VGI Updates

Franz Diehl, a single wheelwright (Wagenbauer), arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 11 June 1766 aboard the snow-brig named Der Jäger under the command of Skipper Gabriel Will.

He settled in the Volga German colony of Preuss on 15 July 1767 and is recorded there on the 1767 census in Household No. 99 along with his new bride, Katharina.

The Oranienbaum passenger list records that Franz Diehl came from Luxembourg while the 1767 census records that he came from the German village of Dahlenheim in France.

Michael Stellwagen, a farmer, and his family arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 14 September 1766 aboard the galliot Der Jan under the command of Skipper Markus Dragun.

Both Michael and his wife died. Their 9-year-old daughter Katharina settled in the Volga German colony of Preuss where she is recorded on the 1767 census in Household No. 96 with the Michael Resch family.

Both the Oranienbaum passenger list and the 1767 census record that the Stellwagen family came from the German region of Ansbach.

Jakob Kempf, a single farmer, arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 30 May 1766 aboard the pink Lopamink under the command of Lieutenant Kryukov. 

He settled in the Volga German colony of Preuss on 12 May 1767 and is recorded there on the 1767 census in Household No. 9 along with his bride Katharina.

The 1767 census records that Jakob Kempf came from the German village of Oberhöchstadt in the Kurmainz region.

Johann Heinrich Meier, a blacksmith (Schmied), and his wife Anna Margaretha arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 18 June 1766 aboard the ship Mann und Frau under the command of Skipper Daniel Berg.

They settled in the Volga German colony of Preuss on 15 July 1767. They are recorded there on the 1767 census in Household No. 89 along with their newborn daughter, Anna Margaretha.

Friedrich Jung, his wife, and his step-son, Georg Michael Opel, arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 25 July 1766 aboard the snow-brig named Maria Sophia under the command of Skipper Johann Bauert.

They settled in the Volga German colony of Preuss on 11 August 1767 and are recorded there on the 1767 census in Household No. 107.

Johann [sic] Michael Opel and his family are recorded on the 1798 census of Preuss in Household No. Ps58.

The 1834, 1850, and 1857 censuses record this surname as Obold.

Friedrich Jung, his wife, and his step-son, Georg Opel, arrived from Lübeck at the port of Oranienbaum on 25 July 1766 aboard the snow-brig named Maria Sophia under the command of Skipper Johann Bauert.

They settled in the Volga German colony of Preuss on 11 August 1767 and are recorded there on the 1767 census in Household No. 107.

The Oranienbaum passenger list records that Friedrich Jung is a farmer while the 1767 census records that he is a miller (Müller).