First Families of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina
Zimmerman
The following biography expands on the section "Early Carolina Zimmermans" from The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina providing additional references and conclusions.1
Zimmerman, meaning carpenter, is an occupation based surname that is very common in Germany and Switzerland. This biography is specific to the descendants of Martin Zimmerman and Michael Zimmerman who arrived in South Carolina aboard the ship Cunliffe in 1752. Other Zimmerman immigrants to South Carolina may not be related.
The Michael Zimmerman Family
First Generation
1. Michael Zimmerman arrived in Charleston 19 September 1752, aboard the ship Cunliffe.2 We suspect he is a younger brother to Martin because of their close association but proof is lacking.
Michael petitioned for 50 acres of land between the Savannah and Santee Rivers and bounty on 20 October 1752.3 On 29 August 1753 John Hamilton surveyed 50 acres of land on Cannons Creek, a branch of the Broad River for Michael Zimmerman.4 A grant for the 50 acres was issued on 4 July 1754.5 The grant was received by Martin Zimmerman (see below). This suggests the possibility that Michael had died.
We find nothing more on Michael until 9 July 1773 when John Murphy surveyed 300 acres on Long Branch of Four Holes for Michael Zimmerman.6 A grant for the 300 acres was issued on 17 May 1774.7 The land was adjacent to land of John Zimmerman.
Mykel Zimerman received pay on 30 Nov 1781for 183 days service from 14 Jun 1780 to 14 Dec 1780 in the Orangeburgh Militia, Captain Samuel Rowe's Company.8
The Martin Zimmerman Family
First Generation
1. Martin Zimmerman along with his wife and two children arrived in Charleston 19 September 1752, aboard the ship Cunliffe.9
Martin petitioned for 200 acres of land between the Broad and Saluda Rivers and bounty on 3 October 1752 stating that he had a wife and two sons: John about 10 years old and Partian[?] about 3 years old.10 On 29 September 1753 John Pearson surveyed 250 acres of land on Cannon Creek for Martin Zimmerman.11 The extra 50 acres could be due to the birth of another child, possibly Henry. The land was next to "Zimmermans Land" From the plat sketch this was undoubtedly Michael Zimmerman's land. A grant for the 250 acres was issued on 4 Jul 1754.12
Martin moved to the Four Holes area sometime before 1768 for on 28 Mar 1768 he made a memorial for 300 acres of land originally granted to Joshua Lockwood on 17 Mar 1735[/36].13 Lockwood's plat for the 300 acres is dated 10 Feb 1735/3614 and the grant was actually issued on 24 Mar 17[35/]36.15 The Old Zimmerman Cemetery [note e]is located in the eastern corner of this tract (Fig. 1).16
Martin probably died between 1768 and 1770 for in 1770 his son John sold 100 acres of the Lockwood tract to Nichlas Shieler[Shuler].17
Children Of Martin Zimmerman and Unknown were:
+2.i.John Zimmerman was born about 1742 and died between 1790 and 1810.
+3.ii.Sebastian (Partion/Boston/Pashly) Zimmerman [note a] was born about 1749 and died in 1799.
4.iii.Henry Zimmerman was born between 1750 and 1765.
Henry Zimmerman received pay on 18 Dec 1782 for 183 days service from 14 Jun 1780 to 13 Dec 1780 in the Orangeburgh Militia, Captain Lect Stromer's Company.18
Henry Zimmerman appears in the Orangeburgh District census of 1790 and 1810. Born between 1750 and 176519 he could be a son of Michael.
5.iv.Adam Zimmerman was born between 1765 and 1775.
Adam Zimmerman appears in the Orangeburgh District census of 1790 and 1810. Born between 1765 and 177520 he could be a son of Michael.
Second Generation
2. John Zimmerman was born about 174221 and died between 1790 and 1810 (from census records).
John sold 100 acres of his father's Lockwood tract to Nichlas Shieler[Shuler].22 Nicholas made a memorial for the 100 acres on 14 Sep 1770.23
On 14 Dec 1771, John Francis Buttitz surveyed 250 acres in Amelia, Berkeley County for John Zimmerman.24 John made a memorial for the 250 acres on 17 Aug 1772.25
On 4 Sep 1772 William Heard surveyed 200 acres on Four Holes next to Nicholas Dill [Till] for John Zimmerman.26 A grant for the 200 acres was issued on 24 Dec 1772.27 John made a memorial for the 200 acres on 26 May 1773.28
John Zimerman received pay on 30 Nov 1781for 183 days service from 14 Jun 1780 to 13 Dec 1780 in the Orangeburgh Militia, Captain Samuel Rowe's Company.29
John Zimmerman Sen. [note b] received pay on 18 Dec 1782for 183 days service from 14 Jun 1780 to 13 Dec 1780 in the Orangeburgh Militia, Captain Lect Stromer's Company.30
John Zimmerman Jun. [note b] received pay on 18 Dec 1782for 183 days service from 14 Jun 1780 to 13 Dec 1780 in the Orangeburgh Militia, Captain Lect Stromer's Company.31
John Lemmerman [probably Zimmerman] appears in the 1783 roll of Capt. Jacob Rumph’s company of partisans.32
John Zimmerman appears in the U. S. Federal Census of 1790, Orangeburg County.33 His family is listed as himself , one male under 16 [Daniel age 10] and two females, probably his wife and a daughter. John is not listed in the 1810 Census. [note c.]
