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28 Comments

[email protected]
I have a baptismal record from my great grandfather from Riga, Russia that is in both German and Russian. I haven't had 100% success in getting the German translated totally and wonder how I would go about getting someone to help me with the old Russian or how I could get a copy of the original baptismal certificate (one I have is a copy made in 1911 by someone in Talsen I imagine...had very poor handwriting). Name is Fritz Freimann, born March 30, 1836 in Talsen and was baptised Evangelisch-Lutherischen. Thank you for any suggestions you might have. Sincerely, Marsy Hellie
RusGenProject
Please e-mail the scanned copy of record which you have. We will see what we can help. It very much depends on the location of records. Please send pictures with details which you have to kir @ rusgenproject.com
Irina Rusanovsky...
Please provide information on Nikolai Dmitrievich Bounakov...born in Orel in late 1880s...lived in Moscow, was married, imprisoned, pardoned...graduate of Synodal conservatory studied with gretchaninoff, graduated as composition major, church music...had a sister, wife and two daughters...family raised horses in Orel...
    admin
    Dear Mrs Rusanovsky: Thank you for your question. The Bounakov family seems to be reasonably well documented. We have quickly checked the 1914-1915 sources on the family and found that the respectable Anatoly Aleksandrovich Bounakov was indeed the horse breeder specialising in "rysistaya poroda" (trotters). He resided not in Orel proper, but in Mtsensk (50 km North-East from Orel). Other people with the same last name were active in the education area in Orel, according to 1914 Address-Calendar for the Orel Guberniya. There was several Bounakov families living in Moscow at this time too, according to Moscow city directories. There are several Bounakov families listed among the nobility, according to 1898 Savelov authoritative index. And this was found after checking probably 3% of the documents available in our own collections. If you said he graduated Synodal conservatory -- there could be files on his education. If he was imprisoned and pardoned -- this fact was usually was covered by newspapers (readily available for research in the Russian State Library newspaper division), some documents could have survived in archives. If that part of the family was noble -- the Heroldy Department should have quite a detailed file with several generations of ancestors. Should you wish to engage us in further research, we will be glad to assist you. In this case you may wish to elaborate a bit more on what exactly you are interested in and what you may wish to find. Please let me know what you think Kirill Chashchin Russian Genealogical Project
    rusgenproject
    Dear Mrs Rusanovsky: Thank you for your question. The Bounakov family seems to be reasonably well documented. We have quickly checked the 1914-1915 sources on the family and found that the respectable Anatoly Aleksandrovich Bounakov was indeed the horse breeder specialising in "rysistaya poroda" (trotters). He resided not in Orel proper, but in Mtsensk (50 km North-East from Orel). Other people with the same last name were active in the education area in Orel. There was several Bounakov families living in Moscow at this time too. There are several Bounakov families listed among the nobility in the 1898 Savelov's authoritative index. And this was found after checking probably 3% of the documents available in our own collections. (and this explains the fact that there was no single Nikolay or Dmitry in listings provided). If you said he graduated Synodal conservatory -- there could be files on his education. If he was imprisoned and pardoned -- this fact was usually was covered by newspapers (readily available for research in the Russian State Library newspaper division), some documents could have survived in archives. If that part of the family was noble -- the Heroldy Department should have quite a detailed file with several generations of ancestors. Should you wish to engage us in further research, we will be glad to assist you. In this case you may wish to elaborate a bit more on what exactly you are interested in and what you may wish to find. Please let me know what you think Kirill Chashchin Russian Genealogical Project
Lyn
Hi, I am wondering if you can help me with some advice on where to even begin looking for an ancestor, John BEAVAN, born in 1757 and from London England who is said to have died (and I assume was buried) in St Petersburg. My research puts the time frame as some time between 1784 and 1789 but closer to 1789. I have no idea what he was doing there. His family were gentry and some were in the British army but I have nothing to indicate what his profession was except Gent.
    rusgenproject
     This is a complicated question. There is a 4-volume index to St Petersbourg cemetries, published in early 1900s. I checked it, but nothing close comes up. Beavad family with deaths in 1842, 1864, 1875 and 1909 is the closest I can find. The 1809 list of St Pete residents does not have anybody with similar sounding names... Getting earlier in time involves checking handwritten books, and not much of them actually survuved, and I very much doubt existence of any indexes for them. From the first view this research looks futile... or very expensive and time-consuming... Let me know if you are interested in paying for several months of archival work...
