Finding Aid of the Zimmerman Family Papers, PC.2056
Abstract
David Zimmerman (1799-1857) and his wife, Margaret (1805-1879), owned a farm in eastern
Burke County near the Icard community. Among their six children, the three boys served
as Confederate soldiers in the Civil War. Hartley and David were both wounded in combat
and later paroled, while Israel was taken prisoner and died of his wounds in a federal
hospital. In addition to farming the Zimmerman family operated a distillery. David
Zimmerman owned one slave in 1850, a 15 year-old girl named Peggy, whom he bought
in 1843.
The Zimmerman Family Papers consist of correspondence; bills, receipts and promissory
notes; records of deeds and land, a distillery business, and estates; slave papers;
Civil War military papers; oaths of allegiance; tax receipts; vital records; and miscellaneous
papers.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Zimmerman Family Papers
- Call Number
- PC.2056
- Creator
- Zimmerman family
- Date
- 1757-1883
- Extent
- 1.00 boxes
- Language
- English German
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
Restrictions on Access & Use
Access Restrictions
Available for research
Use Restrictions
Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], PC.2056, Zimmerman Family Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Collection Overview
The Zimmerman Family Papers consists of materials created and collected by David and Margaret Zimmerman and their son's Hartley and David C. The earliest records are tax receipts and deeds for land in Burke County. Correspondence combined with Civil War military records and post antebellum papers tell the story of both Hartley and David C. Zimmerman's Confederate medical military service. Among these documents are parole papers and signed Oaths of Allegiance. Evidence of a distillery business run by the family is included as early as 1797 through 1867. There are two slave papers: a bill of sale for an eight year old girl; and a receipt for a man named Issac to trade for goods on his own account. There is a presidential campaign ticket for the 1872 presidential election details the names of the Democratic candidates, Horace Greeley (President) and B. Gratz Brown (Vice President) as well as Electors for the "State at Large" and "Congressional Districts". Other papers directly related to the family include estate records, vital records for several family members, promissory notes and receipts. There is an announcement of a family baptism written in German. A few documents in the collection such as some correspondence, notes, and deeds are have no discernible or obvious relationship to the Zimmerman family.
The Zimmerman Family Papers consists of materials created and collected by David and Margaret Zimmerman and their son's Hartley and David C. The earliest records are tax receipts and deeds for land in Burke County. Correspondence combined with Civil War military records and post antebellum papers tell the story of both Hartley and David C. Zimmerman's Confederate medical military service. Among these documents are parole papers and signed Oaths of Allegiance. Evidence of a distillery business run by the family is included as early as 1797 through 1867. There are two slave papers: a bill of sale for an eight year old girl; and a receipt for a man named Issac to trade for goods on his own account. There is a presidential campaign ticket for the 1872 presidential election details the names of the Democratic candidates, Horace Greeley (President) and B. Gratz Brown (Vice President) as well as Electors for the "State at Large" and "Congressional Districts". Other papers directly related to the family include estate records, vital records for several family members, promissory notes and receipts. There is an announcement of a family baptism written in German. A few documents in the collection such as some correspondence, notes, and deeds are have no discernible or obvious relationship to the Zimmerman family.
Arrangement Note
This collection is organized by record type and is generally in chronological order.
Four series: correspondence; Deeds, Land, and Estate Records; Military Records; Miscellaneous Records
Biographical and Historical No
Contents of the Collection
1. Correspondence,1857-1893
Scope and Content:
Pre-Civil War letters are written to Margaret Zimmerman from her sisters in Dallas, Missouri, and Washington County [state unknown]. Civil War letters are written to Margaret Zimmerman from her sons, David and Hartley. The two letters from David are written first from a military hospital in Danville, Virginia and later Goldsboro, North Carolina. One letter from Hartley is written from the Huguenot Springs Hospital, Chesterfield County, Virginia. Later correspondence is primarily between Hartley and David with a few letters to Hartley from other relations. There are a few postal cards written to Honorable J.R. Ellis and P.A. Warlick both in Hickory, North Carolina. These cards along with a letter written to Miss Sophie Avery have an unknown connection to the Zimmerman family.
