Alice, You mention the folks you are following have no particular denomination, but you should list their names on the MDWASH list and maybe someone will find something. There are a lot of great folks on this list! The Rev. GEETING that you mention was also spelled GUETING, George Adam! He was a Reformed pastor, b 1741 in Europe at Niederschelden, Nassau-Siegen, came to America in 1759, settled near Keedysville, was one of two class men designated a class leader from Antietam. He went to the 1788 coetus and asked to be formally and regularly received into the ministry. Was examined and ordained but, so the minutes say, only after a long discussion, pro and con. Reasons given for ordination were 'the Maryland congregations which he was serving were very poor and thus unattractive to ministers who come from Europe; he had served these congregations for several years under Ottenbein's supervision, and ordination would relieve Ottenbein of the burden and give the congregations services of a regular minister. (Ottenbein was Philip William Ottenbein, arrived 1752 served in PA and then MD beg 1760 - Antietam, described as 'quiet and pious'.) But.... GUETING began taking minutes for the Brethren church, and was scolded by the Reformed pastors for his ways! However, he never joined the Brethren, and was referred to by several other pastors as a Reformed pastor in their biographies! Gueting served Antietam abt 1788 until he died. He rarely attended the Reformed coetus meetings and was finally expelled in 1804 for 'his disorderly ways'. These ways were participating in developing the United Brethren church, yet he continued to preach often in Reformed churches. He died in 1812 returning from a visit to a Reformed mentor, Otterbein in Baltimore. Buried in Mt Hebron, near Keedysville. Widow Elizabeth, 5 sons, 4 daus. Rev. Otterbein died 1813 in Baltimore, and he too had flirted with the Brethren Church as, at his funeral there was no representative of the Reformed church officiating, but were Lutheran, Methodist and Episcopal pastors! In his will, he called himself a pastor of the 'Evangelical Reformed church'. Apparently there was religious turmoil in those years within the different churches! Interesting history! Source: 'Pastors and Peoples', Vol 1, Pastors and Congregations, by Chas. H Glatfelter, pub 1980 by Kutztown Pub Co, pages 49 and 101-102. Send your names to the MDWASHIN list and I am sure someone will have something for you! Diana in AL ----- Original Message ----- From: Alice Hawrilenko To: DIANA QUINONES Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 9:22 PM Subject: Re: Reformed Church Records Question Thank you Donna. What intrigues me is that my maternal-paternal ancestors were members of the Reformed Church. I see no MD history in the link you sent me. But...they came here from the Palatine via Rotterdam. Are you aware of any MD links? I will write to the NJ address and see if they ghave any information I can use. Thank you again. Alice ----- Original Message ----- From: DIANA QUINONES To: MDWASHIN-L@rootsweb.com ; Alice Hawrilenko Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 9:32 PM Subject: Re: Reformed Church Records Question Alice, this link has a 'brief outline' under 'history' about the Reformed Church of America. http://www.rca.org/aboutus/index.html Diana in AL ----- Original Message ----- From: Alice Hawrilenko To: MDWASHIN-L@rootsweb.com Sent: Thursday, November 18, 2004 6:03 PM Subject: Reformed Church Records Question I am interested in understanding the "Reformed Church" from 1750 through the 19th century. Can anyone please recommend a reference for me? What are the roots of this denomination? Would there be records located outside MD which may not be at the local libraries or historical societies? That suggestion was made to me in Frederick. I know that George Adam Geeting began as a Reformed Minister but moved on to United Brethren, as I understand it. Other Keedys remained Reformed and still others are found in Episcopal and Lutheran Congregations. The folks I am following seem to have no records in any particular denomination after the Revolution. I'm trying to sort out relationships here and I think some background in German Church History would be very helpful as it relates to Western MD and Southern PA. Were there Fraternal groups that in some cases may have replaced a Church? WRT the Palatine immigration, what were the Religious roots? Please forgive my ignorance on this s! ubject! . Alice ______________________________