Anne,
Again you are confused in assigning my wife as being a descendant of
Thomas Jefferson....she is not, and I believe I earlier explained that
she was a FIRST COUSIN, six generations removed.....NOT a direct lineal
descendant. Her DNA has nothing to do with this controversy. What is the
LIE you refer to?
I am keenly aware that exhuming a body to gain DNA must be considered
with all respect, thus I am not "bugging" them to do it. Maybe in doing
so would prove their point that Madison and Eston would have the same
father...or NOT. Their choice.......I just report what has transpired in
that area. TJ's DNA is represented by male in line descendants of Thomas
Jefferson II (TJ's grandfather), and thus it is scientifically
sufficient to represent Thomas and the scientific community recognizes
this.
Possibly I may (or may not) have discussed the William Hemings issue
with Hemings family members. I recall on one occasion that I did (in the
Omni hallway in Charlottesville at a Monticello Assn. annual meeting,
discuss it with a Hemings spokesperson, Shay Banks-Young. She told me
they would NEVER permit the access to William Hemings DNA and that they
were "happy" with their oral family history. So be it........the ball is
in their court!
I am unable to answer your "arrogant ones" remark or your "entrenched
aristocracy" remark. I don't have any knowledge of anyone in those
categories. Let us stick to the facts of what we do and do not know and
that is: NO proof exists of Thomas Jefferson fathering any slave child
and he denied it to two of his cabinet members, Robert Smith, Sec. Of
the Navy and Levi Lincoln, Sec. Of the Treasury.
Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian
Herb,
You say that it is your wife who is the descendent. Has her DNA been
tested
to be sure that is the case? Or is her claim just based on Oral History?
Since she is not male, perhaps you will convince her to let her
father/grandfather be dug up so you can assure me that she is a genuine
descendent. Otherwise, you better stop telling that LIE!
Seriously, Herb, it is a big deal to dig up one's ancestors to many
people.
Last time this argument ran on this list, someone suggested digging up
TJ
himself and getting a sample of his DNA for researce purposes, and the
clamor was loud! How dare folks consider disturbing him in his grave!
Yet,
you seem to want to put that on the Hemings.
If you sat down with the Hemings in a congenial atmosphere, why did you
not
bring up the subject of exhuming and testing William?
Seems to me that the score, at present, on DNA testing is to affirm one
oral
history, and disprove another. The score is tied. One more remains. Are
the
odds in favor of the oral history, or do the odds favor the arrogrant
ones?
I noticed on the web page that the last "mision" of your young
organization
is to "defend" TJ's "integrity" against those who would not keep him on
that
pedestal. I guess that is what you are doing on this list. Sadly, you
are
making a stronger case in favor of the Hemings who you are making seem
like
the "good guys" against the entrenched aristocracy!
Anne
Anne Pemberton
[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
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