Johannes Biehn and Katharina Säger

Citing this biography: Boyd, Michelle, "Johannes Biehn and Katharina Säger," article, Olive and Eliza, last accessed [current date]."

Johannes Biehn was born 1747 in Hammelburg, Bavaria, Germany. He was listed as a Catholic and a farmer in 1767.

Johannes married Katharina Säger about 1766-67. Katharina was born about 1748 to Heinrich Säger and Anna Maria --. They were from the unidentified town of Garmer in the Electorate of Mainz (now part of Germany). She arrived 31 May 1766 in Russia from Rewal, Gryfice County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland aboard the pink Slon, at the age of 18 with her parents and siblings. Johannes and Katharina married sometime after their arrival in Russia and before they settled in a colony.

Johannes and Katharina settled at Leichtling, Saratov, Russia 14 May 1767. The couple appears incorrectly under the name Böhm in the First Settlers List. Johannes died in 1825.

Johannes and Katharina’s children are:

1	Kunigunde Biehn, born about 1768 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia, married Mattias Dieser. Her connection to this Biehn family is supported by the fact that a "Valentin Bin" was the godfather of one of her children, baptized in 1805, and "Barbara Binin" was the godmother in the baptism of Kunigunde's twins in 1807. In addition, "Mathias Disser" was the godfather of one of the sons of Valentin Biehn. This suggests a close relationship between Valentin, Barbara, and the Diesers. Husband: Mattias Dieser, b. abt. 1774, d. 1822.
2	Maria Dorothea Biehn, born about 1775 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia, married Peter Berger. Husband: Peter Berger, perhaps b. abt. 1761, prob. son of Joseph Berger and Katharina --, d. 1818.
3	Johan Biehn, born about 1778 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia), married Catharina Becher, died 6 Jul 1807, buried at Leichtling, Saratov, Russia. Wife: Catharina Becher, m. 2) Johan Herrmann, the son of Nikolaus Herrmann and Anna Margaretha Walter.
4	Valentin Biehn, born 1784 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia, died in 1854, married 1) Maria Eva Kämerer 31 Jan 1805 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia and perhaps 2) Eva Elizabeta --. Wife 1: Maria Eva Kämerer. Possible wife 2: Eva Elizabeta --, b. abt. 1789. If Valentin had two separate wives, then Maria Eva died between 1830 (when she appeared in a baptismal record) and 1834. The possibility exists that he only had one wife named Maria Eva Elisabetha Kämerer, who went by Maria Eva or Eva in records from 1805 to 1830, then Eva Elizabeta in 1834 and Elisabeta in 1850 and 1857. However, it seems a little more likely that there were two wives because of the clean break in the names (Elisabetha never appears before 1834 and Maria doesn't appear in the census records) and because Eva Elizabeta would have been 15 or 16 in 1805 (while it is possible that she married that young, it is highly likely).
5	Anna Maria Biehn, born about 1786 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia.
6	Barbara Biehn, born about 1790 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia, married Peter Schulz 19 Oct 1809 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia. Husband: Peter Schulz.
7	Katharina Biehn, born about 1792 in Leichtling, Saratov, Russia.

Summary of Sources

Pleve, Igor, List of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg, Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical University, 2010.
Pleve, Igor, Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767, Band 3 (Kolonien Laub - Preuss), Göttingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005.
Mai, Brent Alan, 1798 Census of the German Colonies along the Volga: Economy, Population, and Agriculture, Volumes 1 and 2, Lincoln, NE: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1999.
Boyd, Darryl (compiler) & Gartner, Angela (translator), Leichtling, Russia 1834 Census, Concord, CA, 2006.
Boyd, Darryl (compiler) & Gartner, Angela (translator), Leichtling, Russia 1850 Census, Concord, CA, 2006.
Eichmann, Wadim (translator), Leichtling, Russia 1857 Census, Concord, CA, 2019.
Church records of Semenovka parish from Saratov Province State Archive. Retrieved by Wadim Eichmann and extracted by Michelle Boyd.

Source Materials

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Church records of Semenovka parish from Saratov Province State Archive

[Mar 1805]
Birth date: 16[?]
Baptism date: 23
Child: Valentinus
Parents: Mathaus Dieser et Cunegundis Bin
Godfather: Valentin Bin
Baptized by: idem [Joan[ne]s Mayer]
Birthplace: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1804-05
Image: 1

[1805]
Birth date: Maji 9
Baptism date: Maji 14
Child: Joannes Nepo:
Parents: Joannes Bin et Catharina Becher
Godfather: Johan Jacob Becher
Baptized by: idem [Joan[n]es Mayer]
Birthplace: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1804-05
Image: 2

