The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
State of Service: PA
Qualifying Service: Lieutenant
Record showed cemetery as "Saint Peter's" - there are multiple "St. Peter's" in Schuylkill Co, PA but this one matches the place of death
Directions to Cemetery / Gravesite:
Author: Charles Harris Seibert
Bernhardt was the son of Johannes Peter Zimmerman and Ann nee Bricker. He was born in Cocalico, Lancaster Co., PA. Siblings were Elizabeth, Peter and Margaretha. Bernhardt was wed to Maria Eva Gebhardt about 1768 at Rehrersburg, Berks Co., PA. She was born November 3, 1748 to Philip Gebhardt and his wife, Anna Margaretha nee Massa in Tulpehocken, Lancaster Co., PA.
They became the parents of eight children: Anna Margaretha, Johannes, Bernhardt, Maria Eva, Heinrich, Magdelana Elizabeth, Peter and Eva.
In May 17, 1777, Bernhard Zimmerman was First Lieutenant of the Fifth Company, Capt. Michael Bretz; Sixth Battalion, Col. Henry Spyker, of the Berks County Militia. He was still First Lieutenant of the Fifth Company, May 10, 1780. Capt. Philip Hedrich then commanded the company. Through his personal letters to his wife, we know, that he participated at the Battle of Germantown on 4 October 1777, with the 6th Battalion, under Colonel Henry Spyker.
At the close of the war Bernhard Zimmerman and wife Eva settled on a large tract of land just west of Pine Grove, Berks Co. PA. Here he died in 31 January 1818, and was buried at the old stone church (Gunkles) at Pine Grove.
Eva Zimmerman's letter to her husband Bernard Zimmerman during Revolutionary War (it was written in German, and this is the translation)
TO; BERNHART ZIMMERMAN First Lieutenant under Colonel Spyker and in Captain Henry Weber's Company in the army not far from Germantown Dearly Beloved Husband: I commend you to God, greeting you heartily many thousand times. It is a sincere pleasure to us all that you have written to me concerning the good health with which the merciful God has blessed you. As to myself and our dear children, thanks be to God, we are all well thus far; but the dear Lord be merciful in our great anxiety on account of your absence. However, dear husband, we will cheerfully bear all with the greatest fortitude and patience if we may only have our prayers to God favorably answered, that He return you safely to us again. But we are just at present in the very greatest anxiety, because we have heard that only two days after you had written your letter you were engaged in battle, and now after all we have no assurance that you are still among the living, because your letter was written two days before the battle. Now dear husband, may God save you and all who are with you and near you from danger, and return you safely to your own, for which we will render hearty praise and thanks to God. Dear husband, in reference to our relatives in general, viz: Father, mother, sister(s) and brother(s), and brother-in-law, we are all well, and send hearty greetings to you, especially George who brought your letter over to us; and also brother-in-law Wolfarth, who rejoices heartily with us because of your good fortune and continued health. In regard to Jacob Stein, the greetings from him to his parents were gladly received by them, and they rejoice in his well-being, sending hearty greetings to him. Concerning the others, as Christian Stutzman, Peter Bugler, and John Bugler, their dear friends also rejoice because of their excellent health and send sincere and cordial greetings, praying God's fatherly protection of them. Now, dear husband, I know of nothing else to write at this time. With much sighing, and weeping, I commend you to the protection of Almighty God, and remain your true wife until death, EVA ZIMMERMAN
Tulpehocken, December 9, 1777 (Postscript) Bernhart Zimmerman, You and Daniel Hoffman wrote the same day, and it is the same in his case as in yours we do not know whether he came safe through the battle or not, as you both wrote one day before the battle. If he is still alive, greet him for us many thousand times, and we pray daily that God may keep him and all who are with him in danger from all affictions and calamities. Call upon God in your need, and he will surely protect you. Dear Daniel, your children are enjoying good health, and all is well at home. I commend you to God. Write again as soon as possible. Just now it is most necessary. (Addressed to) Bernhart Zimmerman
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