This is all true and well known to historians. See the book "Jefferson's Nephews" (Author's name slips my mind); it it truly horrible. I am no fan of Jefferson (See my book, Slavery and the Founders: Race and Liberty in the Age of Jefferson); but we certainly cannot blame TJ for the sins and misdeeds of his relatives. Karen Sutton wrote: > Ladies and Gentlemen, > > I saw this on Afrigeneas, anyone care to confirm or deny the story's > accuracy? Any comments? > > Karen E. Sutton > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > ------------------------------------------- > > Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 01:20:49 -0600 (CST) > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Jefferson nephew chops a Black man to pieces > > FYI ... this comes from another ListServ. Interesting but not > surprising to > me! Sources follow the story. > > Please read this shocking account written by a white man about Lillburn > Lewis, nephew of Thomas Jefferson of Livingston County, Kentucky: > > > Lillburn Lewis (nephew of Thomas Jefferson, the penman of the > > Declaration of > > Independence), of Livingston County, Kentucky, was the owner of about > > fifty > > Slaves, whom he drove constantly, fed sparingly, and lashed severely. > > The > > consequence was that some of them were in the habit of running away. > > This > > gave Lewis great anxieties until he found them, or until they starved > > out > > and returned. Among the rest was a boy named George, about seventeen > > years > > of age, who, having just returned, was sent to a spring for water, and > > let > > fall a pitcher breaking it. This was the occasion. It was night. > > Lewis > > then collected all the slaves into an out house, and ordered a rousing > > fire > > to be made. When the door was secured, that none might escape, either > > through fear or sympathy, Lewis opened the design of the meeting, > > namely, > > that they might be effectually taught to stay at home and obey his > > orders. > > All things being now in train, he called up George, who approached his > > master with the most unreserved submission. He bound him with cords > , and aid him on a meatblock, and seizing a broad axe, proceeded to > chop him > > into pieces, commencing at the ankles. > > In vain did the unhappy victim call upon his Master to forgive him. > In vain did he scream. Not a slave durst interfere. Casting the feet > into the > > fire, he lectured the Slaves at some length. He then chopped off > > below the > > knees, and admonished them again, throwing the legs into the fire. He > > then > > chopped off above the knees, tossing the joints into the fire, > > lecturing as > > he proceeded. The next two or three strokes severed the thighs from > > the > > body. These were also committed to the flames. And so were the arms, > > head > > and trunk, until all was in the fire. Still protracting the intervals > > with > > lectures, and threatenings of like punishment, in case of disobedience > > and > > running away. The Slaves were then permitted to disperse. > > > > When the monster returned to his house, Mrs. Lewis exclaimed, Oh! Mr. > > Lewis where have you been, and what have you done! She had heard a > > strange pounding, and dreadful screams, and had smelled something like > > fresh meat burning! He replied that he had never enjoyed himself at a > > ball > > so well as he had enjoyed himself that evening. > > > > > > According to scholars, Jefferson, an enslaver of 154 Africans, would > never > confront the murder in any of his writings. Reprinted in Tingba Apidta, > The > Hidden History of Washington, DC: A Guide for Black Folks (Roxbury, MA: > Reclamation Project, 1996); William Loren Katz, editor, The Suppressed > Book > About Slavery (New York: Arno/New York Times, 1968), pp. 199-200. > > Peace, blessings, favor and grace, Alta > > "I have learned that no one can experience true love, or a joyful > presence, > or create an optimal future until one makes peace with one's past. > Genealogy > heals the soul!" > > 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 phone 918-631-3706 Fax 918-631-2194 e-mail: [log in to unmask] To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html