
160 i. David Schapansky 259 (born before 1731 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died before 1781 in Thiensdorf, Elbing Region, Prussia). David married Anna Pauls 260 before 1751. Anna was born about 1731 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
368. Jacob Dyck 394 was born before 1742 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1793 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
He is listed as the father of Jacob Dyck in the Rosenort Gemeinde baptism records in 1785. The family was living in the village of Neustadterwald at this time. He is listed in association with five children baptized between 1785 and 1794. The two children baptized in 1793 and 1794 are referred to as surviving children of Jacob, giving us approximate dates of birth and death. Henry Schapansky identifies him as the farm owner in Neustadterwald in the 1776 census with two sons and two daughters.
Jacob married an unknown person.
Children:
184 i. Jacob Dyck 287 (born about 1763 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 7 May 1838 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Jacob married Anna Dyck,288 daughter of Jacob Dyck, 24 November 1785 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Anna was born about 1760 in Stobbendorf, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 15 September 1813 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Jacob next married Anganetha Hamm 398 2 November 1813 in Nieder Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Anganetha was born 29 September 1765 in Rosenort, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 11 August 1838.
ii. Lehnert Dyck 518 was born about 1770 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1790 in Rosenort, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
iii. Sara Dyck 518 was born about 1770 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1790 in Rosenort, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
iv. Maria Dyck 519 was born about 1773 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1793 in Rosenort, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
v. Katarina Dyck 520 was born about 1774 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1794 in Rosenort, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
370. Jacob Dyck 395 was born in 1727 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1792 in Prussia.
Henry Schapansky provides his name. He lived in Neustadterwald in 1776. In the 1776 census Schapansky identifies him as the person with three sons and four daughters. He was a farm owner. The comment by this census entry says he lived from 1727 to 1792. I cannot locate his death in the Tragheimerweide Church Book and therefore cannot substantiate these dates.
Jacob married an unknown person.
Children:
185 i. Anna Dyck 288 (born about 1760 in Stobbendorf, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 15 September 1813 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine). Anna married Jacob Dyck,287 son of Jacob Dyck, 24 November 1785 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Jacob was born about 1763 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 19 June 1785 in Rosenort, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and died 7 May 1838 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
374. Michael Peters 399 was born in 1722 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1806.
According to Henry Schapansky he was a farmer in Neuteich in 1776. Michael came to the Chortitza area with his daughter, Katharina, and her family in 1805. He was not with the family at the time of the 1806 census for Kronsgarten.
Michael married an unknown person.
Children:
187 i. Katharina Peters 290 (born in 1755 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). Katharina married Isaac Klassen 289 16 July 1777 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Isaac was born in 1749 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1812 in Kronsgarten, Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
376. Benjamin DeVeer,373 son of DeVeer, was born in 1733 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1822 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine.
He was a Flemish Mennonite.
Different sources give a range of dates for his year of birth. Relying on the Chortitza census data available in Unruh it is quite clear that he was born around 1733. The 1808 census was taken on 20 September and he was 75; the 1814 census was taken on 4 October and he was 81; therefore he must have been born after 4 October 1732 and before 20 September 1733. Genealogy work by Verna Fehr provides his year of death. I can't substantiate this.
The often cited relationship of Benjamin to parents Benjamin and Elizabeth is hypothetical, based on speculation by Herman Thiessen. There are no genealogical records to substantiate this. Benjamin would have been about eight years old when his mother died and ten when his father died. Since his father didn't remarry either of these events would normally result in Benjamin being placed with another family. It is apparent that he didn't live in the Danzig area when he was baptized or married because there is no trace of him in the Danzig Church Book. However, he also does not appear in the 1776 Census and this indicates he was in Danzig, outside the census zone at that time (although I understand that this census is known to be less than comprehensive so no concrete conclusion can be made). In 1785 he appears in the 1782-1795 Baptism Record for the Rosenort Gemeinde, living in Klein Mausdorf; his children Anna and Isaac were baptized in that year.
He was residing in Neuendorf in the Chortitza Colony as early as 1793 and remained there until Nieder-Chortitza was established in 1803, and he appears in the census there in 1803. By 1808 he had moved back to Neuendorf to live with his son Jacob and later he moved with his son to Neu-Osterwick. Stump lists his son Jacob in Neuenberg in 1795, coming from Krebsfelde but Benjamin is not listed. Peter Rempel lists a Benjamin Defehr who arrived in Chortitza in 1789 and settled in Nieder-Chortitza. Glenn Penner's work on the first settlers in Chortitza indicates he actually settled in Neuendorf in 1789.
Unruh also published census data saying his son Jacob came from Krebsfelde. Klein Mausdorf and Krebsfelde are adjacent villages. In his Rosenthal article H. Schapansky says he may have lived in Nehrung or Scharpau in 1776. Scharpau (district of Marienburg) is a village adjacent to the Nehrung area (district of Danzig). Schapansky also finds him in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg at some point around the time of the 1776 census.
His son Isaak is listed in the 1814 census in Nieder-Chortitza with his family. He is likely the same as Isaac de Veer who exchanged his house in Rosenthal with Johann Schellenberg of Chortitza.
The Grandma Database has additional information stating that he was a watch maker in an 1801 census and a teacher in the village of Ruckenau in Prussia. He does appear in the 1772 Prussian Census, living in Ruckenau. His occupation is given as School Master. This census indicates a wife, two sons and two daughters. These children would be Isaak, Anna, Heinrich, and Helena. People living in Ruckenau, Klein Mausdorf and Krebsfelde all were members of the Rosenort Gemeinde.
The Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online (GAMEO) has a detailed entry explaining the De Veer lineage. The first ancestor listed is Gysbert Jansz de Veer, born 14 May 1556, at Schiedam, South Holland. One of his sons, Gysbert de Veer (born in Amsterdam in 1600 and died in Danzig in 1646) was married first to Anna van Buygen (Bergen), then to Maria van Dijck. Gysbert and Maria's son Gysbert (born in 1640 and died in 1693) is the ancestor of the Mennonite branch in Prussia. Based on the information available Benjamin De Veer (born 1733) is the grandson of this Gysbert. However, there exists an hypothesis that Gysbert (1640-1693) had a son named Cornelius who is Benjamin's grandfather. I am aware of no evidence this Cornelius existed.
Based on a comprehensive review of the Mennonite migration information available it appears that in addition to Benjamin and his children there were two sons of Cornelius de Veer (Johann and Cornelius) who also moved to Ukraine. Cornelius was probably younger than Benjamin.
In notes related to Jan de Veere I discuss the DNA evidence that links the family back to the early 1500s.
The parents of Benjamin are going to be found in the Marienburg Region (Gross Werder). Here are the salient geographic facts:
1. Horst Penner has placed Philipp van Dijck in Gross Werder in 1592;
2. Ulrich Dyck has placed Maria Grauwert in Gross Werder at her birth in 1568;
3. Logically their daughter Maria (1606) was born in Gross Werder;
4. Gybert de Veer (1600), who was located in Amsterdam and Danzig might have also been in the Gross Werder area, although this is speculation. However:
5. Arlene Kauwenhoven has place son Philipp (1629) in Gross Werder (Klein Mausdorf specifically) and it is reported that he was a broker there;
6. Calmeyer states that son Gysbert (1640) lived in Gross Werder;
7. Stumpp and Unruh place Cornelius de Veer's (1749) sons in Gross Werder (Czattkau);
8. The 1776 Census places Cornelius de Veer (1749) in Gross Werder (Neumuensterberg);
9. The 1772 Census places Benjamin in Gross Werder (Ruckenau);
10. The Rosenort Baptism records place Benjamin in Gross Werder (Klein Mausdorf) after 1782;
11. Unruh places Benjamin's son Jacob in Gross Werder (Krebsfeld) before migrating to Chortitza.
Cornelius (1749) and Benjamin (1733) may have been brothers, cousins or second cousins. Calmeyer asserts that Gysbert was the patriarch of the Russian de Veer branches and consequently Cornelius and Benjamin must be his descendants. Records for children of Gysbert born in Gross Werder may not have been maintained at the Danzig Flemish Church, leading to the current gap in information. There are one or two generations of male descendants unaccounted for.
Benjamin married Anna Habenstein 374 in October 1761 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born in 1736 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died after 1816 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Maria DeVeer 402 was born 25 July 1762 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 5 September 1762 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Isaak DeVeer 521 was born 27 April 1763 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1785 in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died in September 1857 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
iii. Anna DeVeer 522 was born 14 January 1765 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1785 in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Anna married Johann Siemens 523 before 1795 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Johann was born in 1754 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
iv. Heinrich DeVeer 402 was born 9 October 1767 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1795.
v. Helena DeVeer 402 was born 14 February 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1795.
vi. Maria DeVeer 402 was born 12 February 1771 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1771 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
vii. Benjamin DeVeer 402 was born 22 July 1774 in Prussia and died before 1795.
viii. Maria DeVeer 524 was born in 1777 in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
188 ix. Jacob DeVeer 291 (born 13 November 1780 in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia - died in 1823 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine). Jacob married Maria Peters,292 daughter of Johann Peters 215 and Maria Bergen,216 in August 1801 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Maria was born 1 March 1781 in Leske, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
x. Cornelius DeVeer 402 was born in 1784 in Prussia and died in Ukraine.
377. Anna Habenstein 374 was born in 1736 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died after 1816 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine.
H. Schapansky believes Anna and Benjamin were married in 1761. The Grandma Database gives her year of birth as 1736. Schapansky uses 1740. According to Hermann Thiessen her maiden name was Waberstein. This is based on a chart in Folder 411 among his papers. There is confusion about Helena Bergen and Anna Waberstein (for example, her maiden name was reportedly either Waberstein or Bergen per Hannah Rempel's 30 June 1989 letter to Tim Janzen) and some researchers feel there was only one woman, named Anna Bergen. Ruth Friesen believes her name was Waberstein or Haberstein, in accordance with Bud Veer. Conrad Stoesz confirms the name to be Waberstein, as does James Fehr. Other sources on the Internet give more weight to Haberstein on the basis that Bud Veer has apparently done extensive research on this and purportedly leans that way. Note in the 1727 Brandregister land census there is a mention of a Hans Habenstein in Einlage, an Isaac Habenstein in Klein Mausdorf, and an Abraham Habenstein in Krebsfelde, all adjacent villages in the area of the Rosenort Gemeinde. Therefore Haberstein could be correct. On the other hand, none of the von Bergens and von Bargens in that census lived in the area of the Rosenort Gemeinde. Based on these facts and in the absence of other good sources, I am taking Habenstein as the most correct name.
One interesting observation is that Isaac Habenstein lived in Klein Mausdorf, the location associated with Benjamin de Veer. I sense that if records were to emerge they would point to a connection between Isaac Habenstein and the wife of de Veer.
