Johann Philipp Kleer (Cleer), a shoemaker and farmer, married Anna Maria Beuscher on 15 February 1747 in Wenings. Johann Philipp was born about 1719, the son of Johann Conrad Kleer from Wenings. Anna Maria was born on 6 March 1719, the daughter of Johann Caspar Beuscher from Mauswinkel. At least five children from this union were born in Wenings and baptized in the Reformed church:
- Johann Philipp (also known as Johann Wilhelm), baptized on 24 December 1747
- Johannes, baptized on 8 June 1749
- Casimir, baptized on 2 May 1751
- Johann Heinrich, born about 1753 (not found in the Wenings baptism records)
- Anna Catharina, born on 10 October and baptized on 12 October 1755
Anna Maria died on 6 January 1761, leaving Johann Philipp as a widower.
Johann Philipp and his five children migrated to Russia and arrived there on 19 July 1766 aboard the ship "Fortitudo" commanded by John Scott. Over a year later, Johann Philipp and two of his children, Johann Heinrich and Anna Catharina, arrived in the colony of Norka on 26 August 1767. They were recorded in the 1767 Census of Norka as Household 183. Three of Johann Phillip's sons, Johann Philipp (Johann Wilhelm), Johannes and Casimir died en route to the settlement area.
Johann Philipp married a second time to Anna Margaretha (surname unknown). They are listed as Household No. 56 in the 1775 Census of Norka along with the two children from his first marriage, Johann Heinrich and Anna Catharina.
Johann Heinrich married Anna Catharina Messer. This couple became parents to at least 7 children.
- Parish records of Wenings accessed on Archion.de
- Idt, Andreas and Rauschenbach, Georg. Auswanderung deutsche Kolonisten nach Russland im Jahre 1766 (Second edition). (Moscow: 2019): 32.
- Idt, Andreas and Rauschenbach, Georg. Deutsche Kolonisten Auf Dem Weg Von St. Petersburg Nach Saratow (Moscow: 2017): 140.
- Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767 Band 3 (Göttingen: Nordost-Institut, 2008): 278.
- Pleve, Igor. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg (Saratov: Saratov State Technical University, 2010): 241.
- Rye, Richard (translator). The 1775 and 1798 Censuses of the German Colony on the Volga, Norka: Also Known as Weigand. American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 1995. Household 56 (1775) and Household 58 (1798).
