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The Guardianship Committee of Foreign Settlers in South Russia

Compiled March 2002 by Tim Janzen & Tatyana Makarenko

1812

File 594. File concerning the formation of mobile disabled companies in Odessa from healthy soldiers from the Molotschna and Smolensk Colonies. Information about a promise by the Kherson Military Governor to send to the Guardianship Office an additional six soldiers from the colonies for the formation of these companies.

1. Report from Colonel Tarasevich. Reports from the Inspector of the Molotschna Colony, Mr. Sieber, and the Inspector of the Smolensk Colony, Mr. Dunin-Borkovsky.
2. Correspondence from the Guardianship Office with the Duke de Richelieu and the Melitopol District Court.
3. Conclusions of the Guardianship Office about forming four mobile disabled companies from soldiers from the Molotschna and Smolensk Colonies.

These documents are written in Russian.
9 Jan 9 1812 to 12 Jul 1812. 18 pages. 33 frames.

File 600. File concerning investigations by the Guardianship Office that were made on the suggestion of the Duke de Richelieu into the high death rate among the settlers from the Smolensk and Jewish Colonies in 1811; about the acceptance of preventive measures against illnesses by the colonists.

1. A letter from the Duke de Richelieu to the Guardianship Office about the necessity to clarify the reasons for the deaths of the people in the colonies and about the necessity to accept preventive measures against illness.
2. The conclusion by the Guardianship Office concerning of the suggestions of the Duke de Richelieu. Report about the measures taken.
3. Information about the number of Smolensk Jewish colonists in 1811 and about the death rate of the colonists for 1811.
4. Decrees from the Guardianship Office to inspectors about the need to report immediately about mass diseases.
5. Reports from the Inspectors of the Smolensk, Crimea, Danzig, and Chortitza Colonies about receiving the decrees from the Guardianship Office.
6. Lists showing the number of the sick people in the following villages: - January, 1812 in the villages of Montal, Prischib, Hoffental, Nassau, Weinau, Durlach, Reichenfeld, Friedrichfeld, Heidelberg, Waldorf, Schoenau, Fischau, and Ohrloff. - April to May, 1812 in the villages of Montal, Neudorf, Rosental, Prischib, Hoffental, Nassau, Weinau, Wasserau, Durlach, Reichenfeld, Kostheim, Leitershausen, Hochstaedt, Friedrichsfeld, Heidelberg, Waldorf, Petershagen, Halbstadt, Tiegenhagen, Schoenau, Fischau, Lindenau, Lichtenau, Muenstenberg, Ohrloff, and Rueckenau. - February, 1814 in the villages of Hoffental, Montal, Molotschna, Plantage, Weinau, Leitershausen, Hochstaedt, Friedrichsfeld, Heidelberg, Waldorf, and Ladekopp. - March, 1814 in villages of Montal, Rosental, Reichenfeld, Kostheim, Leitershausen, Hochstaedt, Heidelberg, Altonau, and Ladekopp. - April, 1814 in the villages of Montal, Molotschna, Heidelberg, Leitershausen, Hochstaedt, Kostheim, Hoffental, Wasserau, Rosental, Friedrichsfeld, and Gruental. The lists provide the types of illnesses being treated.
7. A list of names of sick people in January, 1812 in the colonies of Montal, Molotschna, Heidelberg, Leitershausen, Hochstaedt, Kostheim, Neuendorf, and Waldorf . The list shows the total number of sick people.
8. A list of names of sick people in the Molotschna Colonies for the months of December, 1811, December, 1812, January, 1813, and February to April, 1814. There are names of medicines used for the treatment of the sick in the list. The list was signed by Dr. Karl Schulze.

These documents are written in Russian, German, and Latin.
15 May 1812 to 25 Apr 1814. 52 pages. 88 frames.

File 601. File concerning an incident in which horses belonging to an artillery command from the village of Tokmak trampled down the grass meadows and fields belonging to Mennonites from the village of Fuerstenau.

