I wonder if they are ethnic Dutch or German. Are there any Mennonites in your family background? In 1786, the Russian Empress Catherine II, looking for settlers to move into lands captured from the Turks, invited Mennonites living in West Prussia (now part of Poland) to settle in the Ukraine. Other dissatisfied farmers from central Europe were also invited. By 1870 there were about 45,000 Mennonites in Russia, with villages established in the Ukraine, the Crimea, the Caucasus, south central Asia and Siberia. By 1884, because of growing Russian intolerance, about 18,000 had resettled in North America. Hope this helps, Lindsey Ottman NYC, NY -----Original Message----- From: Carolyn Seaman <gregseaman@berk.com> To: SEAMAN-L@rootsweb.com <SEAMAN-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Wednesday, March 31, 1999 7:48 PM Subject: [SEAMAN-L] Seamans from Russia >Can anyone help? > >I am looking for some help with my Seaman line. Most of the Seamans = > > came from England but mine did not. I have been told that my Seamans >= > > originated in Russia, but I do not know from which area. > > Isaac Seaman, my great grandfather, was born about 1860 and died about >= > > 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hanna Yarrow, my great >grandmother, = > > born in 1862 died about 1920 also in Philadelphia. No one I know is = > > sure whether they were married before or after they arrived in the >U.S. = > > The Seamans lived in Pottsville for a while, that is where my = > > grandfather was born. My grandfather's name was Howard Robert Seaman, >= > > he was born July 1, 1904. > > I have been trying to research this family yet all I find is the >English = > > Seamans. I am not really sure what the original Russian name was. > > Any hints or help I get will be much appreciated. I am frustrated >with = > > the dead ends that I have hit. Even family members have become dead = > > ends. > > > Thank you=20 > > > Roien (RAGEE1@prodigy.net) > >Carolyn Mussina Seaman >Kinderhook, NY > ><gregseaman@berk.com> >