Anna married Benjamin DeVeer,373 son of DeVeer, in October 1761 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Benjamin was born in 1733 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1822 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine.
378. Johann Peters 215 was born 24 April 1754 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 9 January 1826 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
(Duplicate. See Person 134 on Page 346)
379. Maria Bergen,216 daughter of Heinrich Bergen, was born 3 February 1753 in Leske, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1804 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
(Duplicate. See Person 135 on Page 346)
380. David Falk 404 was born before 1739 in Lithuania and died in 1776.
H. Schapansky says he was a Lithuanian Mennonite and may have been living in Memelland in 1776. The Grandma Database says he was born in the Memelniederung area of Lithuania and died in 1776. I standardized his surname from the source that showed it as Falcke.
David married an unknown person.
Children:
190 i. David Falk 293 (born in 1759 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania - died in 1818 in Schoenwiese, Chortitza, Ukraine). David married Sara Martens,405 daughter of Wilhelm Martens, about 1778 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania. Sara was born in 1761 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania, was baptized 27 May 1776 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania, and died about 1806 in Schoenwiese, Chortitza, Ukraine. David next married Maria Bartsch,294 daughter of Johann Bartsch 412 and Susanna Lammert,413 about 1806 in Schoenwiese, Chortitza, Ukraine. Maria was born 21 July 1783 in Danzig and died in Ukraine.
ii. Trincke Falk 525 was born about 1760 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania and was baptized in 1780 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania.
iii. Efcke Falk 526 was born about 1763 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania and was baptized in 1783 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania.
iv. Jacob Falk 527 was born about 1765 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania and was baptized in 1785 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania.
382. Johann Bartsch,412 son of Jacob Bartsch 528 and Christina Philipsen,528 was born 6 September 1757 in Danzig and died 16 December 1821 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Johann Bartsch was one of the deputies, along with Jacob Hoeppner, appointed to assess colonization opportunities offered in the Ukraine during the reign of Catherine the Great. The pair went on their investigative mission in 1786 and toured the land along the Dnieper River, choosing an area of richly fertile land near the town of Berislav. Agreements were signed and upon their return to Danzig arrangements were made for settlers to begin their journeys to the so called New Russia.
Grigory Potemkin was the governor of New Russia and he held vast lands encompassing the entire Chortitza Colony region. When the settlers arrived they were astounded to learn that their agreement was broken and they would be granted land in Chortitza. The Chortitza area, north of Berislav, was more deeply wooded, less easy to clear, and further from a substantial trading port to move agricultural produce. It was hardly ideal but there were no options.
It seems clear that Potemkin had in mind the settlement of his own land from the beginning. He died unexpectedly in 1791 and knowledge of his ulterior motives are lost with him. It is relevant to note that the Russian Empire at the time was still a feudal economy, and much more absolutely feudal than the English system of medieval times. Peasants in Ukraine were hardly more than slaves, indentured servants at best, and could be bought and sold with the land they worked. Whether Potemkin had in mind this model when he invited the Mennonite settlers is unknown. Fortunately his death meant that the Mennonites could operate the typical democratic, capitalistic colony they preferred.
Johann Bartsch was a Frisian Mennonite at the time of his deputation. He later joined the Flemish congregation. He was an original settler in Chortitza in 1789 and remained one of the leaders of the colony for much of its early existence. There is a marble monument dedicated to Johann in Steinbach, Manitoba, that originally was located in Rosenthal, Chortitza.
Johann's first wife was Susanna Lammerts. She died in 1790 and Johann married her sister Magdalena. H. Schapansky indicates a different second wife, Helena Klassen, but the census information published by Unruh is clear that the second wife was Magdalena. That said, some census information gives her name as Helena, an alternate form used for Magdalena. But the dates of birth and death cited in Schapansky agree with the dates for Magdalena Lammerts. Johann was in Rosenthal from 1789 through at least 1814.
He had a son but there is no information about him except that he existed. He is referenced in two letters Johann wrote to Susanna during his trip to Ukraine. I have read the letters and two quotations stand out. In the first letter he writes: "Do not forget what I mentioned to you regarding my only little son, shortly before our departure." In the second letter he writes: "Keep in mind that the good you do to the smallest (one) I regard as something done to me personally." I find these statements puzzling. It seems that he feels beholden to Susanna for taking care of the boy, whom he singles out in both letters. I wonder if the implication is that his son was born to a different woman and Johann was forced to disclose this to his wife because of his trip to Ukraine.
Whatever the situation was with this young son, the records for the migration in 1789 tell us that Johann and his wife arrived with four adults and three children in their family unit. The three children must be their daughters Susanna, Maria and Sara. Their son did not live to reach the new settlement. It is unclear who the other two adults were. The next census, in 1795, shows his family with his new wife, Helena, and two new daughters. The Rempel information tells us the family unit was comprised of one man, three women and three female children. There is a vital statistics recored for Rosenthal showing that a Johann Bartsch had a son who died in 1801. This is likely to be Johann whose mother was Magdalena.
Johann married Susanna Lammert,413 daughter of Jacob Lammert 529 and Susanna Von Niessen,530 15 August 1779 in Danzig. Susanna was born about 1757 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1773 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died 15 November 1790 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Susanna Bartsch 531 was born 10 February 1782 in Danzig and died 22 December 1809 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Susanna married Heinrich Epp,451 son of Peter Epp 532 and Katharina Wiens,533 in May 1801 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Heinrich was born 9 January 1757 in Neunhuben, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 25 June 1775 in Danzig, and died 25 November 1805 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Susanna next married Jacob Isaac 15 February 1806 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Jacob was born 21 July 1784 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia and died 19 October 1830 in Ukraine.
191 ii. Maria Bartsch 294 (born 21 July 1783 in Danzig - died in Ukraine). Maria married David Falk,293 son of David Falk, about 1806 in Schoenwiese, Chortitza, Ukraine. David was born in 1759 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania, was baptized 15 June 1777 in Plauschwarren, Lithuania, and died in 1818 in Schoenwiese, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iii. Sara Bartsch 531 was born 10 January 1785 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. NN Bartsch 534 was born after 1785.
Johann next married Magdalena Lammert,535 daughter of Jacob Lammert 529 and Susanna Von Niessen,530 in 1791 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Magdalena was born 5 October 1770 and died 16 February 1823 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Helena Bartsch 531 was born 16 February 1792 and died 16 November 1828.
ii. Margaretha Bartsch 531 was born 15 January 1794 and died 15 May 1852.
iii. Aganetha Bartsch 531 was born 3 November 1795 and died 24 November 1795.
iv. Jacob Bartsch 531 was born 12 December 1797 and died 24 May 1877.
v. Johann Bartsch 536 was born 23 October 1800 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 21 January 1801 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
vi. Johann Bartsch 537 was born 25 April 1802 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 24 May 1802 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
vii. Katharina Bartsch 531 was born 1 December 1804 and died 30 December 1804.
viii. Anton Bartsch 538 was born 19 May 1807 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 15 June 1807 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
ix. Katharina Bartsch 538 was born 19 May 1807 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 20 June 1807 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
383. Susanna Lammert,413 daughter of Jacob Lammert 529 and Susanna Von Niessen,530 was born about 1757 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1773 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died 15 November 1790 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Susanna is listed in the Orlofferfelde Frisian Church Baptism records as the daughter of Jacob, and she was baptised in 1773.
Susanna married Johann Bartsch,412 son of Jacob Bartsch 528 and Christina Philipsen,528 15 August 1779 in Danzig. Johann was born 6 September 1757 in Danzig and died 16 December 1821 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
384. Cornelius Fast 416 was born before 1745 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in Prussia.
H. Schapansky speculates that he may have been from Krebsfeld, but not listed in the 1776 Census. There is a Cornelius Fast listed in Krebsfeld in the 1789 Land Census but it is difficult to demonstrate this is the same individual.
Cornelius married an unknown person.
Children:
192 i. Cornelius Fast 296 (born about 1765 in Wernersdorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in 1825 in Tiegenhagen, Molotschna, Ukraine). Cornelius married Maria Toews,297 daughter of Johann Toews 417 and Anna Stoesz,418 before 1794 in Wernersdorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Maria was born 13 October 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died after 1835 in Tiegenhagen, Molotschna, Ukraine.
386. Johann Toews,417 son of Martin Toews 418 and Judith Suckau,539 was born 28 October 1743 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 9 December 1811 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
The Martin Toews genealogy says he was a farmer in Warnau who married Anna Stoesz, the widow of a Cornelius Andres. Anna was born on 22 June 1730 in Gross Mausdorf. She died on 12 February 1783 in Warnau. She was the daughter of a Stoesz who lived in Elbing and her mother was Anna Penner, the widow of a Froese.
Johann Toews is listed in the 1776 Census.
Johann married Anna Stoesz,418 daughter of Stoesz 418 and Anna Penner,418 about 1762 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born 22 June 1730 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 February 1783 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Children:
i. Elisabeth Toews 540 was born 2 May 1763.
193 ii. Maria Toews 297 (born 13 October 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died after 1835 in Tiegenhagen, Molotschna, Ukraine). Maria married Cornelius Fast,296 son of Cornelius Fast, before 1794 in Wernersdorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Cornelius was born about 1765 in Wernersdorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1825 in Tiegenhagen, Molotschna, Ukraine.
iii. Johann Toews 540 was born 16 July 1766.
194 iv. Jacob Toews 298 (born 28 March 1768 in Koczelitzke, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in Ukraine). Jacob married Aganetha Epp,299 daughter of Heinrich Epp 423 and Margaretha Dyck,424 about 1800 in Sandhof, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Aganetha was born in 1782 in Prussia and died in Ukraine.
v. Peter Toews 540 was born 29 September 1769.
vi. Helena Toews 540 was born 4 October 1772.
vii. Martin Toews 540 was born 22 December 1774 and died 2 February 1775.
viii. Gertrud Toews 540 was born 30 June 1775.
ix. Heinrich Toews 418 was born 8 November 1776 and died 9 March 1824.
Johann next married Anna Wiebe 540 after 1783 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
387. Anna Stoesz,418 daughter of Stoesz 418 and Anna Penner,418 was born 22 June 1730 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 February 1783 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Anna married Cornelius Andres 418 about 1755 in Walldorf, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Cornelius was born in Walldorf, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1762 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Children:
i. Anna Andres was born 23 September 1756 and died 26 November 1801.
ii. Cornelius Andres was born in 1760.
Anna next married Johann Toews,417 son of Martin Toews 418 and Judith Suckau,539 about 1762 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Johann was born 28 October 1743 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 9 December 1811 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
388. Johann Toews,417 son of Martin Toews 418 and Judith Suckau,539 was born 28 October 1743 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 9 December 1811 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
(Duplicate. See Person 386 on Page 346)
389. Anna Stoesz,418 daughter of Stoesz 418 and Anna Penner,418 was born 22 June 1730 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 February 1783 in Warnau, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
(Duplicate. See Person 387 on Page 346)
390. Heinrich Epp,423 son of David Epp, was born in 1745 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1817 in Halbstadt, Molotschna, Ukraine.
