Johann Nikolaus Wittmann (abt. 1821)

Born about 1821 in Grimm, Saratov, Russia

Ancestors

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Biography

Nikolaus Wittmann was a Volga German.

Nikolaus Wittmann has German Roots.

Family #239 in the 1834 Grimm census.
Family #267 in the 1857 Grimm census.

1834 Grimm Census ^[1]

Family # 239

Head of the Household Georg Wittmann, age 39, from household #71

Wife Margaretha Wittmann, age 36

Child #1 Johann Nikolaus Wittmann, age 13

Child #2 Johann Georg Wittmann, age 11

Child #3 Georg Philipp Wittmann, age 9

Child #4 Katharina Barbara Wittmann, age 7

Child #5 Katharina Margaretha Wittmann, age 5

Child #6 Philipp Jakob Wittmann, age 2

Child #7 Georg Adam Wittmann, age 6 months

In the 1857 census, Nikolaus was the head of his household at 36 years of age, after the death of his parents. His wife Jakobina is 35. Beneath them are four children lists as his nieces, but I believe that is an error; they should be listed as his daughters. Listed below that grouping are six brothers. The ones who are old enough to have children have them listed after their names. There is no reason that for the children listed in Nikolaus' group not to be his daughters. The family listing appears like this, with the abbreviations of household members spelled out for ease of reading and any spouses and children indented below their husband/father:

Family #267, page 99

4287 Nikolaus Wittman head of the household age 36 [oldest brother]

4288 Jakobina, spouse, age 35

4289 Christina Margaretha, niece, age 8

4290 Katharina Elisabeth, niece, age 5

4291 Elisabeth Margaretha, niece, age 4

4292 Katharina Margaretha, niece, age 1 1/2

4293 Johann Georg, brother age 27 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

4294 Johann Jakob, nephew, age 4 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

4295 Georg Philipp, brother, age 25 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

4296 Georg Jakob, nephew, age 1 1/2 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

4297 Philipp Jakob, brother, age 25

4298 Anna Katharina, sister-in-law, age 25

4299 Georg Adam, brother, age 23 [single]

4300 Johann Jakob, brother, age 21 [single]

4301 Konrad, brother, age 19 [single]

The only brothers old enough to have an 8-year-old daughter are the two who moved to Oberdorf in 1852. There is no reason they would leave a young family member behind. The only other married brother was Philipp Jakob, age 25, and he is listed with his wife, but there are no children connected to them. The remaining three brothers were single but not old enough to be the father of an 8-year-old. If they were the daughters of a sister, there is no reason the census taker wouldn't have listed them, minimally, as the children of an unknown sister. This was the established practice used with other families in the Grimm censuses.

The way the four daughters are grouped, all together below Nikolaus and Jakobina, it is clear they are siblings listed from oldest to youngest. Nikolaus had no other brothers to whom the girls could belong. They are clearly his own daughters, not his nieces.

Therefore, Nikolaus and Jakobina had four daughters by 1857:

• Christina Margaretha, daughter, born 1849
• Katharina Elisabeth, daughter, born 1852
• Elisabeth Margaretha, daughter, born 1854
• Katharina Margaretha, daughter, born 1855

Additional children may have been born to the couple after 1857, but they are not captured in an official Russian census with their biological parents. The 1857 entry for this family is shown again below in the standard format.

1857 Grimm Census ^[2]

Family # 267

Head of the Household Nikolaus Wittmann, age 36

Wife Jakobina Wittmann, age 35

Child #1 Christina Margaretha Wittmann, age 8, niece [sic]

Child #2 Katharina Elisabeth Wittmann, age 5, niece [sic]

Child #3 Elisabeth Margaretha Wittmann, age 4 [sic]

Child #4 Katharina Margaretha Wittmann, age 1 year 6 months, niece [sic]

Brother #1 Johann Georg Wittmann, age 27 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

Child #5 Johann Jakob Wittmann, age 4 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

Brother #2 Georg Philipp Wittmann, age 25 in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

Child #6 Georg Jakob Wittmann, age 1 year 6 months in 1850, to Oberdorf in 1852

Brother #3 Philipp Jakob Wittmann, age 25

Wife of Brother #3 Anna Katharina Wittmann, age 25

Brother #4 Georg Adam Wittmann, age 23

Brother #5 Johann Jakob Wittmann, age 21

Brother #6 Konrad Wittmann, age 19

Sources

1. ↑ 1834 Census of Grimm in the District of Saratov, Russia, dated 2 February 1835; Translated by Brent Mai, Concordia University, Portland, Oregon; Published by Dynasty Publishing, Beaverton, OR, USA; Published 2011; page 72, family #239, Georg Wittmann family.
2. ↑ 1857 Census of Grimm in the District of Saratov, Russia, dated 5 November 1857; Translated by Brent Mai, Concordia University, Portland, Oregon; Published by Dynasty Publishing, Beaverton, OR, USA; Published 2005; page 99, family #267, Nikolaus Wittmann family.