Editing Thomas Sumter (section)

==Early life==
Thomas Sumter was born in [[Hanover County, Virginia|Hanover County]] in the [[Colony of Virginia]].<ref name="Bio">{{Biographical Directory of Congress|S001073|inline=yes}}</ref> His father, William Sumpter, was a miller and former indentured servant, while his mother, Elizabeth, was a midwife. His father was born in England, and Sumter was of English and Welsh descent.<ref>{{cite book |title=Selected Readings in American Military History |publisher=Infantry School |date=1953 |page=70 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJBMAAAAMAAJ&q=Selected+Readings+in+American+Military+History |access-date=2022-10-04 |via=Google Books}}</ref> Most of Thomas Sumter's early years were spent tending livestock and helping his father at the mill, not in school.<ref name=SCE>{{cite encyclopedia |entry-url=https://www.scencyclopedia.org/sce/entries/sumter-thomas/ |publisher=University of South Carolina |encyclopedia=South Carolina Encyclopedia |entry=Sumter, Thomas |year=2016 |first=Matthew A. |last=Lockhart }}</ref> Given just a rudimentary education on the frontier, the young Sumter served in the Virginia militia,<ref name="Bio"/> where he was present for [[Edward Braddock]]'s defeat.<ref name="EB1911">{{Cite EB1911 | wstitle=Sumter, Thomas| volume=26| page=85}}</ref>

===Timberlake Expedition===
{{Main|Timberlake Expedition}}

[[File:Thomas Sumter (commemorative plaque at the South Carolina statehouse).jpg|upright=.8|thumb|left|Plaque at the South Carolina statehouse]]

At the end of the [[Anglo-Cherokee War]], in 1761, Sumter was invited to join what was to become known as the "Timberlake Expedition", organized by Colonel [[Adam Stephen]] and led by [[Henry Timberlake]], who had volunteered for the assignment.<ref name=Timberlake1948>{{cite book | last=Timberlake |first=Henry |title=Memoirs, 1756–1765 |editor-last=Williams |editor-first=Samuel |location=Marietta, Georgia |publisher=Continental Book Co. |year=1948 }}</ref>{{rp|38–39}}  The purpose of the expedition was to visit the [[Overhill Cherokee]] towns and renew alliances with the [[Cherokee]] following the war.<ref name=Bass>{{cite book | first=Robert |last=Bass |title=Gamecock: The Life and Campaigns of General Thomas Sumter | url= https://archive.org/details/gamecocklifecamp00bass |url-access=registration |location=New York |publisher=Holt, Rinehart, and Winston |year=1961 |page=[https://archive.org/details/gamecocklifecamp00bass/page/9 9] }}</ref>  The small expeditionary party consisted of Sumter (who was partially financing the venture with borrowed money), Timberlake, an interpreter named John McCormack, and a servant.<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|38}}

According to Timberlake's journal, at one point early in the nearly year and a half long journey, Sumter swam nearly a half-mile in the icy waters to retrieve their canoe, which had drifted away while they were exploring a cave.<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|41–48}}  The party arrived in the Overhill town of [[Tomotley]] on December 20, where they were greeted by the town's head man, [[Ostenaco]] (or "Mankiller")<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|57–58}} and soon found themselves participants in a [[Ceremonial pipe|peace pipe]] ceremony. In the following weeks, Sumter and the group attended peace ceremonies in several Overhill towns, such as [[Chota (Cherokee town)|Chota]], [[Citico (Cherokee town)|Citico]], and [[Chilhowee (Cherokee town)|Chilhowee]].<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|63–65}}

The party returned to [[Williamsburg, Virginia]], accompanied by several [[tribal chief|Beloved Men]] of the Cherokee, arriving on the James River in early April 1762.<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|118–129}}

While in Williamsburg, Ostenaco professed a desire to meet the king of England,<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|130–133}} and in May 1762, Sumter traveled to England with Timberlake and three distinguished Cherokee leaders, including Ostenaco. Arriving in [[London]] in early June, the Indians were an immediate attraction, drawing crowds all over the city.<ref name=StJames>''St James Chronicle'', July 3, 1762.</ref><ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|130–136}} The three Cherokee then accompanied Sumter back to America, landing in South Carolina on or about August 25, 1762.<ref name=Timberlake1948/>{{rp|143–147}}

===Imprisonment for debt===
Sumter became stranded in South Carolina due to financial difficulties. He petitioned the Virginia Colony for reimbursement of his travel expenses, but was denied. Subsequently, Sumter was imprisoned for debt in Virginia. When his friend and fellow soldier, [[Joseph Martin (general)|Joseph Martin]], arrived in [[Staunton, Virginia|Staunton]], Martin asked to spend the night with Sumter in jail. Martin gave Sumter ten [[Guinea (coin)|guineas]] and a tomahawk. Sumter used the money to buy his way out of jail in 1766.<ref name=TimberlakeKing>{{cite book | first=Henry |last=Timberlake |editor-first=Duane |editor-last=King |title=The Memoirs of Lt. Henry Timberlake: The Story of a Soldier, Adventurer, and Emissary to the Cherokees, 1756–1765 |publisher=UNC Press }}</ref>{{rp|xxvii}} When Martin and Sumter were reunited some thirty years later, Sumter repaid the money.

===Family life and business===

Sumter settled in [[Stateburg, South Carolina]], in the Claremont District (later the Sumter District) in the [[High Hills of Santee]]. He married Mary Jameson in 1767.  Together, they opened several small businesses and eventually became members of the [[planter class]], acquiring ownership over [[slave plantation]]s.