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Archiver > MENNONITE > 2002-05 > 1022471209


From: "Patricia" <>
Subject: [Mennonite] The German Reformed Church
Date: Sun, 26 May 2002 23:44:29 -0700


----- Original Message -----
From: "Patricia" <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2002 11:25 PM
Subject: Re: [Mennonite] The German Reformed Church


> This is probably a bit more than you really wanted to know, but in
> genealogy, it helps to know your place and time in history.
>
> The Reformed Church was made up mainly of followers of John Calvin
> (Switzerland) following the Reformation. Many of the people who
originated
> in Switzerland, but came to America as Germans in the early to mid-1700's,
> were members of the Reformed Church. Many of the Germans who came at the
> same time, were followers of Martin Luther and came as Lutherans.
>
> The Mennonites, I believe, (I know almost nothing about them, but am on
the
> site to learn) came from other sections of Germanic Europe that would also
> have been a part of the Holy Roman Empire. I happened to grow up in an
> Evangelical Reformed Church in N.C., but I knew little about these people
> until I became interested in my genealogy a couple of years ago. I did
know
> something about European history and that has made it much easier for me.
> Almost none of this part of American history is taught in history classes.
> I descended from German Reformed on both my Mother's and Father's side of
my
> family. One group settled in what was then Rowan County and the other
> settled in what was Orange County, of the colony of North Carolina.
>
> Most of the German immigrants of the 18th century came into Pennsylvania.
> Here they were welcomed by William Penn and in Pa. they had religious
> freedom. Later, as the land in Pa. became more costly, they, new
arrivals,
> and the second generation of sons, moved down the Great Wagon Road to the
> Piedmont area of Va. and N.C. Following the American Revolution, many of
> these same German immigrants or their descendents left N.C. for Ky. and
Ohio
> as that area was then open for settlement. Some of those who had served in
> the American Revolution were given land in Ky. and Ohio as a reward by our
> government for their service.
>
> In the Piedmont "Backcountry" of N.C., where many of the Germans who came
> down the Wagon Rd. from Pa. in the middle to late 1700's settled, both
the
> Reformed and Lutherans often used the same building for their
congregations
> and held worship services at different times. Sometimes they used the
same
> preacher, if there happened to be a preacher. Usually it was the second
or
> third generation that left to seek better and cheaper land.
>
> At this time in European history, the countries of Germany and Switzerland
> did not exist as we know them today. They were territory of the Holy
Roman
> Empire. Following the Thirty Years War in the 17th century, the Prince or
> Elector of an area usually determined if his land and people were to be
> Lutheran, Reformed or Catholic. In the southeastern area(of present day
> Germany), the Protestants were usually Reformed. In the Northern areas
(of
> what is now Germany) , they were usually Lutheran. Many areas remained
> Catholic and that is why some of the Protestants left Catholic states
> (areas) to come to America. Freedom of Worship as with the English
Pilgrims
> and Puritans, Quakers, etc! The difference being that these were
immigrants
> from what would become Modern Germany. Little of this is taught in U.S.
> history classrooms. Many of these people came because of the devastation
of
> the 30 Years War and cold, hard years that produced little in the way of
> crops... They were hungrey. People come today for the same reason.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Chuck Wolfram" <>
> To: <>
> Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2002 6:35 PM
> Subject: Re: [Mennonite] The German Reformed Church
>
>
> > I would think the odds are zero that it would be Mennonite. It's
> > denomination would probably be German Reformed.<vbg>
> >
> > It was also known as the Reformed Church in the United States.
> > In 1934 it joined with the Evangelical Snoyd of North America to become
> the
> > Evangelical and Reformed Church; that church merged with the
> Congregational
> > Christian Churches in 1957 to become the United Church of Christ (UCC).
> >
> > BTW, although it has absolutley nothing to do with your question, my
g-gm
> > was Reformed, my g-gf was Mennonite and they are buried in a now-UCC
> > graveyard. The German Reformed was founded by those from (where else?)
> > Germany; and at least one third of Switzerland is/was German.
> >
> > Chuck Wolfram
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: <>
> > To: <>
> > Sent: Saturday, May 25, 2002 12:22 AM
> > Subject: [Mennonite] The German Reformed Church
> >
> >
> > > Would anyone on the list know the likelihood that a church in Dundee,
> > > Tuscarawas Co., OH, and called "The German Reformed Church" would be
> > > Mennonite. Frankly, I'm a rank beginner and just starting to figure
> this
> > > out. The members of this church were from Switzerland. My ancestor's
> > name
> > > is Abraham Gottlieb Zingre (later Zingery). Other surnames were
> > Hauswirth,
> > > Brand(t) and more. My relatives arrived there ?? around 1850's.
> > >
> > > My father only remembers hearing that his great-grandfather and his
> family
> > > were members of a 'different' religion. The churchbook has been
> > translated,
> > > but I did not see a denomination mentioned and have misplaced my copy.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Sharon
> > >
> >
> >
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> >
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>

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