Borrowing from the Ontario GenWeb site: Tunkers Census Abbreviation*: TU This Protestant sect was founded in 1708 by Alexander Mack in Westphalia (Germany). Followers are also called 'Dunkards', 'Dunkers', 'Brethren', 'German Baptists', and 'River Brethren'. Subjected to persecution, the congregations that were established in Germany, Switzerland, and Holland emigrated to America between 1719 and 1729 in order to practice their beliefs freely. In 1723 some of the congregation followed Conrad Beissel and formed the 'Seventh Day Baptists'. In the early 1880's two more parts of the congregation left to form 'the progressives' and 'the old order brethren', the remaining congregation was then known as 'conservative tunkers'. Shelley in a very, very dry BC (not often that we use those last two words together here near Vancouver!) ----- Original Message ----- To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2003 5:25 AM Subject: enjoying your marriage postings..... What does "relig. Tunker" mean?? Mrs. Wharton, Connecticut