Role Play with Real Characters

ROLE PLAY

Having fun in the classroom is a must while learning history. Kids love to get dressed up and take on real character personas. The list below contains over 90 names of individuals who lived or passed through Settlement Ross. After the students trace the roots of some of the characters from Ross, maybe they would like to trace their own family history.

Settlement Ross was a multi-ethnic community. The Russian administrators classified the multi-ethnic work force of Ross into four major classes: the Russians, the Creoles, the Aleuts, and the Indians. The different jobs and titles here at Ross were many. You have Administrators, military officers, clerks, soldiers, navigators, sailors, craftsmen, tree fallers, hunters, laborers, and much more. Within those job descriptions there are many specific titles. For example with the craftsmen, there was a coppersmith, tanner, blacksmith, mason, and coal miner. The woman here at Ross took their place in many areas. Some were language interpreter's for the Company, some worked in the fields, or as cowherds, and most took their place with their family needs. We know they played a major role here at Ross performing the daily tasks of family and community survival. A new document, Death in the Daily Life of Colony Ross, by Sannie Kenton Osborn gives us a better idea of those women and children as well as The Indians at the Ross Settlement, According to the Censuses by Kuskov, 1820 - 1821, by Alexei A. Istomin. The other text used is Russian America: A Biographical Dictionary, by Richard A. Pierce. These names may be researched further through several texts available from the library.

This curriculum material may be used in several ways. For groups coming for their overnight stay, the children may choose names in a variety of ways. We have grouped the names in various role play areas, i.e. artisans have a list of various artists who lived or passed through Colony Rossa, and the militia may be officers who lived here. The children may pick characters at random. The teacher/coordinator should decide. At the end of this list is the census record taken by Ivan Kuskov in 1820.

Students can either choose which group they want to be in or you can assign them to a particular group. Since the groups should be roughly equal in size you may have to do some switching. Make sure that you have children assigned to groups before the first Parent Meeting.

Some words of caution: Do not let all of your most difficult students go into one group together. Beware of placing overly aggressive children in the Militia. The educational experience of the ELP is greatly enhanced when students actively play the role of a historic resident of Fort Ross. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of role play in the ELP experience. Characters should be based on a real figure in Fort Ross history or if necessary created as realistically as possible from what the students learn about who lived at Fort Ross. There are characters listed in the manual and these can be expanded upon.

The students should put a lot of energy into learning and writing about their character and even designing a costume. By the effort of trying to understand at least one person who lived at Fort Ross, they will have a much better idea of how people lived and interacted as a whole at this settlement. Have each student make a pass that states his character’s name and role group. While at the fort the student will carry his pass at all times. Encourage both students and parents to use their Russian, Kashaya, Alaskan or period appropriate names.

POSSIBLE CHARACTERS FOR FORT ROSS ROLE PLAY

MEN

Vasily (Cyril) Khlebnikov

Peter S. Kostromitinov

Otto von Kotzebue

Captain Vasily N. Golovnin

Adelbert von Chamisso

Ivan A. Kuskov

Karl Schmidt

Mariano Vallejo

Alexander G. Rotchev

Chief Solano

Igor Chernykh

Il’ia Voznesenskii

Baron Ferdinand von Wrangel

John Agustus Sutter

Nikolai Petrovich Rezanov

Vasily Grudinin

Lieutenant-Captain Leontii Hagemeister

Chief Chu-Gu-An

Andres Aulancoc

Zakhar Chichnov

WOMEN

Yekaterina P. Kuskova

Helena (Elena) de Gagarin Rotchev

Baroness von Wrangel

Conception Arguello

Natalie Ivanov

Francisca Benicia Vallejo

Mariana Rotchev

Talia Unuttaca

Raisa Rotchev

NATIVE ALASKANS AND NATIVE CALIFORNIANS AT ROSS

Note that there were more Kashaya Pomo women living at Ross than Kashaya men, and many more Alaskan men than Alaskan women. The following names were taken from The Indians at the Ross Settlement: According to the Censuses by Kuskov, 1820-1821 by Alexei Istomin.

MEN WOMEN

Miwok: From the Bodega Bay Area

Vaimpo Ukkelya

Chichamik Chaikku

Kapisha Tolilukayu

Vekvekun Kunay

Yovlo Unitma

Kashaya Pomo: From the vicinity of Ross

Iik Chumamin

Chil’lya Pokomin

Yogokoiy Kashin

Chilan Mishishiya

Kavapalii

Akaluchu

Chubay

Tykpalii

Native Alaskans

Tupuliahnak (Kodiak) Kolyuzh (Tlingit)

Ithoshknak (Chugach)

Kaskak (Kodiak)

Ungiyak (Kodiak)

Nehtkan (Kodiak)

Chananok (Kodiak)

Chevyihpak (Kodiak)

Kumuyak (Kodiak)

Biographies

A new document, Death in the Daily Life of Colony Ross, by Sannie Kenton Osborn gives us a better idea of those women and children as well as The Indians at the Ross Settlement: According to the Censuses by Kuskov, 1820 - 1821, by Alexei A. Istomin. The other text used is Russian America: A Biographical Dictionary, by Richard A. Pierce. These names may be researched further through several texts available from the library. This curriculum material may be used in several ways. For groups coming for their overnight stay, the children may choose names in a variety of ways. We have grouped the names in various role-play areas, i.e. artisans have a list of various artists who lived or passed through Colony Rossia, and the militia may be officers who lived here. The children may pick characters at random. The teacher/coordinator should decide. At the end of this list is the census record taken by Ivan Kuskov in 1820.

Aleksandr Andreevich Baranov - A Russian - Chief Manager of the Russian American Company from 1790 to 1818. Born in Northern Russia in 1746. He is the manager who encouraged the trade with the Spanish for food and the establishment of a colony along the California shores. There is a lot of information in the libraries on this person.

