German Volga Russian Immigrants
Trying to locate any sources that an expert may know of for these immigrants; specifically interested in Neu Beideck settlement records. Have tried the obvious results via Google - may need more specialized/expert assistance to determine if paid access is only practical method to proceed. I am trying to assist another as a Temple and Family History Consultant - the family line hits a "brick wall" around 1876 with a known birth in Neu Beideck and possible links to the previous generation but no definitive records of which I am currently aware. Is this community the proper location to ask for such research assistance for the Russian Volga German immigrant settlements?
Answers
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This group and the Europe group should be the best for what you are looking for. One thing that may help people help you better is if you have information on the family in an online tree that you can point everyone to. If it is on the FamilySearch family tree include an ID number. We may pick up on some clues to get you pointed in the best direction more quickly.
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I'm looking for references to any sources for the Neu Beideck settlement first - from there I can search for the family around 1850-1880 timeframe. My point in posting is that I can't seem to find many sources covering those years - maybe there are not more sources and the "brick wall" stands?0
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We now have a group for Germany where there are people who should be able to point you to the sources you need. Post your question there and I'm sure you get help.
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The unfortunate thing is that although we are pretty certain the family are German immigrants - we don't know anything further back than the Neu Bedieck settlement. So we have no idea when the Dahmer family left Germany to immigrate to the German Volga settlements in Russia. I seem to recall that the Neu Beideck settlement has Lutheran church records? That may be a tie to German records if the church kept record of when families moved in or out and where they were from - sort of like early Quaker records - but so far I have no knowledge of that sort of record. Is there an easy way to duplicate this question to the German group or do I need to post it again?0
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At the bottom of your original question there is a "Share" button directly below the tag for Volga. If you click on the share link/button a window will open where you will have the option to share it with an individual or group. If you start typing Germany in the system should allow you to select that group. I can attach a screen shot if this description is not enough help.
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Hmm I'm on my phone. The mobile site must not have that option?0
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The mobile version isn't so good, I can share it if you'd like.
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Yes, please do. Thank you.0
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Done
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Neu Beideck was founded in 1858 by 128 families - descendants from the right-bank colonies of Beideck, Dönhof, Kutter, and Balzer. Shortly after the founding of the colony, the population of the Kirchheim colony was resettled there. See the following link (use Google Translate):
http://lexikon.wolgadeutsche.net/article/658
Now, the last census records available at the Family History Library are dated 1857, prior to its founding. However, since the founders came from surrounding towns, you may find evidence of your ancestors in the census.
https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/2304598?availability=Family History Library
I am not sure whether the church books from this region survived. If they survived, you may find them in the St. Petersburg Lutheran archives or a local Russian archive.
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Thanks, Marcus, for this information. It is very helpful! My current favorite go-to for village information and research resources is the website of the Center for Volga- German Studies at Concordia University, headed by Brent May.:Link: http://cvgs.cu-portland.edu/ . Village information is found uin the gazetteer, census information under "genealogy", but more helpful information is also hidden under other tabs, so it pays to explore the website.
The genealogical society for Volga Germans specifically is the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia in Lincoln, Nebraska. See: http://www.ahsgr.org/ .
The church records for this area have generally survived, but have not been microfilmed. For many years the archivist at the record-holding archive in Russia has compiled family genealogy charts upon request for a fee. Many people who obtained these charts have donated them to AHSGR, and the society provides copies of them upon request for a fee. See http://www.ahsgr.org/?page=SurnameAG . I noticed that the collection includes a Damer/Dahmer chart from the village of Beideck. It may be well worth a. buying a copy of the chart and b. contacting the person who had donated it whose address is given there. Given the limited research resources, networking is a very helpful tool.
The archivist Igor Pleve also published a series of four books listing the German immigrants to the original Volga colonies with their German towns of origin, where known. These, as well as the Census books, are also available in the Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
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