2. Thomas² Jefferson (Peter¹) was born in Shadwell, Goochland, Virginia 2 Apr 1743.⁽¹⁹⁾ Thomas died 4 Jul 1826 in Monticello, Albemarle, Virginia, at 83 years of age.⁽²⁰⁾

He married Martha Wayles in The Forest, Charles City Co., Virginia, 1 Jan 1772.⁽²¹⁾ Martha was born in Charles City Co., Virginia 19 Oct 1748.⁽²²⁾ Martha was the daughter of John Wayles and Martha Eppes. Martha died 6 Sep 1782 in Monticello, Albemarle, Virginia, at 33 years of age.⁽²³⁾

Thomas Jefferson and Martha Wayles had the following children:

3 i. Martha³ Jefferson was born 1772.⁽²⁴⁾ Martha died 1835 at 63 years of age.⁽²⁵⁾ She married Thomas Mann Randolph 23 Feb 1790.⁽²⁶⁾ (See Thomas Mann Randolph for the continuation of this line.)

4 ii. Jane Randolph Jefferson⁽²⁷⁾ was born 1773. Jane died 1775 at 2 years of age.

5 iii. Maria Jefferson was born 1778.⁽²⁸⁾ Maria died 1804 at 26 years of age.⁽²⁹⁾ She married John Wayles Eppes 13 Oct 1797.⁽³⁰⁾ He was her half-cousin.

John was born 1773. John⁽³¹⁾ was the son of Francis Eppes and Elizabeth Wayles. John died 5 Sep 1823 at 50 years of age.

6 iv. Lucy Jefferson⁽³²⁾ was born 1782. Lucy died 1785 at 3 years of age.

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings had the following children:

7 v. unknown Hemings⁽³³⁾ was born in Monticello, Albemarle, Virginia ca 1790. This child, who apparently died quite young, is surrounded by much controversy, excluding the disagreement of just who the father of Sally Hemings' children may have been. Many, over time, have believed this to be a Thomas Hemings Woodson, from whom the Woodsons of Greenbrier County, Virginia have claimed descent from Sally and Thomas Jefferson. There have been those who agree that Thomas Jefferson is the father of Sally's children who have included elaborate genealogies of the descendants of Thomas along with descents of her children Madison and Eston.

In her article, Helen Leary has spent considerable time showing how the records do not support this, and then adding to that the results of the DNA studies. There are those who have used the DNA results to claim that because Thomas does not carry the Jefferson Y chromosome that it is obvious that Sally had children by more than one man.

In the end, it appears that the records themselves speak to the fact that Thomas Hemings Woodson cannot be a son of Sally's as the ages do not fit. The conclusions drawn by Leary in her article are all supported with sound evidence.

8 vi. Harriet Hemings⁽³⁴⁾ was born 5 Oct 1795. Harriet died Dec 1797 at 2 years of age.

9 vii. Beverly Hemings was born in Monticello, Albemarle, Virginia 1 Apr 1798.⁽³⁵⁾ According to a notation in Jefferson's Farm Book, Beverly ran away from Monticello in 1822 and nothing much is known about what happened to him, though brother Madison mentions that he passed as white, marrying into a Maryland family "in good circumstance" and had a daughter.

10 viii. female Hemings⁽³⁶⁾ was born ca 7 Dec 1799.

11 ix. Harriet Hemings⁽³⁷⁾ was born in Monticello, Albemarle, Virginia May 1801. Harriet died aft 1863.

+ 12 x. Madison Hemings was born 19 Jan 1805.

+ 13 xi. Eston Hemings was born 21 May 1808.

Return to Table of Contents or Index

Go to Next Page

Go to Previous Page