William G. Williams Report on Cherokee Territory
The bulk of this collection consists of a photocopied 35-page report describing a topographical survey of present-day Polk, Monroe, and McMinn counties in Tennessee. It is written in narrative style and includes observations and a sketched map of the area. Also included are three photocopied letters, one to John James Albert from William George Williams, one to Colonel William C. Lindsay (incomplete), and one to an unnamed commander from General Zachary Taylor to tell him of Captain Williams’ death.
Dates
- 1838 February 8-1846 September 25
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The bulk of this collection consists of a photocopied 35-page report describing a topographical survey of present-day Polk, Monroe, and McMinn counties in Tennessee. It is written in narrative style and includes observations and a sketched map of the area. Also included are three photocopied letters, one to John James Albert from William George Williams, one to Colonel William C. Lindsay (incomplete), and one to an unnamed commander from General Zachary Taylor to tell him of Captain Williams’ death.
Biographical/Historical note
William George Williams was born on January 1, 1801 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He joined the US Army Corps of Topographical Engineers on January 28, 1834. In addition to surveying this section of the Cherokee Nation, he surveyed most of the Great Lakes beginning in 1841. According to the letter from Zachary Taylor, Williams died on September 21, 1846 of wounds sustained in the battle for Monterrey, Mexico.
Zachary Taylor was born to Richard and Mary (Strother) Taylor in Montebello, Virginia on November 24, 1784. He pursued a career in the U.S. Army, serving as a Commander in the Mexican American War and winning major victories in Monterrey and Buena Vista. He also owned a plantation in Mississippi. Taylor married Margaret Mackall Smith (1788-1852) on June 21, 1810, and the couple had six children: Anne Margaret Mackall (Taylor) Wood (1811-1875), Sarah Knox (Taylor) Davis (1814-1835), Octavia Pannill Taylor (1816-1820), Margaret Smith Taylor (1819-1820), Mary Elizabeth (Taylor) Bliss Dandridge (1824-1909), and Richard Taylor (1826-1879). Zachary Taylor was elected the twelfth President of the United States in November of 1848 and served until he died in office on July 9, 1850.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Robert B. Barker donated this manuscript to Special Collections in October of 1966.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository