The first emigrations from the Hessian provinces of Germany (divided among six rulers) to the Volga region of Russia were most directly caused by the seven Years War, with the resulting havoc and destruction, the war taxes, and the presence of foreign troops. For example, the cities of Kassel and Marburg (in Hesse) were captured and regained five times in the fighting between French and North Hessian troops. On top of all this, the German princes led a life of ease and luxury at the expense of their impoverished subjects. This is shown by the burdensome taxation as well as the acquisition of large sums of money by placing Hessian troops at the disposal of foreign powers, such as the 17,000 North Hessian soldiers who fought in America under the direction of England during the Revolutionary war.

For this reason, my ancestors left Germany for their new home in Russia. Answering the invitation by Catherine II Czarina of Russia to settle along the Volga river, hundreds of German immigrants journeyed and set up various colonies there.

As time went by around the year 1874, conditions in Russia changed for the German-Russian. The promises that Catherine II had made to the German immigrant, had long since been forgotten by her successors. And now the German-Russian was looking for a new home.

The year 1874, on the 26th of November, found my Great Great Grandfather, Friedrich Mohr, his wife Elizabeth, six children, one daughter-in-law and one grandchild on board the German vessel Schiller bound for New York City.

New information!! I have just received new genealogical information about the Mohr ancestry. Dr. Igor Pleve who does genealogical research in Russia has just finished researching the Mohr genealogy from the Volga Colonies of Beideck and Warenburg. The information takes the Mohr family and various branches back into Germany and has the place of origin and trade of my ancestor who came from Germany to migrate to his new home on the Volga. This information is available in chart form, and may be obtained by sending your request by email to me at tw.mohr@verizon.net and I will return your email giving you the address where to send your check or money order.  The cost for 2 charts and working papers is $35.00.

The following are portraits of Elizabeth and her six children who emigrated. Each of their families are shown in the following photographs.  I have never been able to locate a photo of Johann Friedrich Mohr. I'm told that he never allowed his picture to be taken.