Marker #1190 “On Washington’s Guard”

Historical Marker #1190, “On Washington’s Guard,” is dedicated to Sergeant Joseph Timberlake, a member of a group of soldiers known as “Washington’s Life Guard.”

Timberlake served under Major Caleb Gibbs in the Infantry Guard of General George Washington. Their job was to protect Washington, his staff, and his war documents. They were also an elite group of soldiers who trained rigorously under the direction of Barron von Stueben.

Prior to that assignment, Timberlake enlisted in the 7th Virginia Regiment, Virginia Militia, commanded by Colonel Alexander McClenachan on February 28, 1776. Timberlake was assigned to Captain Matthew Dewitt’s company.

He was later transferred to the commander-in-chief’s Guard on May 1, 1777. While serving in that unit, he fought at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Connecticut Farms, King’s Bridge, and Yorktown.

On October 16, 1778, he was arrested and court-martialed after hitting Lieutenant David Zeigler. He was sentenced to one hundred lashes, which he received on October 24, 1778. Timberlake was among many of the soldiers in Washington’s Guard who were resisting the orders given to them about looting, drinking, and marauding. Order was eventually restored, and Timberlake eventually earned the rank of sergeant.

Timberlake and the rest of the enlisted men were separated from duty on June 6, 1783, after peace treaties were signed. He served in the military for seven years.

For his service, Timberlake received a land grant of nearly 234 acres.

In his pension statement, he admitted that he never received a federal grant; the land grant he received was from Virginia.

Also according to his pension statement, Timberlake “followed the farming business” in Green County, Kentucky.

The state marker is in Hart County, where he died and was buried in 1841.