David, Seems to me that the assumption of a slave called Sandy as the father of Sally's children, would render other accounts of Sally's relationship with Jefferson as non-truth. Since there are a number of such references, from Madison, from Eston's family, from old Monticello slaves, the diary of a neighbor, and let's not forget James Callender, it would seem wrong-headed to go off in the direction of a Sandy as father without some confirmation that at least SOMEONE at the time and in the place remarked on such a relationship. To me it seems much more speculative than Mensies assertion that the Chinese discovered American in 1421. While is is scientifically POSSIBLE, historically, it is highly improbable. And why, praytell, would Jefferson have gone so far out of his way to free Sally's children if they were fathered by another slave? Just doesn't add up. Anne Anne Pemberton [log in to unmask] http://www.erols.com/apembert http://www.educationalsynthesis.org ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Kiracofe" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 1:53 PM Subject: Re: New Presidential Descendant Claimant I'm not going to dispute the science, but Ms. Pemberton is correct -- even if we decline to follow her in labelling Mr. Barger as a "liar." But Mr. Barger _has_ leaped from the "possibility" of a slave bearing another (earlier?) Jefferson DNA to an assertion that we can pinpoint this individual as Sandy ( "This slave's name was "SANDY", a name that denotes reddish hair..."). That is a mere assumption. At the same time, Mr. Barger's assumption _is_ plausible -- so we should consider it . But it only adds to the list of possible fathers among whom Thomas Jefferson must remain firmly in place. David Kiracofe > >Herbert is correct in his remarks about the possibility. And Sandy is >certainly a red-head nickname. And his final point about the DNA >testing is the one that all should take away from this discussion. >Without additional testing, all the analysis of existing and known >documents will not settle the issue. > >Science rules, OK. > >Lyle Browning, RPA > > David Kiracofe History Tidewater Community College Chesapeake Campus 1428 Cedar Road Chesapeake, Virginia 23322 757-822-5136 ______________________________________ 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