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Eston Hemings Jefferson (May 21, 1808 – January 3, 1856) was born a slave at Monticello, the youngest son of Sally Hemings, a mixed-race slave. Most historians who have considered the question believe that his father was Thomas Jefferson, the United States president.[1] Evidence from a 1998 DNA test showed that a descendant of Eston matched the Jefferson male line, and historical evidence also supports the conclusion that Thomas Jefferson was probably Eston's father.[1][2][3] Many historians believe that Jefferson had a relationship with Sally Hemings and fathered her six children, four of whom survived to adulthood.[4]
Jefferson freed Eston and his older brother Madison Hemings in his will, as they had not yet come of age at his death. They each married and lived with their families and mother Sally in Charlottesville, Virginia, until her death in 1835. Both brothers and their young families moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, to live in a free state, where Eston Hemings earned a living as a musician and entertainer.
In 1852 Eston moved with his wife and three children to Madison, Wisconsin, where they changed their surname to Jefferson and entered the white community. Their sons both served in the Union Army, and the older one, John Wayles Jefferson, achieved the rank of colonel. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, becoming a wealthy cotton broker and never married.
Eston's other children, Beverly and Anna Jefferson, married into the white community, and their descendants have identified as white. Beverly Jefferson's five sons were educated and three entered the professional class as a physician, attorney, and manager at the railroad.[5] One of their male-line descendants was tested in the 1998 DNA study.
Jefferson freed Eston and his older brother Madison Hemings in his will, as they had not yet come of age at his death. They each married and lived with their families and mother Sally in Charlottesville, Virginia, until her death in 1835. Both brothers and their young families moved to Chillicothe, Ohio, to live in a free state, where Eston Hemings earned a living as a musician and entertainer.
In 1852 Eston moved with his wife and three children to Madison, Wisconsin, where they changed their surname to Jefferson and entered the white community. Their sons both served in the Union Army, and the older one, John Wayles Jefferson, achieved the rank of colonel. He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, becoming a wealthy cotton broker and never married.
Eston's other children, Beverly and Anna Jefferson, married into the white community, and their descendants have identified as white. Beverly Jefferson's five sons were educated and three entered the professional class as a physician, attorney, and manager at the railroad.[5] One of their male-line descendants was tested in the 1998 DNA study.
Who was Eston Hemings? Everything You Need to Know
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Thank you, my friend Maj Marty Hogan for making us aware that May 21 is the anniversary of the birth of mixed-race slave Eston Hemings Jefferson born at Monticello in 1808. Based on the dates Thomas Jefferson was at Monticello in relationship to the birth of Eston: August 4 - September 30, 1807 it is certainly possible that Thomas Jefferson could be the father of Eston who was born on May 21, 1808 since Thomas jefferson was at home 9 months earlier in September 1807.
Image: The following chart summarizes the known birth dates and the dates of Jefferson's presence at Monticello within that "conception window": Children born at Monticello, compared with dates Thomas Jefferson was at Monticello.
Background from thoughtco.com/sally-hemings-children-3529305
"When James Thomas Callender published allegations in 1802 alleging that Sally Hemings was not just Thomas Jefferson's slave, but his "concubine," it was the beginning but not the end of public speculation on the parentage of Hemings' children.
Sally Hemings' Own Genealogy
Sally Hemings was a slave owned by Jefferson who came to him through his wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson. She may have been Martha Jefferson's half-sister, fathered by Martha's father, John Wayles. Sally's mother, Betsy (or Betty), was herself the daughter of a white ship captain and a black slave woman, so Sally may have had just one black grandparent. Nevertheless, the laws of the time made Sally, and her children no matter who was the father, also slaves.
Birth Dates
The birth dates of six children of Sally Hemings were recorded by Thomas Jefferson in his letters and records. Descendants of Madison Hemings and Eston Hemings are known.
The evidence is mixed for a son who may have been born to Hemings when she returned from Paris. Descendents of Thomas Woodson claims that he was that son.
One way to look at the likelihood of Jefferson as the father of the Hemings children is to see whether Jefferson was present at Monticello and whether that is within a reasonable "conception window" for each child.