Leontii Von Hagemeister - A German - Manager of Russian Americana Company from 1818-1820. He was born June 16th, 1780 in Latvia of a Baltic German family. From 1795 at the age of 15 till 1806 he served in the Russian Navy with several voyages in the North and Baltic Seas, and with the British Fleets in the West Indies. In 1806 he started service with the Russian American Company. He took the ship Neva to Sitka with supplies. They arrived on September 13, 1806. He commanded the Neva for several years taking trips to the Sandwich Islands and to Eastern Russia for supplies. In 1811 he and his wife, Caroline Von Schutz, moved to Irktusk, Siberia. In 1816 he again set sail for a round the world voyage arriving tin Sitka in 1817. In January of 1818 he took command of the Russian American Company. He sailed to Colony Ross in July of that year for supplies. In November he returned to his home near St. Petersburg. He retired in 1821. But in 1828 he re-entered Company service and took a third around the world voyage. He was an excellent navigator, mathematician, astronomer and linguist.

Matvei Ivanovich Muravev - A Russian - The chief manager of the Russian American colonies from 1820-1825. He took part in several around the world voyages, sailed on supply ships for the RAC, and as Governor of the colonies managed affairs from his Sitka office. He died in 1836 while working in the main Company office in St. Petersburg.

Baron Fredinand Petrovich Von Wrangell - A Baltic - Born in Estonia in 1796 to a Baltic German noble family. He enrolled in the naval cadet corps and graduated at the top of his class in 1815. He sailed on several around the world voyages. He came to the California coast, to Monterey and then to Colony Ross. He was an officer for the company for many years. He was in charge of several expeditions,he improved relations with Alaskan Natives, improved working relations with Company employees, and implemented conservation measures to stabilize the fur hunting for the Company. He was married to Elizabeth Rossillon in 1829. They traveled together to the Russian American Colonies when Wrangell became Chief manager. He took many tours of the colonies. He also introduced schools, hospitals, and other new facilities. He encouraged timbering, shipbuilding, and brickmaking in the colonies.

Arvid Adolf Etholen - A Finn - Governor in 1840 to 1845. He was born in Helsinki Finland, January 9, 1799. He was educated in the naval academy in St. Petersburg and in 1817 was assigned to Sitka, arriving in 1818. He captained many ships on several different voyages for exploration and for trade. He opened trade relations with the indigenous people of Alaska. He sailed to Ross with supplies on a few occasions, and down to Baja for a supply of salt. He became assistant to Captain of 1st Rank, Baron Wrangell. In 1840 while in Russia, he was sent to the American Colonies to serve as Chief manager. He created new supply arrangements with the Hudson's Bay Company. With this new arrangement the Ross Colony became unnecessary and was put on the market. He ended his service in Alaska in 1845 and returned with his wife and children to Russia. He died March 1876.

Ivan Aleksandrovich Kuskov - A Russian- Born in Tot’ma in 1765. In 1790 in Irkutsk he joined the first fur company, the Shelikov-Golikov company, which later became the Russian American Company. He worked with Baranov in Alaska establishing redoubts (forts) and settlements. He also led hunting parties. In 1808, Baranov sent Kuskov to California with two vessels. In December of that year he arrived in Bodega Bay. They hunted the sea otters with a "good catch". They returned to Sitka in August of 1809. In 1811, on the ship Chirikov, Kuskov made his third trip to California. He brought with him 25 Russian artisans and 60 Native Alaskans with 40 baidarkas for sea otter hunting. He remained at the Ross colony until 1821. He established trade relations with the Spanish, the British, and the American merchants. He established ranches and promoted sea otter hunting along the California coast. In 1822 he left Company service after 31 years total. He returned to Tot’ma with his new wife, where a few months later he died. They had no children.

Karl Ivanovich Schmidt - A Finn- Born in Finland June 2nd, 1799. In 1817 at 18 years of age, he traveled to Russian America (Alaska) as a passenger on the brig Kamchatka, with Golovnin. He arrived in 1818. He was hired by the Russian American Company to look after the artillery, the arsenal, and the library for 1,000 rubles above normal salary. In 1819 he sailed with the Company to the Sandwich Islands on company business. In 1820 Schmidt was appointed as manager of the Ross Colony at 3,000 rubles a year. He sailed on the brig Il’mena to Alta California, his new post. He knew the Spanish language and assisted Khelbnikov in trade relations with the Spanish. He managed Ross from 1821 to 1825. He started shipbuilding, expanded agriculture, and did some exploring up the Slavianka River (Russian River). However, Schmidt was careless with the Company records and books. He returned to Sitka as arsenal and port officer. In 1826 he was sent to Russia. He served for another 30 years or so and than retired from the service in 1861 as Captain 2nd Rank.

Pavel Shelikov - A Russian - In 1821 he worked in the Moscow office for the Russian American Company. He violated Company trust, so as rehabilitation at his own request, he was sent to the colonies in Alaska. He arrived in January 1823 and worked under Murav’ev. In 1825 he was to replace Karl Schmidt. He arrived at the Ross Colony on the brig Elena. He continued the efforts in seal hunting, agriculture, making of cheese and butter, and the sale of redwood planks. He left the Ross colony in 1830 for Sitka.

Peter Stepanovich Kostromitinov - A Russian- The eldest of three brothers all in Company service. He worked in the Alaskan colonies in 1827. In 1829 he was sent to the Ross settlement where he took over as manager in 1830. He served as the Ross manager until 1836, when

Rotchev took over. He returned to Sitka. In the summer of 1851 he sailed to San Francisco on the Kniaz Menshikov where he became RAC commissioner. And in 1852 became Russian Vice Consul. He left this position in 1862 and returned to Russia with his wife and six children.

Aleksander Gavrilovich Rotchev -A Russian- A writer, poet, and linguist. He went to the University of Moscow for training and there he married Princess Elena Pavlovna Gagarina in 1828. He joined Company service in 1835. In 1836 he left Sitka on the brig Sitka for Bodega Bay, Monterey, and San Francisco. He returned to Sitka. In 1838 he then sailed to California with Elena and possibly three children. He met John Sutter, who eventually bought the buildings, cattle, horses, and all other improvements belonging to the RAC.

