Sally Hemings father was John Wayles, Thomas Jefferson’s father-in-law. So Sally was President Jefferson’s sister-in-law. I find it interesting that this fact is often overlooked.
@@godssara6758 Well Madison Hemings told a reporter that child died as an infant in 1790. Woodson descendants thought he was this child, but that conflicts with what Madison Heming said. Plus, there is evidence Woodson was born in 1784 not 1790. Jefferson i had been in France over a year and Sally was only 11 years old in 1784. Sally did not go to France until 1788. she took Jefferson's daughter Polly after her baby sister died. Matha was already in France with Jefferson, but he had left his 2 youngest daughters with his sister-in-law. My guess is one of the Carr brothers, Jefferson's nephews fathered him with one of Sally's older sisters. You know the same ones Martha Jefferson claimed were Sally's children's father. Both had red hair and children with Sally's sisters, so Martha blamed one of her cousins were Sally's children's father too. Madison, and Eston had reddish hair. their sister Harriet was described as having dark auburn hair and green, gray eyes and very beautiful. Now Betsey did have a daughter named Mary born in 1783. They are not sure whom her father was. Betsey's' son Peter Fossett (born 1780) was the son of an Irish blacksmith named Fossett that had worked at Monticello for a time, but he was long gone by the time Mary was conceived. Some think possibly she was Jefferson's. Betsey ended up going to work for a storekeeper named Bell who leased her from Jefferson, and he later bought her as she was his common-law wife, they had children together. Bell gave all of them their freedom too. Peter Fossett and Mary Hemings stayed at Monticello. When Polly marred her Epps cousin, Mary went with her and after Polly died, Mary became Polly's widower's concubine. They had a good many children together. He and Polly only had 2 together that lived, but Polly died young, in her early 20's.
@@lolodee3528 You need a paper trail to see if you are a true descendant. The DNA is way too watered down to prove direct descent. You would actually have to have a sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA from his body. There is truly no proof. Just more BS to defame The Founding Father's.
The original copy of the Declaration of Independence did have a section ending slavery, but it was struck out because they were afraid that South Carolina would not vote for Independence. If we are going to tell it, and we should, we should tell it right.
I had a somewhat unconventional middle school history teacher who taught us about Sally among other aspects of US history that I later realized was not by-the-textbook. To my understanding, Sally was half-sister to Martha Jefferson (same father... of course), more than a decade younger, and three-quarters white. Martha had died sometime before Sally had children. I believe Sally and Martha naturally looked similar, and Jefferson was known to have loved his wife, so take of that what you will. Many of Sally Hemings' children with Jefferson were white-passing and could blend into white society upon his death.
*many of tj children with sally hemminga. He had no kids with her. The best evidence is a 1/25 coin flip while there are several Jefferson descendants who claim to be the father. TJ no
A lot of times, films are posted 3-20 minutes installments. They do not show up in sequence. Sometimes you can find other installments by looking up who posted it. In this case Smithsonian Channel.
Interesting ending. Hmmmm...... Well, at any rate, few people know that Sally Hemmings was the half sister of Martha Wayles Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's first wife.
They could have indeed. She must have had strong affection for her mother, Betty, and a deep desire to reunite with her in Virginia. Sally did obtain concessions from Jefferson regarding their children's freedom. Although Sally was never emancipated the four surviving children were freed at maturity.
Prečo by tam zostávala? Vo Francúzsku vypukla revolúcia. Lepšie je byť privilegovanou otrokyňou s minimom práce s prísľubom slobody vlastných detí ako žiť v krajine kde by bola pracovala ako slúžka - ťažko a s minimálnym voľnom. Kde ju čakalo väčšie otroctvo? Zrejme vo Francúzsku. Veci niesú vždy také aké sa zdajú.
@@garyturner8898two of the surviving children left for the North during Jefferson's lifetime with his tacit approval, their freedom was a paper exercise. The other two sons were freed and went to live locally, although Sally was never technically free, she lived with them for the last 9 years of her life.
If you read what the scientists that performed the DNA tests wrote, the test did not conclude that TJ was the father or not the father, he had plenty of relatives around Monticello.
I'm sitting on the fence on whether Thomas Jefferson was the father of SH children after reading about the opposing view. Only Advancement in DNA technology if that ever occurs will change my opinion, meaning it will have to pinpoint who the father is and not family line. I certainly would not feel comfortable betting everything I own on TJ being the father. There was never a portrait done of Sally Hemmings. The one that is always shown is not actually her.
You need a paper trail to see if you are a true descendant. The DNA is way too watered down to prove direct descent. You would actually have to have a sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA from his body.
Anyone who's ancestors were in bondage in this country is a fool to believe that how can a nation of people believe that they are created equal. That was written for people of European ancestry that was the all and still is.
Makes me wonder how true the relationship was. Would it stand up to a paternity suit today ? The DNA test would show kinship to Jefferson but not necessarily the father of the child.
@@lolodee3528 You need a paper trail to see if you are a true descendant. The DNA is way too watered down to prove direct descent. You would actually have to have a sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA from his body to prove anything.
