Anne, I am very familiar with the book you mention and in fact if you will turn to pages 54 & 55 you will see an interview done in my home with my wife, Evelyn and I. You will note our objections to his claims in no uncertain terms. I object to this book because it has been widely used as a textbook in our school systems. It is most inaccurate in the assumptions (many),that he or the others descend from Thomas Jefferson. He and his family are among those who REFUSE to DNA test a son of Madison Hemings. In fact, Shannon Lanier (who descends from Madison Hemings) has NO DNA science to even prove that Eston and Madison have the same fathers. You will also note the "big splash" that family made on the Oprah Show. I wrote Oprah and sent a package of study materials and did not even get a reply (as I expected). The person holding the mike or printing press has the option of "freedom of the press." For some real books exposing this fiasco go to www.tjheritage.org and click on recommended books as well as reviews of others. The census document which you mention was hand written, not by the census taker and is just another attempt to use oral history as in the Pike Co. newspaper. The opposition newspaper, Waverly Watchman, "blasted" the Pike Co. article. Madison Hemings was NOT named by Dolley Madison on the date of his birth as he claims. In spots it is inaccurate and for that reason can we believe anything there.....I think not, even though it was extensively used in the Monticello biased study. Yes, we are always on the alert evaluating all claims and anything Jefferson. You have great web pages, Herb Barger, Jefferson Family Historian -----Original Message----- From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Anne Pemberton Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2008 7:37 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] DNA In Jefferson-Hemings controversy Herb, Co-incidently, as I read your post from earlier today, I got a new book in the mail: Jerrerson's Children, The Story of One American Family by Shannon Lanier and Jane Feldman with an introduction by Lucian K. Truscott IV. Inside the book, P 14-15 is a large picture of a very large group of people who claim to be ancestors of Martha Jefferson and Sally Hemmings taken May 15, 1999. and on p 19, there is a photo of a census document which lists Madison Hemmings with the notation "This man is the son of Thomas Jefferson!" I'm sure the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society has an answer and I'm curious what can explain away that evidence. All of these black oral histories, and a record on a census. Perhaps there is more "evidence" that the Society has not had the opportunity to examine. Anne Anne Pemberton [log in to unmask] http://www.erols.com/apembert http://www.educationalsynthesis.org ______________________________________ ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html