1. Petition and report written by the village government of Fuerstenau about the incident.
2. Report from the Inspector of the Molotschna Colonies, Mr. Sieber, to the Guardianship Office about this.
3. A summons from the Melitopol Minor Court to Mr. Sieber because Staff-captain Banov had lodged a complaint about damages to his horse by Mennonites.
4. Letters from Mr. Banov to Mr. Sieber. Letters containing a demand to compensate for the damage that was done by Mennonites to the horses, including an estimate of the monetary damages.
5. Testimonies from the following soldiers: Stepan Szkoda, Akim Nochevchenko, Zachary Panasenko, and Moisei Filenko.
6. Testimonies from Mennonites from Fuerstenau: Jacob Wiebe, Peter Rempel, Klaas Wiebe, Johann Peters, Abraham Olfert, Jacob Olfert, Dirk Ginter, Albrecht Mandtler, Dirk Dueck, Peter Neufeld, Johann Tiessen, Cornelius Kroeker, Johann Braun, Jacob Kroeker.
7. Report from the Molotschna District Office to Mr. Sieber about a incident in which the inhabitants of Tokmak beat Gerhard Enns' wife.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
27 Apr 1812 to 8 Jun 1812. 26 pages. 47 frames.

File 602. File concerning a conflict between the colonist Joel Hoffman from the Molotschna Colonies and the colonist Mr. Kese, who served the landlord Mr. Klevtsov in the village of Novoselka.

1. Report written by Mr.von Lau, a member of the Guardianship Office, to the Guardianship Office about the necessity to call Mr. Kese in the Molotschna Colonies because the colonist Joel Hoffman had made a complaint about Mr. Kese. Mr. Hoffman assumed the estate of Mr. Kese.
2. An order from the Guardianship Office to the Molotschna District Office about the necessity to investigate the conflict between the colonists, Mr. Kese and Mr. Hoffman. Correspondence from the Guardianship Office with the Novomoskovsk Minor Court on the same subject.
3. Report written by Inspector Sieber about getting the order from the Guardianship Office.
4. Census of German colonists who lived and earned their living in the Chortitza Colony in November, 1812 (rough copy).

These documents are written in Russian.
9 Sep 1812 to 6 Mar 1813. 9 pages. 19 frames.

File 607. File concerning the issuance of passports.

1. Reports from the Inspector of the Crimean Colonies, Mr. Gsell, about issuing temporary passports to the following colonists: Adam Friedrich Lenz (Sudak), Ungentius Dimmel (Zuerichtal), Jacob Tausch (Feodosia), and Martin Schuler (Heilbrunn).
2. Correspondence from the Guardianship Office with Lieutenant Colonel Hertzberg of the Chernigov Mounted Infantry Regiment with the Ekaterinoslav District Exchequer on the occasion of the need to prolong the term of the passport of August Schmidt who serves with Mr. Hertzberg.
3. Report written by the Danzig Village Government to the Guardianship Office. Resolution by the Guardianship Office. Correspondence from the Guardianship Office with the Chief of Elizabethgrad Police about issuing passports to the following colonists who need to leave to spend the winter in the Worms Colony: Johann Burbek, Andreas and Johann Mickelsohn, Christopher and Johann Matthesen, Johann Stach, Karl Behrendt, Johann, Michael and Christian Gydy.
4. Reports written by the Inspector of the Josephstal Colonies, Mr. Develdeev, about issuing passports to the following colonists: Carl Fopt (Josephstal Colony), Peter Wieler (Kronsgarten, including a list of his family), Johann von Bergen (Kronsgarten, including a list of his family), Christopher Schrimer (Kronsgarten), Joseph Kirsch (Kronsgarten), Johann George Koper (Josephstal Colony), Paul Toews, Daniel and Johann Schroeder (Josephstal Colony), Daniel Kunz, Samuel Berner, Peter Nitsel (Josephstal Colony), Adam Kunz, Ferdinand Reih (Rybalsk Colony), Johann Klassen (Kronsgarten), Friedrich Shtinis (Josephstal Colony), Adolph and Johann Balau (Josephstal Colony).
5. Report written by the acting Inspector of the Josephstal Colonies, Mr. Kusemov, about issuing passports to Johann Rauter and his family (Rybalsk Colony).
6. Report written by the Inspector of the Swedish Colonies, Mr. Dalke, about issuing passports to Peter Drommelschlaeger and Ferdinand Lang (Schlagendorf Colony). Petition by P. Drommelschlaeger.
7. Report written by the Chortitza District Office about issuing passports to the following colonists: Jacob Ens, Gerhard Willems, Wilhelm Siemens, Isaac Bergen, Nathaniel Goertzen (Schoenwiese, including his petition), Peter Siemens, Abraham Neufeld (serviette-maker), Dirk Goertzen, Abraham Jantzen, Joseph Nowitzky, and Johann Peters.
8. Information about issuing passports to the following colonists: Joseph Thonhausser (Jamburg Colony), Franz Sebastian (Ekaterinoslav), and Michael Sutter (Jamburg Colony).
9. Report written by the Inspector of the Molotschna Colonies, Mr. Sieber, about the passport of Samuel Kater (Kamer).
10. Notification written by the Chernigov Government to the Guardianship Office about the search for the colonist David Kop.
11. Information about the need to limit the number of colonists who earn their living outside of New Russia.
12. Temporary passports for the following colonists: L. F. Lenz, U. Dimmel, M. Schuler, J. Rauter, F. Kirschbaum, P. Drommelschlaeger, and A. Neufeld.
13. Ticket for Carl Jaeger, a gardener in the Chortitza Colony.
14. A certificate that was given by the Guardianship Office to P. Siemens.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
28 Dec 1811 to 31 Jan 1821. 201 pages. (This document has not been microfilmed. However, photocopies of this document as well as a complete translation of it may be found in most major North American Mennonite archives).

