When and how did Monticello's blacksmith Isaac Jefferson obtain his
freedom? In reference to his memoir, are any of his statements been found
to be untrue? I have always though it was interesting that TJ generally
failed to record the death, burial, transfers/sales of those he held in
bondage. But other details of his plantations operation were well recorded.
Ronald Seagrave
----- Original Message -----
From: "Henry Wiencek" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2008 8:47 AM
Subject: [VA-HIST] The Wayles/Hemings miscegenation "rumor"
Herb Barger has been firing away at the story that John Wayles had children
with Betty Hemings, children who were the half-siblings of Martha Wayles
Jefferson. Sally Hemings and Mrs. Jefferson were half-sisters. He downgrades
this to a "rumor," basing his judgment on some research by the McMurrys
which I myself find highly speculative and unconvincing. We have four
sources I know of for this information - the memoir of Madison Hemings, the
memoir of the Monticello blacksmith Isaac Jefferson, an 1802 letter of
Thomas Gibbons, and a letter of Thomas Turner to a Boston newspaper in 1805.
If you wish, we can discount the last two by a few points, as they were
hostile to Jefferson.
I point out to Herb that even Virginius Dabney, an arch-defender, accepted
this story. On page 27 of "The Jefferson Scandals" he notes that Isaac
Jefferson set down this story, that "Madison Hemings confirmed this," and,
rendering his own judgment, "it apparently was true." This relationship
helps to explain the very high status of the extended Hemings family at
Monticello.
Herb, if you want to fight over this further, please email me off-list, but
I don't think there's anything I can add. If you don't want to believe it,
don't; but stop calling it a "rumor."
Henry Wiencek
Charlottesville
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