[Jan 1805]
Marriage date: 31
Marriage parties: Valentinus Bin cal[ebs] cu[m] cal[ebs] Eva Kämerer
Marriage place: Ilawla [Leichtling]
Witnesses: Joanis Bin et Petrus Kämerer
Married by: idem [Joannes Mayer]
Year collection: 1804-05
Image: 4

[Oct 1805]
Birth date: 22
Baptism date: 24
Child: Jacobus
Parents: Valentinus Bin et M^a. Eva Kämerer
Godfather: Jacob Schulmeister
Baptized by: idem [Joan[nes] Mayer]
Birthplace: Ilawla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1805-06
Image: 1

[May 1807]
Birth date: 2
Baptism date: 5
Child: Josephus
Parents: Eva Kämmerer
               Valentinus Bin
Godfather: Josep Kämerer
Baptized by: qui Supra [Joan[n]es Meyer]
Birthplace: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1806-07
Image: 3 [left side]

[May 1807]
Birth date: 21
Baptism date: 25
Child: Johan Peter
Parents: Catharina Becher
               Johan Bin
Godfather: Johan Peter Berger
Baptized by: qui Supra [Joan[n]es Meyer]
Birthplace: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1806-07
Image: 3 [left side]

[May 1807]
Birth date: 20
Baptism date: 20
Child: Johannes et Maria Barbara Gemini [gemini = twins]
Parents: Cunegundis Bin
               Mathias Dißer
Godfather: Johannes Dißer Barbara Binin
Baptized by: qui Supra [Ignatius Zacharewicz]
Birthplace: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1806-07
Image: 4 [left side]

[July 1807]
Death date: 6
Deceased: Johan Bin
Age: 28
Buried by: Johannes Meyer
Colony: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1806-07
Image: 6

[Nov 1807]
Marriage date: 18
Marriage parties: Johan Hermann caelebs cum vidua Catharina Bihnin
Marriage place: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Witnesses: Philip Becher
                  Samuel Holzman[n]
Married by: qui Supra [Ignatius Zacharewicz]
Year collection: 1807-08
Image: 5 [right side]

[Jan 1808]
Birth date: 13
Baptism date: 13
Child: Philip Jacob
Parents: Johan Hermann
               Cath. Becherinn
Godfather: Philip Becher
Baptized by: ab Ostetrice [from midwife (probably indicating an emergency baptism)]
Birthplace: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Year collection: 1807-08
Image: 2
Note: This record is included because it demonstrates that the widow Catharina Bihn who married Johan Herrmann was Catharina Becher, who had been married to a Johannes Bin (likely the one who had died in 1807).

[1809]
Marriage date: October 19
Marriage parties: Juvenis Petrus Schulz cum Calibe Barbara Bininn
Colony: Ilavla [Leichtling]
Witnesses: Michael Schulz
               Samuel Holzman[n]
Baptized by: qui Supra [Ignatius Zacharewicz]
Birthplace: Ilavla
Year collection: 1808-09
Image: 11

Colony: Ilavla
Anno Dni 1810 die 5 Aprilis. Ego qui Supra Curatus Semenoviensis Baptisari infantem nomine Catharinam natam 4 hujus. Conjugam legitimorum Joannis Binn et Catharinæ Kohlmännin Ilavlæ habitantium. Matrina fuit Catharina Rithinn ex eadem Colonia
Name: Catharina Bininn
Year collection: 1809-10
Image: 4 [right side]
[Note: There were two Joannes Bins having children in Leichtling at the same time, one who married Catharina Becher and one who married Catharina Kohlmann. This record is included here because it proves that Johan, the son of Johannes Biehn and Katharina Säger, was married to Catharina Becher, as our Johan had already died in 1807 and could not be the father of the child in this baptism, and therefore not the husband of Catharina Kohlmann, the mother here. MB]

Colony: Ilavla
Anno Dni 1810 die 29 Sep. Ego qui Supra Baptisari infantem nomine Mathiam natam 28 huij. Conj. Legit. Valentini Binn et Evæ Kämmerer Ilavlæ habitantium. Patrinus fuit Mathias Disser ex eadem Colonia
Translation: 29 Sep 1810 AD. I, the abovenamed [Ignatius Zacharewicz], baptised the infant name Mathias, born this 28th. Legitimate spouses Valentin Binn and Eva Kämmerer, residing in Ilavla [Leichtling]. Godfather was Mathias Disser of the same colony.
Name: Mathias Binn
Year collection: 1809-10
Image: 7 [right side]

