This terrible incident is also the subject of a play by, I believe, Robert Penn Warren called, " A Brother unto Dragons." A graphic illustration of the horrors of slavery and of TJ's own observations in Notes on Virginia. Jim Hershman paul finkelman wrote: >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 > > To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html