Peter Carpenter Zimmerman

Moved from PA and settled in Lincoln county NC, he was buried in Big Gullies Cemetry. He was a blacksmith and land records say he owned 1350 acres in Lincoln County

From Carpenters A Plenty: Peter Zimmerman was able to read and write German. His signature... was located on the marriage bond of his son Samuel Carpenter. Peter was a skilled craftsman, a blacksmith, whose trade was necessary on the frontier. He valued education highly, and all his sons whose signatures I located signed their names legibly in English or German. He acquired property and status in the community. His friends and neighbors thought highly enough of him to elect him Captain of his militia company. As the threat of conflict in the American Revolution appeared greater, his judgment and influence was more valuable.

Records reveal a most interesting mixture concerning the allegiance of Peter Zimmerman to the Revolutionary cause. When studying the American Revolution, too many researchers assume that an individual was either loyal to Great Britain, a Tory, or was a Patriot, also called a Whig. Peter Zimmerman exemplifies a very large number of persons in frontier NC. He was both Tory and Whig, and he also assumed the status of Neutral. The important point to remember is that Peter, as did others, reacted to circumstances as they arose. He was most interested in preserving his home, his family, and his way of life in NC. His choice of allegiance usually centered around which side was winning at the time and where the greatest threat to his home and family centered.

Peter Carpenter's will - November 7, 1816

   In the Name of God Amen. I peter Carpenter of Lincoln County State of North Carolina being of Sound mind and understand & memory, But Concidering the uncirtinty of Humanlife thought fit and Propper to make this my Last Will & Testament in the following manner. Viz. I recomend my Soul unto the Hands of God and my Bodey to the Earth to be bureyed in a Christian manner and as tuching such worldley Estate where with It hath Pleased god to Bless one in this life. I give devise & Dispose of the Same in the folowing manner & form, that is I give and bequath unto my Beloved Sons Samuel and unto my beloved Son William my Smith Tools in Eaqual share by them to be Peuble <?> posessed and also unto my Son William my Still and all the vessels that belong to it, also all my Houshold furniture and farming utintiels and wagon  including colocks <?> and vash <?> and a large Brass kittle & all my efects, notes, bonds, and Cash Excepted that belong to me to be by him posessed that is if the Provided he the Said William gives me a good and sufition mantainess During my life. itam give and bequath unto my Beloved Daughter Anna Crouse two Hundred and fifty Dollars out of my money that is if there is so much at hand after my Death. Itam I give and Bequath unto my beloved Daughter Fanna Eaker two Hundred and fifty Dollars to be Paid out of my money that is if there is so much at hand after my Death. Itam I give & bequath an my Beloved Son Christian and my beloved Son John and my Beloved Son David and my beloved Son Jacob and my beloved Son Joseph and my beloved Son Henrey and my beloved Son Frederic & my beloved Son Abraham and my beloved Son Samuel and my beloved Son William all and Each of them Eaqual share in all the money that ma be left after all and Each of them Settle there acompts that the are Charged with in my Books to be Divided between them.

   I Likewise Constitute make and ordain my Son Saml. Jacob & William and Danniel Eaker to Execute this my Last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this 7th Day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Sixteen Signed Sealed and acknoledged In Presence of us by the Said Peter Carpenter as his Last will and testament. Signed and aknoledged in                            his Presens of us                                Peter   p.   Carpenter Jacob Aderhold Jurat                                mark Jos. Carpenter

State of North Carolina April Sessions 1817 Lincoln County

   The written will was produced in Court & proved by the oath of Jacob Aderhold & admitted to Record

                                           Witness. Vardry McBee  C.C.

Note: Peter was a Captain in the effort to push the Cherokees west in 1775. He was the first gunsmith in the area (Lincoln Co.N.C.) and was a blacksmith. He later chose the Tory side and was elected a Captain for the Battle of Ramsour's Mill (Lincoln Co.N.C.) 20 June 1780. After the Tory defeat,Capt.Peter was found by his family lying severely wounded on the south bank of the South Fork River (where Laboratory is now). He was shot through the body,and a silk handkerchief was drawn through the wound to cleanse it. In 1782,the victorious Whigs began confiscating Tory land. They were lenient with Peter;he had to give up 520 lbs.of dried beef as a penalty. Cornwallis's troops had destroyed a rail fence on a boundary of his property on the south side of Indian Creek,where he had 1200 acres of land. Peter replaced it with a stone fence which still stands.[See "S.L.Carpenter: Master Farmer" in Gaston Co.Library]. He was not the son of a Peter Carpenter as some claim. Peter and wife Barbara are ancestors of C.Grier Beam and Dewey F.Beam,founders of Carolina Freight Carriers Corp.; Ernest C. Pasour Jr. Note: According to author of "Carpenters A Plenty",1982,Robert C.Carpenter,Peter was possibly son of Hans Zimmerman and Sarah Salome [- -?- -],and the parents of Peter shown in "Kiser-Carpenter Chronicle" 1983 by Kiser and Kiser are unsubstantiated.

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