Contents:
1857, December 24, Letter from Dallas, Mizouri to sister, Margaret Zimmerman
1858, January 28, Letter to Margaret Zimmerman from sister, signed William, Ann, Smith
1863,May 12, Letter to mother from D. Zimmerman from Danville hospital, also to brother Israel on back
1863, August, Letter to mother from H. Zimmerman from Huguenot Springs Hospital, Chesterfield, Virginia
1863, September Letter to mother from D. Zimmerman from Goldsboro, North Carolina
1869, June 28, Letter to H. Zimmerman from D. Zimmerman from North Bend, DeKalb County, Alabama
1870, January 8, Letter from D. Zimmerman trying to protect his property to H. Zimmerman, his brother
1875, Febraury 24, Letter to Col. S. McD? from H. Zimmerman, includes sketch of plot
1875, February 24, Postal card to Hon. J.R. Ellis in Hickory, North Carolina from F.M. Carter
1875, April 8, Postal Card to Hon. J.R. Ellis, Hickory, North Carolina from F.M. Carter, Farmington, St. Francis County, Missouri
1876, March 17, Postal card to Hon. J.R. Ellis in Hickory, North Carolina from F.M. Carter
1877, February 24, Postal card to Hon. J.R. Ellis in Hickory, North Carolina from F.M. Carter
ca. 1878, December 11, Postal card to P.A. Warlick, Hickory, North Carolina from H. Henry, Marshall, North Carolina
1878, December 21, Postal card to P.A. Warlick, Hickory, North Carolina from P.A. Cumming [?], Marshall, North Carolina
1888, May 22, Letter to Miss Sophia Avery, Burke County, from Willie Brown, Ashford, North Carolina
1893, September 11, Letter to Louis Page from H. Zimmerman asking for money owed
2. Deeds, Land, and Estate Records,1829-1880
Scope and Content:
Collection includes deeds and land records beginning in 1830 for land purchased near Jumping Run in Burke County by David Zimmerman. Other papers include what appears to be copies of an earlier deed (1800) belonging to Gilbert Bowman for land also located on Jumping Run. Administration of estate documents are included for David and Margaret, their son Israel, and Margaret's father, Jacob Hart.
3. Military Records,1827-1868
Scope and Content:
The earliest military record is for David Zimmerman in 1827 who was found exempt from military duty. Later papers are related to David C. and Hartley Zimmerman. Both were wounded in the Civil War. Accordingly this collection includes furloughs and orders received due to their injuries. Of particular interest is a "Paroled Prisoner's Pass" given to Hartley at Appomattox, Virginia. There is also a collection of Confederate medical documents concerning Hartley, including an application to the Invalid Corps. Two of the documents are signed by Colonel Walter H. Taylor, Robert E. Lee's adjutant and Major-General Bushrod Johnson, Zimmerman's division commander. Among the papers related to David C. Zimmerman is his "Certificate of Release of Prisoner of War, Point Lookout, Maryland" Oaths of Alligiance to United States are included for David, Hartley, David C., and William H. Knox, a brother-in-law.
4. Bills, Notes, and Receipts,1797-1885
Scope and Content:
In addition to tax receipts with the names of several family members, there are receipts and notes for goods and services. A fragment of a receipt for a still in 1789 is the first in a collection of distillery records. Other papers include a Confederate States "Form of Notice" issued by the impressment branch of the Confederate State Quartermaster Department and a "Form of Registry from the Confederate government both dated 1864. Additionally, there are two tax receipts dated 1867 from the United State Internal Revenue Department. Also, important to this collection are two slave papers. The first is permission for a slave named Issac to trade goods on his own account, while the other is a slave bill of sale for an eight year old girl named, Peggy. One slave, a girl age 15, is enlisted to David Zimmerman on the 1850 slave schedule. One may presume this is the same girl as the age of Peggy in 1850 would have been 15 years old. Several papers including notes contain the names of men with an unknown relationship to the Zimmerman family.
5. Miscellaneous Family Records,1757-1885
Scope and Content:
Collection includes vital records for various family members including marriage, birth, and death notices for David and Margaret Zimmerman and Sarah Hart (sister to Margaret?). One paper in German names John Michael Zimmerman, and appears to be an announcement of his baptism. Finally there are a few miscellaneous records such as an order from the Burke County Board of Commissioners releasing David Zimmerman from military duty because of physical disability, and an order appointing Hartley Zimmerman Overseer of Roads.
6. Presidential Campaign Ticket: Democratic Party, 1872
Scope and Content:
This presidential campaign ticket for the 1872 presidential election details the names of the Democratic candidates, Horace Greeley (President) and B. Gratz Brown (Vice President) as well as Electors for the "State at Large" and "Congressional Districts."
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
Mary Lou Cook Hall, Danville, Va.; Karolyn Cook Pullen, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Dr. Charles F. Cook, Hickory, N.C.; Dr. Sarah Cook Magan, Orlando, Fl., 2006.