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Maternal
Lineage: Anna Eva4, Adam3, Jacob2, Johann Jacob1
  ZIMMERMAN, bef.1665-1822
Related Families: Jung | Clasen | Schütz | Nellis | Klock | Getman
Migration:  Dunzweiler, GER>Livingston Manor, NY>St. Johnsville, NY

 

        (1)  Johann Jacob Zimmerman, the immigrant, was probably born in Germany before 1665.  He died in the Manor of Livingston in the Hudson Valley, New York, in early (January-March) 1711.  He married at Dunzweiler in the German Palatinate 16 October 1685 Anna Maria Margaretha Jung of the village of Dunzweiler, perhaps born about 1667, probably a daughter of Hans Andreas Jung and Agnes Wendel Clasen.  It was a first marriage for both.  After Jacob's death, his widow married secondly in the Livingston Manor between March and June 1711 Conrad Schütz from Langenselbold, Hessen, Germany, a son of Hermann Schütz.  With him she moved to the Schoharie about 1715 and in the spring of 1723 to Tulpehocken, Pennsylvania, where Conrad seems to have died about 1723/4.  We have no further record of Anna Maria Margaretha.
        Johan Jacob Zimmerman was a farmer in the village of Dunzweiler from at least the time of his marriage until he left for America.  Johan and his wife left Germany for America in the spring of 1709 with perhaps one child or perhaps three children.  They arrived in New York City with two children about 17 June 1710 and in the fall of 1710 were moved up the Hudson to the Livingston Manor.  It is possible they had a third child during thier year of exodus.

Children are:

  1. Jacob, mentioned below
  2. Johann Mathias, baptized at Dunzweiler 16 March 1706, apparently died young either in Germany or in the Livingston Manor in New York, between June and September 1711.
  3. a child perhaps born between 1701 and July 1709 or between July 1709 and July 1710; if so, this is the child who died in the Livingston Manor between June and September 1711, unless the child became over ten years of age during that period and is counted as an adult in the household of Conrad Schütz.  Records are very uncertain concerning this possible child.

 
 

        (2)  Jacob Zimmerman was born in Germany about 1690/1 and died at what is now St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, New York, in 1739, of which he was the first settler.  Between the end of 1710 and the early part of 1711 he married in the Manor of Livingston Anna Margaretha Schütz (Schitzen).
        Although contradicted by church records, there is a tradition in both the Zimmerman and Getman families which disputes Anna's connection to the Schütz family.  Supposedly, upon moving to the Mohawk Valley, Jacob Zimmerman became a trader with the Indians and married a princess of the Wolf clan residing at what is now Fort Hunter around 1713.  She was christened Anna Margaret by Rev. Andrews, then chaplain of the newly built Queen Anne's parsonage.  It was built about 1712 which is the approximate time of Jacob's marriage to Anna.  She was said to have been the daughter of Hendrick Peeterse, Sachem, King of the Mohawk Indians, later known simply as "King Hendrick."  Notably, Jacob and Anna had a son Hendrick, born 1738, and a daughter Anne, born 1736.  They are said to have had two daughters, Christina and Eve.  Their home, a typical fortified farmhouse, was built on the site of the present Methodist Church parsonage. Their home was also used as a public house, or turnpike tavern in later years. The home has an interesting story, for in the mid 1800's it was divided in half and moved 300 feet to the east. These homes are now #11 and #13 Washington Street.
        In 1722, Jacob paid 200 English pounds for Harrison Patent lots #15, 16 and 18. He was a man of great ability and stamina and the owner of vast tracts of land. He cleared the land and had a prosperous farm in what is now the village of St. Johnsville and built a grist mill on the creek which still bears his name.  In 1729 he was an important landowner and was appointed as a Commissioner of Highways. Sir William Johnson also accepted such an appointment on several occasions, so one can surmise the status of such an appointment.  The British Crown map of 1757 proves that a mill was built in the St. Johnsville area at a very early date and by 1757 the little hamlet was called Timmerman's Mill.
        Jacob and his family lived in what the Indians called Tyenindoke (or Tionontoge) for some years prior to 1734, which was in the vicinity of the castle of Tionondoge.  On 12 March 1734, Indian Chief, King Hendrick, and the other Sachems (leaders) of the Kannajoharie Castle conveyed a large tract of land, on the north side of the Mohawk River, as a gift to Anna Marragrieta Timmerman of Tyenindoke.  King Hendrick was the great Chief of the Mohawk tribe. He was a Christian who directed his life by Christian ideals, believing that friendship rather than war must settle tensions between his people and the white race. In all his relations with the, at times, none-too-scrupulous aliens he kept his word and always acted with wisdom and dignity in seeking to protect his people. The Palatines were fortunate to have a man of King Hendrick's stature living intimately among them in their early difficult days. His name is closely associated with theirs in the history of the Valley.
        Jacob went on to become the first settler of what is now St. Johnsville, Montgomery County, where he built the first grist mill in town beside the creek that now bears his name.

