[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] B/M/D Records in Poland in 1700's

[Jerry Frank]

Joe,

Your friend's review of her husband's ancestry includes a common 
misconception that I like to clear up from time to time.  Catherine 
the Great did NOT ask any specific ethnic or religious group to go to 
Russia.  She did sign a Manifesto in 1763 that invited ANYONE with 
the desire, to come and settle land within Russia, especially along 
the Volga River region but in other areas as well.  Germans, 
including Mennonites whether German or Dutch origin, responded in the 
largest numbers.

Furthermore, large numbers of Mennonites moved into Russia after 
Catherine's death in 1796.  They negotiated different terms of 
settlement with her descendants, especially for land in the Black Sea regions.

And a final reminder for Volhynian Germans.  Germans did not migrate 
to Volhynia under the protection of any official government 
acts.  They came independently, many years after Catherine's death.


Jerry Frank - Calgary, Alberta
FranklySpeaking at shaw.ca


At 12:21 PM 19/04/2008, joepessarra wrote:
>This is a request for a friend of mine.
>
>
>
>Are there b/m/d records available for the 1700s in Poland?  My husband's
>ancestors were Mennonites originally of Holland or Germany who went to
>Danzig for about 100 yrs (1700s) then to Russia for next 100 yrs (asked to
>go to Russia by Catherine the Great).  In 1874 most left Russia for US and
>Canada when new Russian government would not let them use their German
>language and refrain from doing military service.  I have 1807 birth of
>ancestor in Russia,  but nothing before in either Russia or Poland.
>
>Joe in Texas
>