I have a DAR Patriot from Bedford CO, PA, George Steele, father of Jacob Steele and a minster of the Brethren Church. I do not know if George Steele was Brethren or not, but many of his children and descendents are and were. He is listed in the Bedford Co, PA Militia. I believe that many in the militia really did not bear arms, but signed up for the militia to protect their property. Lynn Sewell -----Original Message----- From: brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Bill Thomas Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 6:48 PM To: Bonnie Lair; brethren@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRE] Brethren alternative service You can't compare 18th Century Brethren practices with 19th or 20th Century practices regarding military service. There was no alternative service philosophy in the Revolutionary War years. Bill Thomas -----Original Message----- From: Bonnie Lair Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 7:22 PM To: brethren@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRE] Brethren alternative service Doesn't this pretty much describe the "alternative service" that many Brethren have practiced? That least this was the case until the draft was ended. Thanks, Bonnie --Original Message----- From: brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Bill Thomas Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:51 PM To: brethren@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRE] German Brethren Immigrants who did not fight but provided supplies, etc. Andrea: The Dunkers (as well as Amish, Mennonites, Moravians, Schwenkfelders, and Quakers) were against war in general. The 1781 Annual Meeting even prohibited the purchase of a substitute for militia duty, and stated it was ok if someone's conscience prevented them from paying taxes for the war, but did not prohibit the paying of such taxes (most Dunkers paid the tax). The American government would take property forcibly , including selling it at public auction. Durnbaugh's 'The Brethren in Colonial America' dedicates and entire chapter on how the Dunker's dealt with the Revolutionary War, and includes the documents of the various Annual Meetings related to this. The state of Pennsylvania legislated that members of the pacifist denominations provide more supplies than the public in general for their refusals to participate in the militia. In North Carolina the legislature authorized forcibly taking supplies from members of the pacifist denominations. Thus the providing of supplies was in general not a voluntary action of any of the pacifist denominations (or even the general public). Of course Tories were also required to provide supplies. Areas of North Carolina were left desolate from Nathaniel Greene's army procuring supplies by force. Greene had little choice since his army was near starvation. Bill Thomas -----Original Message----- From: Andrea Colley Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:37 PM To: brethren@rootsweb.com ; cliff@nwwnet.net Subject: Re: [BRE] German Brethern Immigrants who did notfight but providedsupplies, etc. I was "told" that providing supplies and provisions was one way that Pacifist Brethren could support the war and not compromise their religion and was just wondering if there was a way to prove it. Thanks for the encouragement Maggie. ac -----Original Message----- From: brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of MG Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 11:14 AM To: cliff@nwwnet.net; brethren@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRE] German Brethern Immigrants who did not fight but providedsupplies, etc. I respectfully disagree that provided supplies is someone's imagination. I have an ancestor that was too old to fight but he furnished supplies to help the cause. I have his record from the state archives. In order to prove his service, I had to include this paper that was stamped from the State Archives. Ever generation back to your ancestor has to be backed up with sourced documentation, such as birth, death, marriage, wills, etc. If there are three John Smiths of about the same age, same location, one most prove the correct John Smith as theirs. Not an easy task to separate these men. Men did not have to fight or pick up arms to be a patriot. There were many types of service that the DAR recognizes; military service, civil service, surveyor, jailer, oaths, doctors, nurses, ministers who gave patriotic sermons, furnishing supplies to the Army or substituting for someone. I agree that in the past it may not have been so difficult to prove your ancestor. Today's DAR is just the opposite. You do your best on research and documentation and pray. Have a wonderful day. Education, Preservation and Patriotism Maggie -----Original Message----- From: brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:brethren-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Merle Rummel Sent: Saturday, February 22, 2014 7:33 PM To: brethren@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [BRE] German Brethern Immigrants who did not fight but providedsupplies, etc. I'm suspicious of claims of'provided supplies', since records of such transactions are rare. Suchclaims are often based on the imagination of the DAR applicant. The fact that someone supplied the army is not an indication they did it willingly.Both British and American armies often took what they wanted, with the owner of it having little choice. ***************** Elder Jacob Miller (1735-1816) - Franklin Co VA- Dayton OH is registered with the DAR as serving as an Army wagoner in Pennsylvania during the Revolution at the time of the Revolution - he lived in Franklin Co VA - and records there have indicated that he "supplied hams and a gun" to the militia. any way - if during the time he was supposed to be driving a wagon in Eastern Pennsylvania - he was in Southern Virginia - and a gun was taken from him - he was a very active man - As the Ephrata Chronicles says: that is "400 miles toward the setting sun" - in days that a horse traveled 2-3 mile an hour - and a man could walk as fast - just not as far. that DAR applicant claims that Jacob Miller married Mary Goodwin on Dec. 30,1763, in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Philadelphia. (He was living in the Antietam Church at that time - at least - put into the ministry there by William Stover) I'm not saying A Jacob Miller didn't marry a Mary Goodwin - she just did not get the RIGHT Jacob Miller I THINK - I've found a first wife named Elizabeth - but even that is unproven. Merle C Rummel ------------------------ Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN ------------------------ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRETHREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------ Search the Archives at http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/BRETHREN ------------------------ ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to BRETHREN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message