Yes, I misstated that. Betty Hemings is assumed to have been 1/2 white, so
Sally Hemings was 3/4 white if she had a white father and her children
would be 7/8 white (legally white under Virginia law) with a white father


Richard E. Dixon
Clifton, VA 20124-2115
703-830-8177
fax 703-691-0978



> [Original Message]
> From: Paul Finkelman <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 4/22/2003 4:34:17 PM
> Subject: Re: White slaves
>
> Actually, isn't the assumption that Betty Hemings (Sally's mother) was
> half white;
>
> Richard Dixon wrote:
>
> >The assumption that Sally Hemings was the child of a black women and a
> >white man seems accepted. Her children are also assumed to have been the
> >children of a white man. Under the Virginia law at that time, they were
> >white.Why then did Jefferson seek permission (also a requirement of
> >statute) for Madison and Eston Hemings, freed under the terms of his
will,
> >to remain in Virginia. It was also provided by statute that the child of
a
> >slave women was born a slave, If the child were white and freed when an
> >adult, why did he not become a "white man" and automatically divested of
> >those requirements that control black freed slaves, i.e., leave the
> >Commonwealth unless granted permission to stay by the General Assembly?
> >
> >
> >Richard E. Dixon
> >Clifton, VA 20124-2115
> >703-830-8177
> >fax 703-691-0978
> >
> >To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions
> >at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> Paul Finkelman
> Chapman Distinguished Professor of Law
> University of Tulsa College of Law
> 3120 East 4th Place
> Tulsa, OK   74104-3189
>
> 918-631-3706 (office)
> 918-631-2194 (fax)
>
> [log in to unmask]
>
>

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