Children:

  1. a child, born about 1712 in the Livingston Manor, "died before baptism"
  2. Altain, no doubt a misreading for Adam, mentioned below
  3. Conrad, born in the Schoharie at Foxesdorf about 1717 after Simmendinger made his list, die dabout 1783/4 probably at St. Johnsville, married by 1743 or earlier Anna Eva.
  4. Hans Friederich, born about 1719, no further record
  5. Lawrence, born about 1720, died about 1793/4; married Maria(?)
  6. Jacob, born about 1722, probably died at St. Johnsville about 1759/60; married by 1753 and probably earlier Anna Maria Catharina.
  7. David (Dewalt, Theobald), born perhaps at St. Johnsville, 16 July 1724, died at Minden, Montgomery County, New York, in 1787/8; married 5 June 1762 Elizabeth Hawn (Hahn)
  8. Anneh (Anna), born about 1725/6, no further record
  9. Thomas, born about 1727, no further record
  10. Johannes, no further record
  11. Dorothy (perhaps), born about 1730; the name is variously transcribed as "Derode" or "Dewalt".
  12. Harriett, born about 1731
  13. Jeremiah, born about 1732
  14. George, baptism recorded in the First Dutch Reformed Church, Schenectady, as Johan Jurriaan of Jacob Timmerman and Margita Schitzen, sponsored by Joh: Jurriaan Cas & wf. Gurtrudia 20 January 1734, died at Manheim in 1800; married about 1757 Anna Eklizabeth Klock
  15. Hendrick, born 31 December 1737/1 January 1738, died at Manheim 18 May 1807; married first about 1763 Catharine Fox and second in 1768 Margaretha Bellinger.

 
 

        (3) Adam Zimmerman is the eldest surviving child in the family record and apparently the first married of the children of Jacob Zimmerman and Anna Margaretha Schütz.  Likely, he is their child mentioned by Simmendinger in 1717 and was born about 1714.  He is called the eldest son in the Sanders account.  As Adam seems to have had a child born about 1745 and as his widow remarried abour 1749, we can say he died between those years in the Mohawk Valley.  By 1743 and perhaps earlier, he married Catharine Nellis, born about 23 December 1723 or 18 January 1724, died 20 August 1805 aged 81 years 7 months and 2/28 days (variant reading of her gravestone inscription).
        As eldest son, Adam assumed responsibility for his father's affairs after Jacob Zimmerman died in late 1739.  This is reflected in the Sanders account book where Adam is mentioned in various ways between 20 May 1737 and 26 January 1745/6, many of which serve to establish Adam as Jacob's son:

2 July 1740 The Estate of Jacob Timmerman credited by his son Adam in peas from Peter Van Allens garret L3.17.10
Adam also appears on two other accounts in these ledgers.  Under the account of Johannes Kesselaer (SL 30:187, SD35:293) is found: And under the account of Johans. Jost Petrie (SL 30:35): A loose note stapled in the back of Sanders Ledger SL 30, headed "1741," among a list of purchases of sights from Johans. Failing, not posted to accounts until 1744-5, includes Adam Temerman who bought three sights.  Also included is Hendrick Jung who bought one.
        Adam Zimmerman had an account of his own in the ledger of Johannes Harmanus Wendell of Schenectady (New York State Library, Special Collections, 12910 folio 123):         Catherine Nellies married second, about 1749, Johann Leonardt Helmer, son of Leonardt Helmer and Elizabeth Ruhl(?).  On 27 July 1781, Catherine married third Judge Jacob G. Klock, who died 9 May 1798 and is buried in the Klock Cemetery at St. Johnsville.  Catherine is buried with him.

Children of Adam Zimmerman and Catharine Nellis, both no doubt born in the Mohawk Valley, were:

  1. Anna Eva, born 4 February 1743, died 25 April 1822; married first about 1757 John Markell, married second on 8 July 1760 Christian Getman.
  2. Catharine, born about 1745, living in 1795; married first on 4 March 1766 Frederick Snell and second on 6 June 1786 Bastian Stemler.

 
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Last updated 1998

The King Hendrick Deed of Gift
(Copy of Original Deed Drawn in 1734 by King Hendrick and Other Mohawk Indians Giving Land Now Occupied by St. Johnsville to Marragrieta Timmerman. Cut Loaned for Publication by Manley
Timmerman of Fort Plain, N.Y. who Owns Photostat Copy of Original).


      Several translations of this deed have been published all varying in both language and meaning, and the one given herewith which has never been published is believed to be the most reliable. It was recently translated by Mr. A. J. F. van Laer of the State Historical Department. Mr. van Laer translates not only Dutch but also Dutch of the period in which written and we must recognize that there has been many changes in the language since 1733.  Mr. van Laer's translation with certain foot notes which have been gathered through correspondence follows:

Timmerman Indian Deed

       We, the undersigned, sachems of Kannajoharie, in the county of Albany, in the province of New York, in the seventh year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Second, acknowledge that out of pure love and affection with the consent of the entire Castle of Kannajoharie, both Indian men and women, we give and make over, in the name and on behalf of his majesty King George of Great Britain, to our friend Anna Marragrieta Timmerman of Tyenindoke, spinster in the county of Albany, for her and her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever, a parcel of flat land and the woods belonging thereto; the land being situated on the north side of the Maquasse River (Mohawk River), in the county of Albany, commencing at a kill called *Athedaghque, and a farm on the south side of the said kill, and thence upwards along the river to a tree marked with the bear, wolf and turtle, thence northwards from the river into the woods about three English miles, and then eastward, keeping the same distance from the river, to another marked tree, and thence toward the river to the east end of the farm which formed the point of beginning, which land we acknowledge has been given by us to our beloved friend Anna Marragrieta Timmaremans for herself, her heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, forever. In witness whereof we have signed these with our hand and fixed our seals this twelfth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty three, thirty-four.

Signed and sealed in the presence of

David Schuyler                                                  his
Bong Mattesz                                  Hendrick (bear) Pieters
**urwalt Jung                                                    mark

                                                                        his
                                                                Seth (wolf)
                                                                       mark

                                                                        her
                                                           Marragriet (turtle)
                                                                       mark


Notes:

* Howard F. Rowse, Head of the Manuscripts and History Section, State Department Education says, "...as far as I can determine, the kill call Athdaghque is Zimmerman Creek. The only reference I can find to the Indian name of Athdaghque is in William M. Beauchamp's Aboriginal Place Names of New York, p. 119, in which it is noted as being a place in St. Johnsville in 1733.

**Teowalt Young of Canajohare.  Letters of administration granted to his wife, Margaret, November 5, 1771. (See Abstracts of Wills, 1766-1771, 7:471 N.Y. Hist. Soc. Collections 31.)