Dear Elke, Thank you for reinforcing my thoughts about the ruler of the German principality, whatever its name, at the time, being instrumental in choosing the religion, and, indeed, the pastor or minister for that geographic/political group. I think people survive by whatever means they can, especially our folks who lived on the colonial frontiers. In many states, except Maryland, Catholicism was not permitted. (Dr. George K. Schweitzer, in his little published books on doing genealogy in various US States, nearly always has a paragraph or two on the religions in a colony and then later the State.) I have attended a good many lectures on doing genealogy in Virginia. One of them was by the noted genealogist-archivist-author Robert Young Clay formerly of the Library of Virginia. The *state* religion in Virginia was the Anglican church. Quakers, Baptists, and others had a devil of a time in Virginia. My colonial Baptist minister ancestor [one of several] named Washington [but not of the noted family of Northern Neck], according to a history of the Baptists in Virginia, was fined by the colony or state [I will have to look up the date if it appears] of Virginia, although he was residing in North Carolina!!! When one is doing research of a certain colony or state, it is always helpful to understand what books/publications there may be on the religions in that colony. I was re-reading some notes I made recently wherein a man in Virginia with the surname Harris was fined for not attending church. His case was dismissed. Court minutes tell us a lot about our ancestors. Fortunately, more and more of the abstracted court minutes of certain counties are being published. They are most informative. Thanks again! E.W.Wallace **************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)