(B)Julius Johann von Riesen is listed with the Mennonites in their 1803 trek from Prussia to Russia, but in the 1808 Molotschna Colony census he is listed as Julius Johann Friesen. Why did the family name change? It is believed that the name was changed because the contract between the Russian government and the Mennonites was specifically for German Mennonites. The name von Riesen is Dutch so the name was changed to the German spelling. The two distinct names in Prussia, the Friesens and the von Riesens, all became Friesens in Russia.
Julius Johann Friesen is listed at Münsterberg the 1808, 1835 and 1850 censuses. Julius' first wife was Anna Kröcker, born abt 1781 in Prussia. Because he is in the 1850 census we know he lived to at least the age of 70, perhaps longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.