      Lyn
       Thank you, this is pretty much what I thought myself. I will wait and see if anything more concrete turns up in my UK research. Lyn
Samcater65
My mother Helena GLOWIAN was born in 1927 Vilna, Poland. I can NOT find the surname GLOWIAN in Poland also the name GARGUTA, are these Russian names?? My mother died when I was 5 and I have very few records of her. Back in 1985 I was told to write to the Glownego Zarzadu Archiwow, I did not since I don't read or speak Russian. My mother spoke Polish & Russian from her records. Any help or suggestions much appreciated. Thank you in advance, Basia (Glowian) Cater
    rusgenproject
     Dear Basia: Vilna (Vilno) is now called Vilnius and is a state capital of Lithuania. You should contact Lithuanian State Historical archive with your request. Their web site is http://www.archyvai.lt/en/about-us.html They do speak English. If you encounter any difficulties with that - let us know, we might be able to help.
Marcie
My great-grandparents (Nick and Magdalena Wirtz) were Catholic German-Russian farmers from Landau in the Black Sea region (now Ukraine). I'm wondering if you have a copy of the 1897 census from that area (if it exists) or if you would know how I would find a copy? They also moved to Siberia around 1906 and I can't seem to find any genealogical info about Siberia during that time period. They had their oldest child (Paulina Wirtz) in Siberia in 1908, but I'm not sure how I would find her birth certificate. Any guidance would be much appreciated! It's so much fun to piece this puzzle together! Marcie Cheung Seattle, WA USA
McPharlin Margret
My grandfather was JANIS GRASIS. Born 1875 dies 1950. I understand that he was a high ranking person,possibly a Major or similar in the Russian Army. Is there anyway to access the old records? I mostly am interested in getting a photo of him as I have none. Anything else would be a bonus. Can anyone help with this?Thank you ,Margret McPharlin (nee GRASIS)
Pat
Betsey Lee Browning suggested I contact you to see if you could help me. I have contacted the National Archives in Minsk requesting information about my grandparents. Below, you will find the correspondence between us. Director Yatsevich tells me that the records for Bushatin were destroyed. My question is----Could there be somewhere else to find records of my grandmother? I have exhausted all sources in the US. I plan to visit Belarus within the next few years to find the family, if I can. Can you help? Thank you for your time. 20.06.2012 16:06, Pat House says: I research my grandparents, who lived in Belarus. Here's what I know so far: Magdalena Helena Padnewitz (also spelled Podnevich, Padniewich) b. 1892 or 1894, most likely in 1894 (I have a date and documents) from "Buczatin", which I have narrowed to Buchatino or Bushaten. At the moment, I cannot search further. I have documents that show "Buczatin" for her, as well as other people that have come from this city. First name: Anthony, mother Teressa, brother Walter who had two children Valencia and Walter, Jr. According to a ship manifest, she was Greek Catholic. In 1909, Magdalena came to the U.S.. She was married in Chicago, Illinois, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in May 1910. I found a woman named Sinonia Maxemenja, who came here to visit her in February. I think it was her friend coming to the wedding. This woman was from the same village. In 1911, my grandmother was pregnant and returned to Belarus, probably the same village to have a baby. Child (male) died, and she returned to the U.S. in 1913. I'm very interested in finding birth / death records for that child and for the family of my grandmother. I need to find someone that will do some research for me, or anyone who has any information about the country in question. Andro Stephen Najmolovski (also spelled Nemolowsky, Niemolowski, Najmolowski, Najmalowski). And