I'm not sure about Madison, but Eston, born 1808, would not have reached his majority by the time of Jefferson's death so perhaps Jefferson felt the need to supply the extra level of legal protection. I have a related question: when did Jefferson make the will with these provisions for the manumission of the Hemingses? >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 David Kiracofe College of Charleston Department of History 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html