Even though Elizabeth Shown Mills and three of the others mentioned, are highly recognized in their professions, she and they are NOT authorities on the information regarding the Jefferson-Hemings DNA Study. Slavery as written by Dr Rothman is just that, a study of slavery. He and the others lend nothing to enlighten the public on the narrow case of the DNA Study specifically. We read on these postings of some who wish "to move on", we read of stories of various wars and how slaves were treated by some of their masters, and other topics that add nothing to the "basics of the DNA Study." The DNA Study was a simple collection of blood from a Sally Hemings descendant that had a family oral tradition of descent from "an uncle", meaning Randolph Jefferson, the President's brother. Knowing this, WHY continue the study on this one individual..........SURE there would be a match? Let us hear Mrs. Mills and others comments on this and please stay within the bounds of the DNA Study. Does Mrs. Mills or any of the other authorities mentioned, comment on or tell the reader that recent research has shown that the Pike Co., Ohio article by Madison Hemings (read my earlier post on this deception), was a misstatement and this article was used by Monticello for their "in-house" report. The professional genealogist can trace back ancestors and other important facts BUT if they refuse originally, as Mrs. Mills has, to sit on the blue ribbon panel of thirteen top scholars to investigate this one study, their overall knowledge of the subject matter is lacking. I found the cited NGS Quarterly to add nothing to this narrow topic of the test. I consider the Monticello Report to be misleading, Chaired by an ORAL family specialist there, that issued a statement, "best evidence available suggests the strong likelihood that Thomas Jefferson had a relationship overtime that led to the birth of one perhaps all, of the known children of Sally Hemings." This statement is completely devoid of facts.....only ONE Hemings child was tested. Mrs. Mills covers the topic of Thomas Hemings Woodson but she did not tell the reader that the long held Woodson family claim, as well covered in the Ken Burns film, was obliterated by the Jefferson-Hemings DNA Study, there was NO match, as expected by myself and Dr. Foster. We were researching this carefully with suggested suspects in France and the USA and found some good leads but this research ceased when the report came out. Herb Barger Jefferson Family Historian Assistant to Dr. E.A. Foster on the DNA Study -----Original Message----- From: Research and writing about Virginia genealogy and family history. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Elizabeth Shown Mills Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 10:54 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [VA-ROOTS] Thomas Jefferson et alia >>Maybe there should be a list of required reading before being allowed to comment on this subject >May I please suggest the several books reviewed on The Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society web page, www.tjheritage.org. Among other critical assessments (based on original historical records, not "oral history") is considerable new evidence presented by Leary that conclusively demonstrates Tom Woodson was *not* Sally Hemings son. Indeed, no historical record could be found which makes this assertion. Like much so-called "tradition" that genealogists and historians now have to deal with, that claim did not surface until the 20th century; and it remains unsupported even in current books published by the Woodsons. Elizabeth Shown Mills, CG, CGL, FASG (Disclaimer: Editor, _NGS Quarterly_, 1987-2002, and editor of the cited special issue)