here, I have had a difficult time finding much information. He was born 1890 in "Keaneche", according to his U.S. documents. I explored the city in Belarus, and I think it is Khoiniki or Kanichi. I am more inclined to believe Khoiniki, as he claims on one paper that he is from Minsk. His father's name was Stephen (perhaps), a sister named Eva and a brother named Anton, who also came to the US. Andro came to the U.S. in 1907. I do not know what religion he practiced. Some say he may have been a Jew, but I have not found that as a fact, and I know that my family was Russian Orthodox. I know that many of the women on my mother's side have tested positive for BRCA 1 & BRCA 2 gene mutation, which is found in women in Eastern Europe, most of the Jewish origin. Family members that have passed since then have always argued that Najmolovski was not the surname but rather " Valchek or Valchuk”, that supposedly Andrew’s father (his name may have been Stephen) married a polish woman and took her name for some reason. This may explain the difficulties in finding information. Again, I would like someone to help find information or direct me in the direction to find information about Andrew and his family. I would be grateful for any help with information. Thank you for your time. Pat House 03.08.2012 5:01, Pat House says: August 2, 2012 Director Yatsevich: Thank you for your response to my letter in the archive. Below you will find the information that I have on both my grandparents. Magdalena Helen (Allen?) Podnevich / Padniewitz Born: May 20, 1894 in Bushaten Father: Antony Mother Teresa (who died at a young age) Brother Walter (had 2 children, Valencia and Walter, Jr.) Perhaps the Greek Catholic Arriving in the U.S. in 1909, married, in 1910, he returned to Belarus in 1911 or 1912, had a son who died, he returned to the U.S. in 1913 Possible Relatives: Lagun, Chomicz or Oleschkewitz Andro Stephen Nemelovski / Najmolovski Born: 15 September 1890 (or 1892) Location: Khoiniki Father: unknown Mother of Andre --- she died young, he remarried and she too died and her sister raised the children after the father died Brother: Antony Sister: Eva Religion: Jewish? Maybe Orthodox Arriving in the U.S. in 1907 Please respond with an explanation of the process, time for research, and the cost of searching for information. Again, thank you for your response and for your help. Sincerely, Pat House State Institution «National Historical Archive of Belarus» 14.08.2012/04-09/826-827 Pat House [email protected] The absence of documents Repeatedly report that parish registers of births by Ostroglyadovichskomu and Rechitsa church, to the parishes that could treat people on Bushatin Rechitsa district of Minsk province (now on Loev district of Gomel region of Belarus), the Timkovichskomu church, to which the parish could refer people on Buchatino Slutsky District of Minsk Province (now on Buchatino Kopyl district Minsk region, Belarus) for the years 1890-1899. deposited in the archives are not available (not saved), and therefore is not possible to copy cost metric birth records Podnevich / Padnevich Magdalena Helena for the above years. Please also be advised that all extant documents in the Minsk province before 1917 are kept in our archive. While viewing a document on travel abroad information about the persons named Podnevich / Padnevich not detected. Director D.V.Yatsevich
JonW
I am interested in finding birth information on my father, Valentin Basoff. In civil and French Foreign legion records, it shows that he was born in Rostow, Don region. He was Russian Orthodox. In 1921 he joined the legion and was listed as a resident of Constantinople. His Birth date is March 27 1892. I suppose the state records and Church records would be searched. Eventually I am interested in finding more information on the family of 3 brothers, one sister.
