Catherine, You hit a nerve for my research: I'm interested in the marriage of Anna OCKERMAN to John HELM(s) around 1782/3 in Rowan Co. NC In his Rev. Pension application, he stated: "We were married by "Old Mr. Lutherman, a Dunkard Preacher". My understanding is that the Dunkards were a sect of the Moravians...is that correct? I also have another marriage, that of Leah SHOULTS m. Peter HELM(S) in Rowan Co. NC, bond on 5 October 1792. These immigrated to Montgomery Co. KY and there were other Dunkards found in that KY county. Do you know any thing about them? Where could I look, with only the "net" at my fingertips...no decent libraries available in beautiful Carmel, CA! Both the HELM(s) men purchased land in Rowan Co. from Elijah MERRILL "on both sides of Garren Creek, of Huray/Muary?? Adjacent to William Yokley, witnesses included Moses Spivak. In 1797 John Helam bought 2 parcels of land from Daniel Ockerman in Lincoln Co. NC Did the Dunkard community move there also? Thank you for any leads that you, Catherine, or anyone on the Rowan List can give! Ann in Carmel The arranged marriages are of interest to me and certainly would explain why you could get married very soon after arriving in the county. -----Original Message----- From: JEFF LEINBACH <JW.LEIN.INC@worldnet.att.net> To: ROWANROOTS-L@rootsweb.com <ROWANROOTS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Saturday, October 02, 1999 11:35 AM Subject: Earily Marriages in Rowan and Surry Co, NC >After reading through the look ups of the various names being done by Billy >Markland, I have to question the lack of some of the names. >This is just a thought, it was the habit of the Moravians to sort of control >or arrange marriages to the advantage of the community as a whole. The >marriage was first approved by the Church. Often it was sugguested by the >church leaders that certain people marry. Would this elimate the posting >of bonds, since the arrangement was basicly controlled by the church? Would >not these unions be thus only recorded by the church? > >Anyone out there with knowledge of this practice of the Moravian Church with >it's approval or disapproval? Some reference to the marriage of outsiders >and leaving the church because of not marring from within are recorded in >the Fries Books. > >Happy Hunting >Catherine Leinbach > > > > > > >==== ROWANROOTS Mailing List ==== >Please do not post WARNINGs of any kind on this list. There are no exceptions! >