Johann Michael Glanz was baptized in Lorbach on 26 March 1706, the son of Johannes (Hans) Glanz, who was born 21 September 1662 in Lorbach.
On 24 February 1735, Johann Michael married Esther Jacobine Sorberger. She was born about 1713, the daughter of the schoolteacher, Johann Jacob Sorberger, from Vonhausen. Johann Jacob was born about 1686 in Diebach-Haag and died in 1772.
Johann Michael and Esther Jacobine had at least three sons: Johann Jacob who was baptized on 20 February 1746; Johannes, who was baptized on 28 September 1748; and Abraham Georg who was baptized 5 May 1754 and died on 22 April 1757.
In 1766, Esther Jacobine and her two sons departed as colonists to Russia. It is likely that Johann Michael had died by this time. Esther is listed as a widow and head of household when the family arrived in Russia on 28 July 1766 aboard the ship "Vologda".
All three members of the Glanz family arrived in the colony of Norka on 15 August 1767. Esther and Johannes (single) are listed in the 1767 census of Norka in household 36. Johann Jacob is now married and is listed in household 35 along with his wife, Gertrude.
Parish records of the Evangelische Kirche Herrnhaag (Lorbach) accessed through the Family History Library, Film #1201842.
Idt, Andreas and Rauschenbach, Georg. Auswanderung deutsche Kolonisten nach Russland im Jahre 1766 (Second edition). Moscow: 2019.
Pleve, Igor. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg (Saratov: Saratov State Technical University, 2010): 313.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767 Band 3 (Göttingen: Göttinger Arbeitskreis, 2005): 238.
