PAPER ON HENRY TIMBERLAKE

This paper was found among a packet of letters written during period 1935-1945. The author is unknown to me. If the paper is proprietary or copyrighted please let me know and I will remove it.

Transcribed by E. L. Ted Gardner 3/5/97 ted@gardner.org 
http://Ted.Gardner.org

HENRY TIMBERLAKE

(Contributed by A. J. Morrison, Hampden-Sidney, Va.)

Henry Timberlake was no author, but his book should be better known, entitled Memoirs of Lieutenant Henry Timberlake(who accompanied the three Cherokee Indians to England in the year 1762) -- London: Printed for the author 1765. This small volume of 160 printed pages-there is a curious appendix in cipher, the journal of a French officer killed by the Indians-forms the plain statement of services rendered in an irregular way and therefore charity honored by money award. For at least twenty five years after 1762, it must be admitted, the bountiful British exchequer was tempting enough to many Americans. Timberlake says that he was born in Virginia and received almost as good an education as the country could afford. His father dying when young Timberlake was in his teens and leaving no large estate, the boy looked out for employment as a soldier. In 1758 he was given an ensigncy and a cornetcy in Colonel Byrd's regiment. In 1759 he was with General Stanwix. In 1761 orders came to him at Fort Bird, sixty miles east of Ptiisburgh, to report for Cherokee business in the Holston river country. Colonel Byrd had been placed in command of this expedition, but at the celebrated Stahlnaker's Colonel Byrd "returned down the country," by which the command devolved on Colonel Stephen." Here is one vexes point made plain. Colonel Stephen kept on with his command to the Great Island of Holston, commonly called Long Island. There a fort was begun and was nearly finished the middle of November 1761 when head men came in from Kanagatucko the nominal King of the Cherokees requesting a peace conference or talk, as the Cherokee styled it. November 19th a peace was fixed up. Then the Indians asked that some officer of Colonel Stephen's family might be sent among their towns down river as a demonstration of good will. The Colonel felt a delicacy about ordering anybody on such a risky errand, so Timberlake volunteered to go. Timberlake having no papers to show in this matter, the Earl of Agremont treated him rather shabbily. Delegations of Indian chiefs had become no novelty in London by the years 1762-General Oglethorpe and others had taken over a good many of them. Timberlake thought it well to learn the navigation down Holston and up Tennessee to the Cherokee towns. He went from Long Island to Chota by boat. McCormack went along as interpreter and Sumpter as sergeant. Sumpter was of Lieutenant Timberlake's party to see King George upon the throne across the ocean. Getting into the Tennessee River, Timberlake made careful observations and drew off a map which he had printed as the frontispiece to his book - an excellent sketch map from the great island of Tennessee up as far as Talasee. This chart settles another point neatly and definitely. A little way from the Twllice river stood what was left of Fort Loudoun, on the south bank of Tennessee. A few miles below stood Chota, the chief town of the Cherokee, and across the river Tennessee, on the north bank, were the remains of a fort, described by Timberlake thus - "a fort built by the Virginians in 1756 and soon after destroyed by the Indians." So the Virginians built another fort opposite Chota, and the South Carolinians built thier Fort Loudoun five or six miles down stream. (This Magazine, April 1918, p. 203 - "the question of Fort Loudoun.") Timberlake smoked amicably and diplomatically through the five and more towns up as far as Talasse. Then setting off for Williamsburg by the East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia road (as we say). Ostenance, called also Judd's Friend or the Judge, would not be denied, and Lieutenant Timberlake discreetly took him and two other head men of the towns to Williamsburg and the Governor. At Williamsburg Mr. Horrocks of the college had Timberlake and the three to supper. Ostenace saw a picture of King George at Mr. Horrock's and protestes that he must go see the King himself. That is how the Lieutenant and the three, and Sergeant Sumpter happened to go to London. They got back home before the year 1764, not very well pleased with their London times. There is more in the book, but the book is small and should be read in full. It is hoped a copy can be found in Virginia. (There was a Henry Timberlake, Colonel of Louisa troops in the Revolution.) On exmaination it appears that Lieutenant Timberlake had been duly recommended to the Board of Trade by Governor Fauquier. See the Governor's letter of May 1, 1762 in Jornals House of Burgesses 1761-65.., XVII - "I am conscious, my Lords, that such quests are troublesome to His Maj'ty's Ministers, but it appears to me to be of so much moment to the peace and interest of the Colonies, that I hope I shall stand excused for taking this step. The Indians will be accompanied by Mr. Timberlake an Ensign in our Regiment, who has been in the Cherokee Overhill Towns, and is much respected by the Indians; he went from our camp down Holston's River and up the Tennessee and has found it navigable for Batteaus which draw 10 or 12 inches of water, all the way, by which we find that we have a good convenience for men, stores, or merchandise into the very heart of their country. He has made a draught of the courses and bearings of the River, a fair copy of which is by my order preparing for Sir Jeffrey Amherst." Timberlake had this good map and his book printed off in 1765, when he went to London a second time partly on a business venture with Mr. Trueheart of Hanover County. (Who was Timberlake's Mr. Kakoanthropes, the man, he says, that stood so much in his way with Lord Egremont!) (Virginia Magazine of History & Biography Vol. XXVIII, p.169-70.) A copy of Henry Timberlake's book may be found in Virginia State Lib., Richmond, Virginia.

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