Date Last Updated: 25-Feb-2022

Large areas in the southeast Ukraine came under Russian control in the late 18 century. This area was then known as Novorussia (New Russia). The Russian government decided to develop this area by settling people from the rest of the Russian empire there. A solution to the "Jewish Question” was also needed, particularly regarding the Jews of Lithuania, Latvia and Belarus region. Under the reign of Tsar Alexander I, legislation was past in order to define and aid this situation. Thus Jews were encouraged to leave their crowded and economically poor settlements and go to these new agricultural settlements. The Jews who qualified to do so were promised financial support to set up agricultural colonies, with the added incentive of exemption from military service (the period of exemption changed at various times throughout the 19th century).

Such colonies were also established in the Vitebsk area.

For additional information see:

People from the Vitebsk Gubernia moved to agricultural settlements to the Ludza (Lutzin) area. This information comes from:
http://www.shtetlinks.jewishgen.org/Colonies_of_Ukraine/index.html

List 1 (selected families)
People who moved from Vitebsk Gubernia to Novozlatopol 1850/52.  [The entire list has "Town Lutzin" written on every page. Some exceptions are noted.]

List 2 (selected surnames)
People who moved from Vitebsk Gubernia to Novozlatopol 1850/52 [The entire list has "Town Lutzin" written on every page. Some exceptions are noted.]

Agricultural Colonies in the Vitebsk Area  This information deals with settlements prior to 1904.