Malka
Is it possible to discover anything more about my Borkowski ancestors? They moved from Kolno in Poland, after my grandfather (Schmuel) was born in 1870, to Irkutsk in Siberia where most of his siblings were born. The family consisted of parents - Kaila and David - children, Pasha, Schmuel/Samuel, Rachelle (b. 1884), Moshe/Morris, Boris (b 1886-87) and Riva. So far, I haven't been able to work out why they moved from Poland to Siberia. Was there trouble which forced them to move? Riva married (I don't know who) and had a daughter, Chaya, who was born in Irkutsk in 1901. Also, in about 1914-1915, they moved again - this time to the north of China - Hailar. Did something happen in Siberia round about that time which made them think that life would be better in Hailar? WW1? Pasha married David Binder in Irkutsk and, eventually they both died in Hailar. Kaila and David also died in China and are buried on the Chinese side of the Russian-Chinese border. I would love to know whether there are any records for this family and where I might find them. In my maternal family, my great-Grandfather, Chaim Fischel Borziansky, living in Kamenets-Podolskiy or Vinnitsa, Ukraine, served in the Russian Army as a professional soldier in the second half of the 19th centuray. He was eventually invalided out of the army with a very good pension. Apparently, he held a commission and had a lot of medals. Are there records available for soldiers who fought in the Russian army?
    david
    hello, did you find any information because my great grand father was from kamenets podolski too and serve to army for 8 years as a musician, I m looking any archives firedavid @ yahoo . com
wladimer
Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to discover anything more about my TYMOSZUK ancestors? (in Ukrainian is pronounce as TIMOSHUK). My father was borne in 1907 in Ukraine (Volenskaia Oblast) and moved to Argentina in the 1930’s; where he died in 1965. Do you think there is achance to find more about my ancestors? Kind regards Wladimir Tymoszuk
lm945
I've been researching my great-grandfather's family, and have hit a dead end. All records appear to end with him and his siblings. I'm hoping you can point me in the right direction. My great-grandfather, Noah Gershon Stenbock, was born in Latvia in December 1860. His father (Nissen, or possibly Essen Stenbock) was related to the Kolga Stenbocks. According to the story, the family did not approve of his marriage (my great-great-grandmother was a Mongolian Jew), and disowned him. Which is supposedly why the family ended up in Latvia, and then America. At least one cousin was able to find records confirming our descent from Magnus Stenbock (1664-1717), but no one can remember which cousin had the information, so we're having to start from scratch. Noah's siblings are Moses Abraham Stenbock, Isaak Stenbock and Sarah Stenbock. There may be more, but these are the only ones who emigrated to America. Can you help me? Laura Miller
Malka
I wrote to you four months ago about my Borkowski ancestors? and have not received a reply. Does this mean you can't help me at all? Malka.
margret McPharlin
McPharlin Margret • 8 months ago My grandfather was JANIS GRASIS. Born 1875 dies 1950. I understand that he was a high ranking person,possibly a Major or similar in the Russian Army. Is there anyway to access the old records? I mostly am interested in getting a photo of him as I have none. Anything else would be a bonus. Can anyone help with this?Thank you ,Margret McPharlin (nee GRASIS)
Kira Kariakin
Hi, I am trying to track my paternal ancestors in Russia. The name of my grandfather was Vladimir Kariakin and he was a cadet/captain of the tzar (I have some photos and a publication of 1914 where says under whos command he was). He was born in Wysokie Lublin in 1892. He died in Venezuela in 1951. His father was Konstantin and his mother Stephania. I would like to know more about his ancestry. He had a sister Maria who also died in Venezuela and a brother or cousin Orest that he never came to know what happened to him. I have found in ancestry.com a registry of Orest arriving in New York in 1929, but nothing more. I want to know if he had descendants. Same with my grandmother her name was Ludmila Senobna (?) Dylewskaya. She was born in Vilnius 24 august 1899 but her mother Alexandra, after her father died probably in 1900, moved to St. Peterburg were she was raised with her sisters Neonila (Vilniusn1893-St. Petersburg 1942) and Tatiana who probably also was born in Vilnius. My greatgrandmother Alexandra was the director of a Gymnasium. The Red Cross after war WWII wrote to my grandmother that her sister Neonila died in 1942 on the siege of Leningrade but from Tatiana they didn´t have any information as well as from my greatgrandmother. My father told me that a brother of my greatgrandfather Senobin was member of the Duma as part of the mencheviks, and that his name was changed by the tsar because of some war heroic actions to Volk. His name was George Volk Levanovitch and had 2 descendants Liza and Cebolod... I have passports, and some documents about them an recolections of what they my grandmother and my father told me. They both are gone but I like to know more. Please let me know if you could do some research regarding this information. I would like to know as much as possible maybe if there is some resting place at a cementery or any references regarding work of my greatgrandmother. Please let me know how could you help me.
