George Zimmerman/Carpenter, Jr.
George, Jr. was born in 17521, probably in Virginia2. Since George, Sr. bought land in Virginia in 1752 that is probably the year during which the family moved from Maryland to Augusta/Rockingham. Our first contact with him is when he is a witness in the suit of George Carpenter, Sr., vs. William Crow in 1767. George Carpenter, Jr. was one of the executors of his father’s will in 1779.3
We do not have any record of his moving from Virginia or of visiting the West. In 1783, he notified the county government that he had lost a gun, shoot pouch, and powder horn at the Battle of Jamestown and requested pay thereof. He was paid for his loss in l784 at five pounds, five shillings. In 1788, he is listed in the pay list of Captain Richard Regan, Company, number 13 in Rockingham County Virginia. In 1792, he is listed in
District II. This is the first time that he registered in two polls. This and the census report of 1800 and 1810 tend to prove that his son Jacob was born in 1776. It is not known whether George, Jr., served elsewhere in the revolution;; however, his brother Adam located land for him in Kentucky in the area reserved by the State of Virginia to grant her soldiers. This indicated that he received pay from the state, and the Jamestown incident was paid by the county, so he probably served more than at Jamestown.4
Many families living in the Shenandoah Valley had emigrated from the Alsace-Lorraine area, which borders France and Germany. In the early 1770’s George Jr. went a courtin’ to one of those families and won Elizabeth Boyer to be his bride. There is an Elizabeth Boyer in the list of members of the Peaked Mountain Church, so my hunch is that the Boyers were members at the same time the Zimmermans were members. Although “Boyer” looks French, the Boyer family was probably German. Family names in those days tended to have three spellings, French, German, and English. The church was a German congregation.
To George Jr. and Elizabeth were born five children: John, Jacob, George, Polly and Elizabeth.5
As an adult, George, Jr., lived in Rockingham County, Virginia and made his living as a farmer and as a surveyor. He laid out the town of Keezletown.6 As the oldest son, he was the main beneficiary of the law of primogeniture, which was in effect in colonial Virginia. According to the law, George, Jr. would inherit all of his father’s real estate. Thus he had reason to remain in Virginia near his Father, whereas, the other sons were motivated to migrate elsewhere to acquire their own land.7 George Jr. acquired a considerable estate in Rockingham County Virginia, and he was prominent in the affairs of his community. He served in the militia, in court, and was one of the trustees of the newly created town of Keeazletown in 1791.8
The date of his death is unknown. He was alive in 1785 when his brother, John, died and left him a bequest.9 He died before 1829 when he was mentioned in Conrad Carpenter’s will as deceased.10 In an 1810 census index11 of Virginia, a George Carpenter in Rockingham County was found, but not in the 1820 index.
1 Carpenter, Richard Paul, My CARPENTER BOOK, page 19
2 Egger, Virdie Hadnett, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, THE IMMIGRANT, Page 18
3 Egger, Virdie Hadnett, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, THE IMMIGRANT, Page l8
4 Egger, Virdie Hadnett, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, THE IMMIGRANT, Page 18
5 Carpenter, Richard Paul, MY CARPENTER BOOK, Page 19
6 Carpenter, Arthur Bledsoe, CARPENTER-ZIMMERMAN FAMILIES IN ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, Richmond, 1964
7 Egger, Virdie Hodnett, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, THE IMMIGRANT, 1984, pages 18-19
8 Egger, Virdie Hodnett, GEORGE ZIMMERMAN, THE IMMIGRANT, 1984, pages 18-19
9 THE CARPENTERS OF CARPENTER’S STATION, page 13
10 THE CARPENTERS OF CARPENTER’S STATION. page 22
11 Crichard, Madeline, W., McClain Publishing Co., Parsons, W. VA, 1971