Beckel / Bögel (Walter)

Johann Heinrich Beckel and Anna Margaretha Appel were married in Gelnhaar on 12 December 1747. The baptisms of eight children are recorded in the Gelnhaar parish records: (1) Johannes, born 6 March 1748, baptized 10 December 1748 (died 17 October 1755); (2) Wilhelmina, born 20 July 1750, baptized 28 July 1750; (3) Anna Catharina, born 7 November 1752, baptized 12 Nov 1752; (4) Maria Gertraud, born 9 July 1754, baptized 14 July 1754; (5) Johann Georg, born 14 September 1757, baptized 18 September 1757 (died 22 April 1759); (6) Johann Heinrich, born 2 December 1759, baptized 5 December 1759; (7) Johann Wolff Hermann, born 31 March 1762, baptized 4 April 1762; and (8) Johannes born 28 December 1764, baptized 30 December 1764.

Johann Heinrich Beckel and his family immigrated to Russia from Gelnhaar. Their exit papers are indexed in Auerbach (under Beckel) and indicate that the husband was born in Untermockstadt and the wife in Laisa. They arrived at the port in Oranienbaum on 15 September 1766 with their children: Wilhelmina (age 18), Anna Catharina (age 15), Maria Gertruda (age 12), Johann Heinirch (age 6), and Johann Wolf Hermann (age 4½). The manifest in Oranienbaum provides the spelling of their surname as Becker.

The family settled in the Volga German colony of Walter on 25 August 1767 with the following members: Johann Heinrich, his wife Margaretha (perhaps a new wife?), and children Katharina (age 15), Maria (age 12), and Johann Heinrich (age 6).

Members of this family are also recorded on the 1798 Census in Walter with the surname Begel: Johann Heinrich (age 33) in Household No. 45 (Wt045) and Katharina (age 46) in Household No. 61 (Wt061) married to Leopold Becker.