The Grandma Database says that Heinrich Epp and Margaretha Dyck are the parents of Aganetha Epp and there is no way to verify this.
According to Molotschna census records he was a linen weaver. His year of birth is estimated to be 1745 based on Molotschna census records.
The 1776 Census lists a Heinrich Epp in Marienburg who was a Weaver. He was a reasonably well off landowner. He had a wife but no children at the time of the census. He was a member of the Heubuden church congregation. It is not clear if he was listed in the 1789 census. There is a Heinrich listed in Palschau. Residents would have attended the Ladekop church.
His first four children were baptised in the Ladekop church and the family was registered as living in Stadtfeld at the time. This is curious because GAMEO says residents of Stadtfeld went to the Heubuden church. It is possible that the family moved from Palschau to Stadtfeld but returned to the Ladekop church for the baptisms.
He established his farm in Halbstadt and appears there as the head of the household from 1805 through 1810. His wife, Margaretha, is with him throughout this period. In 1811 His son son Heinrich has taken over as head of the household but Heinrich continues to live on the farm. Margaretha has died during 1811.
Heinrich married Margaretha Dyck.424 Margaretha was born in 1746 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1811 in Halbstadt, Molotschna, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Christina Epp 542 was born in 1776 in Prussia and was baptized in 1794 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
ii. Heinrich Epp 542 was born in 1778 in Neuteicherhinterfeld, Marienburg Region, Prussia and was baptized in 1798 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
iii. Margaretha Epp 542 was born in 1780 in Prussia and was baptized in 1798 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
iv. Anna Epp 542 was born in 1781 in Prussia and was baptized in 1802 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
195 v. Aganetha Epp 299 (born in 1782 in Prussia - died in Ukraine). Aganetha married Jacob Toews,298 son of Johann Toews 417 and Anna Stoesz,418 about 1800 in Sandhof, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Jacob was born 28 March 1768 in Koczelitzke, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in Ukraine.
vi. Gertruda Epp 542 was born in 1785 in Prussia.
vii. Maria Epp 542 was born in 1789 in Prussia.
viii. Catharina Epp 542 was born in 1789 in Prussia.
391. Margaretha Dyck 424 was born in 1746 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1811 in Halbstadt, Molotschna, Ukraine.
The Grandma Database says that Heinrich Epp and Margaretha Dyck are the parents of Aganetha Epp and there is no way to verify this.
Her year of birth is estimated to be 1746 based on Molotschna census records.
She and Heinrich established their farm in Halbstadt and appear there from 1805 thrugh 1810. In 1811 their son Heinrich has taken over as head of the household but Heinrich continues to live on the farm. Margaretha has died during 1811.
Margaretha married Heinrich Epp.,423 son of David Epp. Heinrich was born in 1745 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1817 in Halbstadt, Molotschna, Ukraine.
392. Isbrand Rempel,428 son of Rempel, was born in 1737 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1803 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Isbrand died between January and April 1803 in Einlage. His death at the age of 66 is listed in the Chortitza Vital Records. H. Schapansky believes he lived in Konigsberg for some time but that he might also have lived in the Danzig area and the Marienburg area. This seems to be all over the map, so to speak. Schapansky says his son Wilhelm was born in Konigsberg. I do not have a source reference for this but it might explain the absence of other records (he does not seem to be in either the 1772 or the 1776 census). Unruh's Immigration List says he came from Stobbendorf. His son Wilhelm also is listed there and also came from Stobbendorf. Wilhelm also has a record in Unruh indicating he was from Konigsberg. I suspect the difference between the locations has to do with where the individual was born and where they lived before immigrating. If this is the case then the origin is Konigsberg but the family moved to Stobbendorf in the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde. There are entries in the Tiegenhagen records for the baptisms of Dietrich and Katherina, both of whom lived in Stobbendorf.
Isbrand was an original settler in the first group of 228 households to establish themselves in Eastern Ukraine. Sons Wilhelm and Dietrich accompanied him. Although I have not researched this I think some of his other children also were with the family.
In the 1795 census for Chortitza (Einlage #29) his first wife, Anna, is listed. In 1801 his second wife, Katharina, is listed. H. Schapansky indicates that there might have been a wife before Anna but there is no information about her. Isbrand's sister Agatha was living with him and his family in that census.
There is a possibility that his parents were Gerhard Rempel (1705) and Dorothea Schule (1709), based on old Grandma Database information that has been removed as of 2024 because records are lacking.
Isbrand married Anna 429 before 1760 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born in 1737 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1801 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Maria Rempel 543 was born in 1760 in Konigsberg, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Wilhelm Rempel 544 was born in 1761 in Konigsberg, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1824.
196 iii. Dietrich Rempel 301 (born in 1763 in Konigsberg, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in July 1845 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Dietrich married Judith Loewen 430 20 October 1784 in Prussia. Judith was born about 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1790. Dietrich next married Helena Wiebe,302 daughter of Heinrich Wiebe 431 and Helena Goossen,432 20 July 1790 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine. Helena was born in 1772 in Prussia and died in 1852 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
iv. Katherina Rempel 545 was born about 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1784 in Stobbendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
v. Heinrich Rempel 546 was born in 1766 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1802 in Ukraine.
Isbrand next married Katherina 547 about 1801 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine. Katherina was born in 1734 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
393. Anna 429 was born in 1737 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1801 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Anna married Isbrand Rempel,428 son of Rempel, before 1760 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Isbrand was born in 1737 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1803 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine.
394. Heinrich Wiebe 431 was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Heinrich Wiebe was among the first householders to settle in Chortitza, listed among the original 228 settler families. He appears in the 1776 Prussian Census at Altendorf in the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde. H. Schapansky also says that he might have lived at Stobbendorf and Pietzkendorf.
Unruh lists him in the 1808 census for Rosenthal. Here it says Heinrich Wiebe emigrated from Pietzkendorf in the Marienburg Region. His son, Heinrich, and his family is living with them. He had a large farm for that time: seven horses; fifteen cows; nine pigs; and two sheep. In the 1788 Chortitza immigrant list found in Unruh's book it says he came from Stobbendorf. I think he emigrated from Stobbendorf and was born in Pietzkendorf. This rationale is consistent with my comments about Dietrich Rempel.
In the 1811 census he is at Rosenthal #17 and working as a tailor. He was still in Rosenthal in 1816 but by then his wife had died. It looks like his son Heinrich was managing the farm.
Heinrich married Helena Goossen,432 daughter of Heinrich Goossen, before 1772 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Helena was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1815 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
197 i. Helena Wiebe 302 (born in 1772 in Prussia - died in 1852 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Helena married Dietrich Rempel,301 son of Isbrand Rempel 428 and Anna,429 20 July 1790 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine. Dietrich was born in 1763 in Konigsberg, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1784 in Stobbendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died in July 1845 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
ii. Heinrich Wiebe 549 was born in 1782 in Prussia.
395. Helena Goossen,432 daughter of Heinrich Goossen, was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1815 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Helena died after the the October 1814 census and before the November 1815 census.
Helena married Heinrich Wiebe 431 before 1772 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Heinrich was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
396. Peter Nickel 438 was born before 1720 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
H. schapansky says he was from Tryl. He may be the Peter Nickel listed in the 1776 Prussian Census, although it is more likely this is his son.
Peter married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Peter Nickel 438 was born in 1740 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1755 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
198 ii. Johann Nickel 303 (born in 1746 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died before 1806 in Kronsgarten, Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Johann married Anna Nickel,304 daughter of Jacob Nickel, in 1764 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born in 1749 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
398. Jacob Nickel 439 was born before 1729 in Fleutenau, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
H. Schapansky says he may have been from Fleutenau in the Montau Gemeinde. I don't see him in the 1776 Prussian Census but this is a census known to have some gaps.
Jacob married an unknown person.
Children:
199 i. Anna Nickel 304 (born in 1749 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). Anna married Johann Nickel,303 son of Peter Nickel, in 1764 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Johann was born in 1746 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1761 in Treul, Schwetz, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and died before 1806 in Kronsgarten, Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Anna next married Johann Kauenhowen 440 before 1806 in Kronsgarten, Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Johann was born in 1777 in Prussia.
400. Johann Krahn 228 was born before 1736 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1784 in Neustadterwald, Elbing Region, Prussia.
(Duplicate. See Person 140 on Page 346)
402. Jakob Andres 230 was born in 1739 in Powunden, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 17 September 1809 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
There are pubic trees suggesting his father is Cornelius Andres #4619 and his mother is Catharina Klassen #4632. There is no evidence.
Jakob married Anna Klassen,231 daughter of Johann Klassen, before 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born before 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1801.
Children:
201 i. Anna Andres 306 (born in 1764 in Walldorf, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 6 March 1831 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Anna married Johann Krahn.,305 son of Johann Krahn. Johann was born in 1763 in Walldorf, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 29 November 1809 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Anna next married Isaac Penner in 1814 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Isaac was born in 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Kornelius Andres 551 was born 31 October 1766 and died 12 October 1839 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iii. Johann Andres 552 was born 8 September 1768 and died 4 March 1841.
iv. Katharina Andres 229 was born in 1771 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in November 1800 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Katharina married Bernard Krahn,108 son of Johann Krahn, before 1797 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Bernard was born in 1770 in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1813 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine.
v. Jacob Andres was born in 1774.
403. Anna Klassen,231 daughter of Johann Klassen, was born before 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1801.
Anna married Jakob Andres 230 before 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Jakob was born in 1739 in Powunden, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 17 September 1809 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
408. David Redekop 441 was born in 1717 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1798 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
David's year of birth and year of death are taken from the Grandma Database and there is no evidence to prove this information. Apparently he died at the age of 81 years, 3 weeks and 5 days. According to the Grandma Database the source of information about David and his wife have been lost but the details that have been captured include the location of Lackendorf. This is a good circumstantial linkage to son Wilhelm, who migrated from Lackendorf to Chortitza.
David married Anna Berg 442 in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born in 1720 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died after 1776.
Children:
i. Isaak Redekop was born in 1745 and died before 1802.
ii. David Redekop was born about 1748 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1803 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
204 iii. Wilhelm Redekop 308 (born in 1754 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 4 February 1818 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Wilhelm married Maria Rempel 309 before 1785 in Prussia. Maria was born about 1758 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
iv. Justina Redekop was born 23 June 1758 and died 31 May 1806.
409. Anna Berg 442 was born in 1720 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died after 1776.
I wonder if she might be related to Wilhelm Baerg who purportedly lived in Lackendorf at the same time as Anna's husband David Redekop. Anna and Wilhelm could conceivably have been siblings. The Grandma database gives a year of death of 1757 but also says she may have moved to Chortitza in the 1790s. There is no trace of her in early census records for Chortitza. She may have had a daughter, Justina, born in 1758, which would contradict the 1757 date. The 1776 Census indicates David had a wife at the time of the census. Whether this is Anna or a second wife is impossible to know from the data available.
Anna married David Redekop 441 in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. David was born in 1717 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1798 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
412. Heinrich Wieler,446 son of Wieler, was born before 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Heinrich lived in Haberhorst at the time of the 1776 Prussian census. He was part of the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde (later Orlofferfelde), and had one son counted in the 1776 census. Other information provided by H. Schapansky indicates that there may have been other sons and they may have been living with another family in 1776.
There is a Heinrich Wieler married to an Elisabeth Berends (#17327) listed in the Danzig Family Book. According to that information they would have been in Petershagen in 1761 when a daughter, Margaretha, was born. They would have been members of the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde. However, the Danzig Church Book does not mention son Nicholas, and this is a concern.
There are two Heinrich Wiehlers in the Grandma Database that could refer to the same individual (#17326 and #266168). We know that Heinrich was in Haberhorst at the time of the 1776 census. This village was within the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde. The other Heinrich was in Tiegenhof at some point in his life according to the Grandma Database. Tiegenhof residents would have belonged to the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde. Furthermore, Haberhorst is only 25 km north and 14 km east of the village of Tiegenhof. This geographic concurrence and the Gemeinde match support the hypothesis they are the same person and in turn support the possibility Elisabeth is the correct spouse.
Elisabeth's parents were Hans Berends and Christine Rempel.
There is a possibility that he had a brother Bernhard, as explained more fully in the notes for Heinrich's son Nicholas. Bernhard appeared in the 1776 Prussian census in Spitalskampe.
I have standardized the spelling of his surname, which I have seen in some records spelled "Wiehler".
Heinrich married Elisabeth Berends,447 daughter of Hans Berends 553 and Christina Rempel,553 about 1760. Elisabeth was born about 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Children:
206 i. Nicholas Wieler 310 (born in 1760 in Rehwalde, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 23 January 1810 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Nicholas married Anna Janzen,311 daughter of Cornelius Janzen, 7 October 1781 in Holstein, Prussia. Anna was born about 1760 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 15 November 1822 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
ii. Margaretha Wieler 553 was born 14 April 1761 and died in 1835.
413. Elisabeth Berends,447 daughter of Hans Berends 553 and Christina Rempel,553 was born about 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
There is a possibility this woman is Heinrich's wife. Certainly there is a couple with these names referenced in the Danzig Family Books. However this has to be proven and I have retained her name here as a reference point for further research.
There is data on ancestry.ca in public family trees indicating she was born in Nijkerk, Gelderland, Netherlands on 4 November 1743. I haven't seen any convincing evidence this is the same woman and I suspect it is circumstantial data being treated as authentic. I have researched the Gelderland Archives quite thoroughly and mapped out much of her ancestry but I have not discovered her relationship to Heinrich Wiehler. She was the child of Berent Franzen Lassere and Anna Cleeve. Berent was the son of Frans Berentsen and Marijke Jansz Berentsen; Marijke was the daughter of Jan Berentsen and Stijneke Jans. Anna Cleeve may possibly have been the daughter of Dirk van Kleef and a woman named Mechtel (no last name found). This last family relationship is completely unproven.
I have standardized the spelling of her surname from sources I have seen that spelled it "Berentz".
Elisabeth married Heinrich Wieler,446 son of Wieler, about 1760. Heinrich was born before 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
414. Cornelius Janzen 448 was born before 1737 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1781 in Klein Holstein, Prussia.
Cornelius appears in the Prussian census with one son and three daughters, living in Rosenort, Gross Werder. He belonged to the Rosenort Gemeinde, a Flemish congregation. He is referenced in the Elbing-Ellerwald church records where three of his children are listed on their weddings. In all cases he is referred to as the late Kornelius Jantzen. We know from these records that the family was living in Klein Holstein during this period of time.
In the 1772 Census he is listed in Rosenort, Gross Werder, with a wife, 2 sons over 10 years of age, 2 daughters under 10 and 1 daughter over 10.
This Kornelius has been confused with another Kornelius who lived around the same time, was married to Catherine De Veer of the well documented De Veer extended family, and who died in 1763. It seems to me extremely unlikely these are the same individual because there are records of the second Kornelius and his offspring throughout the available genealogical reference material and no points of commonality that would lead me to conclude they are one and the same. The second Kornelius was probably the son of Dirk Jantzen and Anna Buhler. Catharine was the daughter of Jacob De Veer and Maria Berentz. Jacob, in turn, was the great grandson of Jacob De Veer who appears elsewhere in my ancestry.
Cornelius married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Cornelius Janzen 554 was born about 1757 and died in April 1801 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Cornelius married Katarina Doerksen,555 daughter of David Doerksen 498 and Maria,499 27 April 1788 in Elbing, Prussia. Katarina was born in 1767.
207 ii. Anna Janzen 311 (born about 1760 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 15 November 1822 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Anna married Nicholas Wieler,310 son of Heinrich Wieler 446 and Elisabeth Berends,447 7 October 1781 in Holstein, Prussia. Nicholas was born in 1760 in Rehwalde, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 23 January 1810 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iii. Maria Janzen 556 was born about 1767 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Maria married Andreas Koop 556 22 April in Zeierskamp, Elbing Region, Prussia. Andreas was born in Zeierskamp, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
416. Heinrich Epp,451 son of Peter Epp 532 and Katharina Wiens,533 was born 9 January 1757 in Neunhuben, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 25 June 1775 in Danzig, and died 25 November 1805 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
He was variously documented as Hendrich or Heinrich. He was one of the settlers in the second part of the first wave of immigrants who came from the Danzig area to Ukraine. Penner has documented him as arriving in 1795. The Danzig Family Book confirms they emigrated to Ukraine in 1795. Peter Rempel says he settled in Rosenthal. In 1806 this homestead is in the hands of his widow Susanna. Stumpp has a Jacob Heinrich Epp coming in 1795 from Hochzeit, Danzig; his birthdate here is given as 9 January 1757, a match with Heinrich. I think Stumpp must have made an error. Unruh shows similar information but with the correct name. Unruh says he first came to the village of Chortitza and then settled in Rosenthal. Since Penner's First Settlers list doesn't mention a village I interpret this to mean that he passed through Chortitza before securing a homestead in Rosenthal. The 1797 Chortitza Census acknowledges his presence in the colony but doesn't have him located in any village. He is at Neuenburg #20 in the 1801 Chortitza Census. Schapansky indicates he settled in Neuenburg (in 1802) before eventually putting down roots in Rosenthal.
The Grandma Database indicates he died in Neuenburg but he may have already moved to Rosenthal prior to his death. That is my impression from Rempel who states he was an original settler in Rosenthal.
Heinrich's brother, Peter, married Maria Penner, sister of Anna Penner. Anna was Heinrich's wife.
Heinrich's second wife, Margaretha Epp, was the daughter of David Epp. David Epp was the Elder in the Chortitza Mennonite Church who was likely guilty of all kinds of malfeasence and who excommunicated the Deputies Bartsch and Hoeppner in revenge for the charges they brought against him. I am unaware of any relationship between the David Epp family and the Heinrich Epp family.
Heinrich married Anna Penner,452 daughter of Gerhard Penner 557 and Elscke Woelke,488 30 October 1775 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Anna was born 19 March 1757 in Tiege, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 25 June 1775 in Danzig, and died 23 July 1798 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
Children:
208 i. Peter Epp 315 (born 6 February 1777 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 23 October 1844 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Peter married Katharina Ens,316 daughter of Martin Ens 453 and Gertruda Penner,454 in 1796 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Katharina was born in 1770 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1788 in Prussia, and died in Ukraine.
ii. Christina Epp 558 was born in December 1778 in Prussia and died 16 October 1779 in Prussia.
iii. Gerhard Epp 558 was born 6 November 1780 in Prussia and died 11 April 1851 in Ukraine.
iv. Cornelius Epp 558 was born 18 November 1782 in Prussia and died 7 January 1787 in Prussia.
v. Heinrich Epp 558 was born 11 June 1784 in Prussia.
vi. Anna Epp 559 was born 23 December 1787 in Prussia and died 13 January 1788 in Prussia.
vii. Katharina Epp 558 was born 15 May 1793 in Prussia and died 18 February 1818 in Ukraine.
viii. Cornelius Epp 560 was born 4 February 1796 in Ukraine and died 15 August 1872 in Ukraine.
Heinrich next married Margaretha Epp, daughter of David Epp and Magdalena Kroeker, in 1798 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Margaretha was born 13 March 1777 in Danzig and died in 1800 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Margaretha Epp 560 was born 20 September 1799 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 25 July 1873 in Ukraine.
ii. Jacob Epp 560 was born in 1800 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died in 1800 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Heinrich next married Susanna Bartsch,531 daughter of Johann Bartsch 412 and Susanna Lammert,413 in May 1801 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Susanna was born 10 February 1782 in Danzig and died 22 December 1809 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Johann Epp 560 was born in March 1802 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 27 May 1802 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine.
ii. Johann Epp 560 was born 17 October 1804 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 31 March 1880 in Ukraine.
iii. Jacob Epp 560 was born in 1805 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine and died 18 March 1806 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine.
417. Anna Penner,452 daughter of Gerhard Penner 557 and Elscke Woelke,488 was born 19 March 1757 in Tiege, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 25 June 1775 in Danzig, and died 23 July 1798 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
Although the Grandma Database says she died in Rosenthal I am not sure she was there in 1798. As recently as 1797 the census gave no indication of where the family lived and in 1801 Heinrich was in Neuenburg.
Anna married Heinrich Epp,451 son of Peter Epp 532 and Katharina Wiens,533 30 October 1775 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Heinrich was born 9 January 1757 in Neunhuben, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 25 June 1775 in Danzig, and died 25 November 1805 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
418. Martin Ens,453 son of Peter Ens 561 and Christina,562 was born in 1739 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1802 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
It appears that he was an original settler in Chortitza, coming in 1795 as part of the second group of the first wave. In the 1797 Chortitza Census he is listed without a village. In 1802 Unruh lists him as having died in Rosenthal and his homestead going to son in law Peter Epp. He is listed in the 1772 census, living in Schoensee and this gives us records of his children up to 1772. His age in that record makes it clear that the association with a son named Franz born in 1750 is incorrect as is the idea that Martin had a wife before Gertruda.