Children Of John Zimmerman and Unknown were:
+5.i.Daniel Zimmerman was born in 1779 and died 22 January 1824 aged 44 years. 34
6,ii.[Female] Zimmerman was born before 1790.
3. Sebastian (Partion/Boston/Pashly) Zimmerman [note a] was born about 174935 and died in 1799.
Boston Zimmerman appears in the U. S. Federal Census of 1790, Orangeburg County. The record shows 4 males over 16 [Sebastian and 3 others], 1 male under 16 and 3 females.36
Pashly Zimmerman, aged 54 years, was buried by Rev Francklow on 18 Jun 1799.37
Third Generation
5. Daniel Zimmerman was born 1779/80 and died 22 January 1824 aged 44 years. 38 He is buried in the Old Zimmerman Cemetery located on the tract of land originally granted to Joshua Lockwood in 1736 and purchased by Martin Zimmerman in 1768. Daniel married Elizabeth Holman on 30 March 1800.39 Elizabeth was born June 11, 1783 and died August 16, 1636. After Daniel's death she married John Evans. She is buried in the Old Zimmerman Cemetery with Daniel.40
Daniel and Elizabeth buried their first child, William, on the Lockwood tract in September 1804. This is the earliest marked grave in the Old Zimmerman Cemetery. There may be earlier unmarked graves.
Daniel Zimmerman appears in the U. S. Federal Census of 1810, Orangeburg County. [note d] The record shows 1 male 26 to 35 [Daniel], 1 female 26 to 45 [Elizabeth] and 1 male under 10 [John Conrad]41
Children Of Daniel Zimmerman and Elizabeth Holman were:
7.i.William Zimmerman was born December 30, 1800; was christened at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on February 8, 1801;42 died September 7, 1804 and was buried in the Old Zimmerman cemetery.43
8.ii.John Conrad Zimmerman was born September 26, 1802 and was christened in St. Matthew's Lutheran Church on October 17, 1802. He married Selina Pierce Wannamaker in 1825, moved to Spartanburg District shortly after 1830 and raised his family near and in the village of Glenn Springs. He became a wealthy cotton planter and proprietor of the Glenn Springs Hotel. John Conrad died on July 3, 1875 and was buried in the churchyard of Calvary Episcopal Church, Glenn Springs.44
9.iii.James Zimmerman was born on January 10 and died on October 28, 1809. James was buried in the Old Zimmerman cemetery.45
10.iv.James Holman Zimmerman was born on February 19, 1811, died on August 30, 1814 and was buried in the Old Zimmerman cemetery near Cameron.46
11 v.Irvin Holman Zimmerman was born on January 22, 1813 and grew up to become a well-to-do physician-planter. He never married, and died in Alabama on October 22, 1858.47
12.vi.Morgin Holman Zimmerman died on September 17, 1814, aged 7 months. He was buried in the Old Zimmerman cemetery.48
13.viiThomas Holman Zimmerman eventually inherited "Oak Grove" plantation from his father. He was born on January 13, 1816, married Ann Elizabeth Miller in 1837 and died on June 18, 1886 at the age of 70.49
14.viii.Russell Holman Zimmerman was another successful planter in the family. He was born March 25, 1817, married Elizabeth Rachel Holman, and died on February 17, 1888.50
15.ix.Mary Margaret Holman Zimmerman Dantzler was born on December 17, 1820, married Dr. Lewis Dantzler and died on October 4, 1906.51
Research Notes
a. German diminutives of Sebastian are Bastian and Basti. In Old German "b" and "p" are considered interchangeable52 and are pronounced alike. English speaking writers likely did the best they could with the Germanic pronunciation of an uncommon name.
b. In this period Senior and Junior only meant the older and the younger and did not imply a father son relationship. All we can say for sure is that at least two John Zimmermans (possible three) were in the Orangeburgh Militia in 1780. Their exact relationship is unknown.
c. There are no Zimmermans listed in the 1800 census for Orangeburgh District.
d. First names are abbreviated in the 1810 census and are hard to interpret particularly when badly faded. Daniel's record has been variously interpreted as --. Zimmerman and Jt. Zimmerman however the first letter appears to be a "D" and the family members fit Daniel's known family.
e. A copy of the survey of the Old Zimmerman Cemetery was placed in the Calhoun County Museum by Harry Ulmer in 2001. A listing of the graves in this cemetery is online at: http://borisbrooks.com/genealogy/cemetery/old_zimm.htm.
