The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765 [Paperback]

Duane H. King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 21, 2007

This is the first modern scholarly edition of what is considered the most detailed ethnographic account of Cherokee life in the late 18th century. Timberlake•s memoirs describe the months he spent living with the Cherokees then escorting a delegation to London to meet King George III. He provides details of daily life, including ceremonies, games, the role of women, the preparation of food, and the creation of weapons, baskets, and pottery. This edition pairs the original text with extensive footnotes and annotiations, a new introduction, index, and more than 100 illustrations, including artifacts, maps, period artwork, and contemporary artwork.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This visually rich volume will appeal to historians, anthropologists, and the general reader and should prove useful in secondary and college classrooms."
-The Journal of East Tennessee History

"The first reader-friendly edition with maps, photos, and detailed notes."
-- Charlotte Observer

This is the first modern scholarly edition of what is considered the most detailed ethnographic account of Cherokee life in the late 18th century.

From the Inside Flap

This is the first modern scholarly edition of what is considered the most detailed ethnographic account of Cherokee life in the late 18th century. Timberlake•s memoirs describe the months he spent living with the Cherokees then escorting a delegation to London to meet King George III. He provides details of daily life, including ceremonies, games, the role of women, the preparation of food, and the creation of weapons, baskets, and pottery. This edition pairs the original text with extensive footnotes and annotiations, a new introduction, index, and more than 100 illustrations, including artifacts, maps, period artwork, and contemporary artwork.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press (June 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0807858277
• ISBN-13: 978-0807858271
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #753,221 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars in 1762 London "the Cherokees began to draw after them great crowds of people of all ranks", March 28, 2011

By 

T. Patrick Killough "All about Patrick" (Black Mountain, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765 (Paperback)

Three Cherokee chiefs, including the great orator Ostenaco, would never forget the year 1762. They spent almost all of it in building their own prestige within The Cherokee Nation by cementing political and military ties with Great Britain and its North American colonies, especially Virginia and South Carolina. Climax of their efforts was an audience on Thursday July 8, 1762 with 24-year old King George III at Saint James's Palace in London.

In 1765, soon to die author Lieutenant Henry Timberlake published MEMOIRS, his account of many months interaction 1761 - 1762 with Cherokees. These MEMOIRS were edited and reissued in 2007 by Duane H. King. This book and its large accompanying and framing critical and historical apparatus lift THE MEMOIRS OF LT. HENRY TIMBERLAKE: THE STORY OF A SOLDIER, ADVENTURER, AND EMISSARY TO THE CHEROKEES, 1756 - 1765 to the top ranks of introductions in English to Cherokee culture, history and the Nation's complex foreign policy. The Indians had to balance relations with British, French and Spanish powers present in North America.

In itself, the 1762 visit of the three-Chief delegation escorted by Lt Timberlake may not have been decisive. Nonetheless, not many months later King George III issued his Demarcation Line Proclamation. This had the effect of protecting Cherokees and many other tribes west of the Appalachian Mountains from unwanted trespassing by British colonists. And the Cherokees remained loyal to King George through the coming American revolution, much to their own sorrow when the rebel Americans won.

Duane King's edition of Timberlake's MEMOIRS describes and documents in massive detail via page after page of endnotes and commentary English media attention to the visiting Cherokees. We learn of their many visits to places of popular entertainment and of the crowds that flocked to see them, sometimes having to buy tickets.

"The uncommon appearance of the Cherokees began to draw after them great crowds of people of all ranks, at which they were so much displeased, that home (Quin home on Suffolk Street) became irksome to them, and they were forever teazing me to take them to some public diversion" (Ch. XII).

Unfortunately, their bilingual interpreter had died at sea. And Lt Timberlake had to add interpreting to his never-ending chore of paying Cherokee bills, mainly from his own pocket. He wrote that he could understand whatever they said but was not up to translating from English to Cherokee. This did not help the goals of the mission.

Before going abroad with the delegation, Virginia militia officer Henry Timberlake had spent months in their heartland as a combined English diplomat and hostage. He made copious notes with a view to providing intelligence to the Virginia government in Williamsburg. Scholars credit him with much valuable information on 18th Century flora, fauna and Cherokee religion, politics and division of labor between the sexes. A powerful, informative book, these MEMOIRS.

-OOO-

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pre-Revolution Era Tale, November 15, 2007

By 

Harvey - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756-1765 (Paperback)

I was amazed at the life of Mr. Timblake. If you wished to get insight into the Pre Revolution Era life, then Read this Book.