[Mar 1814]
Colony: Ilavla
Anno 1814 die 13. Ego qui Supra Baptisari Infantem Nne Joanem Petrum natam 11 huij. CC LL Valentin Bin et M^a Eva Kämererinn Ilavla habit: Patrinus fuit Johan Peter Berger ex eadem Colon
Translation: 13 [Mar] 1814. I, the abovenamed [Ignatius Zacharewicz], baptised the infant name Johan Peter, born this 11th. Legitimate spouses Valentin Bin and Maria Eva Kämerer, residing in Ilavla [Leichtling]. Godfather was Johan Peter Berger of the same colony.
Name: Johan Peter Bin
Year collection: 1813-14
Image: 4

[May 1830]
Colony: Ilawla
Die 10 Ego qui sup: bap: Inf: Nne Johanem Petrum natam 7. h: CC:LL: Wallentinus Bin et Eva Kemerin LW: Philippus Becher cum Barbara uxore sua
Translation: 10 [May 1830]. I, the abovenamed [Vincentius Snarsky], baptised the infant name Johan Peter, born this 7th. Legitimate spouses: Valentin Bin and Eva Kemer. Godparents: Philipp Becher with Barbara his wife.
Name: Joannem Pet: Bin
Year collection: 1830
Image: 7

Source: Church records of Semenovka parish from Saratov Province State Archive. Retrieved by Wadim Eichmann and extracted by Michelle Boyd.

List of Colonists to Russia in 1766

31 of May 1766.
Public colonist, arrived from Rewal by the pink "Slon"
under the command of Lieutenant Sergey Panov
...
Saeger Heinrich, Cath., farmer from Mainz, doc. No. 577, wife: Anna, children: Valentin, 20, Catharina, 18, Cunigunda, 10, Anna, 4,5.

Source: Pleve, Igor, List of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg, Saratov, Russia: Saratov State Technical University, 2010.

First Settlers List

Kolonie Leichtling
(russicher Ortsname: Ilavlja)
gegründet am 14. Mai 1767
…
48. Böhm, Johannes, 20, kath., Ackerbauer aus Hammelburg
Frau: Katharina Säger, 18
in der Kolonie eingetroffen am 14.5.1767
1768 gepflügt: 1 Des.

Source: Pleve, Igor, Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet 1764-1767, Band 3 (Kolonien Laub - Preuss), Göttingen: Nordost-Institut, 2005.

1798

Leichtling, Russia

Lg15     Peter Berger                  h        37
             Dorothea Biehn            sp       23
             Anna Maria                   d        ¼

Workers: 1
Horses: 7
Cows: 10
Sheep: 13
Swine: 10
Chickens: 20
Planted - 1796/1797
Rye: 1 chetvert 4 chetverik
Wheat: 3 chetvert 6 chetverik
Barley: 1 chetvert 2 chetverik
Oats: 2 chetvert 4 chetverik
Millet: 2 chetverik
Potatoes: 2 chetvert 2 chetverik
Harvested - 1797
Rye: 6 chetvert 2 chetverik
Wheat: 7 chetvert 4 chetverik
Barley: 3 chetvert 6 chetverik
Oats: 10 chetvert 7 chetverik
Millet: 7 chetvert 4 chetverik
Potatoes: 6 chetvert 4 chetverik

Lg35     Mattias Dieser               h        24
             Cunigunde Biehn         sp       30
             Johannes                      d         4
             Katharina                      d         7
             Maria Dorothea           d         2

Workers: 1
Horses: 6
Cows: 11
Sheep: 15
Swine: 9
Geese: 2
Chickens: 30
Planted - 1796/1797
Rye: 2 chetvert
Wheat: 2 chetvert
Barley: 2 chetvert
Oats: 1 chetvert
Millet: 2 chetverik
Potatoes: 1 chetvert
Harvested - 1797
Rye: 3 chetvert
Wheat: 3 chetvert
Barley: 2 chetvert
Oats: 2 chetvert
Millet: 6 chetvert
Potatoes: 1 chetvert 7 chetverik

Lg45     Johannes Biehn            h        51
             Katharina Seher            sp      45
             Johannes                       d       20
             Valentin                         d        14
             Anna Maria                   d        12
             Barbara                         d         8
             Katharina                      d         6

Workers: 2
Horses: 7
Cows: 15
Sheep: 20
Swine: 8
Geese: 3
Chickens: 20
Planted - 1796/1797
Rye: 5 chetvert
Wheat: 5 chetvert
Barley: 2 chetvert
Oats: 3 chetvert 6 chetverik
Millet: 4 chetverik
Potatoes: 1 chetvert 7 chetverik
Harvested - 1797
Rye: 12 chetvert 6 chetverik
Wheat: 10 chetvert
Barley: 5 chetvert
Oats: 12 chetvert
Millet: 3 chetvert 6 chetverik
Potatoes: 8 chetvert

Source: Mai, Brent Alan, 1798 Census of the German Colonies along the Volga: Economy, Population, and Agriculture, Volumes 1 and 2, Lincoln, NE: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1999.
Note: The Leichtling census was dated 7 October 1798.