This is how I have pieced together the family in relation to the census material. Martin and Gertruda arrived in Chortitza in 1795 with a household of six. These would be the parents, son Gerhard (who died in 1801), daughters Catharina and Susanna, and one unexplained person. Already out of the household are older daughters Gertruda, Helena and Maria who were married previously, son Martin who died in 1777 and an unnamed daughter who died in 1789. This does not explain the 1776 census where the household is recorded as having one son and one daughter. In 1801 Martin has died, the farm has passed to daughter Catharina and her husband Peter Epp, and Gertruda is living with her daughter Catharina. The youngest daughter, Susanna, has moved to Chortitza to live with her sister Helena.
I note that his daughter Maria was married in Ladekop. Whether this was the village where her family lived at the time, or the village of her husband, is unknown. This data originates in an ancestry.ca reference related to Maria's marriage to Peter Penner on 8 February 1785.
Martin married Gertruda Penner 454 before 1760 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Gertruda was born in 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 21 August 1807 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Gertruda Ens 563 was born 12 December 1760 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Maria Ens 563 was born in 1765 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 16 March 1789 in Prussia.
iii. Helena Ens 563 was born in 1768 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1785 in Prussia, and died in 1816 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
209 iv. Katharina Ens 316 (born in 1770 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in Ukraine). Katharina married Peter Epp,315 son of Heinrich Epp 451 and Anna Penner,452 in 1796 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Peter was born 6 February 1777 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 16 June 1793 in Danzig, and died 23 October 1844 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
v. Martin Ens 563 was born in 1771 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 4 October 1777 in Prussia.
vi. NN Ens 454 was born in 1774 in Prussia and died 20 October 1789 in Prussia.
vii. Gerhard Ens 563 was born in 1779 in Prussia and died in April 1801 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
viii. Susanna Ens was born 27 April 1787 in Prussia and died 13 August 1822 in Ukraine.
419. Gertruda Penner 454 was born in 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 21 August 1807 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Gertruda married Martin Ens,453 son of Peter Ens 561 and Christina,562 before 1760 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Martin was born in 1739 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1802 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
424. Jacob Dyck 466 was born in 1730 in Ellerwald 1 Trift, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1780.
H. Schapansky says he is the father of Peter Dyck and the person recorded at Ellerwald Trift 1 in the 1776 Prussian Census. That census indicates he was born in 1730 and died in 1780.
Jacob married an unknown person.
Children:
212 i. Peter Dyck 321 (born 3 October 1775 in Schoenau, Marienburg Region, Prussia - died in 1808 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine). Peter married Margaretha Klassen,322 daughter of Isaac Klassen 467 and Margaretha Conrad,468 20 November 1803 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Margaretha was born 18 August 1779 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia, was baptized in 1798 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died in 1814 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine.
426. Isaac Klassen 467 was born about 1745 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 22 February 1780 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Isaac is listed in Mielentz in the 1772 Prussian Census. He is the only Klassen listed there. In 1776 in the census of that year he is again listed in Mielentz.
The Heubuden Church records have numerous references to this Klassen family in Mielentz. The children listed here are from the baptism book. There are other children who could belong to this family in the births and deaths book but it is not certain based on available documents.
The estimated date for their marriage is based on the birth date shown in the Heubuden Church Book for daughter Helena (1768).
Isaac married Margaretha Conrad 468 about 1767 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Margaretha was born about 1743 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 18 April 1813 in Prussia.
Children:
i. Helena Klassen 564 was born 16 September 1768 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1786 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
ii. Isaac Klassen 565 was born 11 June 1776 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia and was baptized in 1795 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
213 iii. Margaretha Klassen 322 (born 18 August 1779 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia - died in 1814 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine). Margaretha married Peter Dyck,321 son of Jacob Dyck, 20 November 1803 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Peter was born 3 October 1775 in Schoenau, Marienburg Region, Prussia and died in 1808 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Margaretha next married Heinrich Funk 471 in 1809 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
427. Margaretha Conrad 468 was born about 1743 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 18 April 1813 in Prussia.
Her approximate year of birth comes from Richard Thiessen family records and is based on her age at death of about 70 or 71. She died in 1813 and this is entered in the Heubuden Church Book.
Her second husband was Jacob Isaac. The Church record appears to say he was 39 years old when he died.
Margaretha married Isaac Klassen 467 about 1767 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Isaac was born about 1745 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 22 February 1780 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Margaretha next married Jacob Isaac 566 1 May 1781 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Jacob was born about 1756 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 7 July 1795 in Prussia.
Margaretha next married David Wiens 567 12 April 1796 in Mielentz, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. David was born before 1776 in Prussia.
428. Johann Regehr,472 son of Peter Regehr 568 and Katharina Schellenberg,569 was born in 1716 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1793 in Prussia.
There is uncertainty in the Grandma Database about Johann Regehr.
In the 1772 Census Johann is listed with his wife Catharina, and they both were born around 1716. The children listed in this census include:
Johann (1748);
Helena (1747);
Peter (1745);
Michael (1752);
Arendt (1754);
Catharina (1756);
Anna (1767); and
Maria (newborn).
It seems clear these are the children of Johann and Catharina, notwithstanding she was fairly old for having a new baby. Peter's year of birth is not consistent with census records after he immigrated to Chortitza. That said, it is quite certain the Peter in the 1772 Census is the same person as the settler in Chortitza; see the notes for Peter, which elaborate on this.
The Ladekop Church Book lists the birth of a number of children after the 1772 census. Among these are:
Heinrich (1775);
Martin (1778), with the caveat that I can not make out his name on the record but this is the interpretation given in the Grandma Database;
Abraham (1779);
Maria (1780); and
Heinrich (1781).
Not included in this list is Jacob, who is associated with a second wife of his father Johann. She was also named Catharina. The evidence for a second wife, other than the extreme age of the first wife when the latter children were born, is Rempel's immigration records, where Jacob appears accompanied in 1804 by his mother, Catharina, born around 1747, and his brother Abraham, age 24. Jacob was born around 1774, placing the second marriage around 1773. Obviously this is a different Catharina from the person in the 1772 Census. Unruh later reports Abraham living in Molotschna with his own family. With Abraham is his brother Martin. The same record shows that Catharina, Jacob's mother, is still living with Jacob, and her age is given as 65, indicating she was born around 1740. Later in 1810 the Molotschna Census indicates here year of birth was 1743. She had died before the 1811 census was taken.
The only child I can not reconcile is Aron (1767) as listed in the Grandma Database. Arendt (1754) is associated with the first wife of Johann, and Aron (1767) is associated with the second wife. These are variations of the same name and I think Aron belongs to a different family. I note that in Unruh, Aron does not emigrate from Schoensee, whereas his brothers all do.
Maria, the new-born at the time of the 1772 census, must have died in childhood, as evidenced by another child given the name Maria. Judging by the 1776 Census, which lists Johann and his wife with five sons and two daughters, it seems probably that Heinrich (1775) was not in the census. Nor was Aron, whom I have already eliminated from the family. It is unclear which daughters were included.
I note that the death record for a son named Heinrich in the Ladekop Church in 1793 has listed Heinrich as the son of Johan Regersche. This not only means that Heinrich's father predeceased him, it also means Heinrich's mother is still alive and a widow. Son Jacob was baptised in 1793 and this baptism record also indicates his father had predeceased him.
It is not clear whether or not he is in the 1789 Land Census. There are many Johann Regehrs listed. There are no widow Regehrs listed. One would think that with her large family of younger children she would be there.
Johann married Katharina 473 before 1745 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Katharina was born in 1716 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1772 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Children:
i. Johann Regehr 473 was born in 1745 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Helena Regehr 473 was born in 1747 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
214 iii. Peter Regehr 323 (born in 1751 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Peter married Susanna 474 before 1789 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Susanna was born in 1762 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 10 March 1802 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Peter next married Maria 324 in 1802 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Maria was born in 1775 in Prussia and died in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. Michael Regehr 473 was born in 1752 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
v. Arendt Regehr 473 was born in 1754 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
vi. Catharina Regehr 473 was born in 1756 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
vii. Anna Regehr 473 was born in 1767 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
viii. Maria Regehr 473 was born in 1772 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1780 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Johann next married Catharina 570 about 1773 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Catharina was born about 1760 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1810 in Molotschna Colony, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Jacob Regehr 571 was born in 1774 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
ii. Heinrich Regehr 572 was born in 1775 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia and died before 1781 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
iii. Martin Regehr 573 was born in 1778 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
iv. Abraham Regehr 574 was born in 1779 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
v. Maria Regehr 575 was born in 1780 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
vi. Heinrich Regehr 576 was born in 1781 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
429. Katharina 473 was born in 1716 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1772 in Schoensee, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Katharina married Johann Regehr,472 son of Peter Regehr 568 and Katharina Schellenberg,569 before 1745 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Johann was born in 1716 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1793 in Prussia.
432. Peter Rempel 477 was born 6 July 1735 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1788 in Stobbendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Peter Rempel appears in the 1776 census in Petershagen, Tiegenhagen Gemeinde, although the name is spelled Rompel. He is listed with a wife and two sons. His financial situation is 'schlecht' meaning somewhere between poor and not very well off. According to H. Schapansky he was later of Stobbendorf, Gross Werder. I found a Peter Rempel in Stobbendorf in the 1772 census. It is difficult to know if this is the same person.
I'm relying on Nikolai Rempel's Rempel Family Book to establish the names of his children.
The estimated year of death of his son Cornelius is based entries in the November 1815, May 1816 and October 1816 Chortitza Census records showing that he was alive in November 1815, had died by May 1816 and by October 1816 his third wife had remarried and her younger children were living with the new married couple in Neu-Osterwick.
It is possible his father was Johann Rempel and his mother a Christina von Ley but I have not been able to find a concrete source to confirm this.
He was a Flemish Mennonite. The surname originates in Southern Germany and Switzerland.
Peter married Christina Von Dyck 478 about 1758 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Christina was born 30 May 1731 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1786 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
Children:
216 i. Peter Rempel 330 (born 29 December 1759 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 3 May 1821 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Peter married Kornelia Loewen 479 about 1788 in Prussia. Kornelia was born in 1772 and died about 1795 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Peter next married Margaretha Teichroeb,331 daughter of Johann Teichroeb 359 and Margaretha Wiebe,360 10 August 1795 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Margaretha was born 10 August 1773 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Prussia and died 19 July 1841 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
ii. Bernhard Rempel 480 was born 3 February 1763 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1854 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iii. Wilhelm Rempel 480 was born about 1765 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 4 October 1850 in Bergthal Colony, Ukraine.
iv. Cornelius Rempel 577 was born in 1772 and died in 1816.
Peter next married Anna Braun,578 daughter of Jacob Braun, 14 September 1786 in Stobbendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia. Anna was born about 1761 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
433. Christina Von Dyck 478 was born 30 May 1731 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1786 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
She was a Flemish Mennonite. Cristina's death is recorded in the Dirck Tiessen - Petershagen Church Book (1782). The entry is "Peter Rempel - Petershagen - seiner Frau - 54 - Potatkrankheit". Potatkrankheit is spotted fever or Typhus.