Egor Leontievich Chernykh - A Creole- Born in Kamchatka about 1813. He was the son of a Russian priest and a native Kamchadi woman. He was sent to Moscow to enroll in the agricultural school that just opened by the Imperial Moscow Agriculture Society. He graduated in 1827. On August 18, 1835 he arrived on board the brig Sitkha and landed in Monterey. From there he traveled overland and in January 1836 arrived at Colony Ross. He developed agriculture at Fort Ross. His salary was 3,500 rubles per year. He built and worked at Rancho Chernykh Located somewhere bwtween Occidental and Graton.. He wrote several articles for Russian journals while here at the colony. When the colony was sold in 1841, Chernykh returned to Sitka and was given a raise to 5,000 rubles a year. His wife, Ekaterina, gave birth to their son, Nikolai, in 1842. In 1843 Chernykh died of "nerve fever."

Il’ia Gavrilovich Voznesenskii - A Russian - Born June 19, 1816 in St. Petersburg. At the age of five he started as a typesetter. He started studying with the Zoological Museum and the Academy of Sciences. He showed such skill and diligence that they recommended he be given a salary. In 1834 he was made an assistant and paid 400 rubles per year. In 1839 he was appointed to travel to Russian America for a five year period. Voznesenskii worked in the colonies in Alaska until ordered to go to the Ross Colony in 1840. While in California he made several trips around the San Francisco area, the Russian River area, climbed Mt. St. Helena, and explored clear to Sacramento where he was hosted by John Sutter. He gathered plant and animal specimens. He continued his work with the Company in Alaska for a total of ten years. Upon his return to St. Petersburg he catalogued and studied his specimens and other collections that arrived to the museum.

Feofilat Druzhinin - A Creole- living in Sitka, became assistant to Il’ia G. Voznesenskii. Voznesenskii noted that "with his natural talent, was enterprising, stayed with me, and with Etholen’s approval accompanied me on all my journeys through the colonies". Druzhinin came to Ross with Voznesenskii in 1841. He continued to work in the colonies after Ross was sold, and in 1853 was married to Kroida Kelgren in Kodiak. They had three sons. He died in 1862.

Johann Friedrich Eschscholtz - A German- Born November 1, 1793 in Dorpat, Germany, a naturalist at a very young age. He received a degree as a doctor of medicine. He sailed on the round-the-world voyage on the ship Riurik, under Otto Kotzebue. He worked with Adelbert V. Chamisso, a naturalist. Eschscholtz focused on insects and sea animals. He was the first to discover and record prehistoric bones in Alaska. When they were here at the Ross Colony, Chamisso named the California Poppy, our state wildflower, after Eschscholtz which has the Latin binomial Eschscholtzia californica. In 1819 he became a professor of medicine of the zoological cabinet at the University of Dorpat. In 1823 he accepted an invitation by Kotzebue to sail again on an extensive voyage. In 1829 he died of "nerve fever."

Ludovick Charles Adelaid Chamisso - A French - Born in 1781 in Champaign, France, to a noble family. His family moved to Germany during the French Revolution. He became a page to the royal court in Berlin in 1796. In 1801 he entered the Prussian Army, did not like military life and started writing. In 1810 he studied science and languages in Paris. He than went back to Berlin to study medicine, botany, and zoology. He was a poet and naturalist. In 1815 he was invited to serve as a naturalist in the round-the-world voyage on the ship Rurik. He researched languages, ethnography, geology, botany, zoology, and climate on his trip. He ported here at the Ross Colony on this voyage for just a short time. Chamisso named the California Poppy, our state wildflower, after Johann Eschscholtz, his friend and colleague, while on this trip, possibly while here at Fort Ross. He died in 1838.

Vasilii Khlebnikov - A Russian - nephew of K.T. Khlebnikov. Vasilii was manager of one of the three Company ranchos near the Ross Settlement. This ranch helped to supply the Ross Settlement and Sitka with agricultural products. In 1841 he returned to Sitka along with the other Company personnel.

Alexei Shukshin - A Russian- worked at Ross Colony. He was killed by a fallen tree during works at the forest on July 27, 1820.

ARTISANS and ARTISTS

Vasilii Vanovich Grudinin - A Russian- Carpenter and shipbuilder. He learned shipbuilding while employed as assistant to shipwright Lincoln who was in Sitka in 1805-1809. At the Ross settlement in 1816 he laid the keel for the Rumiantsev, which was launched in 1818. The Buldakov was launched in 1820. The brig Volga was launched in 1822. The brig Kiakhta was launched in 1824. The oak that Vasilli used was unseasoned or it may have been that the California oak was unsuitable. The vessels were soon deemed worthless. Shipbuilding was abandoned at Ross and in March 1825, Grudinin was sent back to Sitka on the Kiakhta. He received a raise to total 1,000 rubles a year plus 400 rubles food ration allowance. He continued repairing and working on ships. He was married while at Fort Ross, her name may have been Vera. He had a daughter, Agrafena, born January 11, 1825, a son Mikhail, who died in August 1825 (age unknown), and daughter Natalia who was born August 1826 in Sitka.

Ludwig Choris: (Artist) A German - Born in 1795 in Germany. In 1814 he enrolled in the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. In 1815 he traveled in the round-the-world voyage of O.E. Kotzebue on the brig Rurik. This was with Chamisso and Eschscholtz mentioned above. He made hundreds of drawings and paintings depicting the life of indigenous peoples of America, Asia, Africa, and Polynesia. He returned to live in Paris and publish his works. In 1828 he was killed by bandits on a trip to Mexico.

Leontii Ostrogin- A Creole- Worked as a blacksmith for the RAC. In 1832 he was sent to the Ross settlement on the brig Polifem. He made fittings for rowboats and other vessels, wheels, tools and other items. He also made iron items ordered from the missions. He went back to Alaska, married Anna Oskolkov. They had five children.