File 614. File concerning the petition written by Pastor Thomas Majewski.

1. Petition written by Pastor T. Majewski about the necessity to examine the scandalous matter of the unmarried colonists Benjamin Becker of the Molotschna Colony and Rose Schwamberger who lived together.
2. Orders from the Guardianship Office to inspectors about the necessity to control the morality of the colonists.
3. Report written by the Inspector of the Crimean Colonies, Mr. Gsell, about receiving the order.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
13 Jul 1812 to 11 May 1813. 4 pages. 10 frames.

File 619. File concerning the decision of the Department of the State Economy to swear in the foreigners who were in the service of Russia.

1. Order from the Ministry of Internal Affairs about the necessity to register and swear in the foreigners.
2. Order from the Guardianship Office to the inspectors of the colonies and district offices to swear in the colonists.
3. Report written by the Chortitza District Office containing the list of names of colonists who had been sworn in from the following villages: Chortitza, Rosenthal, Einlage, Insel Chortitza, Nieder Chortitza, Kronsweide, Neuenburg, Schoenhorst, and Burwalde (frames 33, 34, 39).
4. Report written by the surveyor, Mr. Hauschteck, about the nationality and place of the service. Report written by the pastor of the Molotschna Colonies, Rev. Zederholm, on the same subject. Report from Inspector Dalke about the time of arrival in Russia and the service.
5. Reports written by the Danzig Village Government and Inspectors Sieber, Gsell, and Develdeev about administering the oath to the colonists.
6. The list of names of Mennonites who had been sworn in 1812 from the villages of Rosenort, Blumenort, Tiege, Ohrloff, Altonau, Muensterberg, Blumstein, Lichtenau, Lindenau, Fischau, Schoenau, Tiegenhagen, Muntau, Halbstadt, Petershagen, Ladekopp, Fuerstenau, Schoensee, Rueckenau (frames 70-76).
7. Oath promises written by the colonists from the Molotschna Colonies.
8. Official lists of the foreigners who were on the staff of the Guardianship Office, namely Anton O. Dunin-Borkovsky, a Pole; Johann M. Gronau, a Swede; and Keshtan Jacob Dalke, a Swede.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
12 Jul 1812 to 1 Jul 1813. 81 pages. 127 frames.

File 649. File concerning an incident in which Mennonites from Schoensee moved without permission to Ladekopp and Petershagen.

1. Report from the Guardianship Office to the Duke de Richelieu about the unauthorized resettlement of 15 families from Schoensee who moved to Ladekopp and Petershagen.
2. Correspondence between E. O. Richelieu and S. X. Contenius on the same subject.

These documents are written in Russian. This file has been damaged by mold.
29 May 1812 to 11 Jul 1812. 6 pages. 15 frames.

File 675. File concerning the permission given by the Department of the State Economy and Public Building to produce saltpeter in the colonies.