What Happened to These Children and Their Descendants?
Two of Sally's documented children (a first Harriet and a girl possibly named Thenia) died in infancy (plus, possibly, the child named Tom who was born shortly after the return from Paris).
Two others―Beverly and Harriet―"ran" in 1822, were never formally freed, but disappeared into white society. Beverly probably died after 1873, and Harriet after 1863. Their descendants are not known, nor do historians know what names they used after their "escape." Jefferson spent minimal effort to track them after their departure, lending credence to the theory that he let them go purposely. Under an 1805 Virginia law, if he'd freed them or any slave, that slave would not be able to remain in Virginia.
Madison and Eston, the youngest of the children, both born after the 1803 Callendar revelations, were freed in Jefferson's will, and were able to remain in Virginia for some time, as Jefferson had requested a special act of the Virginia legislature to permit them to stay contrary to the 1805 law. Both worked as tradesmen and musicians, and ended up in Ohio.
Eston's descendents at some point lost their memory of being directly descended from Jefferson and from Sally Hemings, and were unaware of a black heritage.
Madison's family includes descendents of three of his daughters.
Eston died January 3, 1856 and Madison died November 28, 1877"
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" PriceSGT Jim Arnold Maj Robert Thornton Cynthia Croft SSgt Boyd Herrst TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSG William Jones PO3 Craig Phillips PVT Mark Zehner
Image: The following chart summarizes the known birth dates and the dates of Jefferson's presence at Monticello within that "conception window": Children born at Monticello, compared with dates Thomas Jefferson was at Monticello.
Background from thoughtco.com/sally-hemings-children-3529305
"When James Thomas Callender published allegations in 1802 alleging that Sally Hemings was not just Thomas Jefferson's slave, but his "concubine," it was the beginning but not the end of public speculation on the parentage of Hemings' children.
Sally Hemings' Own Genealogy
Sally Hemings was a slave owned by Jefferson who came to him through his wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson. She may have been Martha Jefferson's half-sister, fathered by Martha's father, John Wayles. Sally's mother, Betsy (or Betty), was herself the daughter of a white ship captain and a black slave woman, so Sally may have had just one black grandparent. Nevertheless, the laws of the time made Sally, and her children no matter who was the father, also slaves.
Birth Dates
The birth dates of six children of Sally Hemings were recorded by Thomas Jefferson in his letters and records. Descendants of Madison Hemings and Eston Hemings are known.
The evidence is mixed for a son who may have been born to Hemings when she returned from Paris. Descendents of Thomas Woodson claims that he was that son.
One way to look at the likelihood of Jefferson as the father of the Hemings children is to see whether Jefferson was present at Monticello and whether that is within a reasonable "conception window" for each child.
What Happened to These Children and Their Descendants?
Two of Sally's documented children (a first Harriet and a girl possibly named Thenia) died in infancy (plus, possibly, the child named Tom who was born shortly after the return from Paris).
Two others―Beverly and Harriet―"ran" in 1822, were never formally freed, but disappeared into white society. Beverly probably died after 1873, and Harriet after 1863. Their descendants are not known, nor do historians know what names they used after their "escape." Jefferson spent minimal effort to track them after their departure, lending credence to the theory that he let them go purposely. Under an 1805 Virginia law, if he'd freed them or any slave, that slave would not be able to remain in Virginia.
Madison and Eston, the youngest of the children, both born after the 1803 Callendar revelations, were freed in Jefferson's will, and were able to remain in Virginia for some time, as Jefferson had requested a special act of the Virginia legislature to permit them to stay contrary to the 1805 law. Both worked as tradesmen and musicians, and ended up in Ohio.
Eston's descendents at some point lost their memory of being directly descended from Jefferson and from Sally Hemings, and were unaware of a black heritage.
Madison's family includes descendents of three of his daughters.
Eston died January 3, 1856 and Madison died November 28, 1877"
FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. LTC (Join to see) Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. "Bill" PriceSGT Jim Arnold Maj Robert Thornton Cynthia Croft SSgt Boyd Herrst TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski CPL Dave Hoover SPC Margaret Higgins SSG William Jones PO3 Craig Phillips PVT Mark Zehner
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