Avram Ratkov
[1] He was a descendant of a Serbian Orthodox priest who settled in Russia in today's Donbas from the so-called Transcarpathian territories of the Habsburg monarchy's Military Frontier during the reign of Empress Catherine the Great.His biography states that he comes from nobles of Belozersk in Novgorod Governorate and that he entered the service on 1 January 1783 in the Revel Garrison Regiment.That year (1796) Ratkov was awarded the Order of Saint Anna, 2nd degree, elevated to the rank of colonel and adjutant general for his past military services against the enemies of the Empire.On 10 November 1813, he accepted to serve in the military and remain in the Reserve Army as a major general.In August 1826, he was awarded the Order of Saint Anna, 1st degree "For excellent, diligent, long-term service."