1. Order from the Department of the State Economy to the Guardianship Office about the permission to produce saltpeter in the Colonies and about sending instructions on the same subject.
2. Reports from the Inspector of the Josephstal Colonies, Mr. Develdeev, the Inspector of the Molotschna Colonies, Mr. Sieber, the Inspector of the Crimean Colonies, Mr. Gsell, the Inspector of the District Mayor of the Chortitza Colonies, Mr. Siemens, and the Inspector of the Danzig Village Government about receiving these instructions for the preparation of saltpeter.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
13 Jun 1812 to 24 Jan 1814. 13 pages. 17 frames.

File 679. Report written by the Elder of the Radichev Mennonite Brotherhood, Mr. Waldner, about an incident in which the captain of the Akhtyrsk Hussar Regiment, Captain Lantiner, grazed his horses on the hayfield of the Radichev Mennonite Brotherhood.

1. Report from the Radichev Mennonite Brotherhood to the Guardianship Office about the incident.
2. Report from the Guardianship Office to the Chernigov Governor on the same subject.

These documents are written in Russian.
3 Jul 1812 to 24 Jul 1812. 8 pages. 10 frames.

File 688. Two official reports written by the Inspector of the Molotschna Colonies, Mr. Sieber, about thefts.

1. Report about the theft of property and money from District Mayor Johann Klassen.
2. Report about theft of bulls from Jacob Celing.
3. Letter from the Guardianship Office to the Alexandrovsk Minor Court about the need to find the stolen goods.

These documents are written in Russian.
3 Aug 1812 to 22 Aug 1812. 5 pages. 12 frames.

File 691. File concerning monetary donations that were sent by the Bulgarian colonists and the Chortitza Mennonites to the Territorial Army.

1. Correspondence from the Minister of Finances, Mr. Guriev, and the Inspectors of the colonies with A. Rosenkampf and the Duke de Richelieu about monetary donations totaling 6780 rubles. List of the names of donors from the Ternovsk and Ingulsk Colonies.
2. Letter from the Guardianship Office to Mr. Rosenkampf about the donations of money from Mennonites in the Chortitza Colony.

These documents are written in Russian.
26 Aug 1812 to 21 Jun 1813; 12 Jul 1813; 17 Nov 1833. 18 pages. 33 frames.

File 702. File concerning the prohibition by the Ekaterinoslav Civil Governor against Mennonites from Schoenwiese collecting interest when they exchanged banknotes for copper coins.

1. Letter including an order from the Ekaterinoslav Civil Governor, K. S. Gladky, to the Guardianship Office about the prohibition against Mennonites from Schoenwiese collecting interest (20 kopecks from each ruble) when they exchange banknotes.
2. Report written by the Chortitza District Office about receiving this order.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
1 Oct 1812 to 29 Nov 1812. 5 pages. 11 frames.

File 703. File concerning testimonies from Mennonites in the Chortitza Colony.

1. Letter written by the Alexandrovsk Minor Court to the Guardianship Office about the need to call Peter Unger, Jacob Neufeld, and Derk Reimer, Mennonites in the Chortitza Colony, for testimony. Their testimonies were necessary in order to investigate a criminal case about the drowned men, Mr. Stolyarov and Mr. Agarchonok, who were settlers from Voznesenskoe.
2. Conclusions from the Guardianship Office on the same subject.
3. Report written by the Chortitza District Office including the testimonies.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
1 Nov 1812 to 20 Jan 1813. 9 pages. 20 frames.

File 710. Correspondence from the Guardianship Office with the Alexandrovsk District Exchequer and inspectors of the colonies about the necessity to get rid of bureaucracy (red tape) regarding the delivery of documents.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
18 Nov 1812 to 13 Mar 1813. 11 pages. 22 frames.

File 711. File concerning the Mennonite Katharina Schroeder from Kronstal who hung herself.

1. Reports written by the District Mayor of the Chortitza Colonies, Mr. Siemens, to the Guardianship Office.
2. Correspondence from the Guardianship Office with the Ekaterinoslav Civil Governor, K.S. Gladky, the Department of the State Economy and Public Building, the Minister of Police, and the Alexandrovsk Minor Court on the occasion of the suicide of Katharina Schroeder, wife of Johann Schroeder, and about the investigation of this case.

These documents are written in both Russian and German.
19 Nov 1812 to 2 Mar 1815. 37 pages. 66 frames.

© 2002 Mennonite Historical Society of Alberta
Last Updated 23 Mar 2002

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