Mikhail Tikhanov (Artist) - A Russian - Born about 1789. In 1806, at age 17, he received a scholarship to the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. He received a gold medal for the painting ‘The shooting of Russian Patriots by the French in 1812". Because he was a ‘serf’, he was not able to receive the medal. He finished schooling in 1815. In 1817 he traveled on the round the world voyage with Golovnin and the sloop Kamchatka. Forty-three paintings exist of this voyage in a museum in Russia, although there may be more. Five of these painting are of California Indian people. He did a full face and profile of each person. He was very careful in portraying the clothing, ornamentation, tools, and life styles of these people. Back in Sitka he became very sick. He lived another 40 years, although never painted again.

Vasilii Antipin - A Russian - Carpenter and ploughman. He died at Ross in 1821.The Ross manager in 1822, Karl Schmidt is said to have "deeply regretted the sudden death last year of the best carpenter, Vasilii Antipin, as none of the other men had any shipbuilding skills except for Korenev, who wants to leave, and Permitin". He has also been described as "the only Russian who knew how to farm". He was married to a Coast Miwok woman Katerina Ukkelya. They had two children: a son, Alexander, and a daughter, Matrena.

Vasilii Titov - A Creole - A blacksmith for the Company at Ross. He died at Ross from drowning in 1825.

Vasilii Vasil'ev - A Russian - He was originally from Tobol'sk in Russia. He arrived at Ross on the Il'men in July 1820 with his wife, Anna, and three of his five children from the Fox Islands. He is listed as a Promyshlennik and a carpenter receiving 100 rubles for his work building the Volga in 1822. He is reported to have lived in a dwelling upstream of the fort where it was pleasant and quiet, and also near the Russians named Grudinin, Permitin, and Zyrianov. He died May 13, 1826. He left his house and field valued at 925 rubles to his wife. The Company recommended writing off his debt of 869 rubles as a loss.

Mikhailo Rastorguev - A Kodiak or Aleut or Creole - He arrived at Ross on the Il'men in 1820. Mikhailo worked at Ross as a carpenter, turner, block pulley maker. He was married to Aprosinya (Kodiak) and had two children, Mariia and Nikolai. Another child was born, however the name is unknown. They owned a house valued at 500 rubles and a farm worth 200 rubles. He was given 100 rubles each as bonuses for his work on the Volga in 1822 and the Kiakhta in 1824. He received another raise in 1827. He died in 1829 owing the Company 766 rubles, 42 kopeks. His property was left to his wife and children upon his death.

Karl Flink - A Lutheran Finn - He worked as a joiner here at Ross. His wife Anna and son Stefan both came to Ross with him, all arriving in 1833. He built a threshing machine and was granted a bonus for doing so. He was 39 when he died at Ross.

Alexei Matveev Korenev - A Russian - He worked at Ross as a carpenter. His first wife, a Kashaya named Ichemen Anis'ya, returned to her village. He later married a Kodiak woman, Paraskeve, in 1824. He had a house, a garden, a bull, two cows. No children appear in the Company records, although he may have adopted two children during his time at Ross. He was paid 200 rubles for building the Volga in 1822 and 220 rubles by Schmidt in 1824 for a plot of land. He received several bonuses and raises. He died in debt in 1832.

Matvei - A Kodiak- He was an axe and saw worker at Ross from 1815 to about 1833. He was married to a Coast Miwok woman, Kytypaliv, and had a daughter, Ashana Alimpiada. He was also noted to be an archer or marksman.

Iakov Babin - A Russian - Entered company service in 1805. Assigned to Ross after the outpost was established. In 1815 this leader of Alaskan fur hunters was hunting off the islands of what we now call Channel Islands. At some time during his stay there he allowed his Alaskan hunters to freely kill the local Indians. This story is the retold version of Island of the Blue Dolphins. Babin was later tried for these crimes. He stayed with the company and in 1827 he married a "baptized Indian of the people of Albion (California)".

Iakov Dorofeevich Dorofeev - A Russian - In 1802 he joined the RAC. In 1822 or 1823 he accompanied Karl Schmidt, the new manager of Fort Ross, and a party of Aleuts on a journey by baidaras up the Slavianka River (Russian River, and called Shabakai by the Pomo). In 1824 (with an agreement made in 1823 with Don Luis Arguello, the governor of California), Dorofeev led a hunting party along the shores of San Francisco Bay. Later in the1820’s, Dorofeev returned to Alaska and became manager of the Unalaska office in 1829. He held the post until September 1832, when he died.

Timofei Osipovich Tarakanov - A Russian- He was working for the company by 1802. Joseph O'Cain, the American Sea Captain, of the brig O'Cain suggested in 1803 to take a group of Aleut hunters to the California Coast with him. Tarakanov led the hunting group with 20 baidarkas. In the San Francisco Bay area they took 1,100 pelts and bought 700 pelts from the Spanish missions. They returned in 1804. In October of 1806, they left Kodiak with 12 baidarkas and a crew of Aleuts to hunt the California Coast, returning in 1807. On September 1808 he sent Tarakanov with a party of hunters back to the California Coast but this time to start looking for a hunting base to establish. The ship Tarakanov was wrecked near the Washington Coast and several passengers were captured by the local Indians. Several died in the months that followed, however, Tarakanov was able to talk to the Indians and encourage them to be freed with several others. They arrived back in Sitka on the brig Lydia, rescued by American Ship Captain Brown. A year later Tarakanov was again sent to California with a hunting party. They hunted the Farallon Islands and Drake’s Bay and stopped at the new Ross Colony. His life is unknown for the next several years. He sailed several times to the Sandwich Islands and continued leading hunting parties.

