Patricia, Thank you for the great explanation which when you mentioned the "Anabaptist" term brought the following to my recollection which of course adds to some of my confusion; but then helps to explain to me the close association between the Lutheran and Mennonite people. My RITTER family, in the most early years, appear to be Lutheran. The GOCHENOUR family in the most early years, appear to be Mennonites. My part of the GOCHENOUR family married into the family of Jacob CHRISMAN and Magdalena HITE the daughter of Joist HITE. Joist HITE's ancestral home church was at Bonfeld, Kraichgau (Neckarland), Baden-Wurtemberg, Germany. This was also the home church of the Abraham MERCKLE family, the daughter of which was Joist HITE's first wife and the mother of all his children. In this church's record books, was found the pastor's "Emigrants from this Village" list. The list contained names of people not just from his church; but other people in the village were included and it was noted along side the entry a description of the persons of which had left the village for America. Some of the following was found on the list: Hans FUNCK, Anabaptista (Mennonite-FUNK) Heinrich FUNCK and his brother Martin FUNCK An Anabaptist named NEFF Joh. Jacob ROTH, a weaver. Based on the FUNK brothers, I wanted to conclude thatthe term Anabaptist was the same as Mennonite. However, I am wondering if through time the two different terms took on two different meanings----oh, now I have the Church of the Brethren and these people seem to continue down through history right into the Shenandoah Valley staying very close to each other. (Lutherans-Mennonites-Church of Brethren). Chocy **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)