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Archiver > BRETHREN > 1997-12 > 0882655303


From: Emmert Bittinger <>
Subject: Re: COB Churches pre 1770, Frederick Co, MD.
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 17:01:43 -0500


Davis wrote:
>
> Would anyone know if there were any COB congregations in Frederick Co, MD
> prior to 1770 and what their names were? I am looking for the most likely
> church to find a Baptismal record of Abraham Renner, son of William Renner
> & Mary Hafer/Hafner, born 1768, Haugh's Church, MD.
>
> I thank you in advance and Happy Holidays!
> Janet
>

Dear Janet,
There were several Brethren settlements in Frederick Co. lMd. before
1770. (Keep in mind that Washington Co. was formed out of Frederick Co.
in 1776). They were located on the Conococheague, the Antietam,
Brownsville all in Washington Co., and in Middletown Valley, and Beaver
Dam, Pipe Creek. Antietam and Conococheague Brethren migrations began by
1743.
Unfortunately, Brethren in those years did not keep church records.
They were still distrustful of the use that such records might be put
to. They had been persecuted in Germany. So the search for baptisimal
records is useless for this time period. Sometimes deeds and wills
identify church affiliation. Also, one can compare the family names
with known Brethren family names in in York Co. and Lancaster Co. Pa.
and find possible genealogical connections.
The principle printed source on Maryland Brethren is J. M. Henry's
book, CoB in Maryland, 1936, long out of print and now rare and
valuable. E. Bittinger

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