Dear Brethren Genealogist List, I just joined this list so pardon me if I inadvertently violate any rules. I hope not. I have been researching for about several years, fairly intensively, my ancestor, Johann Jacob Brumbaugh (ca 1726-1799) who emigrated from the German Palatine in 1750 and lived in Washington County, Maryland, near Hagerstown from 1753-1799 and also acquired thousands of acres of land in Morrison's Cove (Woodbury Township) and Frankstown, Bedford County, PA, between 1785 and 1799. In at least three books, one each by Freeman Ankrum, J. Maurice Henry, and H. Austin Cooper, all Brethren historians writing in the 20th century, he is referred to as Jacob Bromback and as ³the Pathfinder² who refused to fight in the French and Indian War in 1755¹s Braddock Campaign, citing his religious scruples, but was asked to come along and tend to the sick and wounded, and that he nursed George Washington back to health after the defeat of Braddock¹s troop at Monongahela. None of these writers refers to any primary source material. I have scoured all available sources on the F&I War and found relatively little, but some evidence that JJB was involved as it was close to Jacob¹s home and he worked with some of the players. I found that Jacob is on a muster roll for service in the Maryland militia under Capt. Hager 1757-58 in the French & Indian War, also that he quartered soldiers on his property (unknown date) in that war, but I find no evidence to support the more specific claim of any relationship with Washington. I have read GW¹s correspondence for that year and other years. Has anyone ever come across any other data linking a Brethren named JJB and GW at that time? Variant spellings of this name abound. These are a sample: Brumbach, Brumback, Bromback, Brombach, Broomback, Broombock, Broombaugh, Bombagh, Brombough, Brumbagh, and even in two instances Breembaugh, et al. Originally the name was Brumbach with an umlaut over the u so it was pronounced, I think, broom-bach. Also, Jacob married Mary Elizabeth Angle (ca 1740-1803) who was said to be (1) daughter of Henry Angle (originally Engle) (this is unproven from primary source data as of this date) and (2) first convert of Elder Martin Urner in Western Maryland (is there any list of his converts surviving?). She and Jacob were supposedly married ca 1760 (I think earlier, maybe 1757) in the Salem Reformed Church at Cearfoss, Maryland (then in Frederick county, later Washington), but records for that church are not available before 1772. Jacob is supposed to have been a Lutheran when he arrived but converted after his marriage to Mary. Would that conversion likely be recorded anywhere? Does anyone have a figure on population of the Brethren community in that area, or PA and MD at that time? I cannot link Jacob with any particular congregation of Brethren. He lived directly north of Hagerstown, near the state line (maybe right on it on September 26, 1765 when surveyors with a Royal Commission named Mason & Dixon came through that area and left a stone marker #103). This is in Elizabeth Hundred or possibly Salisbury Hundred, part of what in 1776 became Washington County (created from Frederick County). I understand that Brethren did not have church buildings in that area at that time. Also, did they have kirkbuchs? Did they marry at Reformed or Lutheran churches rather than their own? I cannot find dates of birth supported by any evidence for his 7 children (Jacob Jr., John, Mary, Daniel, Henry, David, George) who were born between 1758 and 1783, although he clearly lived in the same area his entire life, owning a farm known as Claland¹s Contrivance. Daughter Mary married Samuel Ulery a Brethren minister in Bedford County. Son John was also a Brethren minister in Bedford, I think. The farmstead once owned by Jacob as early as 1753 (now known as the Brumbaugh-Kendle-Grove Farmstead) still exists, is owned by the Hagerstown Regional Airport which wants to demolish the existing farm buildings which were actually built in the late 19th century. Jacob¹s family cemetery lies surrounded by an iron fence in the middle of the cornfield which is still cultivated on that property. As a matter of historic preservation, I want to help local people there save the farmstead from destruction as I just believe in that. I also want proper respect paid with a historical marker or something like it placed nearby as I think Jacob was a special Brethren for reasons that I can expound on at greater length in the book I wish to publish on his life. The farmstead was listed in a magazine in 2009 as the #1 most endangered historic property in the state of Maryland. I can give you a reference to the application for its eligibility for National Register listing. I have found primary source evidence of very interesting stories of Jacob.....his participation in conscientious objector status in the Revolution, but also his ??? Service as a soldier....never before revealed.....and have written about 50 pages so far.....with over 60 footnotes. I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me on these research challenges concerning my ancestor. I am also looking for a proper place to publish this interesting story. If you wish to contact me directly by e-mail my address is below. If you think we should talk on the phone, let me know that. Although I am not a Brethren, I have great respect for their beliefs and would like nothing better than to honor this particular Brethren ancestor of my mother (whose father, Rev. Roy T. Brumbaugh, was a noted fundamentalist Presbyterian minister) as I feel he richly deserves it. Many thanks and best wishes! Sorry for the long message. Ned Donoghue -- Norman E. "Ned" Donoghue, II Philanthropic & Fiduciary Solutions 1933 Brandywine Street Philadelphia, PA 19130-3230 [email protected]