Diane Prokey Siniard
I have left several messages for you as well as sending emails wanting help in finding my roots in Minsk. I have never received a reply and I have been trying for several years. Can you not help or just don't want to help?
B Meissner
I am looking for my family tree ,my greatgranfather alexander Meissner and his family what happen with them. i read a article in st peterburg news from 2007. copy .. it her Stunkel’s father-in-law, the wealthy businessman Alexander Meissner, put up the funds to build the apartment building on Zhdanovskya Ulitsa in 1904. Best reg Bertil Meissner
Sue
Dear Sir I would like to find the marriage details of Vasili Jukov and Agrippina Alexandrov who were married in Ryazan Province, Russia about 1904-1905. Vasili was 32 years old and Agrippina was 18 years old. Their first child was a boy Arcadi born in 1906 and their second child was a daughter Iraida born in 1908 in Manchuria, China. Vasili was not born with the surname Jukov but changed his name at the same time as his father. We think that they were Jewish but we do not know for certain. Vasili's father was a money lender. Vasili's mother died and his father remarried and had two more sons. Vasili's father was murdered. It was something to do with his money lending activities. This is all we know. Are you the people who could help us this this research? Regards Sue
Julie Olpin
Is there any way to find birth, marriage and death records from the Russian Orthodox Church? My Great great grandfather was a judge during the time of Czar Nicholas II's overthrow. He was killed by the Bolsheviks but my Great Grandmother was able to escape to Shanghai. There seems to be very little on the family. We have come to a dead end at my Great great Grandfather. His name was Vasili Jouravloff. But Jouravloff seems to be a rather uncommon name and very difficult to find any records on. Any lead or direction would be greatly appreciated.
    rusgenproject
    Kindly tell us if you know where this Vasili Jouravloff, which I assume likely was a judge, worked or lived prior to October Revolution? If he indeed was a judge, there should be a lot of documents about him in different archives. Does the family lore say something about his? Any clues, even the smallest ones can be helpful. There was about 20 different persons with this last name in Shanghai during 1939-1945. If you can give me some other names of people who lived in Shanghai, I can check if we have registration cards on them, which can also hold some clues.
Zach Stoddard
Regarding the same Vasili Jouravloff, this is what we know: - Court judge/magistrate of some kind under Czar Nicholas II - Wife was Marie Ninaud. - Only child was a girl named Nina Jouravleva, born in Riga Latvia on 27 March 1904. - Nina would have visited court with Vasili and known the Romanov children in some capacity. - Vasili handled money transfers for the Ninaud families during the exit from Russia into Shanghai after the Bolshevik came into power - After 1917, at one point Vasili and Nina lived in the Blagoveshchensk home of Nina's grandmother, Tatyana Dmitreevna Ninaud (on Street Lenina 181) when the Siberian army came and occupied the home. Nina was arrested as a spy when love letters from a Siberian soldier were found in her possession. The soldier managed to get her released, encouraged Vasili to get her out of the community. At that point she was sent to Shanghai - Nina had cousins she spent time within Shanghai, by the names of Galia, Vera, and Mila (potentially on Vasili's family's side, if not, then the Ninaud side)
    admin
    Dear Mr Stoddard: Thank you for your message on left on our web site. Are you interested in researching further details of Vasili Jouravloff life? We might be able to find some documents regarding him in Russian archives for you. Please let me know and we will then prepare the possible plan of research Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your loved ones --Kirill Chashchin Member, Associaiton of Professional Genealogists [email protected]

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