Peter was the son of Daniel Bollinger and grandson of Rudolph Bollinger. Rudolph was a very early member (1735) of the German Baptist Church at Conestoga. The Middle Creek Congregation to which they belonged was actually an outgrowth of the Ephrata Cloister. This pacifist, anabaptist sect was known as the "Dunkers."
In 1776-1777, the period of the "Associators," Peter and his family were non-Associators. The German Baptists believed that God would have to decide the issue of governance and that members could not, under any circumstance, take an oath or fight.
In the subsequent years, there were organized militia rolls by township that included everyone between the ages of 18 and 53. Bring listed on a roll did not mean that one fought. It just meant that you were male and of a certain age and living in a certain place.
The Brethren Church struggled over whether the payment of fines for not drilling and not marching constituted support of the war effort, and at first ruled that members could not do even that. However, those who did so could lose considerable property by confiscation, so it was decided that fines could be paid, but had to be done so with great reluctance, and under no circumstance should a substitute be hired directly.
Peter did not take the oath, paid his fines, did not show up to drill or march, and kept peace with his religious community. He may not be a patriot in the DAR sense, but his stand and those of the many other Pacifist sects in Lancaster County was a difficult one to maintain in the face of negative feelings from the larger community. His and others' staunch maintenance of pacifist principles was part of what led to the establishment of freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.
Hannes Eby in his death and burial record noted the burial of Peter Bollinger on the Middle Creek on December 13, 1939, at age 82 years, 5 months, and 26 days.
In 1776-1777, the period of the "Associators," Peter and his family were non-Associators. The German Baptists believed that God would have to decide the issue of governance and that members could not, under any circumstance, take an oath or fight.
In the subsequent years, there were organized militia rolls by township that included everyone between the ages of 18 and 53. Bring listed on a roll did not mean that one fought. It just meant that you were male and of a certain age and living in a certain place.
The Brethren Church struggled over whether the payment of fines for not drilling and not marching constituted support of the war effort, and at first ruled that members could not do even that. However, those who did so could lose considerable property by confiscation, so it was decided that fines could be paid, but had to be done so with great reluctance, and under no circumstance should a substitute be hired directly.
Peter did not take the oath, paid his fines, did not show up to drill or march, and kept peace with his religious community. He may not be a patriot in the DAR sense, but his stand and those of the many other Pacifist sects in Lancaster County was a difficult one to maintain in the face of negative feelings from the larger community. His and others' staunch maintenance of pacifist principles was part of what led to the establishment of freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.
Hannes Eby in his death and burial record noted the burial of Peter Bollinger on the Middle Creek on December 13, 1939, at age 82 years, 5 months, and 26 days.
Peter was the son of Daniel Bollinger and grandson of Rudolph Bollinger. Rudolph was a very early member (1735) of the German Baptist Church at Conestoga. The Middle Creek Congregation to which they belonged was actually an outgrowth of the Ephrata Cloister. This pacifist, anabaptist sect was known as the "Dunkers."
In 1776-1777, the period of the "Associators," Peter and his family were non-Associators. The German Baptists believed that God would have to decide the issue of governance and that members could not, under any circumstance, take an oath or fight.
In the subsequent years, there were organized militia rolls by township that included everyone between the ages of 18 and 53. Bring listed on a roll did not mean that one fought. It just meant that you were male and of a certain age and living in a certain place.
The Brethren Church struggled over whether the payment of fines for not drilling and not marching constituted support of the war effort, and at first ruled that members could not do even that. However, those who did so could lose considerable property by confiscation, so it was decided that fines could be paid, but had to be done so with great reluctance, and under no circumstance should a substitute be hired directly.
Peter did not take the oath, paid his fines, did not show up to drill or march, and kept peace with his religious community. He may not be a patriot in the DAR sense, but his stand and those of the many other Pacifist sects in Lancaster County was a difficult one to maintain in the face of negative feelings from the larger community. His and others' staunch maintenance of pacifist principles was part of what led to the establishment of freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.
Hannes Eby in his death and burial record noted the burial of Peter Bollinger on the Middle Creek on December 13, 1939, at age 82 years, 5 months, and 26 days.
In 1776-1777, the period of the "Associators," Peter and his family were non-Associators. The German Baptists believed that God would have to decide the issue of governance and that members could not, under any circumstance, take an oath or fight.
In the subsequent years, there were organized militia rolls by township that included everyone between the ages of 18 and 53. Bring listed on a roll did not mean that one fought. It just meant that you were male and of a certain age and living in a certain place.
The Brethren Church struggled over whether the payment of fines for not drilling and not marching constituted support of the war effort, and at first ruled that members could not do even that. However, those who did so could lose considerable property by confiscation, so it was decided that fines could be paid, but had to be done so with great reluctance, and under no circumstance should a substitute be hired directly.
Peter did not take the oath, paid his fines, did not show up to drill or march, and kept peace with his religious community. He may not be a patriot in the DAR sense, but his stand and those of the many other Pacifist sects in Lancaster County was a difficult one to maintain in the face of negative feelings from the larger community. His and others' staunch maintenance of pacifist principles was part of what led to the establishment of freedom of religion in the Bill of Rights.
Hannes Eby in his death and burial record noted the burial of Peter Bollinger on the Middle Creek on December 13, 1939, at age 82 years, 5 months, and 26 days.
Inscription
Hier ruhet
PETER
BOLLINGER
Er war geboren den
15ten July 1757
Und Starb den 11ten
December 1839
...Alter..
82 Jahre 4 Monath
und 26 tage.
Here rests Peter Bollinger. He was born on the 15th July 1757 and died on the 11th December 1839. Age 82 years, 4 months and 26 days.