References to this surname are found in OGSGS Newsletters: Vol. 1, pp. 16, 24, 35, 43, 46, 61, 67. 91, 93, 127; Vol. 2, pp. 48, 134; Vol. 3, pp. 32, 44, 49; Vol. 4, pp. 15, 39, 41; Vol. 5, pp. 21, 65, 102, 113, 119; Vol. 6, pp. 70, 97, 116; Vol. 7, p. 4; Vol. 8, p. 22; Vol. 10, p. 76; Vol. 11, p. 101; Vol. 13, p. 22.
Information provided by Caldwell H. Zimmerman, Jr. on 11 Jul 2017. Updates by Jim Rickenbacker in Nov 2017.
Figure 1 – Upper Four Holes Swamp showing the locations of early plats53 and the Old Zimmerman Cemetery.54 The cemetery is on private property. There is no public access.
1 Richard N. Cote, "The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina", Unpublished manuscript: 1982, pp. 11-13.
2 Frederick A. Smith, "The 1752 Voyage of the Ship Cunliffe", Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society, 2003.
3 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals Volume III:1752-1753, SCMAR, Columbia, South Carolina, 1997, p. 82.
4 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, S213184, Vol. 0008, Pg. 00607,Item 03.
5 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, S213019, Vo. 0006, Pg. 00061
6 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, S213184, Vol. 0020, Pg. 00560, Item 01.
7 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, S213019, Vol. 0030, Pg. 00411.
8 Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Clearfield, 2003, p. 203.
9 Frederick A. Smith, The 1752 Voyage of the Ship Cunliffe, Orangeburgh German-Swiss Genealogical Society, 2003.
10 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals Volume III:1752-1753, SCMAR, Columbia, South Carrolina, 1997, p. 76.
11 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, S213184, Vol. 0008, Pg. 00607,Item 03.
12 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, S213019, Vo. 0006, Pg. 00061
13 SC Archives Colonial Memorials, S111001, Vol. 0009, Pg. 00464, Item 001.
14 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, S213184, Vol. 0003, Pg. 00411, Item 002.
15 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, S213016, Vol. 002F, Pg. 00022.
16 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
17 SC Archives Lease and Release, S372001, Vol, 03R0, Pg. 00214.
18 Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Clearfield, 2003, p. 207.
19 US Federal Census of 1810, Orangeburgh District, p. 129.
20 US Federal Census of 1810, Orangeburgh District, p. 129.
21 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals Volume III:1752-1753, SCMAR, Columbia, South Carrolina, 1997, p. 76.
22 SC Archives Lease and Release, S372001, Vol, 03R0, Pg. 00214.
23 SC Archives Colonial Memorials, S111001, Vol. 0010, Pg. 00226, Item 001.
24 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, S213184, Vol. 0020, Pg. 00559, Item 04.
25 SC Archives Colonial Memorials, S111001, Vol. 0011, Pg. 00358, Item 003.
26 SC Archives, Colonial Plats, S213184, Vol. 0020, Pg. 00558, Item 05.
27 SC Archives, Colonial Grants, S213019, Vol. 0028, Pg. 00009.
28 SC Archives Colonial Memorials, S111001, Vol. 0012, Pg. 00202, Item 001.
29 Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Clearfield, 2003, p. 203.
30 Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Clearfield, 2003, p. 207.
31 Murtie June Clark, Loyalists in the Southern Campaign of the Revolutionary War, Clearfield, 2003, p. 207.
32 A. S. Salley, Jr., History of Orangeburg County South Carolina, 1898, Clearfield reprint 1994.
33 U. S. Federal Census of 1790, Orangeburg County, p. 413.
34 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
35 Brent Holcomb, Petitions for Land from the South Carolina Council Journals Volume III:1752-1753, SCMAR, Columbia, South Carrolina, 1997, p. 76.
36 U. S. Federal Census of 1790, Orangeburg County, p. 413.
37 Ann Martin Haigler, The Church Records of Saint Matthews Lutheran Church Orangeburg County South Carolina and "The Red Church", Southern Historical Press, 1985, p. 042
38 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
39 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 15.
40 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
41 U. S. Federal Census of 1790, Orangeburg County, p. 413.
42 Anne Martin Haigler, The Church Records of Saint Matthews Lutheran Church, Southern Historic Press, 1985, p. 5.
43 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
44 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 16.
45 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 16.
46 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
47 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 16.
48 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.
49 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 16.
50 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 16.
51 Richard N. Cote, The Zimmerman Family of South Carolina, Unpublished manuscript: 1982, p. 16.
52 Kenneth L. Smith, German Church Books: Beyond the Basics,Picton Press, 1989, p. 19.
53 Jim Rickenbacker, "Plats and Memories of Upper Four Holes Swamp", OGSGS Oktoberfest 2015. [These plats were not shown in the presentation but their drainage patterns were used to help locate the presentation plats on Four Holes Swamp.]
54 Harry E. Ulmer et al, "Zimmerman Cemetery", Surveyed 26 Jan 2001, manuscript.