Agchyaesikok Roman - A Kodiak - Possibly a hunter for the Company. He drowned in March 1821. He was married to Kobbeya, a Southern Pomo. When he died Kobbeya returned to her home village. They had a son, Kiochan Mitrofan, who was left to be cared for by Alexey Chaniguchi for upbringing.

Matvei - A Kodiak - A Toion for the Company, meaning a hunting leader. He drowned in 1824. Kirill Khlebnikov reported, " Earlier this month, the Aleuts returned here with the body of the Aleut Toion Matvei. They said that he had been at Bodega Bay and had separated from the others in a two-hatch baidarka. After waiting for him to return for a long time, they had found him dead on the shore with the baidarka. As his body did not show any suspicious signs, the concluded that the Toion had grown weak from rowing and with hunger and had died. The Aleuts than buried him. Matvei was the elder Toion here..."

Talizhuk Kosma - A Kodiak - Worked at Ross between 1820 - 1836 possibly as a hunter. His first wife was a Kashaya woman, Yayumen. He and his second wife, Pelagiia, had two sons. Their names are Nikifor and Vasilii. He died between 1836 and 1838.

Taneikak Apianak Ivan - A Kodiak - His first wife is a Kashaya woman, PIzhichimiy. They had a daughter, Olga, and son Chunyuun. His second wife, Pelagiia Mukaia, had three sons Il'ia, Marko, and Simeon. He died sometime between 1834 and 1838.

Osip Shaia - An Aleut - He lived at Ross for quite a long time. He was a leader or foreman of hunters. His first wife is possibly a Kashaya woman, Myssalaya. His second wife, Alexandra, and son, Sazon, lived for years at Ross. It is possible that his first wife left with him to Alaska and returned with a Russified name, Alexandra. He was about 38 years old when he died from drowning.

Kasents - A Tlingit – His work at Colony Ross is unknown.

Language Interpreter

Pavel (Oglayuk) Akliaiuk - Possibly a Creole- Russian American Company interpreter. He was raised at Fort Ross. We do not have dates of birth or if in fact if he was born at Fort Ross. We do not have any information about him during his time at the Fort other than he served as an interpreter. He left Fort Ross when it was sold in 1841 and died in 1851.

Engineer – Technologist

Peter Andreevich Andreev - A Creole, born at Fort Ross. sent to Russia for education at the St. Petersburg Technological Institute. When he completed his studies in 1860 he was sent to Sitka to work. While in his position there he traveled to San Francisco to examine factories and shops for future trade relations.

Accountants

Kirill Timoofeevich Khlebnikov - A Russian - was born March 18th, 1785 in Russia to a merchant family. In 1820 Kirill joined Company service. He worked several years in Okhotsk in Siberia. Once he was arrested for refusing to listen to an officer’s orders to change prices of goods. He was imprisoned for three months. He returned to Russia and remained in service. On September 15th 1817 he arrived at the Ross Colony on the sloop Kutuzov. He visited the Ross settlement a total of twelve times. In 1818 he became office manager for the Company. On June 19th, 1820 he was on the brig Il’mena when they ship wrecked at Point Arena. As accountant for the Company, he detailed accounts of the Ross colony regarding the employees and how much they're paid, how much was paid for what goods at the Spanish ports, and detailed records of daily life of the Ross Colony. Today his works are some of the most valued documents on the Ross Colony. He died of a stroke in 1838 in St. Petersburg.

Fedor Svin’in - A Russian- Started working for the Russian American Company in 1802. He arrived in Kodiak and than was assigned to the Ross settlement. About 1814, he worked keeping the books (also known as a prikazchik) for the Company. His salary was set at 400 rubles a year. In 1823 his salary was raised to 600 rubles. In 1831 he was to be removed from the Ross office because of shortages in the books. It was noted he owed the Company 6,000 rubles. He died at Ross on December 30, 1832. His wife, Anis'ia, a Creole, was given the house, agricultural field, and animals including one bull, two cows, and one horse. They had two sons, Alexander and Mikhail.

Scribe

Zakharii Petrovich Chichenev- A Creole - Born to a Russian Irktusk townsman and a Tlingit mother. By 1806 he was already wishing to stay in America. In 1819 he was sent to St. Petersburg for medical education at the expense of the Company. In 1829 he married Lukeria Petelin at Unalaska. In 1833 he arrived to the Ross Colony with his wife Lukeria and two sons Prokopii and Il’ia and a girl Katerina Kychkova on the brig Polifem. He was assigned the duty of scribe at 500 rubles a year. When Ross was sold he and his family returned to Sitka. He died February 1879.

Clerk

Vasilii Starkovskii - A Russian - He died at Ross March 11, 1827. He left no will so his cash estate of 843 rubles and 56 kopeks was placed in the Company's charitable fund in Sitka. He was at Ross to keep accounts at the store and to help Schmidt with the paperwork. His signature is on several documents regarding the settlement of Ross. He was also responsible for the sowing of crops on both Company land and his own private land.

Medical Assistant or Fel’dsher

Vasilii Kalugin - A Russain- He sailed on the ship Urup from Okhotsk in September 1831. He was then sent to the Ross settlement on the ship Chichagov. He was to treat the sick and gather plants, herbs, and other natural specimens for use in Sitka. He was put under arrest while at Ross. The reason for the arrest is not known. However, in 1835 he was still listed as the chief fel’dsher in the hospital at Ross.

Priest

Ioann (Ivan) (Innokentii) Venianminov - A Russian- Priest, archbishop, metropolitan and now Saint. Born in 1797 near Irktusk on the Angora River. He grew up with an uncle who was a clergy with the Russian Orthodox Church where he learned many crafts. After several years as a married priest, he was sent to Unalaska to continue teaching and working. Much is known about this person. He was respected by all. He wrote the alphabet for the Aleuts, and other Alaskan peoples. He kept daily weather records, taught people crafts, and taught them about the church. In 1836 he sailed on the Company sloop Sitkha. He arrived at Bodega Bay on July 15th and carried on to Fort Ross by horseback. He also visited San Rafael mission, the small town of San Francisco, the San Jose mission, and the Santa Clara mission. He returned to Sitka that same year. He is the only priest who ever visited Fort Ross. He continued his work with the church and eventually became Archbishop and then Metropolitan. He died March 31, 1879.

