Springfield Ceremony Honors Revolutionary War Soldier Jacob Zeck
SPRINGFIELD, TENNESSEE, On Saturday, Becky Wall and members of the Charlotte Reeves Robertson Chapter of the DAR dedicated a bronze plaque honoring Patriot Jacob Zeck at the Zeck Family Cemetery. The ceremony recognized his Revolutionary War service and his family’s local legacy.
By Becky Wall
“On 18 Oct 2025, I (Becky Wall) had the privilege to host a ceremony commemorating my 6th great-grandfather, Jacob Zeck. I am a member of the Charlotte Reeves Robertson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Springfield, TN, and have been a member since 2002.
“The ceremony was held to honor Jacob Zeck by dedicating a bronze plaque at his gravesite from the NSDAR, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. I wanted to honor my ancestor’s contribution to help establish our country. Ten years ago, I petitioned the NSDAR for permission to erect the plaque at Jacob’s graveside, but I was denied because there was no documentation for his burial site. The Zeck family cemetery is located across the road from my home and holds family members there, but in scouring historic documents I could find no documentation proving that his remains were in this cemetery. Last year the NSDAR contacted me by letter indicating that they would be completing my request as no other information had been received. I asked what more I could provide, and they indicated more information was still needed regarding his interment in the cemetery. So, as any genealogist would do, I searched anything and everything for that tidbit of information.
“At that time, Find-a-Grave was fairly new. I reviewed their site, and, sure enough, I found him listed in the Zeck Family Cemetery. I sent this information to NSDAR, and they approved my request for the marker. I ordered it quickly, then waited for it to be made.
“Jacob Zeck was born in October 1758 in Maiden Creek, PA, to Jacob Zeck and Ava Marie Catherine Kohler. His parents came to America in 1751 from Wittenberg, Germany, seeking a better life. Jacob married Elizabeth Inman on 16 Nov 1816.
“While residing in York County, PA, Jacob enlisted as a private in Captain John Mitter’s Pennsylvania company. After returning home from his tour, his family moved to Rockingham County, VA, where Jacob volunteered in the spring before the surrender of Cornwallis and served as a private in Colonel Nall Boyer’s regiment under Captain Rice’s company in Pennsylvania. Having survived the war, he requested a pension; it was granted on April 9, 1833, for $60.00 per year. Story has it that he was given a land grant for one hundred acres here in Robertson County in 1814 or 1815. This is where Jacob lived out his remaining life.
“In remembering the past, we honor the men and women who fought for the preservation of our freedoms and our future, and all those who have served our country with integrity and devotion. We thank God for Jacob’s life, whose service to our country advanced the cause of independence. We recognize his fidelity and the heritage he and so many others have bequeathed to all of us. I hope that we will be worthy of his patriotism by living with the same in our lives.
“My DAR sisters and I dedicated a bronze marker at his gravesite in grateful recognition of his service as a Patriot of the American Revolution. We laid a wreath at his headstone, and we planted a tree in his honor.
“It was a beautiful day for a dedication. Bro. Jim Woodard gave the invocation. He is a former pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, served for 28 years. It just so happened that Jacob Zeck had a connection with the church. He was one of the founding fathers of Hopewell Baptist Church, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2026. The VFW Post 2120 of Robertson County and American Legion Post 45 fired a rifle volley in his honor and presented a flag to his descendants. And Riaan Greisel played a beautiful bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” and “Taps” as a tribute to his service.
“History tells us that what is needed today is not just a show of greatness, but a dedication to great ideals and high endeavors. Jacob Zeck certainly embodied these attributes. My hope is that we all can follow in his footsteps.”
