Ties That Bind: The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom (American Crossroads)

This beautifully written book, now in its second edition, tells the haunting saga of a quintessentially American family. In the late 1790s, Shoe Boots, a famed Cherokee warrior and successful farmer, acquired an African slave named Doll. Over the next thirty years, Shoe Boots and Doll lived together as master and slave and also as lifelong partners who, with their children and grandchildren, experienced key events in American history―including slavery, the Creek War, the founding of the Cherokee Nation and subsequent removal of Native Americans along the Trail of Tears, and the Civil War. This is the gripping story of their lives, in slavery and in freedom. Meticulously crafted from historical and literary sources, Ties That Bind vividly portrays the members of the Shoeboots family. Doll emerges as an especially poignant character, whose life is mostly known through the records of things done to her―her purchase, her marriage, the loss of her children―but also through her moving petition to the federal government for the pension owed to her as Shoe Boots's widow. A sensitive rendition of the hard realities of black slavery within Native American nations, the book provides the fullest picture we have of the myriad complexities, ironies, and tensions among African Americans, Native Americans, and whites in the first half of the nineteenth century. Updated with a new preface and an appendix of key primary sources, this remains an essential book for students of Native American history, African American history, and the history of race and ethnicity in the United States. Cover......Page 1 Ties That Bind......Page 4 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Dedication......Page 8 CONTENTS......Page 10 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS......Page 12 SHOEBOOTS FAMILY TREE......Page 14 PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION......Page 16 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION......Page 28 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS......Page 32 Introduction......Page 36 PART ONE BONE OF MY BONE: SLAVERY, RACE, AND NATION—EAST......Page 44 1. Captivity......Page 48 2. Slavery......Page 60 3. Motherhood......Page 79 4. Property......Page 99 5. Christianity......Page 130 6. Nationhood......Page 145 7. Gold Rush......Page 174 PART TWO OF BLOOD AND BONE: FREEDOM, KINSHIP, AND CITIZENSHIP—WEST......Page 190 8. Removal......Page 194 9. Capture......Page 207 10. Freedom......Page 224 Epilogue: Citizenship......Page 236 Coda: The Shoeboots Family Today......Page 249 APPENDIX 1. RESEARCH METHODS AND CHALLENGES......Page 252 APPENDIX 2. DEFINITION AND USE OF TERMS......Page 259 APPENDIX 3. CHEROKEE NAMES AND MISTAKEN IDENTITIES......Page 261 APPENDIX 4. PRIMARY SOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY......Page 264 NOTES......Page 326 SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 380 INDEX......Page 400 This Beautifully Written Book Tells The Haunting Saga Of A Quintessentially American Family. It Is The Story Of Shoe Boots, A Famed Cherokee Warrior And Successful Farmer, And Doll, An African Slave He Acquired In The Late 1790s. Over The Next Thirty Years, Shoe Boots And Doll Lived Together As Master And Slave And Also As Lifelong Partners Who, With Their Children And Grandchildren, Experienced Key Events In American History--including Slavery, The Creek War, The Founding Of The Cherokee Nation And Subsequent Removal Of Native Americans Along The Trail Of Tears, And The Civil War. This Is The Gripping Story Of Their Lives, In Slavery And In Freedom--provided By Publisher. Captivity -- Slavery -- Motherhood -- Property -- Christianity -- Nationhood -- Gold Rush -- Removal -- Capture -- Freedom -- Epilogue : Citizenship -- Coda : The Shoeboots Family Today. Tiya Miles. Originally Published: 2005. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.