To further expound upon Mr. Dixon's post and to enlighten the reader's
understanding of this biased Monticello Research Study, conducted by
Monticello employees, Chaired by an African-American ORAL history
specialist, let us hear from a geneticist or two first and then review an
inaccurate supposition from the pages of this report which I am certain most
readers have not seen.
* Dr Kenneth K. Kidd, Prof. Of Genetics, Yale University (Jan 1999), "I
think Eric Lander and Joseph Ellis in their News and Views Commentary
overintrepeted the results as proving that Jefferson was the father of
Eston." "The Y chromosome data do not prove that Thomas Jefferson himself
was the ancestor of H21 (meaning Eston Hemings)." Note: Here we have a
scientist and a historian collaborating on a story of the findings in a
scientific journal and completely MISSING the real meaning.
* Dr Mark Lovell, Dir. Of Molecular Biology Lab. UVA School of Medicine,
(Jan 1999). When asked if he would do anything different if he had been
conducting the test, he replied, "he would not change the methodology, but
would have had "witnessed" collections." It should be noted that Dr Foster
conducted the blood gatherings from an Eston Hemings male who already had
the orally claimed Jefferson DNA going back to Eston Hemings himself. Eston
NEVER claimed descent from Thomas Jefferson, as his brother Madison did,
Eston claimed descent from "a Jefferson uncle", meaning Randolph, TJ'S much
younger brother. There could only be a match under these conditions. Dr
Foster would NOT heed my cautions and tell Nature of this.
* Dr David Page, Associate Director, Whitehead Institute, M.I.T. Center for
Genome Research (Dec 1998). Dr Page said "if he had any concerns about the
study, they would have to do with "bookkeeping" and the interpretation of
results." "He would feel better if blood was redrawn from the Eston Hemings
descendant and retyped." Note: As mentioned above, Dr Foster tested a known
carrier of Jefferson DNA, thus INSURING a match.
A very important statement follows from Dr Page: "Dr Page stressed that
there is a low probability that any of these possibilities represent true
problems, but rather that they are the areas for which he might wish for
more data, to shore up the author's "FAVORED CONCLUSIONS" (my caps). Note:
Yes, there have been many favored conclusions along the line.
* The Hemings chart includes Thomas Woodson as being a son of Sally Hemings,
however the DNA Study definitely proved NO Jefferson/Woodson connection and
Monticello can find no proof that Tom Woodson was even a son of Sally
Hemings.
* Three Thomas Jefferson nephews (Randolph's sons) were recorded as being in
the area when three of Sally's children were conceived, one, Robert Lewis
Jefferson (Randolph's son, was delivering a message, to Mr. Jefferson in
July-Aug 1805, when Sally conceived Eston. The Monticello Study Group
discounted this by indicating they were "too young"..what, at ages 14 1/2 to
21?? "The dates of Randolph's widowhood may coincide with Sally's
childbearing years."
* Dr Daniel Jordan is remiss in accepting the study's recommendation that
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings had a relationship over time that lead to
the birth of one, and perhaps all, of the known children of Sally Hemings.
This man of careful and responsible research has been, in my opinion,
misled by a biased and calculated study. NO WAY, he could accept
ALL.....only ONE tested.
* At another page the following statement is made: "At some point in the
twentieth century, the family history among descendants of Eston
Hemings---who identify themselves as white---was altered to state that their
ancestor was NOT (my caps), Thomas Jefferson, but his uncle (my notes,
really TJ's brother, Randolph (with Jefferson DNA) and known by TJ
grandchildren and slave children as "UNCLE." (Getting Word Project files).
Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian (38 years of family and allied research).
-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2008 2:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] New Presidential Descendant Claimant
Steve
While journalists have certainly perpetuated mistaken conclusions from the
DNA tests, ("the Carrs were cleared," "Thomas Jefferson fathered Hemings'
children"), the failure in putting the DNA results in context with the
known historical facts lies with the academic community. Journalists write
stories, not history, and if they make a mistake, they move on, and we are
left with the uncertain remedy of a letter to the editor. Much has been
made of the Nature headline that trumpeted Thomas Jefferson as the father
of a slave child. That certainly created an exciting story line and the
journalists jumped on it. But it was the Monticello Report, about 14 months
later, touted as a "the most extensive compilation ever of what is known
and not known" about the paternity story, which firmly convinced the
academic community that the issue was finally settled. This Report was
compiled by the staff at Monticello and it concluded that Jefferson "was
most likely the father of all six of Sally Heming's children." Other than
the DNA tests, the Report presented no new evidence, and relied on the
"birth pattern," the Madison Hemings "Memoirs," the "resemblance" claim,
the "proximity "argument, and the "oral history" of the Hemings and Woodson
families. The most astounding claim by the Monticello report was the
"single father" postulate. The report observed that the Hemings siblings
had a "closeness" that could only come from a single father. Since the
report concluded that Jefferson must be Eston's father, and since they all
had the same father, Jefferson must be the father of them all. This
"closeness" is supposedly demonstrated by siblings naming their children
after each other. I doubt many on this list have actually read the
Monticello report, but because of Monticello's prestige and influence, it
is reason enough for most to accept the conclusions without dissent or
further study. Later, when the Scholars Commission report was released,
composed of independent historians, which studied the matter for over a
year,concluded that it was "unlikely" that Jefferson fathered any of the
Hemings children, many academics had become paternity believers.
Richard E. Dixon
Editor, Jefferson Notes
Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society
4122 Leonard Drive
Fairfax, Va 22030
703-691-0770 fax 703-691-0978
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