Anne --

I am not sure this was directed to me, given the spelling of the  
name. But, on the chance that it was, let me acknowledge that my  
personal feelings are that Jefferson and Sally probably did have a  
relationship. The behaviors of all involved, all seem very human to  
me, and disposed to that conclusion. But I do not assert this, and  
will be content to let later science give us the answer that the  
vagaries of historical documentation have denied us. That it will do  
so I have little doubt.

-- Stephan

On 4 May 2008, at 13:05, Anne Pemberton wrote:

> Steven,
>
> Perhaps because I am no spring chicken anymore, I am on a fence on  
> how much we can or should demand that science establish "proofs"  
> which in the past were left as unanswere questions.
>
> I have no problem whatsoever in analyzing all the available  
> information and sticking to my belief that in all probability,  
> Sally shared TJ's bed. He would not have needed to slip out to her  
> cabin. They could have been comforably undisturbed in his bed.  
> Since she was also his chambermaid, who would know? Such testimony  
> as the overseer's statements reminds me of the "testimonies"  
> offered by our current president to explain away his absences from  
> National Guard duty.
>
> I would like to learn more about that census entry for Madison  
> Hemings that he was the son of Thomas Jefferson. Why would the  
> clerk of the court sign off on a document with such an assertion if  
> it was not intended to be understood as knowledge and fact.
>
> Anne
> Anne Pemberton
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.erols.com/apembert
> http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
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