Schmidt

Two Schmidt brothers and their families immigrated to Russia from Gohrau in Anhalt-Dessau.

Johann Christian Schmidt, son of Johann Christoph Schmidt and Elisabeth Dreßler, was born 21 October and baptized 23 October 1723 at the Lutheran church in Rehsen. Maria Catharina Stallbaum, daughter of Gottfried Stallbaum, was baptized 21 November 1722 at the Lutheran church in Seegrehna. Johann Christian and Maria Catharina married in Seegrehna on 22 April 1745. This couple has nine children: Dorothea Elisabeth, born 7 July, baptized 10 July 1745 in Rehsen; Maria Catharina, born 20 October, baptized 23 October 1747 in Rehsen; Johann Christian, born around 1749 (baptism not found); Maria Dorothea, born 2 March 1751, baptized in Seegrehna; Maria Elisbath, born around May 1756 (died 17 November 1760); Johann Christoph born 19 April in Gohrau, baptized 21 April 1758 in Riesigk; Anna Elisabeth, born 25 July in Gohrau, baptized 27 July 1760 in Riesigk; Gottlieb, born 16 September in Gohrau, baptized 19 September 1762 in Riesigk; and Johann Gottfried, born 15 April in Gorau, baptized 17 April 1765 in Riesigk.

Johann Friedrich Schmidt, son of Johann Christoph Schmidt and Elisabeth Dreßler, was born 11 May 1730 in Gohrau and baptized 14 May 1730 in Rehsen. Johann Friedrich Schmidt and Maria Sophia Julius, daughter of Christoph Julius, married in Rehsen on 1 August 1756. The baptisms of four of their children are recorded in the Rehsen parish records: Johanna Elisabeth, born 1 December, baptized 4 December 1756 in Rehsen; Johann Friedrich, born 19 January, baptized 21 January 1758 in Rehsen; Maria Sophia, born 2 September, baptized 5 September 1762 in Rehsen; and Johann Christian, born 25 February, baptized 27 February 1765 in Rehsen.

Johann Christian Schmidt's daughter Dorothea Elisabeth married Johann Christian Bock, son of Carl Gottlieb Bock from Gohrau, in Riesigk on 20 May 1764. Johann Christian Bock was born 22 September 1737 in Gohrau and baptized 25 September 1737 in Rehsen. This couple had one child, Dorothea Maria, born 9 October 1765 in Gorau and baptized in Riesigk (died 10 October 1765).  

Records from the Abteilung (Department) of Dessau report that Christian Schmidt, his wife, with three sons and two daughters, and Christian Bock with his wife, emigrated from Gohrau. Friedrich Schmidt, a soldier from Rehsen, his wife, one son and two daughters are also noted to have left the area.         

The Friedrich Schmidt family and the Christian Bock family arrived in Russia on 9 June 1766. The Christian Schmidt family arrived on 19 July 1766.

The family groups reported in the Transport Lists are: Johann Christian Schmidt, his wife Maria Catharina (died during the journey), and their children Johann Christian, Johann Christoph, Gottlieb (died during the journey), and Maria Dorothea; Friedrich Schmidt, his wife Maria Sophia, and their children Johann Friedrich, Emanuel Valentin (born during the journey), Johanna Elisabeth, and Maria Sophia; and Christian Bock and his wife Dorothea Elisabeth.  

The surviving family members settled in Boaro. Christian Bock and his wife Dorothea Elisabeth Schmidt are reported in Household #28. Also included in this household are Dorothea Elisabeth's brothers Johann Christian Schmidt and Johann Christoph Schmidt (#28a) and Maria Christina Stallbaum (#28b). Friedrich Schmidt, his wife Maria Sophia Julius, and their children Johann Friedrich, Emanuel Valentin, Johanna Elisabeth, and Maria Sophia are reported in Household #43.

These original settlers are mentioned in six households in the 1798 Census of Boaro: Johann Christoph Schmidt from Ceasarfeld, his wife, and their children are reported in Household #11; Maria Dorothea Schmidt, her husband, daughter and son-in-law are reported in Household #18; Christian Bock, his wife, and their children are reported in Household #23; Johanna Elisabeth Schmidt, her husband, and their children are reported in Household #32; and widow Maria Sophia Schmidt (nee Julius), her son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren are reported in Household #45. Johann Christian Schmidt moved to Katharinenstadt colony in 1772, and he and his wife and children are reported there in 1798 in Household #1.