According to online genealogy material published by T.W. Olfert Cristina's parents were Peter von Dyck and Barbara Neufeld. This has not been substantiated. However, there is no indication that Cristina was baptized or married in the Danzig congregation. She was born in Krebsfeld and this indicates her family was located in the Elbing region rather than Danzig.
Christina married Peter Rempel 477 about 1758 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Peter was born 6 July 1735 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1788 in Stobbendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
434. Johann Teichroeb,359 son of Michael Teichroeb, was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in November 1801 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Johann Theichgraf was a Flemish Mennonite. He appears in the 1772 census records and the 1776 census records in Krebsfeld. In the 1772 records he is noted as a Mennonite. In the 1776 census he is listed as a weaver. Their financial situation is schlecht, which Henry Schapansky interprets as not well off (a major portion of their income committed to food and shelter), but not poor. Further, he is listed as an eigentumer, meaning an owner or proprietor. Johann is listed with a wife, a son and a daughter. These would be his wife Margaretha and his children Margareta and Heinrich. He moved from Prussia, likely Kalthof, Marienburg, in 1789. He lived in Schoenhorst, Chortitza until his death in 1801. In 1802 his widow Katharina (his second wife) was living with her new husband, Peter Huebert, on the homestead formerly belonging to Johann and Katharina. His daughter Margareta does not appear in the census, indicating that she was married by the time of the census. The Grandma Database gave the approximate marriage date that I have used for Johann and Margaretha.
It appears that his first wife, Margaretha, died before the family emigrated. It seems that Johann emigrated with his second wife, Katharina.
His son Heinrich has a computed birth year of 1777 in some records but he must have been born in 1776 because he appears to be in the Prussian Census of that year.
Johann had a grandson named Peter who had an interesting story. This information is pieced together from Peter Goertzen's genealogy work, as noted in the source references, and comments from Marcy Bryon in correspondence with me. Although the title of Goertzen's work implies that Peter Teichroeb's father was a Johann, this seems unlikely because there are no Johann Teichroebs in the records for this time and place. My hypothesis is that he was the son of Jacob, who in turn was a son of Johann Teichroeb (1744). I don't know if this can be proven but he named his first son Jacob, a fairly standard protocol when the norm was to name the first son after the grandfather. In any case, Peter did exist and he married a woman by the name of Justina Wolf, who purportedly was actually a Niebuhr. Her mother was supposedly Johann Wolf's second wife Helena Niebuhr. Whether Justina was the child of Helena's first marriage or born out of wedlock is unknown. Peter lived in Georgstal before his death. There is a map in the Peter Teichroeb genealogy book showing where he lived in that village. This map also shows where my great grandfather Peter Teichroeb lived in Olgafeld and where my great great grandfather Daniel Teichroeb lived in Georgstal. Marcy told me Peter went a little bit crazy when Justina died. He gave up the children and "walked the streets" for a period of time. Eventually he remarried. Something may be wrong with this story. Goertzen's book says Justina lived until 1915. Perhaps this is the year Peter's second wife died. I am going along with Marcy's story for now and assuming Justina died when the children were young.
Johann is related to Michael Teichroeb according to DNA evidence produced in the Mennonite DNA project. They could be brothers or cousins or more distantly related. I have standardized the spelling of his name.
Johann married Margaretha Wiebe 360 about 1771 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Margaretha was born in 1736 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 17 December 1781 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Prussia.
Children:
217 i. Margaretha Teichroeb 331 (born 10 August 1773 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Prussia - died 19 July 1841 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Margaretha married Peter Rempel,330 son of Peter Rempel 477 and Christina Von Dyck,478 10 August 1795 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Peter was born 29 December 1759 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 3 May 1821 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
ii. Heinrich Teichroeb 579 was born in 1776 in Prussia and died 1 March 1851. Heinrich married Katarina Dyck 580 about 1797 in Prussia. Katarina was born 16 November 1772 in Prussia. Heinrich next married Helena Olfert 5 August 1830 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Helena was born 8 August 1805 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine, was baptized in 1825 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine, and died 11 December 1891 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Johann next married Katharina 361 about 1784 in Prussia. Katharina was born in 1762.
Children:
i. Johann Teichroeb 580 was born in 1784 and died 23 April 1806.
ii. Katharina Teichroeb 580 was born in 1791.
iii. Peter Teichroeb 580 was born in 1794 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. Jacob Teichroeb 580 was born 25 April 1797 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Jacob married Katharina Neudorf in Ukraine. Katharina was born 23 May 1797 in Ukraine.
v. Abraham Teichroeb 580 was born in 1801.
435. Margaretha Wiebe 360 was born in 1736 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 17 December 1781 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Prussia.
I surmise that she died in Krebsfelde because they lived there around 1776, according to the census of that year. It seems unlikely that she lived to emigrate.
I believe that Shirley Wadham provided information to the Grandma Database from a genealogy published in 1998. In this document Margaretha's surname is given as Wiebe. Her year of birth is said to be 1736 and she died 17 December 1781. She was buried in Gross Mausdorf. Gross Mausdorf is a little less than 4 km from Krebsfelde. Residents of both villages would have been members of the Rosenort Church. Scott Sheppard substantiated this information in a submission to the Grandma Database in 2024 based on primary records he found in his research.
Margaretha married Johann Teichroeb,359 son of Michael Teichroeb, about 1771 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Johann was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in November 1801 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
452. Gerhard Wiens 481 was born before 1748 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1789 in Prussia.
In the 1776 West Prussia Census he is listed in Ellerwald, Trift 1, with 3 sons and 1 daughter. He was a member of the Ellerwald Gemeinde. According to the marriage records maintained by Altester Gerhard Wiebe he had died by the time his daughter Maria was married in 1789.
Gerhard's son Heinrich was residing in Ellerwald, 4 Trift, Prussia at the time of his baptism in 1785. His daughter Maria was residing in Ellerwald, Prussia at the time of her baptism in 1788. In the October 1814 Chortitza Colony Census her age is given as 54, suggesting that she may have been born around 1762. She emigrated to Shoenhorst, Chortitza in 1795.
The Grandma Database lists an additional son Jacob, but Schapansky believes this person is actually the son of Nicholas Wiens. I have scrutinized the available church records for Elbing-Ellerwald and I can't find a son of Gerhard named Jacob.
Gerhard married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Heinrich Wiens 581 was born about 1768 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1785 in Elbing, Prussia, and died in 1822.
ii. Maria Wiens 582 was born about 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1788 in Elbing, Prussia.
226 iii. Gerhard Wiens 332 (born about 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died before 1806 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine). Gerhard married Aganetha Dyck,333 daughter of Phillip Dyck, 23 November 1789 in Prussia. Aganetha was born about 1761 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1786 in Dorichthof, Elbing Region, Prussia, and died 9 April 1810 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine.
454. Phillip Dyck 482 was born before 1741 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1776 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
His son Phillip is from Lakendorf, so the father must have been there at some point. There are four Phillips in the 1776 census, none in Lakendorf. However, H. Schapansky does say Phillips senior was in Lakendorf. There are three widow Dycks listed there in the 1776 Census. H. Schapansky says one of these is the widow of Phillip. Two entries refer to families that own their land and one refers to a family that rents. We know that Phillip had died before the baptism of Phillip in 1783 from the information in the Elbing baptism records. H. Schapansky says that he is the father of Aganetha, wife of Gerhard Wiens. The Elbing baptism record confirms this. The relationship to daughter Anna is not yet confirmed.
Phillip's father may also be named Phillip, based on Internet references. These sources also say his mother was Maria Regehr. Further, I have seen references to a wife named Maria Schroeder. This also is not evidenced.
His son Phillip migrated from Lackendorff, Prussia to Neuendorf, Chortitza in 1796. He is recorded at Neuendorf in the census lists of 1801, 1802, 1808 and 1814.
Phillip married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Anna Dyck
227 ii. Aganetha Dyck 333 (born about 1761 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 9 April 1810 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine). Aganetha married Jacob Warkentin 484 24 June 1781. Jacob was born about 1760 and died 9 June 1788. Aganetha next married Gerhard Wiens,332 son of Gerhard Wiens, 23 November 1789 in Prussia. Gerhard was born about 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1789 in Ellerwald, Elbing Region, Prussia, and died before 1806 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Aganetha next married Cornelius Funk 485 in 1808 in Burwalde, Chortitza, Ukraine. Cornelius was born 20 April 1780 in Prussia.
iii. Phillip Dyck 583 was born about 1763 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1783 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
iv. Michael Dyck 584 was born about 1766 and was baptized in 1786 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
460. Peter Dyck 486 was born before 1750 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
His son is listed in the 1835 Molotschna Census as Peter Peter. Son Peter was from Reimerswald in the Tiegenhagen Gemeinde. There is a Peter Dyck listed in the 1776 census who lived in Reimerswald with a wife and no children. This probably is not the same person.
Peter married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Peter Dyck 585 was born in 1770 in Reimerswald, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
230 ii. Johann Dyck 338 (born about 1778 in Prussia). Johann married Agatha Penner,339 daughter of Peter Penner 487 and Elscke Woelke,488 in 1804 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Agatha was born about 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and was baptized in 1783 in Klein Mausdorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
462. Peter Penner,487 son of Peter Penner 586 and Aganetha Epp,587 was born about 1742, was baptized 27 June 1762 in Danzig, and died 13 June 1786 in Danzig.
Elizabeth Woelke married a Peter Penner after her first husband, Gerhard Penner, died. This is detailed in the Danzig Church Book.
I note that the Grandma Database lists him twice as #1142083 and #101549.
Peter must have remarried after Elizabeth Woelke died. There is a long gap between Agatha's birth in 1764 and the next child, Elizabeth, in 1773. The Grandma Database has provided the information about the four children Agatha, Elisabeth, Cornelius and Helena, linking them to a second occurrence of Peter Penner. However, Agatha was born the same year that Peter's wife Elizabeth died. This coincidence leads me to believe Agatha is Elizabeth's child. The other three children must belong to the second wife. Unfortunately there are no sources available to verify this.
Although his death is recorded in the Danzig Church Book he seems to have been a member of the Rosenort Gemeinde, where his daughter Agatha was baptized in 1783.
It is interesting that the three children associated with the second wife all migrated to Ukraine together in 1803.
Peter married Elscke Woelke,488 daughter of Cornelius Woelke 588 and Ancke Reimer,589 7 November 1762 in Danzig. Elscke was born about 1729 in Danzig, was baptized 13 July 1749 in Danzig, and died 10 June 1764 in Danzig.
Children:
231 i. Agatha Penner 339 (born about 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). Agatha married Jacob Harder 490 after 1782 in Prussia. Jacob was born about 1762 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in June 1801 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Agatha next married Simon Loewen about 1801 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Simon was born before 1781 in Prussia and died about 1803 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Agatha next married Johann Dyck,338 son of Peter Dyck, in 1804 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Johann was born about 1778 in Prussia.
