Hi Shirley, I, too, have been trying to figure out the Mennonite-Church of the Brethren-German Baptist and all the different labels attached to the different churches in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia. My third great grandparents were Jacob RITTER and Elizabeth GOCHENOUR. We know that Jacob GOCHENOUR, the emigrant was a Mennonite. Evidence: "Journals of the House of Burgess of Virginia, 1766-1769, page 256" dated 14 Nov 1769 which is a petition from Jacob STRICKTOR (STRICKLER) and Jacob COUGHE NOUR (GOCHENOUR) on behalf of themselves and their Protestant Brethren of Sect called Mennonists---------------. Jacob GOCHENOUR was a leader in the early Mennonite church of Virginia and believed to have been a minister at the time when they worshipped in each others homes and when there were no full time ministers. Jacob GOCHENOUR's son, Jacob GOCHENOUR married Elizabeth RHODES the daughter of the Mennonite minister, John RHODES. There is a petition dated 10 December 1785 to the Virginia General Assembly asking that Mennonites be exempted from military duties. There were 74 Mennonites who signed there names. Among them were Jacob, Joseph, John (Johannes and Abraham GOCHENOUR. The Mennonites did not believe in infant baptisms. On a large list of infants and their parents in the Woodstock Courthouse, between 1773 to 1782, Jacob GOCHENOUR, Jacob STOVER (who had 425 acres adjoining the land of Jacob GOCHENOUR to the south, and Peter BOWMAN (also adjoined the south end of J.G) the GOCHENOUR neighbors were almost certainly Mennonites. On the lists were some of the Jacob GOCHENOUR family, also neighbors. Those were WILKINS and WISMAN. Their children were baptized by Peter MUHLENBURG, the Lutheran minister. No GOCHENOURS were found in the lists of Shenandoah County Revolutionary Milita. The lists omit all Mennonites and Quakers. Interestingly, in 1769, Jacob GOCHENOUR and his son, Jacob, Jr., purchased items from the Estate of Jacob STOVER. Jacob STOVER was a neighbor to them on the side toward Woodstock and the Lutheran Church at Fairview lies on part of Jacob STOVER's property. Witness to Jacob GOCHENOUR's 1771 will were Ulry KESLTER and Benjamin LEAMAN. Securities were by Benjamin LEAMAN and Wolrick TELLER and motions requested by Peter KINSTAND. These could be other trusted friends of the same faith. In the book "Life of John KLINE" by Benjamin FUNK, page 9: Elder John KLINE of the Church of the Brethren delivered his first sermon after appointment to the ministry at John GOCHENOURs, west of Woodstock. The meeting was held at J. G's dwelling on Sunday, 8 Feb 1835. So this inticateds that John GOUCHENOUR has asociated with the Church of Brethren. Elder John KLINE also recorded that he stayed a couple of times with Jonas (Jonathan) GOCHENOUR (1758-1844) husband of Barabara HISEY and Elizabeth BLOSSER the widow of Tobias BLOSSER. I am confused, as I have heard the Mennonites were not the same as the fellowship of the Church of the Brethren; however, as I progress through my GOCHENOUR family and see them moving to all the area where the Church of the Brethrens are said to be found. Chocy **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004)

I have no official references to quote and will convey my own personal knowledge about the Mennonite Church. Mennonites - as well as other "pacifist" Christians - including different groups such as Brethren, Brethren in Christ, River Brethren, and German Baptist - are referred to as Anabaptists - meaning "re-baptizers." Originating in Europe (Switzerland, Germany, and Holland) Mennonites take their name from Menno Simon a Dutch priest who led believers during the Reformation and separated from the Catholic Church. Early settlers came to PA to freely practice their religion. Early followers of the movement were re-baptized if they'd been baptized or christened as infants, hence the reference to a second baptism. The pacifist practices include not bearing arms which gives members status as military objectors. The Amish who settled in Lancaster County, PA separated from the Mennonites due to more conservative views, primarily about interacting with the "English" community and remaining "set apart" as well adherence to their Ordnung which defines most aspects and "rules" of their day to day lives and worship practices. At present there are numerous Amish and Mennonite sects who demonstrate different degrees of conservatisism. There are Mennonites in Lancaster County who still use horse and buggy transportation and there are Mennonites here in MD where