Reifschneider (Norka)

There are two Reifschneider families from the German region of Isenburg who arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 19 July 1766 aboard the barque named Fortitudo under the command of Skipper John Scott. They both settled in the Volga German colony of Norka on 15 August 1767. There relationship to each other, if any, needs further research - but they came from neighboring villages in Germany, traveled to Russia together, and settled in Norka together.

(1) Johann Conrad Reifschneider, son of Heinrich Reifschneider, was born 28 March 1732. Anna Maria Engel, daughter of Johann Jacob Engel, was born 28 March 1732. They were married in the German village of Kefenrod on 17 November 1751. The baptisms of six of their children (all born in Kefenrod) are recorded in the parish register of Hitzkirchen: (1) Johann Jacob, baptized 3 September 1752; (2) Juliana, baptized 9 October 1754; (3) Maria Elisabeth, baptized 30 October 1757; (4) Johannes, baptized 13 April 1759; (5) Johann Heinrich, baptized 22 September 1761; and (6) Johann Conrad, baptized 14 June 1763.

Johann Konrad Reifschneider, a farmer, his wife Anna, and children (Julianna, age 13; Johann, age 9) arrived in Oranienbaum.

Conrad Reiffschneider, his wife Anna Maria, and children (Juliana, age 13; Johannes, age 9) are recorded on the list of colonists being transported from St. Petersburg to Saratov in 1767 along with a note that both parents and daughter Juliana died en route.

Son Johannes is recorded on the 1767 census of Norka in Household No. 26 along with the Johann Heinrich Weber family. The 1767 census does not record a relationship between the Reifschneider and Weber families, but the Weber family was also from the German village of Kefenrod, and Johann Heinrich Weber's wife's maiden name was Reifschneider.

There is a Johannes Reifschneider of the appropriate age recorded on the 1798 census of Kukkus in Household No. Kk12. Other families from Norka had relocated to Kukkus by this time, so perhaps this Johannes Reifschneider is the surviving son of Johann Konrad Reifschneider.

(2) Johann Adam Reifschnneider, son of Johann Peter & Barbara Elisabetha Reifschneider) was baptized on 20 May 1731 in Michelau.

Johann Adam Reifschnneider, shopkeeper, married in Büdingen on 1 March 1759 to Anna Dorothea Schleich, daughter of Melchior Schleich.

Johann Adam Reifschneider, a farmer, and his wife Anna Dorothea are recorded in Norka on the 1767 census in Household No. 114. 

Widow Dorothea Reifschneider is recorded on the 1798 census of Norka in Household No. Nr153.

There are no known male descendants of this Johann Adam Reifschneider among the Volga German colonies.