Johann Frischman was born around 1755 and died on 5 February 1840 in Stryj.

He belonged to the group of German settlers who established themselves in Bukovina between 1782 and 1787 under the so-called Josephine Patent, issued on 17 September 1781 by Emperor Joseph II of the House of Habsburg.

Among other things, this decree provided for the settlement of underdeveloped areas of the monarchy.

The movement became known as “Josephine colonisation”, and those who took part in it as “Josephine Germans”.

Although neighbouring Galicia was the main destination, the settlement programme also extended to Bukovina, which had recently become part of the Habsburg Empire.

Johann Frischman became a customs controller and auditor at the Imperial and Royal Auxiliary Customs Office in Zurin, near Czerniowce — the k.k. Hilfs-Zollamt zu Zurin.

An official in this position checked and signed the customs ledgers kept by the collector.

He was married to Zofia, whose maiden name I do not know.

By the time of his death, he was already a widower.

His death record states that he was conscious before he died and had received the holy sacraments.

He was buried the very next day, on 6 February. The funeral was conducted by the parish administrator, Father Jan Zawadzki.

Johann died of dropsy, which may have been caused by heart failure.

He was 85 years old. He spent his retirement in Stryj, in Ukraine.

It seems possible that he moved there from Bukovina to live with his daughter Anastazja, who was married to Bazyli Lewicki.