Anna Barbara Johann was a resident of Ramholz, Kr. Main-Kinzig, Hessen and married Kilian Bretthauer in Sterbfritz, Kr. Main-Kinzig, Hessen around age 18. Kilian and Barbara are then listed as first settlers to Walter, Saratov, Russia by August 1767. Barbara had her only child about February or March of 1767. Barbara's death most likely occurred after the Fall 1767 census and before 1769.
Kilian Bretthauer and his family immigrated to Russia from the German village of Sterbfritz where Killian had been baptized 22 April 1732. Killian and Anna Barbara Johann, daughter of Adam Johann, were married in Sterbfritz on 17 May 1757.
After they arrived in Russia, they settled in the Volga German colony of Walter on 25 August 1767 where they are recorded on the 1767 Census in Household No. 3. [Kilian then married Margareta Müller in Walter as recorded on the 1798 Census in Walter in Household No. Wt057.]
Census
Walter, Frank, Saratov, Russia was also called Gretschinaja Luka in Russian its local nickname "Buckwheat Meadows" located on the Bergseite or hilly side of the Volga River. Walter was 70 miles from Saratov, a 3- to 4-day journey via wagon.[1]
Walter village was narrow and about a mile in length, divided into two sides: "Hinerdorf" and "Federdorf". It was situated along the east bank of the Medweditza ("She Bear") River, a tributary of the Don River which flows into the Black Sea.[2]
1767 Census in Household No. 3. - Walter First Settlers
First Settlers Listing
Bretthauer, Kilian [first translated as Julian], age 34, Lutheran, Roman Empire, Hesse county, Starfritz [Sterbfritz], craftsman.
Wife: Barbara [Anna Barbara Johann Bretthauer], age 28
Before 1769 when Kilian's first child with his second wife is born. The cause of Barbara's death is not recorded.
Sources
↑ American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR); Walter Village Documents; Walter Khutor Village Research Project, undated, Walter Village Research Project Undated.pdf .
↑ American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR); Walter Village Documents; Walter Khutor Village Research Project, Walter Village Research Project Report 1996.pdf.
↑ American Historical Society of Germans from Russia (AHSGR); Walter Village Documents; Walter Original Settlers List, August 25 and September 10 1767; Walter 1767 Settlers List Saratov Archives.pdf, page 1, www.ahsgr.org
Bretthauer Chart (Village of Walter), Commissioned by Lauren Brethauer Brantner, Records by Anna Kasterina Pleve, Russia, 2020; email to Koreen Goodman 10 Mar 2020.
Fyler, Michael. Descendants of Johannes Bretthauer-49509; AHSGR Walter VC; Kilian Johannes Bretthauer-16923; emailed to Koreen Goodman 30 Aug 2018.
Mai|VGI|Bretthauer Mai, Dr. Brent. Volga German Institute, Walter Village Research: Bretthauer First Settlers
Other - Sources by Dr. Brent Mai & Maggie Hein:
Mai, Brent Alan. 1798 Census of the German Colonies along the Volga: Economy, Population, and Agriculture (Lincoln, NE: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1999): Wt047, Wt057, Wt058.
Müller-Marschhausen, Ernst. “Russland-Auswanderer aus dem Bergwinkel um 1766 und die Spurensuche nach ihrer Rückkehr im 20. Jahrhundert.” [Online]
Parish records of Sterbfritz.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767 Band 4 (Göttingen: Göttinger Arbeitskreis, 2008): 296.
Acknowledgements
Special gratitude to the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia and especially the tedious work of Walter VCs Michael Fyler, Jean Roth, Mary Jane Bolton, Byron Wagner and all past VCs including Mary Mills for dedicated work in translations of census records.
Special gratitude to Dr. Brent Mai with Volga German Institute at Fairfield University for his tedious work on Volga Germans and published census work. Volga German Tours are available with Dr. Mai: Volga German Tours
Additional gratitude to Lauren Bretthauer Brantner and Anna Pleve.
Is Barbara your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.