Peter next married NN after 1764.
Children:
i. Elisabeth Penner 590 was born in 1773 in Prussia.
ii. Cornelius Penner 590 was born about 1776 in Prussia and died about 1828.
iii. Helena Penner 590 was born about 1781 in Prussia.
iv. Peter Penner was born in 1784 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
463. Elscke Woelke,488 daughter of Cornelius Woelke 588 and Ancke Reimer,589 was born about 1729 in Danzig, was baptized 13 July 1749 in Danzig, and died 10 June 1764 in Danzig.
Elscke Woelke is the daughter of Cornelius according to the Danzig Church Book baptism records. This is how I made the connection to Elscke's parents. Elscke Woelke married a Peter Penner after her first husband, Gerhard Penner, died. This is made clear in the Danzig Marriage Book where both marriages are recorded. Agatha's father was a Peter Penner. I hypothesize that the mother of Agatha Penner is Elizabeth Woelke.
Elscke married Gerhard Penner 557 24 June 1753 in Neuendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Gerhard was born about 1734 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1761 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Children:
417 i. Anna Penner 452 (born 19 March 1757 in Tiege, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 23 July 1798 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Anna married Heinrich Epp,451 son of Peter Epp 532 and Katharina Wiens,533 30 October 1775 in Hochzeit, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Heinrich was born 9 January 1757 in Neunhuben, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 25 June 1775 in Danzig, and died 25 November 1805 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
ii. Maria Penner 591 was born 10 May 1759 in Tiege, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 12 July 1778 in Danzig, and died before 1801 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Maria married Peter Epp,592 son of Peter Epp 532 and Katharina Wiens,533 7 October 1778 in Danzig. Peter was born 19 March 1755 in Neunhuben, Danzig Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 18 June 1774 in Danzig, and died 15 February 1802 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Elscke next married Peter Penner,487 son of Peter Penner 586 and Aganetha Epp,587 7 November 1762 in Danzig. Peter was born about 1742, was baptized 27 June 1762 in Danzig, and died 13 June 1786 in Danzig.
464. Wilhelm Giesbrecht 493 was born before 1728 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
He was probably a Flemish Mennonite. According to Horst Penner, the name originates in the Netherlands in the areas of Flanders and Brabant. The oldest Giesbrecht found by Penner was a Cornelius, baptized as a Mennonite on 1 July 1535, and later burned at the stake. 65 years later there are Giesbrechts mentioned in the records of the Danzig Flemish Mennonite Church.
Unruh documented the relationship between sons Jacob and Wilhelm as brothers. Henry Schapansky hypothesized relationships between Wilhelm and his sons David, Jacob and Wilhelm. There is some doubt that they were sons of the elder Wilhelm and that David was a brother. Y DNA evidence indicates rather clearly that David is not a brother. However, the DNA data indicates a very close relationship between Gerhard Wilhelm Giesbrecht and Jacob and his brother Wilhelm. The DNA matches exactly. Therefore I hypothesize that Gerhard is a brother. His middle name as given in the Molotschna Census, Wilhelm, gives us the name of the father.
There are some genealogists who claim that Wilhelm was born in 1701 and married Anna Janzen, who was born in 1711. This seems unlikely because of the ages both parents would be in relation to the known children.
Wilhelm married an unknown person.
Children:
i. Gerhard Giesbrecht 593 was born about 1748 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1827 in Muntau, Molotschna, Ukraine.
ii. David Giesbrecht 218 was born in 1750, was baptized in 1771, and died before 1802.
iii. Jacob Giesbrecht 594 was born in 1764.
232 iv. Wilhelm Giesbrecht 345 (born about 1767 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died after 1818 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine). Wilhelm married Maria Klassen,346 daughter of Franz Klassen 494 and Susanna,495 in 1790 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Maria was born about 1767 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1785 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died about 1817 in Nieder Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine. Wilhelm next married Katharina Braun 109 about 1817 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
466. Franz Klassen 494 was born in 1744 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1812 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
He was a Flemish Mennonite. Stumpp lists him as originating in Petershagen. This agrees with Unruh, where he is listed as coming from Petershagen, a town near Tiegenhagen. Schapansky says he is in the 1776 census in Tiegenhagen. He is listed there with 1 son and 2 daughters. This son is unknkown and only later sons are in the genealogical record. The Mennonite Baptism records for Tiegenhagen list him in reference to the baptism in 1785 of his daughter Maria. According to this baptism record he is from Petershagen. He is on the list of original settlers who came to Ukraine in 1789. He appears in Neuendorf in 1793, 1795, 1801, 1802 and 1803. He appears in the 1801 census, living in Neuendorf #49 with his wife Susanna. In 1812 he is living with his son, Franz, at Neuendorf #38. In the 1806 census the farm has transferred to the ownership of son Franz. This is soon after the death of Susanna.
Some sources indicate Franz had a son Jacob, but Henry Schapansky does not list him and I have not been able to find confirmation.
Franz married Susanna 495 about 1766 in Tiegenhof, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Susanna was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 25 April 1805 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
233 i. Maria Klassen 346 (born about 1767 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died about 1817 in Nieder Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine). Maria married Wilhelm Giesbrecht,345 son of Wilhelm Giesbrecht, in 1790 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine. Wilhelm was born about 1767 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1788 in Heubuden, Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died after 1818 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
237 ii. Susanna Klassen 353 (born 1 December 1770 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 2 November 1817 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine). Susanna married Jacob Doerksen,352 son of David Doerksen 498 and Maria,499 before 1792 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Jacob was born 21 December 1767 in Ellerwald 3 Trift, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 20 February 1806 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Susanna next married Johann Neudorf 501 29 December 1806 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Johann was born 1 March 1783 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia and died 15 April 1860.
iii. Helena Klassen 595 was born in 1778 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Prussia.
iv. Franz Klassen 595 was born in 1780.
v. Jacob Klassen was born in 1782.
vi. Anna Klassen 596 was born 9 February 1783 and died in 1783.
vii. Abraham Klassen 595 was born 2 September 1785 and died in 1785.
467. Susanna 495 was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 25 April 1805 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Eduard Tag provided the death date I have used. It was in the familysearch.org database. This corresponds to other information I have seen estimating her year of death to be 1805.
Susanna married Franz Klassen 494 about 1766 in Tiegenhof, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Franz was born in 1744 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1812 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
472. David Doerksen 498 was born in 1740 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1797 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
He was a Flemish Mennonite. Stumpp and Unruh both list him coming to Ukraine from Tiegenhagen. He may have been originally from the Ellerwald Gemeinde in Prussia (Ellerwald 3 Trift), in 1772 and 1776. There are four David Doerksens listed in the 1776 census and only this one has a household with enough children to match this particular David. He immigrated to Neuendorf in the Chortitza Colony, where he is found in 1788, 1793, 1795 and 1797. His widow appears in Glenn Penner's list of the original 228 settlers and it indicates he died before 1793; this is contrary to the 1795 revision list that demonstrates he was still alive. Both David and Maria are in the 1797 Census but neither are in the 1801 Census. The Bergthal Gemeinde Buch says he died before 1802 and this is confirmed by the 1802 homestead list showing his property passed to son Peter on his death. According to the Chortitza Colony Vital Statistics for 1801 recording her death his wife was a widow. This calls into question a supposed fact found on various genealogy web sites. There are claims David remarried in 1801 to a Susanna. This is not correct.
David and his family appear on a list of Mennonites passing through Konigsberg in August 1788 on their way to Chortitza.
His daughter Anna doesn't appear in H. Schapanksy's work but she is listed in the Grandma Database.
His daughter Katarina married Cornelius Janzen. He migrated from Prussia to Neuendorf, Chortitza in 1789. In the 1795 Chortitza Colony Census he is listed at Neuendorf.
Surnames such as this, based on first names, originate typically in Friesland in the Netherlands.
There are genealogical sites that associate him with a Gerhard Doerksen and Sara Klassen who could potentially be his parents. I have not been able to establish concrete links. However, the 1727 Brandt Register lists a Gerhard Doerksen in Tiegenhagen, putting him in the same place as David may have originated.
There are other incorrect relationships online that list David Doerksen as a grandchild of of a Gerhard who married Constantia Gilles. Her family has been traced back to the 14th century in France. In fact one of her great uncles was a pioneer to New France, enlisting in the army and moving to Canada in the 1600s. He later married one of the women shipped to New France to become brides for the settlers (the "King's Daughters") and started a family. One day when returning home with a hunting party the group was attacked by Iroquois warriors and he was hit with an arrow. He succumbed to his injury.
While this is an interesting story it has been demonstrated as false. In fact the original publication that contains the correct genealogical work was published in 1905 and shows that the Doerksen family associated with Constantia Gilles is a different family. That said, the Danzig Church Book has entries for a number of people in that family, meaning they were members of the Danzig congregation in those years. The 1905 publication, entitled "Geschichte der familie Dirksen" can be found at https://www.rambow.de/geschichte-der-familie-dirksen.html
There is Y-DNA evidence from a descendant of Julius Doerksen (1746), who is a son of a Gerhard Doerksen, and this Y-DNA is an exact 37-marker match with a sample from a descendant of David Dircks (1699) of Przechowka. David Dircks had a son named Gerht, but his wife is different from the wife of Julius' father. This leads me to think Gerhard Doerksen and David Dircks potentially are nephew and uncle. There is a Y-DNA test for David Doerksen (1740) and it has one mutation in comparison with the other two DNA samples. This leads me to think his grandfather could be a brother of David Dircks. It is very unlikely that a single mutation would extend beyond a generational distance of 10 generations from the sample providers to the common ancestor. In this case 10 generations takes us to the grandfather of David Doerksen (1740).
David married Maria 499 before 1765 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Maria was born about 1736 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 8 August 1801 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. David Doerksen 555 was born 21 June 1765 and died 9 May 1852.
ii. Katarina Doerksen 555 was born in 1767. Katarina married Cornelius Janzen,554 son of Cornelius Janzen, 27 April 1788 in Elbing, Prussia. Cornelius was born about 1757 and died in April 1801 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine.
236 iii. Jacob Doerksen 352 (born 21 December 1767 in Ellerwald 3 Trift, Elbing Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died 20 February 1806 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine). Jacob married Susanna Klassen,353 daughter of Franz Klassen 494 and Susanna,495 before 1792 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Susanna was born 1 December 1770 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 2 November 1817 in Neu-Osterwick, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. Abram Doerksen 555 was born in 1770.
v. Anna Doerksen 597 was born in 1771. Anna married Abraham Von Riesen.
vi. Aganetha Doerksen 555 was born in 1773.
vii. Gerhard Doerksen 555 was born in 1775 and died in March 1801.
viii. Agatha Doerksen 555 was born in 1776.
ix. Peter Doerksen 555 was born 28 April 1778.
x. Judith Doerksen 555 was born in 1781. Judith married Franz Klassen in September 1801 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Franz was born 31 January 1780 in Prussia and died 9 July 1852 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
473. Maria 499 was born about 1736 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 8 August 1801 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Her month and year of death are taken from H. Schapansky and the day is from a Wikitree source. The Chortitza Vital Records for June 1801 say she was a widow when she died.
