Communicant lists begin in 1775 at the German Lutheran Church (now called Hebron and located in Madison Co., Virginia). In the first list, Martin Hirsch and wife Pheronika were present. I interpret this as Martin Deer (#2) and his second wife Veronica. At Christmas time, in the "single" men's section (balcony, actually), there is this sequence of names: Joseph Rouse, Andrew Deer, Joseph Snider, Martin Deer, and Henry Blankenbaker. Andrew and Martin are interpreted as sons of Martin Deer. The odds are that they are not yet married. Single men often sat with cousins or other relatives that they did not see on a daily basis. Since the maiden name of the mother of Andrew and Martin is unknown, the Rouse, Snider, and Blankenbaker families are possible families to consider. In the "single" women's section (the other balcony), there was a Veronica Deer in this sequence: Magdalena Cook, Barbara Cook, Veronica Deer, Elizabeth Reiner, and Margaret Snider. The unanswered question is whether this Veronica is the wife of Martin (#2), or the daughter of Martin. If the wife attended without Martin, she would normally sit in the single women's section, not on the main floor with the married couples.
At Pentecost, in 1776, in the single men's section, there was this sequence: Jacob Rasor, John Smith, Martin Deer, John Reiner, Andrew Deer, Henry Blankenbaker, and Joseph Snider. In the single women's section: Mary Snider(?), Barbara Smith, Veronica Deer, Elizabeth Snider, and Margaret Smith.
At Christmas, in 1776: Lewis Gaar, John Carpenter, Sr., Andrew Deer, George Carpenter, and William Snider. Also: Lewis Neuenmacher, Jr., Aaron Yager, Martin Deer [end of male list]. And also: Catharine Crisler, Elizabeth Smith, Veronica Deer, Margaret Smith, and Barbara Smith.
At Easter, in 1777: Martin Deer and wife Veronica attended, but none of the children were present. The next year (1778), at Easter plus one week, the single men's section shows: Adam Yager, Sr., Joseph Rouse, Martin Deer, Jr., Andrew Deer, Jacob Blankenbaker, and Samuel Blankenbaker. In the women's section: Elizabeth Boehm, Barbara Smith, Veronica Deer, Elizabeth Cook, and Elizabeth Smith.
In 1782, there is more of a challenge presented to us. In the single women's section: Caty Carpenter, Veronica Blankenbaker, Catherine Deer, Elizabeth Smith, and Christina Blankenbaker. One problem for us is that the Blankenbaker history does not have a Veronica. The fact that there was once a Veronica Deer, who disappears, while a Veronica Blankenbaker appears and sits next to a Catherine Deer, suggests there may have been a marriage between Veronica Deer and an unknown Blankenbaker.
We gratefully acknowledge the work of John Blankenbaker who published over 2,500 Germanna History Notes via the Germanna-L@rootsweb.com email list from 1997 to 2008. We are equally thankful to George Durman (Sgt. George) for hosting the list and republishing the notes via rootsweb.com.