Early in the Reformation period, a group of people evolved a belief system that was radically different from the prior beliefs. It became the basis for many faiths, including the Anabaptists (Mennonites, Amish, Brethren), Dunkards, Seventh-Day Adventists, and the Baptists and derivatives of these. While there were many differences among these groups, the common element was "believer baptism". That is, the person being baptized had reached his/her own decision to be baptized (as opposed to being baptized as an infant). The technique of baptism varied widely from pouring to dunking (complete immersion).
Genealogists will usually experience difficulty in finding records of baptism in these faiths. These groups suffered such severe persecutions that there was an enormous disincentive to making or keeping records. This was especially true in Switzerland, where the Anabaptists suffered severely (i.e., death) for their beliefs. Or, in England, in 1648, where Parliament passed a law to punish opponents of infant baptism with life imprisonment. In Europe, the Dutch achieved the earliest tolerance of adult baptism in its Mennonite population, and the Mennonite Church there has the largest collection of baptismal records to be found. In Germany, Mennonite records are nonexistent until the Nineteenth Century.
Since baptism occurred at an older age, it was no longer associated with birth, which weakens the genealogical significance of it. It became more akin to membership. Often, no record at all was made, except if the individual wanted to make his own record, perhaps by an entry into his personal Bible. Since the earliest Mennonites in Pennsylvania came from Switzerland and Germany, they continued the tradition of not maintaining records. The Amish have continued the practices set in place by Jacob Ammann (or Ammon) and his associates in 1700.
The normal age at which a believer elects to be baptized varies widely. Some churches allow persons below the age of ten to make the decision. Other churches will tolerate postponing the decision until just before marriage.
In the late Sixteenth Century, groups of separatists in England abandoned their attempt to reform or purify the established Church and sought separation. These included the Puritans. The first Baptist Church in England was founded in 1609. The early Baptists in England adopted a set of beliefs very similar to the Anabaptists of Switzerland, who had preceded them by almost a century. Some common tenants were: separation of church and state, freedom of choice in religion, and a congregational form of church government. The English Baptists did not subscribe to the pacifist beliefs of their Swiss brethren.
(22 Jul 03)
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.