There are references on the Internet to a Maria who married a David Gerhardt Derksen. The parents of this woman are Peter Albrecht and Susanna Derksen. This looks like an error to me because there is another Peter Albrecht born in 1741 who married a Susanna. Subject to further research this looks incorrect and possibly caused by confusion with other similar but unrelated records. I have also seen other references to Maria's last name being Albrecht without the association to Peter. I suppose it is possible the Maria who married David Derksen is a sister to Peter Albrecht.
There are Internet sources who give her surname as Pauls. I have not been able to substantiate this information.
Maria married David Doerksen 498 before 1765 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. David was born in 1740 in Tiegenhagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died about 1797 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
474. Franz Klassen 494 was born in 1744 in Petershagen, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 12 January 1812 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
(Duplicate. See Person 466 on Page 346)
475. Susanna 495 was born in 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 25 April 1805 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
(Duplicate. See Person 467 on Page 346)
476. Johann Sawatzky,504 son of Johann Sawatzky 598 and Katharina Janzen,599 was born 4 April 1742 in Danzig, was baptized 23 June 1765 in Danzig, and died 24 April 1815 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
He was a Flemish Mennonite. He belonged to the Danzig Gemeinde. He and his wife moved from Danzig to Rosenthal in the Chortitza Colony in 1788. He was in Rosenthal in 1793, 1795, 1801, 1802 and 1803 and in Einlage in 1808. He moved to Einlage to live with his daughter Susanna and her family. Stumpp lists him and his wife. The 1801 census in Rosenthal indicates that he was a cooper. H. Schapansky indicates that he was among the earliest immigrants to Ukraine.
Johann's son Jacob lived in Einlage between 1793 and 1808 (Schapansky, 1992, p.118). Johann Rempel (1921, p. 16) indicates that Jacob married Helena in 1791. He married a Penner and a Rempel.
Johann's daughter Margaretha married a Breuil and a Mandtler.
Johann married Susanna Ens,505 daughter of Johann Ens, 2 November 1766 in Danzig. Susanna was born 6 April 1742 in Scharpau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 19 June 1764 in Danzig, and died 2 March 1803 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Johann Sawatzky 601 was born in 1767 and died 18 January 1852. Johann married Anna Willms.,602 daughter of Kornelius Willms. Anna was born 1 April 1768 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
ii. Jacob Sawatzky 601 was born in 1770 and died 24 January 1836.
238 iii. Cornelius Sawatzky 354 (born 3 August 1771 in Danzig - died in January 1821 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Cornelius married Margaretha Klassen,355 daughter of Martin Klassen 506 and Helena Wieler,507 in 1792 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Margaretha was born in 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1787 in Marienburg Region, Prussia, and died in 1808 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Cornelius next married Helena Klassen 510 about 1809 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. Margaretha Sawatzky 601 was born about 1772 in Prussia and died 21 May 1849.
v. Katharina Sawatzky 601 was born 24 February 1775 in Prussia and died 13 August 1859 in Ukraine. Katharina married Abraham Leikij.601
vi. Susanna Sawatzky 603 was born 28 May 1779 in Prussia and died 18 May 1823. Susanna married Johann Neufeld 603 5 April 1798 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Johann was born 26 August 1772 in Prussia and died 1 May 1837 in Einlage, Chortitza, Ukraine.
vii. Gerhard Sawatzky 604 was born 12 June 1781 and died 30 April 1842. Gerhard married Agatha Friesen.604 Agatha was born 8 September 1785 and died 19 April 1877.
viii. Helena Sawatzky 601 was born in 1784 in Prussia and died 1 December 1847.
477. Susanna Ens,505 daughter of Johann Ens, was born 6 April 1742 in Scharpau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized 19 June 1764 in Danzig, and died 2 March 1803 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
She came from Danzig to Rosenthal in 1788 with her husband. She is also listed in Stumpp's entry relating to her husband; this is quite rare because in Stumpp's Mennonite records very few women are listed and wives are seldom referenced. H. Schapansky says she was from Scharpau. She appears in the Danzig Mennonite Church Book where it says she was baptized 1 July 1764 and was the daughter of Hans Entz. Her name in the Danzig Church book is spelled Sannke.
According to the Grandma Database, one family record suggests that she may have been born in 1741. The Helga Enns submission says she was born in 1741 and died on 2 March 1803. Irene Puttkammer (1996, written comments) indicates Susanna was born in 1749 and died on 2 March 1825, while Schapansky indicates that Susanna was born 6 April 1742 (as does Unruh in the census data) and was from Scharpau. Adolf Ens, via Margaret Ewert, shows her birth date as 2 March 1741. Her death occurs between January and April 1803 in Rosenthal according to Chortitza Colony Vital Records, suggesting her date of death is 2 Mar 1803 rather than 2 May 1803. She died at age 62, suggesting that she was born in 1741.
Susanna married Johann Sawatzky,504 son of Johann Sawatzky 598 and Katharina Janzen,599 2 November 1766 in Danzig. Johann was born 4 April 1742 in Danzig, was baptized 23 June 1765 in Danzig, and died 24 April 1815 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
478. Martin Klassen 506 was born in 1739 in Klein Montau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
He was a Flemish Mennonite. Stumpp lists him as coming from Klein Montau, Grosswerder in the Heubuden Gemeinde in 1788. He appears in the 1776 census with his four sons and two daughters and a wife. The 1776 census lists his living condition as 'schlecht', which means simple, but not poor. He was an original settler in Neuendorf, arriving with the 1789-1790 wave of immigrants. In later years he lived with his son Abraham in Neuendorf, where he is listed in 1795 and 1802. He was married to a woman named Helena Wieler, according to the Grandma Database. I have been unable to substantiate this but she doesn't appear in the 1795 census so she died prior to that date, possibly in Neuendorf.
I have been unable to reconcile the First Settlers count of household members. That document says 5 adults and 2 children comprised the household. I count Martin and Helena, adult son Martin, and younger sons Abram and Isaac. The three elder children were all married and all are accounted for as separate households in the First Settlers list.
He appears in the 1772 census with 2 Hufen and 9 Morgen of land. (about 92 acres). In that census the household is composed of 4 males over age 10, 3 under 10, 4 females over age 10 and 2 under. This total of 13 people does not match the 1776 census.
The birth of Martin's sons Isaac and Abraham appear in the Heubuden Church Records in Wernersdorf/Klein Montau. There are other Klassen births but no indication of whose children these are.
According to H. Schapansky Martin Klassen's son, Martin, came to Chortitza in 1788/89 with his father. He appears in Neuendorf in 1795. I assume some of the other younger children also came with the parents.
Martin married Helena Wieler 507 about 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Helena was born before 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1795 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Jacob Klassen 605 was born in 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1802 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Jacob married an unknown person.
ii. Katarina Klassen 602 was born in 1767 and died before 1795.
239 iii. Margaretha Klassen 355 (born in 1769 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - died in 1808 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine). Margaretha married Cornelius Sawatzky,354 son of Johann Sawatzky 504 and Susanna Ens,505 in 1792 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Cornelius was born 3 August 1771 in Danzig and died in January 1821 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine. Margaretha next married Peter Willms 511 before 1791. Peter was born about 1765 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, was baptized in 1785 in Prussia, and died before 1792 in Rosenthal, Chortitza, Ukraine.
iv. Martin Klassen 602 was born in 1771 and died about 1803 in Chortitza, Chortitza, Ukraine.
v. Isaac Klassen 606 was born 31 August 1774 in Prussia and died in 1805 in Neuenburg, Chortitza, Ukraine. Isaac married Helena Willms.,602 daughter of Kornelius Willms. Helena was born in 1770 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
vi. Abram Klassen 607 was born 8 September 1776 in Klein Montau, Marienburg Region, Prussia and died in 1803.
479. Helena Wieler 507 was born before 1744 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1795 in Schoenhorst, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Her year of birth must have been around 1744 or earlier based on the ages of her children. Martin Klassen was a widower in 1795 and 1802 when he was listed in the Neuendorf census materials. Since Helena was not listed she must have died before 1795, possibly in Neuendorf where they originally settled in 1789-1790. The Grandma Database says her name was Helena Wieler but I have been unable to verify this.
Helena married Martin Klassen 506 about 1764 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Martin was born in 1739 in Klein Montau, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine.
480. Heinrich Dyck 383 was born before 1739 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1788 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Prussia.
In the 1776 West Prussia Census he is listed in Krebsfeld with 1 son and 1 daughter. He was a member of the Rosenort Gemeinde. There is no record thus far that he moved to Ukraine. His son Heinrich is listed in Peter Rempel's book as an immigrant in 1803. Judith is listed there as accompanying her son Heinrich.
He is listed in connection with the baptism in 1788 of his surviving son Abraham. This record also says the family came from Krebsfeld.
There is speculation that his parents are Phillip Dyck and Katarina Goossen, who appear in the Danzig Family Book Volume 1 with one child, a daughter born in 1723. There is no evidence that these are the true parents.
Heinrich married Judith Preuss.384 Judith was born about 1730 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 20 March 1810 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Children:
i. Heinrich Dyck 608 was born about 1759 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Heinrich married Margaretha Driedger 609 before 1788 in Prussia. Margaretha was born in 1763 in Ladekopp, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
240 ii. Abraham Dyck 357 (born about 1769 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth). Abraham married Agatha Thimm 244 about 1791 in Chortitza Colony, Ukraine. Agatha was born in 1751 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died in 1803 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine. Abraham next married Sara Suckau 513 about 1803.
481. Judith Preuss 384 was born about 1730 in Lakendorf, Marienburg Region, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died 20 March 1810 in Neuendorf, Chortitza, Ukraine.
Her age is given as 70 in the 1803 migration list in Peter Rempel's book and as 73 in the 1803 migration list in B. H. Unruh's book. These ages suggest that she may have been born any time between 1730 and1733. Unruh records her as born in Lakendorf and living in Molotschna in 1803. Unruh also gives us her maiden name of Preuss. It appears that she came to Ukraine with her son Abraham and later moved in with her son Heinrich.
Judith married Heinrich Dyck.383 Heinrich was born before 1739 in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and died before 1788 in Krebsfeld, Elbing Region, Prussia.
Copyright 2025 by Barry Teichroeb. All rights reserved.
Home | Table of Contents | Surnames | Name List
This website was created 22 May 2025 with Legacy 10.0, a division of MyHeritage.com; content copyrighted and maintained by website owner