Lorenz Krank was baptized on 18 June 1719 in Birstein, the son of Johann Georg Krank (Krach).
Lorenz married Barbara Gottlieb in Birstein on 6 March 1766. Their marriage records states that they are going to Russia. Barbara died on 19 April 1766 in Büdingen shortly after their marriage. Büdingen was a gathering place for the colonists and Lorenz and Barbara were preparing for their departure to Russia.
Lorenz remarried prior to the time he departed for Russia. Lorenz and his second wife, Anna Maria, arrived in Oranienbaum, Russia (now Lomonosov) on 28 July 1766 aboard the Russian ship Strelna. They stated they were of the Reformed faith and had lived in Isenburg prior to their arrival in Russia.
Lorenz, Anna Maria, and their newborn daughter, Gertrude (age 3 months) are listed in the 1767 census of Norka as household 94. His occupation is listed as "soldier from Isenburg".
Lorenz and Anna Maria are listed in the 1775 census of Norka as household 47. An orphaned son, Conrad Hopp, is living with them. Their daughter, Gertrude, had died by this time. No one from this household is listed in the 1798 census of Norka.
There are no known sons of Lorenz. As a result, the Krank name does not continue in Norka.
Parish records of Birstein on Archion.de
Idt, Andreas and Rauschenbach, Georg. Auswanderung deutsche Kolonisten nach Russland im Jahre 1766 (Second edition). Moscow: 2019, p 33.
Mai, Brent Alan and Dona Reeves-Marquardt, German Migration to the Russian Volga (1764-1767) (Lincoln, NE: American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 2003): 172.
Pleve, Igor. Einwanderung in das Wolgagebiet, 1764-1767 Band 3. Göttingen: Göttinger Arbeitskreis, 2005, p. 254, household 94.
Pleve, Igor. Lists of Colonists to Russia in 1766: Reports by Ivan Kulberg. Saratov: Saratov State Technical University, 2010, p. 318.
