SKYLARK'S WHETSTONE/WESTEIN/WETTSTEIN/WETZSTEIN HOMELAND PAGE
Ahnentafel, Generation No. 1
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THE HANS MICHAEL BORGER FAMILY
Most German colonies were established near the Volga River in the Czarist provinces of Saratov and Samara. “Bergseite” on the Volga River’s west bank is a portion of Saratov province. “Wiesenseite” on the Volga River’s east bank is a portion of Samara province. The 18th century charter-districts of Catherine, Pokrowsk, and Warenburg were established along the Volga River in Samara province. The Hans Michael Borger family settled in the Village of Holstein near Saratov. NOTE: In 1762, Sophie Auguste Friederike von Anhalt-Zerbst, a German native of Stettin, displaced her husband Peter III and took the vacant Russian imperial throne, assuming the name of Catherine II. "Catherine the Great" published manifestos in 1762 and 1763 inviting Europeans, (except Jews)[1] to immigrate and farm Russian lands while maintaining their language and culture. Although the first received little response, the second improved the benefits that were offered and was more successful. In addition to land developed in particularly large numbers due to poor conditions in their home regions. People in other countries such as France and England were more inclined to migrate to the colonies in the Americas than to the Russian frontier. Other countries, such as Austria, forbade emigration. The settlers came mainly from Bavaria, Baden, Hesse, the Palatinate and the Rhineland, over the years 1763 to 1767. Those who went to Russia had special rights under the terms of the manifesto. These were later revoked when the need for conscription into the Russian army arose in the latter part of the 19th century. This was especially offensive to the German Mennonite communities, whose doctrine teaches against war and aggression. Some Germans emigrated to the Americas or Germany to avoid the draft, though many did remain in Russia.
A man by the name of Johann Michel Borger born in 1727 in Darmstade, Freibach Place, Germany, resided in a Volga German community founded on May 26, 1765. This was a German Evangelical colony wich was founded on the banks of the west side of the Volga River. This Johann Michael Borger died there in Russia. The family was still living in the Holstein Colony in 1816, and a son named Johann Christoph Borger was born to Johann Jacob Borger and Catharine Margethe Enhardt. She was born in 1790 in Tichebakote Colony, Russia. They were married 03 Dec 1807 in Russia. These Volga Germans were perhaps related to our Hans Michael Borger, who married Anna Maria Rudel in Germany.
The village was called Holstein and by 1772 the town had 202 residents. By 1798 it had 354 residents, a vineyard and three apple orchards. The government offices were locvated at Saratov. Villagers lived in simple block houses of fir or pine, and chinked with clay, some 24-30 feet long and 20 feet wide.
FAMILY WETZSTEIN
There is also a branch of the family that goes back to Russia, and I am researching this too. (See: Borger: Volga-German Village of Holstein) They immigrated to Russia when Catherine the Great opened land for colonization, living there during the 1800's in what is now the Ukraine. We welcome you to share information with us, on these family names in Russia and Ukraine.
1. Peter Whetstone was born 1765 in Frederick Co., MD. He was the son of 2. Christian Wetzstein. He married Magdalena Unknown.
Child of Peter Whetstone and Magdalena Unknown is: i. Jacob Whetstone was born 1804 in Bedford Co., PA, and died 15 AUG 1856 in Washington Co., OR. He married Harriet Williamson 1 FEB 1828 in Crawford Co., OH, daughter of Thomas Williamson. She was born ABT. 1806 in Mahantango, Northumberland Co., PA, and died 25 APR 1899 in Oregon.
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Ahnentafel, Generation No. 2
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2. Christian Wetzstein was born 5 MAR 1741/42 in Philadelphia Co., PA, and died BET. 1810 - 1819 in Woodbury Twp., Bedford Co., PA. He was the son of 4. Peter Wetzstein and 5. Anna Ursula[?].
Children of Christian Wetzstein are:1. i. Peter Whetstone was born 1765 in Frederick Co., MD. He married Magdalena Unknown.
ii. Jacob Whetstone was born 29 JUN 1776 in Bedford Co., PA, and died 1869. He married Elizabeth Studebaker 29 APR 1799 in Berks Co., PA. She was born 1781, and died 1861.
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Ahnentafel, Generation No. 3
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4. Peter Wetzstein.
5. Anna Ursula[?].
Children of Anna Ursula[?] and Peter Wetzstein are: i. Johann Michael Wetzstein was born 30 JUL 1736 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
2. ii. Christian Wetzstein was born 5 MAR 1741/42 in Philadelphia Co., PA, and died BET. 1810 - 1819 in Woodbury Twp., Bedford Co., PA.
iii. Anna Christina Wetzstein was born 16 MAR 1742/43 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
iv. Johann Georg Wetzstein was born 20 SEP 1744 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
v. Johann Conrad Wetzstein was born 10 OCT 1745 in Philadelphia Co., PA.
vi. John Wetzstein was born ABT. 1747 in Frederick Co., MD.
vii. Johann Balthasar Wetzstein was born 1749 in Frederick Co., MD.
viii. Daniel Wetzstein was born 1750 in Frederick Co., MD.
ix. David Wetzstein was born ABT. 1753 in Frederick Co., MD.
x. Catharina Wetzstein was born 1758 in Frederick Co., MD.
Alana Campbell is a descendant through her father Galen Hunt, the son of William Chester Hunt & Margaret Elizabeth Burger Hunt, and she is a Christian Whetstone Burger descendant.