Is the Church of the Brethren the same as the Mennonite? If so, there were "3 churches between 1725 and 1785 built on the Schuylkill. These must have been in Chester co, as the Montgomery co churches are included in other districts. the oldest one is on the Schuylkill road, in East Coventry Twp, abouyt 3 miles from Pottstown, dated 1728. The first Mennonite church in the vicinity of Phoenixville, located on the ridge mear the residence of the Heckel family. Erection date unknown. In 1772 was erected the Mennonite meeting-house in Phoenixville, located on Main Street. This sect, driven from the homes of their ancestry by persecution was once numerous among the German inhabitants of PA, but is gradually becoming extinct. It's membership at Phoenixville has dwindled down to a few people" [this was written in 1889]. Sandra ----Original Message----- From: Larry Cook <l.cook@mindspring.com> To: PACHESTE-L@rootsweb.com <PACHESTE-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, July 23, 2000 1:52 PM Subject: [PACHESTE] Looking for COOK PA Ancestors >I am trying to track down my Pennsylvania ancestors. > >Henry COOK (b. 1825, d. 1912) married Mary HOLLOWBUSH (or Hollabush) on >about >11-27-1851 in a Church of the Brethren in Chester County, PA. > >I learned just this week that Henry's father is Samuel COOK, who married >Hannah REIFSNYDER. I learned this by obtaining a copy of Henry's death >certificate. >The only other information given about Samuel and Hannah is that they were >both born in Prussia. >The information on Henry's death certificate came from his son, John Wilson >Cook, I, so >I believe it is highly credible. > >Does anyone have Samuel and Hannah COOK in their tree, or know of any other >trees having these names? >Does anyone know how I can get any information about the Chester County >congregation of the Church of the Brethren? >I have posted an inquiry on the Brethren's mailing list, as well. I've also >reviewed their web site, but can't find any information on this >congregation. > >Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. > > > >==== PACHESTE Mailing List ==== >Visit the PA GenWeb Archives at >http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/pa/pafiles.htm > > > > >

The Church of the Brethren is not Mennonite. However, the United Brethren, which has no connection to the Church of the Brethren, was formed by a combination of Mennonites and German Reformed. A short history is given at http://www.feist.com/~pseward/main/ubhist.html I learned this by mistakenly joning the Brethren mailing list to look for my United Brethren ancestors. Charlie Sandra Ferguson wrote: > > Is the Church of the Brethren the same as the Mennonite? If so, there > were "3 churches between 1725 and 1785 built on the Schuylkill. These must > have been in Chester co, as the Montgomery co churches are included in other > districts. the oldest one is on the Schuylkill road, in East Coventry Twp, > abouyt 3 miles from Pottstown, dated 1728. > The first Mennonite church in the vicinity of Phoenixville, located on > the ridge mear the residence of the Heckel family. Erection date unknown. > In 1772 was erected the Mennonite meeting-house in Phoenixville, located > on Main Street. > This sect, driven from the homes of their ancestry by persecution was > once numerous among the German inhabitants of PA, but is gradually becoming > extinct. It's membership at Phoenixville has dwindled down to a few > people" [this was written in 1889]. > Sandra