Rau(h) (Leitsinger)

There are 2 Rau families that arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 12 September 1766. They are also recorded traveling together from St. Petersburg to Saratov in 1767. Both settled in the Volga German colony of Leitsinger, but their relationship to each other, if any, needs further research.

(1) Johannes Rauh, son of Georg & Barbara Rau, was born 18 June 1735 in Sassanfahrt.

The baptisms of 4 children born to Johannes Rauhe [sic] are recorded in the parish register of Sassenfahrt: (1) Wilhelm Conrad, baptized 13 November 1759; (2) Barbara, baptized 20 December 1761; (3) Michael, baptized 6 April 1764; and (4) Barbara [again], baptized 25 April 1766.

Johann Rau, a farmer, his wife Margaretha, and children (Wilhelm, age 11; Barbara, age 7; Michael, age 5; Kaspar, age ¼) arrived in Oranienbaum.

Johann Rausch [sic], his wife Margaretha, and children (Wilhelm, age 11; Barbara, age 7; Michael, age 5) are recorded on the list of colonists being transported from St. Petersburg to Saratov in 1767.

Johann Rauch [sic], his wife Margaretha, and children (Wilhelm, age 11; Barbara, age 7; Michael, age 5; Kaspar, age ¼) are recorded on the 1767 census of Leitsinger in Household No. 38. They had settled in Leitsinger on 19 August 1767.

Following the destruction of Leitsinger, the Johannes Rau family resettled to the colony of Neu-Kolonie. They are recorded there on the 1798 census in Households No. Nk32 and Nk44.

Michael Rau, adopted son of Johannes Rau, is recorded on the 1811 census of Neu-Kolonie in Household No. 42 along with a note that he relocated to the colony of Hölzel in 1809.

Michael Rau from Keller [sic] is recorded on the 1811 census of Hölzel in Household No. 21 along with a note that he had arrived in Hölzel from Keller in 1809.

In 1814, David Rau, son of Wilhelm Rau, moved from Neu-Kolonie to Seelmann.

In 1826, Michael Rau (born 1797-1798) moved from Neu-Kolonie to Seelmann.

(2) Balthasar Rau, a farmer, and his wife Margaretha arrived in Oranienbaum.

Balthasar Rausch [sic], his wife Magdalena [sic], and daughter Eva Margretha (age 1½) are recorded on the list of colonists being transported from St. Petersburg to Saratov in 1767.

Balthasar Rauch [sic] and his wife Margaretha are recorded on the 1767 census of Leitsinger in Household No. 40. They had settled in Leitsinger on 19 August 1767.

Descendants of Balthasar Rau are believed to be recorded on the 1798 census in Household No. Nk15.

The 1767 census records that both Balthasar and Johann Rauch came from the German village of Sassanfahrt in the Bamberg district.