Woodcutter

Sergei Trukhmanov -He is either a Creole or a Kodiak - He worked at Ross as a woodcutter, saw and axe man. He received a bonus for being a distinguished woodcutter in 1822. In 1824 he received another bonus of 50 rubles on his blacksmith work on the Kiakhta, and in 1827 he received a raise for his long term commitment to the Company. He was living with a woman who may have been Kashaya. They had two children. They had a house worth 200 rubles and a field valued at 125 rubles. When he died he owed the Company 744 rubles, 44 kopeks. He had been at Ross nearly 12 years at this time. His property was given to the Indian woman and their children. The Company was willing to write off his debt. Two boys, Nikolai Trukhmanov age 15 and Nikander Trukhmanov age 10, are listed in the 1836 confessional lists of Father Venianminov. They are most likely his sons.

Olga - A Kodiak- Wife of Naneshkun Avvakum ( a Kodiak) died August 1820. It is not known how she died.

Ayumin Mar'ya - A Kashaya - She had a daughter, Maria with the Russian Promyshlennik named Rodion Koroliov. He died December 9, 1820 of "some disease". Ayumin and Maria returned to her native village near Ross after his death.

Kunuchami - A Kashaya - She had a son, Izhuaok Peter, with a Koniag named Tlyualik Trofim.

Tlualik Trofim Izhuaok - died June 1821. She was also raising two daughters who belonged to Tlualik. Their names are Klyashyomiy Alentia and Natalia. Their mother was a Kodiak woman.

Unitma - A Coast Miwok - She married a Chugach man named Sipak Ishkhatskiy. She died in September of 1821 for unknown reasons. They had two daughters, Anusha Maria and Aglal’ya.

Katerina Ukkelya - A Coast Miwok - She was living with but not married to Vasilii Antipin, Russian promyshlennyiy, a carpenter who died at Ross in the end of 1821 or 1822. They had a son, Alexander and a daughter, Matrena.

Chaikku - A Coast Miwok -. She was the wife of Chazhvahkak Nikita, a Kodiak of Razbitovskoe village. They had a daughter, Akki Arina.

El’bus’shika - A Coast Miwok from the Bodegan region - She was married to Avagnak Ivan, a Kodiak from Paiskoe village. They had a daughter, Anisyak Maria, and a son, Atunnuki.

Paraskov'ia Kulika - A Creole - She was employed as a cowherd for the Company at Ross. She was married to the scribe, Kulilalov, who died in 1820. She died in 1827 leaving no property. She owed the Company 51 rubles and 59 kopeks. The Company wrote this off as a loss.

Anna Vasil'eva - A Creole - She was married to Vasilii Vasil'ev who is mentioned above. They had five children, three of which lived at Ross. She had a house, a field, a vegetable garden, and various livestock. When she died her dresses were given to her children. Her eldest daughter married, and the other minors were adopted by other employees.

Elena Pavlovna Gagarina Rotchev - a Russian - Married to Aleksander Rotchev, the last manager of Ross. She brought with her to Ross her fine belongings, her piano, and library. They were known by visitors for their great hospitality, their cuisine, the Princess’ skill at the piano, and the creation of an atmosphere of gentility and refinement in this remote outpost.

Ukayla - A Coast Miwok - Living with Kili Fedor, a Kodiak.

Chumamin - A Kashaya - Living with Milhail Siyazov, Russian. When he returned toSitka in September 1820, she returned to her native place.

Pokomin - A Kashaya - Married to Filip Apangu, a Kodiak. They may have lived on the front terrace in the Alaskan neighborhood. When he returned to Sitka, she returned to her own people.

Mishishiya - A Kashaya - Married to Tupulihkak Sava, a Kodiak. They also lived on the Farrallon Islands.

Mit'ya - A Kashaya - Married to Aniehta Nikolai, a Kodiak. They had one son, Chanian Vissarion.

Vera Grudinin - A Kodiak and wife of Vasilii Ivanovich Grudinin. They lived in a home outside the Fort compound possibly along one of the creeks. They had a son Mikhail. They had a baby daughter January 11, 1825, named Agrafina. The family left Colony Ross in March of 1825 for Sitka. Mikhail died in August. Another daughter, Natalie, was born August 18th.

Kobbeya - A Southern Pomo - she had lived along the Russian River. She married Agchyaesikok Roman, a Kodiak. They may have lived in the Alaskan neighborhood out on the front terrace. They had a son, Kiochan Mitrofah. Kobbeya returned to her home and people along the Russian River in 1820. The young boy was raised by the father, until the father drowned. A Kodiak, Alexey Chaniguchi, was said to have raised the boy.

Dmitri Fedorovich Chernov- A Russian- A ship commander with the Russian American Company from 1825 to the 30’s. He mapped several areas in Alaska for the Company, and sailed to several locations in Siberia, California, and Okhotsk.

Illarion Ivanovich Arkhimandritov- A Creole- Russian American Company skipper. He was assigned as a crew member on the sloop Urup on a voyage to California. Another voyage to California was on the ship Naslednik Aleksandr in 1841.

Johann Joachim Bartram - A Scot - Engineer/Seafarer. In 1839 he joined the Russian American Company. In 1841 sailed to Baja California to collect salt for the colonies in Alaska.

Mikhail Karlovich Kiukhelbeker - A Russian naval officer.

Otto Evstafevich Kotzebue- A Russian naval officer.

Efim Petrovich Petrov - A Russian navigator.

Aniklievich Podushkin- A Russian- A naval officer who went to Monterey to negotiate release of several Aleuts from prison.

