Unknown Steinbrecher (abt. 1776)

Born about 1776 in Dönhof, Saratov, Russia

Ancestors

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Biography

Unknown Steinbrecher was a Volga German.

Unknown Steinbrecher has German Roots.

Family #203 and #95 in the 1834 Grimm census.
Family #Dh059 or Dh042 in the 1798 Dönhof census.

According to notes in the 1834 census, an unknown Steinbrecker was the father of Konrad Steinbrecker. Konrad's mother was "an unnamed daughter" of Heinrich Stähle. Konrad was born in 1808, so one of Heinrich Stähle's daughters had to be old enough to have a child in that year. A review of the 1798 Grimm census shows he had only one daughter who could have been Konrad's mother: Charlotte, born in 1790. She would have been 17 at the time of Konrad's birth.

The census does note, when applicable, that a child was illegitimate, but does not mention that in this case. It could be that Charlotte married a Steinbrecher and then one or both of them died. It may be that Charlotte died, his father remarried, and Konrad stayed with his maternal grandparents. It could be that the child was born out of wedlock.

Charlotte is not listed with his family in the 1834 census, so she either married and lived in another household, or she passed away.

I reviewed the 1798 Census of the German Colonies along the Volga and found Steinbrechers in only two colonies: Doenhof and Galka. Dönhof was relatively close to Grimm while Galka was one of the southern colonies. It seems much more likely that Konrad's father was from Dönhof.

The following men were identified as Steinbrechers living in Dönhof in 1798:

1. Baltasar Steinbrecher, born 1752, married

2. Johannes Steinbrecher, born 1776, married

3. David Steinbrecher, born 1746, widower

4. Johann Georg Steinbrecher, born 1768, unmarried

5. Johannes Steinbrecher, born 1757, married

6. Johannes Steinbrecher, born 1776, married

7. Johann Balthasar Steinbrecher, born 1779, single

8. Johann Peter Steinbrecher, born 1786, single

9. Johann Heinrich Steinbrecher, born 1791, single

10. Johann Georg Steinbrecher, born 1793, single

11. Johann Jakob Steinbrecher, born 1796, single

The last two, Johann Georg #10 and Johann Jakob #11, were probably too young to father children in 1808 and can be eliminated from the possible father list.

Balthasar #1, David #3, and Johannes #5 were brothers; their father was Adolph Steinbrecher from Hessen-Darmstadt.

Whoever fathered the child either:

• Chose not to raise the child, or
• Passed away, leaving Konrad's mother and her family to raise him

It's also possible that Charlotte herself passed away, leaving her parents to raise their grandchild.

Note: David Steinbreher is listed in Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767 as being married to Eleonora, born in 1746. They arrived in Dönhof on 21 July 1766 and as of one year later, did not have any children. Their eldest child Johann Georg was born in 1768. Wife Eleonora passed away prior to 1798. By 1798, all their children were single adults.

It should also be noted that both the Stehli/Stähle and Steinbrecher families immigrated first to Denmark, and then later to Russia. The Stehli/Stähle's ended up in Grimm, and the Steinbrecher's went to Dönhof. The colonies were near each other and it was not unusual to see that someone from Grimm married someone from Dönhof. In fact, Johannes' son Johannes married a woman from Grimm.

Despite the fact that they lived in different Volga colonies, they most likely were acquainted since living in Denmark and their subsequent journey to Russia, and the families most likely continued their friendship after they arrived in Russia. This may help explain how the Charlotte and one of the Steinbrechers knew each other and eventually had a relationship that resulted in the birth of a child.

Sources

• Eichhorn, Alexander, Dr., and Dr. Jacob and Mary Eichhorn. The Immigration of German Colonists to Denmark and Their Subsequent Emigration to Russia in the Years 1759-1766,, Druck and Bindung: Druckerei and Verlap Steinmeier GmbH & Co. KG, 86738, Deiningen, Germany; Published 2012; pages 254, 298, 612, 614, 667, and 674.

• Mai, Brent Alan. 1798 Census of the German Colonies along the Volga, Volume 1, American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA, Published 1999 and 2005; page 379, Dh042, David Steinbrecher and Johann Georg Steinbrecher; page 382, family #Dh059, Baltasar Steinbrecher and Johannes Steinbrecher.

• Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767, Heerstellung: Mecke Druck and Verlag, 37115 Duderstandt; Published 1999; page 347, #23, David Steinbrecher, age 22, Lutheran farmer from Darmstadt.

• The 1775 and 1798 Census of the German Colony on the Volga, Lesnoy Karamysh, also known as Grimm; Published by the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Lincoln, NE, USA; Published 1995; family #56 in the 1798 Grimm census, Charlotte Stehli, age 7.