Johann Peter Mohr, the son of Johann Nicolaus Mohr and his wife Maria Magdalena, was born in Ruschberg and baptized in the Reformed church in Baumholder on 13 Oct 1736.
Johann Peter married Anna Maria Margaretha Heinrich on 21 Jun 1763 in the Reformed church at Baumholder. At the time the same church building served the Catholic, Lutheran and Reformed congregations.
Anna Maria Margaretha Heinrich was born in Ruschberg, the daughter of Melchior Heinrich and Anna Margaretha Mohr. She was baptized in the nearby Lutheran parish church at Baumholder on 11 Jul 1737. Anna Maria Margaretha's father, Melchior, was a Catholic but promised to raise his children in his wife's Lutheran faith.
In 1766, Johann Peter and Anna Maria Margaretha migrated to Russia with her parents and siblings. Anna Maria Margaretha's sister, Anna Rosina Barbara married Philipp Brun on 19 Jun 1766 in Büdingen a major recruiting and gathering place for the colonists.
The Heinrich, Brun and Mohr families arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia (now Lomonosov) on 29 Jul 1766 aboard the transport ship Apollo under the command of Friedrich Detleff Mörenberg. Over a year later, these families were among the colonists that settled in the colony of Norka, arriving there on 26 Aug 1767.
Melchior Heinrich died at some point during the journey to the settlement area or soon after their arrival in Norka. His widow, Anna Margaretha, is recorded in the 1767 census of Norka living in household 174 along with her children Johannes, and Anna Catharina. Her son, Johann Peter, is married and listed in household 177. Daughter Anna Rosina Barbara and her husband Philipp Brun are listed in Norka household 104 along with a 9-month old son, Johann Adam. Anna Maria Margaretha and Johann Peter Mohr are recorded in household 175.
Mai, B. A. Transport of the Volga Germans from Oranienbaum to colonies on the Volga 1766-1767. (Lincoln, Nebraska: 1998): p. A-1.
Pleve, Igor. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg (Saratov: Saratov State Technical University, 2010): p. 329.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767 Band 3 (Göttingen: Nordost-Institute, 2005): p. 256 and p. 276.
Rauschenbach, Georg and Idt, Andreas. Auswanderung deutscher Kolonisten nach Russland im Jahre 1766. (Moscow: 2019): p. 33.
Rauschenbach, Georg and Idt, Andreas. Deutsche Kolonisten Auf Dem Weg Von St. Petersburg Nach Saratow (Moscow: 2017): p. 120.
Kirchenbuch, 1679-1798, Evangelisch-Reformierte Kirche Baumholder (Kr. Sankt Wendel): Taufen 1745-1780 -- Kommunikanten 1745-1747 -- Heiraten, Tote 1745-1780 -- Taufen 1781-1798 -- Konfirmationen 1781-1797 -- Heiraten, Tote 1781-1798 -- Taufen 1682-1744 -- Heiraten, Tote 1679-1744. Family History Library (FHL) Film #493258.