Even though Elizabeth Shown Mills and three of the others mentioned, are
highly recognized in their professions, she and they are NOT authorities
on the information regarding the Jefferson-Hemings DNA Study. Slavery as
written by Dr Rothman is just that, a study of slavery. He and the
others lend nothing to enlighten the public on the narrow case of the
DNA Study specifically. We read on these postings of some who wish "to
move on", we read of stories of various wars and how slaves were treated
by some of their masters, and other topics that add nothing to the
"basics of the DNA Study." 

The DNA Study was a simple collection of blood from a Sally Hemings
descendant that had a family oral tradition of descent from "an uncle",
meaning Randolph Jefferson, the President's brother. Knowing this, WHY
continue the study on this one individual..........SURE there would be a
match? Let us hear Mrs. Mills and others comments on this and please
stay within the bounds of the DNA Study.

Does Mrs. Mills or any of the other authorities mentioned, comment on or
tell the reader that recent research has shown that the Pike Co., Ohio
article by Madison Hemings (read my earlier post on this deception), was
a misstatement and this article was used by Monticello for their
"in-house" report. The professional genealogist can trace back ancestors
and other important facts BUT if they refuse originally, as Mrs. Mills
has, to sit on the blue ribbon panel of thirteen top scholars to
investigate this one study, their overall knowledge of the subject
matter is lacking. I found the cited NGS Quarterly to add nothing to
this narrow topic of the test. I consider the Monticello Report to be
misleading, Chaired by an ORAL family specialist there, that issued a
statement, "best evidence available suggests the strong likelihood that
Thomas Jefferson had a relationship overtime that led to the birth of
one perhaps all, of the known children of Sally Hemings." This statement
is completely devoid of facts.....only ONE Hemings child was tested. 

Mrs. Mills covers the topic of Thomas Hemings Woodson but she did not
tell the reader that the long held Woodson family claim, as well covered
in the Ken Burns film, was obliterated by the Jefferson-Hemings DNA
Study, there was NO match, as expected by myself and Dr. Foster. We were
researching this carefully with suggested suspects in France and the USA
and found some good leads but this research ceased when the report came
out.

Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian
Assistant to Dr. E.A. Foster on the DNA Study           

-----Original Message-----
From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Shown Mills
Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 10:54 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Thomas Jefferson et alia

>>Maybe there should be a list of required reading before being allowed
to
comment on this subject
>May I please suggest the several books reviewed on The Thomas Jefferson
Heritage Society web page, www.tjheritage.org. 

Among other critical assessments (based on original historical records,
not "oral history") is considerable new evidence presented by Leary that
conclusively demonstrates Tom Woodson was *not* Sally Hemings son.
Indeed, no historical record could be found which makes this assertion.
Like much so-called "tradition" that genealogists and historians now
have to deal with, that claim did not surface until the 20th century;
and it remains unsupported even in current books published by the
Woodsons.

Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG
(Disclaimer: Editor, _NGS Quarterly_, 1987-2002, and editor of the cited
special issue)