Daily AncestorDismissed by letter
Dismissed by letter means a member left a church in good standing with a letter of dismission to join another church, usually after moving away.
Dismissed here is not a punishment. The church granted a letter certifying the person's good standing, and the person carried it to the new congregation, where they were received by letter.
Dismissal entries are among the best migration clues in church minutes. Families dismissed together on the same day often moved together, and some archives hold collections of the letters themselves.
As seen in a recordBaptist church minutes, 1790s to 1900s
Bro. Elias Pyle & wife Nancy dismissed by letter
Sources
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Dismissed by letter." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/church/dismissed-by-letter. Last checked 2026-10-03.