Stepan Vailtevich Voevodskii - A Russian- Born in 1805. In 1818 he entered naval cadet corps. Naval Officer for the RAC in 1834. Commander of several sloops for the RAC between 1835 and 1841. In 1840 he left Sitka with a cargo of furs. Fort Ross was one of his stops as they traveled on to Kronshtadt. He carried on with RAC service becoming an officer of 1st Rank. From 1854 to 1859 he was Chief Manager in Alaska. He was in military service until at least 1880. He made Admiral. He died in September 1884.

Vasilii Stepanovich Zavoiko - A Russian Born in 1809 of a noble family. Educated in the naval cadet corps. He sailed to the Russian American Colonies after several years in service with the navy. In 1835 he arrived at Bodega and traveled by horseback to the Ross settlement. They stayed the night at the Kostromitinov ranch with Efim Munin in charge. They only stayed at Ross for two nights.

August Bernard Du Hautcilly - A Frenchman Born in 1790. In 1824 as a French Naval Officer, he took command of the 370 -ton vessel Heroes which he sailed to the Pacific Ocean. The ship arrived in California in October of 1826. In June of 1827 he arrived at Bodega Bay and was greeted by the Russian American Company manager, Pavel Shelikov. They proceeded by horse to Fort Ross, but found the Slavianka River (The Russian River) to be too deep and had to cross with the use of baidarkas. He wrote descriptions of Fort Ross that are useful today, also drew pictures of the colony and the surrounding area.

Eugene Duflot D’ Mofras - A French diplomat- He came to the Ross Settlement to search out the coast. He was to see if a French post could be established. In May of 1840 he arrived in Monterey, California and visited General Vallejo in Sonoma. In September with Alexander Rotchev, the last manager of Ross, he traveled to Sutter's Fort to visit with John Sutter. He continued his travels for several years, and when he returned to Paris, published a two-volume journal.

William J. Pigot -An Englishman -Sea captain and trader from England.

Sea Captains for American Companies

John Jacob Astor - Sea captain and fur trader -He was born July 17th, 1763 in Germany. In 1783 he immigrated to America and entered the fur business soon after. After many successes he established a post at the Columbia River. He encouraged trade relations with the Russian American Company to buy their furs in exchange for food and trade stuffs from China. He experienced many misfortunes including one trade ship being captured and everyone dying and the ship being blown up, a war between the British and the Americans and several ships of his being caught in devastating storms. He died March 29, 1848, leaving the New York Public Library $400,000.

John Bancroft - Captain of the brig Convoy that was in the California waters from 1835-1836 He had sailed from Honolulu. Next he was captain of the brig Lama; also sailed from Honolulu in 1838 along the California shores.

George Washington Ayres - Sailed from Boston in 1802 as the captain of the ship Alexander, again in 1806 on the ship Mercury. Contracted with Russian American Company to hunt with the use of his ship and the labor of the Native Alaskans. In January 1812, Ayres brought cargo to the new settlement Ross. Ayres brought several other cargo supplies to Ross, until 1813 when his ship was seized by the Spaniards near Santa Barbara for illegal trading.

William Heath Davis - Sailed as captain with George Washington Ayres aboard the ship Mercury in 1806. In 1809, he sailed on the Isabella from Boston to Sitka, arriving in 1810. There they took aboard 48 baidarkas and 96 Kodiak hunters and went to California to hunt. They returned to Sitka in 1811 to split the share with the RAC which was 2,488 pelts each. From there he traveled to Hawaii for sandalwood and on to Canton. He commanded several voyages in the Northwest Pacific for fur to trade at the Canton markets. He died in 1822 or 1823 in Hawaii leaving a wife and two sons.

William Blanchard - A sea captain, fur hunter, and trader. He made several trips from Boston to the Northwest coast and to Hawaii for trade. In January 1812, with 50 Aleut sea otter hunters and their baidarkas, he sailed to the California coast to hunt. With 1,516 skins they returned to Sitka to drop off the hunters and half the catch. Captain Blanchard sailed many times to Canton, Hawaii, Sitka and along the California coast.

Henry Gyzelaar -A sea captain and fur trader. In 1814 he sailed on the schooner Lydia from Philadelphia. They arrived in Canton in 1815. In July of that year, they left Canton and sailed to Sitka in August or September with a cargo of Chinese goods for the Russian American Company. They also told those in Sitka of the end of The War of 1812. In December they sailed from Sitka to the new Fort Ross with a cargo of Chinese goods. In 1816 the ship was captured by the Spaniards, but released at Monterey March 9th. They then sailed to Hawaii on March 15th. His ship was sold to the Russian American Company living in Hawaii. He traveled to Canton on the O’Cain and on to Boston on the William and John. In September of 1817 he sailed as captain of the brig Clarion, an American ship owned by Abiel Winship. They spent time in the California waters and Hawaii and than on to Sitka in July of 1820. They returned to Boston with goods from China. He was captain next on the brig Sachem doing the same route as before. He drowned while trying to cross the Slavianka (Russian) River near Bodega, California.

Oliver Kimball- A sea captain, fur hunter and trader. He is the brother in law of Captain Joseph O’Cain. Captain of the brig Peacock from 1805 to 1808.

James Rowan - A sea captain and fur trader from Boston.

Isaac Whittemore - Sailed the Northwest Coast from 1807 to 1818 when he died off the coast of South America. He traded sea otter and other fur pelts in the Cantonese market.

Jonathan Winship, Jr. - A sea captain and fur trader. Sailed with Captain O’Cain. He sailed and hunted the Northwest Coast on several occasions between 1803 to 1810. In 1807 they captured over 4,280 sea otter, and 1810 they hunted over 5,400 pelts. He died in his hometown in Massachusetts in 1847

Nathan Winship - A sea captain and fur trader. Brother of Jonathan Winship. He sailed in the Northwest Coast waters from 1800 to 1815. He retired in 1816.

