>Another group, who are not considered Quakers but are closely related, are
>the Dunkerts or more formally, Church of the Brethren. Another name for them
>is German Baptists. They, too, were against slavery. Near the end of the
>Revolutionary War, a large number of them relocated from Frederick Co., MD,
>to Frederick Co., VA, now Hampshire, Mineral, and Hardy Counties, WV. A good
>account of these religious people can be found in _Allegheny Passages_ by
>Emmert Bittinger. If I remember correctly, the author does address the issue
>of slavery.
>
>Lonny J. Watro
>
The best sources for the Church of the Brethren response to slavery
(and the German Baptist Brethren) are works by Donald F. Durnbaugh.
His most recent is Fruit of the Vine: A History of the Brethren
1708-1995; Elgin, Illinois: Brethren Press (1997).  Another very
helpful source is the 3 volume The Brethren Encyclopedia. Oak Brook,
IL: The Brethren Encyclopedia Inc., 1983
Also, the Church of the Brethren website has phone numbers for
archivists and special collections at www.brethren.org
I have a copy of the Brethren query posed at the Big Meeting of 1797
held in Franklin County, Virginia.  The query, approved by the body,
gives specific directions on how members of good standing were to
release their slaves and provide for their well-being.  I can make a
copy available (in the original English--leaders were bilingual by
this time).

Bea Naff Bailey

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