1834

Leichtling, Russia

No.	Names	Age (1834)	Moved or died	Age at last census (1815)
16	Matiaus Diezen	--	Died 1822	41
	wife: Kunigund Beier	65
	sons:
	1. Peter Diezen	34		15
	wife: Konstantia Kun	32
	sons: a.Feid Diezen	9
	b. Peter Diezen	5
	c. Jakob Diezen	2
	daughters: a. Anna Maria Diezen	14
	b. Eva Elisabeta Diezen	12
	c. Margarita Diezen	6
	2. Feit Diezen	--	Died 1832	8
	3. Gotfried Diezen	--	Died 1826	4
32	Johannes Bin	--	Died 1825	55
	Valentin Bin (son to Johannes above)	50		31
	wife: Eva Elizabeta	45
	sons:
	1. Joseph Bin	27		8
	wife: Barbara	26
	sons: a. Johannes Bin	8
	b. Valentin Bin	5 ¼
	c. Peter Bin	3 ¼
	d. Baltazar Bin	1 month
	2. Matias Bin	24 ¼		5 ¼
	wife: Eva Elizabetha	22
	son: Valentin Bin	2
	3. Peter Bin	21		2
	wife: Sofia (Sophia)	19
	son: Johannes Bin	2 days
	4. Johannes Bin	14
	5. John Georg Bin	10
	6. Philip Bin	4 ¼
	Daughter:
	1 Elizabeta Bin	16
33	Peter Berger	--	Died 1818	55
	wife: not listed
	sons:
	1. Johannes Berger	28		9
	wife: Elizabeta	29
	sons:
	2. Nikolaus Berger	23		4
	wife: Katerina	20
	daughters:
	a. Anna Margarita Berger	3
	b. Elizabeta Berger	1
	3. Baltizar Berger	20		1
	daughters:
	1. Barbara Berger	10
	2. Elizabeta Berger	7
	3. Teresia Berger (twins)	4
	4. Katerina Berger (twins)	4
	5. Elisabeta Berger	1 ¾

Source: Boyd, Darryl (compiler) & Gartner, Angela (translator), Leichtling, Russia 1834 Census, Concord, CA, 2006.

1850

Leichtling, Russia

No.	Names	Age (1850)	Moved or died	Age at last census (1834)
33	Valentin Bien	66		50
	wife Elisabeta	61
	sons:
	1. Joseph Bien	--	See #34 (same) (census says see #32, but that is a mistake)	27
	wife: not listed
	son:
	a. Johannes Bien	--	See #34 (same)	8
	b. Valentin Bien	--	See #34 (same)	5 ½
	c. Peter Bien	--	See #34 (same)	3 ¼
	d. Baltazar Bien	--	See #34 (same)	1 month
	2. Matias Bien	40		24
	wife: Eva Elisabeta	38
	son:
	a. Valentin Bien	--	Died 1838	2
	3. Peter Bien	--	Died 1838	21
	wife: not listed
	son:
	a. Johannes Bien	--	Died 1847	2 days
	daughter:
	a. Katerina Bien	14
	4. Johannes Bien	30		14
	wife: Anna Maria	30
	son:
	a. Johannes Bien	1 ½
	daughter:
	a. Barbara Bien	7 ½
	b. Katerina Bien	5
	5. Georg Bien	26		10
	wife: Sophia	23
	son:
	a. Matias Bien	5
	6. Philip Bien	20 ¼		4 ¼
	wife: Katerina	23
	daughter:
	a. Katerina Bien	1 ½

Source: Boyd, Darryl (compiler) & Gartner, Angela (translator), Leichtling, Russia 1850 Census, Concord, CA, 2006.

1857

Leichtling, Russia

No. in 1850	No. in 1857	Names	Age in 1850	Moved or died	Age in 1857
33	29	Valentin Bien	66	Died 1854	--
		Valentin's wife Elisabetha	--		67
		Valentin's sons:
		1. Matthias Bien	40		47
		Matthias' wife Elisabetha	--		45
		2. Philipp Bien	20 ¼		27 ¼
		Philipp's wife Katharina	--		29
		Philipp's son:
		1) Johannes Bien	--		2
		Philipp's daughters
		1) Katharina Bien	--		9
		2) Anna Elisabetha Bien	--		6
		3) Barbara Bien	--		5
		3. Johannes Bien	30	Moved to #30	--
		Johannes' son:
		1) Johannes Bien	1 ½		--
		4. Georg Bien	26	Moved to #31	--
		Georg's son:
		1) Matthias Bien	5		--

Source: Eichmann, Wadim (translator), Leichtling, Russia 1857 Census, Concord, CA, 2019.