PEOPLE LIVING IN SPANISH CALIFORNIA OR MEXICAN CALIFORNIA

Jose Antonio Bolcof -A Russian - Also known as Mr. Osip Bolcof or Volkov or Wolcof, he is one of the first Russian settlers in Spanish Alta California. He was born in Petropavlosk, Kamchatka and served as a seaman on Russian American Company vessels. Around 1815, when he was about 20 years old, he jumped ship and settled in Monterey. In 1817 he was baptized a Catholic at Soledad, California. He became a shoe cobbler, a seaman, and an interpreter of language for the Spanish Governor in Monterey. In July of 1820 the Russian American Company anchored at Monterey and were invited to the residence of Commandant Estudillo. Osip Bolcof interpreted a story of a recent attack of the mission to Kirill Khelbnikov, a RAC accountant. Khelbnikov reported, "Through the interpreter Bolcof, I gave Mr. Estudillo the passport and a letter for the Governor, who was at San Carlos Mission at the time". In August of 1820 Khelbnikov ported at Monterey where they went ashore and learned that the Governor was ill. Mr. Osip Bolcof escorted them around the fortifications and then headed back to his ship. Khelbnikov sent Bolcof back with a large bottle of rum for the ill Governor Estudillo. On another occasion Khelbnikov sent with Bolcof a number of gifts for Estudillo, including a clock from St. Petersburg and a mirror. "Bolcof seems to be devoted to the Spaniards, but now he is trying more than ever to do us favors. He was on the ship every day from morning until night…. " And in November 1822 he wrote, "Rumor has it that Bolcof has gone off with some English ships." In September 1824 "The Schooner Washington arrived from Santa Cruz with Osip Bolcof on board...". However, it is also noted in 1822 he married a local woman named Candide Castro, the daughter of Jose Joaquin Castro. In 1824 he was arrested for smuggling; and in 1831 he became a farmer. In 1833 he took Mexican citizenship. In 1848 he became a goldseeker, working as a miner with his sons. For awhile, the family prospered, but Bolcof fell victim to swindlers, gradually lost his lands and money. In 1866 he died in poverty. It has been reported he and his wife, Candida, had 11 children. They are: Amadeo born in 1825, Francisco born in 1827, Juan born in 1829, Encarncion born in1832, Guadalupe born in 1836, Carmen born in 1837, Josefa born in 1839, Jose Ramon born in1840, Jose Delores born in 1841, Maria Antonio born in 1842, and Maria de Los Angeles born in 1844. He held several positions in California. He served as a judicial officer (alcalde) and justice of the peace at Villa Branciforte and at Santa Cruz. He also was in charge of the Mission Grist Mill until 1859. Candide and her sister received a land grant that was quite large near Santa Cruz. In later years he lost the land grant and died in poverty in 1866.

Jose Dario Arguello was commandant of the Presidio of San Francisco during the first RAC trade activities in 1806. He later became commandant at Monterey and Santa Barbara, acting governor of California in 1814-1815, and governor of Baja California in 1815-1822. He died in 1828 at Guadalajara, Mexico.

Johann Augustus Sutter - A Swiss, born in 1803. He worked for his father in the paper factory, joined the Swiss Army, and married while in Switzerland to Anna Dubeld. They had three sons and a daughter. In 1834 Sutter went to America. In 1838 he went to Fort Vancouver, Oregon. He then traveled with the Hudson’s Bay Company to the Sandwich Islands. Sutter bought a ship and sailed to Sitka with cargo. He stayed one month enjoying his time with the Russian American Company. He entered San Francisco Bay in July of 1838. At that time he received permission from the Mexican authorities to establish his own settlement up the Sacramento River. He is said to have visited with General Vallejo of Sonoma and also with the Rotchev’s at the Ross Colony. He then established New Helvitia (Sacramento). In 1840 he became a Mexican citizen. In 1841 Sutter purchased the Settlement Ross for $30,000. Through the years he prospered until the discovery of gold on his land. People took his cows, his food and, his land. He left California in 1852 to petition Congress to help him out. He died in 1880 at the age of 77 years old.

Relations of Employees to the Company

In the past employees were hired under an overall contract. On December 14, 1820, the Board of Directors issued this directive outlining the terms on which workers are to be accepted for hunting and other company duties in the American colonies. The terms for this directive are as follows:

Upon entering the service this statement is to be read to the employee and by signing it, he obligates himself to fulfill it. The Company will secure for him a passport valid for seven years, and will give him the necessary money to cover the cost of his transportation.

When they arrive in the colonies, they are under the jurisdiction of the Chief Manager or the various office administrators, and they must carry out their professional duties or other work, according to their training; they pledge to obey the administration at all times.

An employee must promise not to engage in any trading with the savages or with foreigners, under threat of loss of his contract and his profit.

Every new arrival must pledge to avoid the following vices: drunkenness, extravagance, quarreling and other offenses, and not to accumulate large unpaid debts.

The terms of service is seven years; at the end of this period, if the employee has no debts and decides to return home, the Company shall not hinder this decision, and the employee shall be sent by the first available transport to Okhotsk, or around the world, at Company expense. At the time of his departure he shall receive an accurate accounting and within a month after the journey via either Okhotsk of ST Petersburg he is completely discharged from service. Those who have debts must pay them through service, and must neither ask nor petition to be released from their contracts.

For its part, the Company promises the following to those who enter its service:

To issue salaries of 350 rubles per year from the day of boarding ship to the return to their homeland. According to the rules established by the Chief Manager the salary has been raised as follows: Master craftsmen such as smiths and metalworkers, coppersmiths, carpenters, shipbuilders and others, from 400 to 450 rubles; boatswain first class, 450, boatswain second class, 400 rubles.

The Company pledges not to deduct debts from pay before reaching the colony. In the colonies, salaries will be paid monthly, with up to one-third being deducted for payment of debts.

SEA CAPTAINS AND NAVAL OFFICERS FOR THE RUSSIAN AMERICAN COMPANY

SEA CAPTAINS FOR OTHER EUROPEAN COMPANIES

CENSUS RECORDS OF 1820