The False Narrative of the Paternity of Sally Hemings' Children

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation has blithely asserted as fact that Jefferson fathered all of Sally Hemings' children. Critical analysis of all the revelant evidence shows that their "fact" is very likely false. This video, long, treats their "fact" as a theoretical hypothesis and goes through all the evidence, pro and con. It shows that the available evidence favors Randolph Jefferson as the father of Eston Hemings and that it is likely that Sally Hemings had children by more than one person. Why then does TJF persist in masquerading falsity as fact? Could it be the benjamins?

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[GoldAndSilver]

Dumas Malone understood decades ago the idiocy of this seemingly never-ending attempt to discredit Mr. Jefferson's greatness. Debased minds will do anything to try to lower great minds to their own level.

[lilidiaz]

Just because he may have been with her, it doesn't mean, they didn't love each other. I agree that possible that he was the father of her children. At that time it was not a crime, and he is still a great mind and a founding father.

[lucyk]

Ackem's Razor says the simplest explanation is most likely the right one. His wife begged him not to remarry. Sally met him in France with his daughter and spent considerable time with the family there. She had a child not very long after her return. This was an imperfect time. How do we know that this was not in his character? He was flawed just like everyone else. He wasn't a saint because he helped found our country. We must acknowledge his lineage regardless. He inexplicably made no effort to recover her children when he listed 2 of them as runaways. He did every one of his other slaves. Also, he freed upon his death her other children. Yet again the only slaves that he freed. He was at home at the times of conception. Even if she didn't go full term. There is a certain window. At least one of Sally's sons wrote about his life at Monticello and said that he knew very well that his father was Jefferson. Then throw in the article by the rival. That's enough for most historians. You are wasting your time.

[thebiggol]

That Jefferson was at Monticello for the conception times of Hemings children is based off the assumption that she carried her children to full term. If she didn't then the dates of Jefferson being at Monticello don't match up for some of the children (Madison and Eston) depending on how far along she was when she gave birth.

[MegaMixking]

Perhaps it is just wishful thinking but I've never bought the Hemmings story and not that my opinion matters much at all.

[richbillotto]

This is a much more complete analysis of the Thomas Jefferson Hypothesis than "Exploding the "Fact"..." I appreciate that you considered all lines of evidence as probabilities. It would really be interesting to assign probabilities to Sally's presence at Monticello during each conception. Also, it would be interesting to assign probabilities to Randolph's proximity to Sally during the conception of her children. Do we know where Sally could have been if not at Monticello?

[richbillotto]

Regarding, the naming slave chindren I can argue opposing sides to naming children after membes of the masters household. Could you give references for or against such naming customs?

[tomlucia]

under virginia law in1600, s it became a felony for negoo and white to marry.the sed person recieved a jail sentence of 6 months and fined 50 or a hundred lbs. tom lucia

[idontgiveafaboutyou]

I don’t know why it’s hard to believe that he may have fathered her children