Dr. Heinrich Zimmerman, Swiss immigrant

Dr. Heinrich Zimmerman
Swiss Emigrant and Physician

by Iris Teta Eubank Wagner

Dr. Heinrich Zimmerman, emigrant from the village of Wattenwyl, Switzerland
A descendant of Heinrich, Dr. Seymour Carpenter, published in 1897 a narrative on the life and history of his Swiss ancestor. Carpenter's book has been digitized by Google Books and is online at http://www.books.google.com/. The family name Zimmerman was changed legally to its English equivalent Carpenter in 1729 when tracts of land in the newly formed Lancaster County were granted to Heinrich and his two eldest sons Emanuel and Gabriel. The family was still known in familiar circles, friends and family, as Zimmerman. Through the years some descendants adopted the name Carpenter as in Seymour Carpenter's line.

Heinrich Zimmerman was born in 1680, at the village of Wattenwyl, Switzerland. Seymour Carpenter's grandfather knew Heinrich, describing him to be a large man, over six feet, black hair, black eyes,and dark complexion. He was educated in the medical arts. Heinrich became a political activist, a revolutionary against the Swiss government. Twice he had to flee his country. The first escape from Switzerland was in 1698 and the second in 1706.

Heinrich's first escape from Switzerland was to Germantown, near Philadelphia in 1698. He befriended the many Swiss settlers there, among them Daniel Pastorius, who was the founder of the small, developing community. With Germantown as his base, for the next two years Heinrich explored the country of the Chesapeake, and the Susquehanna River. Having had to leave his lovely Salome behind in Switzerland in 1698, he returned to Switzerland in 1700 and he and Salome Rufener were married in 1701.

Heinrich's second escape from the grasp of the Swiss government in 1706 was made with his family - Salome, and young sons, Emanuel who was four, and Gabriel, two. An activist against the government, Heinrich and his family had to "seek safety in flight," in the dead of night, as the author describes. On their flight to safety, Heinrich and his family were chased by at least two Hussars. But strong and quick witted Heinrich made the escape with a final slap of an oar on the back of the surviving Hussar, then pushing the small boat out into the water, the young family fled across the water.

Move to Pequea settlement in 1717. Heinrich bought land on the Pequea Creek in 1717 south of the present city of Lancaster and began to develop a plantation. He became the most extensive land holder in the settlement at Pequea, and practiced his profession as physician.

By 1728 Heinrich's eldest sons were grown, and he thought he would need more land. Land north of the Lancaster settlement had not yet been surveyed. And, as Seymour Carpenter explains, "Squatters were pushing out and blazing out claims, and Heinrich was determined to have his share." And his holdings became extensive. The Zimmermans or Carpenters, known by both names, were prominent citizens in Lancaster County, owning profitable farms, vineyards, mills, and serving as civic officials.

Heinrich's eight children were :
Emanuel, born 1702, married Caroline Line ;
Gabriel, born 1704, married first Maria Forney, second Anna Maria Youndt ;
Salome, evidently born at Germantown about 1707, married John Wistar and lived at Germantown ; Christian,
Henry, born about 1714, married Susan Forney ;
Daniel,
Maria who married Daniel Fiere or Ferree, in 1739 ; and Jacob.

Daniel Pastorius, the founder of Germantown, and good friend of Heinrich, "had established a sort of college there at a very early day, and when he moved west into Lancaster County, Heinrich sent each of his eight children back among his friends at Germantown to attend the schools there." Being a more secular believer in learning, rather than schooling based on religious teaching, Heinrich Zimmerman was intent on his children learning English, and encouraged them to speak English, rather than German, for he understood the advantages the children would have by doing so. Heinrich later sent his fourth eldest son Henry back to Switzerland for study in medicine.

(more to come)