Anne,
I am very familiar with the book you mention and in fact if you will
turn to pages 54 & 55 you will see an interview done in my home with my
wife, Evelyn and I. You will note our objections to his claims in no
uncertain terms. I object to this book because it has been widely used
as a textbook in our school systems. It is most inaccurate in the
assumptions (many),that he or the others descend from Thomas Jefferson.
He and his family are among those who REFUSE to DNA test a son of
Madison Hemings. In fact, Shannon Lanier (who descends from Madison
Hemings) has NO DNA science to even prove that Eston and Madison have
the same fathers.
You will also note the "big splash" that family made on the Oprah Show.
I wrote Oprah and sent a package of study materials and did not even get
a reply (as I expected). The person holding the mike or printing press
has the option of "freedom of the press."
For some real books exposing this fiasco go to www.tjheritage.org and
click on recommended books as well as reviews of others.
The census document which you mention was hand written, not by the
census taker and is just another attempt to use oral history as in the
Pike Co. newspaper. The opposition newspaper, Waverly Watchman,
"blasted" the Pike Co. article. Madison Hemings was NOT named by Dolley
Madison on the date of his birth as he claims. In spots it is inaccurate
and for that reason can we believe anything there.....I think not, even
though it was extensively used in the Monticello biased study.
Yes, we are always on the alert evaluating all claims and anything
Jefferson. You have great web pages,
Herb Barger, Jefferson Family Historian
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Pemberton
Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:37 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] DNA In Jefferson-Hemings controversy
Herb,
Co-incidently, as I read your post from earlier today, I got a new book
in
the mail: Jerrerson's Children, The Story of One American Family by
Shannon
Lanier and Jane Feldman with an introduction by Lucian K. Truscott IV.
Inside the book, P 14-15 is a large picture of a very large group of
people
who claim to be ancestors of Martha Jefferson and Sally Hemmings taken
May
15, 1999. and on p 19, there is a photo of a census document which lists
Madison Hemmings with the notation "This man is the son of Thomas
Jefferson!"
I'm sure the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society has an answer and I'm
curious
what can explain away that evidence. All of these black oral histories,
and
a record on a census. Perhaps there is more "evidence" that the Society
has
not had the opportunity to examine.
Anne
Anne Pemberton
[log in to unmask]
http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org
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