I live who dress and live no different than other contemporary Christian groups. Women in more conservative settings wear a head covering (or prayer covering) as a symbol of submission to God and their husbands. The style of the covering varies depending on the degree of conservatism as well as the geographic region. Young girls begin to wear the head covering after their baptism. In many progressive groups the women no longer wear this covering but still practice what most people would call conservative fashion. In more conservative groups the men also dress distinctly - with simple white shirts without collars and no ties. Men who work as farmers wear straw hats in summer and black felt ones in winter. Men who grow beards do not have moustaches. The moustache is symbolic of military officers back in day before immigration here. Some Mennonite groups avoid use of bright colors and drive black cars. I remember a few older members who actually painted their bumpers black. Hope this information has provided a little more detail into some of the practices. Patricia Ginalick Mt. Airy, MD -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Friday, December 21, 2007 11:19 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VASHENAN] A Christian Influence Hi Shirley, I, too, have been trying to figure out the Mennonite-Church of the Brethren-German Baptist and all the different labels attached to the different churches in the Shenandoah Valley area of Virginia. My third great grandparents were Jacob RITTER and Elizabeth GOCHENOUR. We know that Jacob GOCHENOUR, the emigrant was a Mennonite. Evidence: "Journals of the House of Burgess of Virginia, 1766-1769, page 256" dated 14 Nov 1769 which is a petition from Jacob STRICKTOR (STRICKLER) and Jacob COUGHE NOUR (GOCHENOUR) on behalf of themselves and their Protestant Brethren of Sect called Mennonists---------------. Jacob GOCHENOUR was a leader in the early Mennonite church of Virginia and believed to have been a minister at the time when they worshipped in each others homes and when there were no full time ministers. Jacob GOCHENOUR's son, Jacob GOCHENOUR married Elizabeth RHODES the daughter of the Mennonite minister, John RHODES. There is a petition dated 10 December 1785 to the Virginia General Assembly asking that Mennonites be exempted from military duties. There were 74 Mennonites who signed there names. Among them were Jacob, Joseph, John (Johannes and Abraham GOCHENOUR. The Mennonites did not believe in infant baptisms. On a large list of infants and their parents in the Woodstock Courthouse, between 1773 to 1782, Jacob GOCHENOUR, Jacob STOVER (who had 425 acres adjoining the land of Jacob GOCHENOUR to the south, and Peter BOWMAN (also adjoined the south end of J.G) the GOCHENOUR neighbors were almost certainly Mennonites. On the lists were some of the Jacob GOCHENOUR family, also neighbors. Those were WILKINS and WISMAN. Their children were baptized by Peter MUHLENBURG, the Lutheran minister. No GOCHENOURS were found in the lists of Shenandoah County Revolutionary Milita. The lists omit all Mennonites and Quakers. Interestingly, in 1769, Jacob GOCHENOUR and his son, Jacob, Jr., purchased items from the Estate of Jacob STOVER. Jacob STOVER was a neighbor to them on the side toward Woodstock and the Lutheran Church at Fairview lies on part of Jacob STOVER's property. Witness to Jacob GOCHENOUR's 1771 will were Ulry KESLTER and Benjamin LEAMAN. Securities were by Benjamin LEAMAN and Wolrick TELLER and motions requested by Peter KINSTAND. These could be other trusted friends of the same faith. In the book "Life of John KLINE" by Benjamin FUNK, page 9: Elder John KLINE of the Church of the Brethren delivered his first sermon after appointment to the ministry at John GOCHENOURs, west of Woodstock. The meeting was held at J. G's dwelling on Sunday, 8 Feb 1835. So this inticateds that John GOUCHENOUR has asociated with the Church of Brethren. Elder John KLINE also recorded that he stayed a couple of times with Jonas (Jonathan) GOCHENOUR (1758-1844) husband of Barabara HISEY and Elizabeth BLOSSER the widow of Tobias BLOSSER. I am confused, as I have heard the Mennonites were not the same as the fellowship of the Church of the Brethren; however, as I progress through my GOCHENOUR family and see them moving to all the area where the Church of the Brethrens are said to be found. Chocy **************************************See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop00030000000004) ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message