This is all true and well known to historians.  See the book "Jefferson's Nephews"
(Author's name slips my mind); it it truly horrible.  I am no fan of Jefferson
(See my book, Slavery and the Founders:  Race and Liberty in the Age of
Jefferson); but we certainly cannot blame TJ for the sins and misdeeds of his
relatives.

Karen Sutton wrote:

> Ladies and Gentlemen,
>
> I saw this on Afrigeneas, anyone care to confirm or deny the story's
> accuracy?  Any comments?
>
> Karen E. Sutton
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 01:20:49 -0600 (CST)
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Jefferson nephew chops a Black man to pieces
>
> FYI ... this comes from another ListServ.  Interesting but not
> surprising to
> me!  Sources follow the story.
>
> Please read this shocking account written by a white man about Lillburn
> Lewis, nephew of Thomas Jefferson of Livingston County, Kentucky:
>
> > Lillburn Lewis (nephew of Thomas Jefferson, the penman of the
> > Declaration of
> > Independence), of Livingston County, Kentucky, was the owner of about
> > fifty
> > Slaves, whom he drove constantly, fed sparingly, and lashed severely.
> > The
> > consequence was that some of them were in the habit of running away.
> > This
> > gave Lewis great anxieties until he found them, or until they starved
> > out
> > and returned.  Among the rest was a boy named George, about seventeen
> > years
> > of age, who, having just returned, was sent to a spring for water, and
> > let
> > fall a pitcher breaking it.  This was the occasion.  It was night.
> > Lewis
> > then collected all the slaves into an out house, and ordered a rousing
> > fire
> > to be made.  When the door was secured, that none might escape, either
> > through fear or sympathy, Lewis opened the design of the meeting,
> > namely,
> > that they might be effectually taught to stay at home and obey his
> > orders.
> > All things being now in train, he called up George, who approached his
> > master with the most unreserved submission.  He bound him with cords
> , and aid him on a meatblock, and seizing a broad axe, proceeded to
> chop him
> > into pieces, commencing at the ankles.
> > In vain did the unhappy victim call upon his Master to forgive him.
>   In vain did he scream.  Not a slave durst interfere. Casting the feet
> into the
> > fire, he lectured the Slaves at some length.  He then chopped off
> > below the
> > knees, and admonished them again, throwing the legs into the fire.  He
> > then
> > chopped off above the knees, tossing the joints into the fire,
> > lecturing as
> > he proceeded.  The next two or three strokes severed the thighs from
> > the
> > body.  These were also committed to the flames.  And so were the arms,
> > head
> > and trunk, until all was in the fire.  Still protracting the intervals
> > with
> > lectures, and threatenings of like punishment, in case of disobedience
> > and
> > running away.  The Slaves were then permitted to disperse.
> >
> > When the monster returned to his house, Mrs. Lewis exclaimed, Oh!  Mr.
> > Lewis where have you been, and what have you done!  She had heard a
> > strange pounding, and dreadful screams, and had smelled something like
> > fresh meat burning!  He replied that he had never enjoyed himself at a
> > ball
> > so well as he had enjoyed himself that evening.
> >
> >
>
> According to scholars, Jefferson, an enslaver of 154 Africans, would
> never
> confront the murder in any of his writings. Reprinted in Tingba Apidta,
> The
> Hidden History of Washington, DC: A Guide for Black Folks (Roxbury, MA:
> Reclamation Project, 1996); William Loren Katz, editor, The Suppressed
> Book
> About Slavery (New York: Arno/New York Times, 1968), pp. 199-200.
>
> Peace, blessings, favor and grace, Alta
>
> "I have learned that no one can experience true love, or a joyful
> presence,
> or create an optimal future until one makes peace with one's past.
> Genealogy
> heals the soul!"
>
> To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
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--
Paul Finkelman
Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Tulsa College of Law
3120 East 4th Place
Tulsa, OK  74104-3189

phone 918-631-3706
Fax   918-631-2194
e-mail:   [log in to unmask]


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