The fact that even the Smithsonian continues the improbable narrative that Thomas Jefferson fathered Hemings' children is concerning. All that is certain is that the youngest son of Sarah Hemings', Eston Hemings, has the Jefferson Y-chromosome, meaning some male in the Jefferson family is the father. That's it. It's more likely that the father of Eston was Thomas Jefferson's brother, Rudolph Hemings, who was known to party with the Monticello estate slaves.
sooo many people like you in the comments saying it was the brother when there is absolute nothing to substantiate this. Sallys children even said their father was TJ and this is documented. why would they lie? Why would he put only these kids in his will and not his other nieces and nephews? what's your proof? what's your evidence? I'll wait!
It's strange how so many want to deny what seems so obvious. People suspected Jefferson had children with Hemmings as far back as 1802. It was not uncommon for Virginia planters to have children with their slaves. And Jefferson was progressive relative to many of his southern peers, so I can absolutely see him having a relationship with Sally for decades.
Wish a complete list of related members could be published. It would be interesting to see if any ultra conservatives legislating against teaching Black history are related. ? 🤤
But the internet and Google algorithm are allied against Thomas Jefferson, because he wanted free commerce and free states, not an autocracy like Lincoln wanted.
@@lolodee3528 Familial resemblance across 6 generations? You have 64 ancestors of the 6th generation. Ain't no way you can look similar to all of them. Stop it
But the children were the only family Jefferson ever freed (2 before death & 2 through his will). I guess he could've done that for his brother...but it seems more likely he would do that because they were his kids...especially with them being in his will. Also, why would the children lie about him being their father rather than their uncle instead? One of them said that one of the babies fathered by Jefferson with his mother didn't live too long. I'm sure the children witnessed this. Plus, why would a free woman in Paris move to America to become enslaved? I wonder if it was love. It's all so interesting...
@@gabs3174 Jefferson made arrangements with both the slaves he took to Paris. The man I believe was freed once he taught Jefferson's other chiefs how to expertly cook French food. Hemmings as a single black woman probably understood at some level that she would do better enslaved in on Jefferson's estate (at least more secure) with additional privilege's then free and single in France, and negotiated for any children she might have to be freed, which Jefferson agreed to.
Why are you Jefferson defenders always trying to use Jefferson's brother as a scapegoat to make him look innocent, there are so much evidence to prove Jefferson was in fact the father of Sally's children.
@@gabs3174 she went back to the USA because jefferson said he would free her children if she did what he wanted. he was manipulative, she wasn’t in love with him. that’s such a weird thing to say why would she ever truly love someone who owned her as property?
@@bethaniejify The 14 year olds in 1787 were far more self-sufficient and responsible than a 2022 14 year old. James had a choice of staying in France too. They could’ve lived together.
@@euphegenia 1787: 14 years old was forced to grow up to secure their life. 2022: 14 years old now are more sheltered and that's just fine 🙂 👌 with me.
Sally Hemings father was John Wayles, Thomas Jefferson’s father-in-law. So Sally was President Jefferson’s sister-in-law. I find it interesting that this fact is often overlooked.
It's been in almost every article I read. Sally was his wife's sister and still treated like nothing.
@@adrianemeeus1056 Because she was black and probably product of love affair from slavery… drr
That's what Paul Mooney was getting at
So he married a black woman?
Wrong. Dna disproved
She was beautiful
I feel only sadness for Sally, her children and her brother James. No love or pity for Jefferson.
If you read the report on Monticello Dr Foster who preformed the DNA TEST IT IS NOT CONCLUSIVE
Why. DNA proved Woodson was not a Jefferson.
@@godssara6758 Well Madison Hemings told a reporter that child died as an infant in 1790. Woodson descendants thought he was this child, but that conflicts with what Madison Heming said. Plus, there is evidence Woodson was born in 1784 not 1790. Jefferson i had been in France over a year and Sally was only 11 years old in 1784. Sally did not go to France until 1788. she took Jefferson's daughter Polly after her baby sister died. Matha was already in France with Jefferson, but he had left his 2 youngest daughters with his sister-in-law. My guess is one of the Carr brothers, Jefferson's nephews fathered him with one of Sally's older sisters. You know the same ones Martha Jefferson claimed were Sally's children's father. Both had red hair and children with Sally's sisters, so Martha blamed one of her cousins were Sally's children's father too. Madison, and Eston had reddish hair. their sister Harriet was described as having dark auburn hair and green, gray eyes and very beautiful. Now Betsey did have a daughter named Mary born in 1783. They are not sure whom her father was. Betsey's' son Peter Fossett (born 1780) was the son of an Irish blacksmith named Fossett that had worked at Monticello for a time, but he was long gone by the time Mary was conceived. Some think possibly she was Jefferson's. Betsey ended up going to work for a storekeeper named Bell who leased her from Jefferson, and he later bought her as she was his common-law wife, they had children together. Bell gave all of them their freedom too. Peter Fossett and Mary Hemings stayed at Monticello. When Polly marred her Epps cousin, Mary went with her and after Polly died, Mary became Polly's widower's concubine. They had a good many children together. He and Polly only had 2 together that lived, but Polly died young, in her early 20's.
So technically... Sally Hemings was America's first lady from 1801-1809.
Poor Sally
The truth always comes out in the end.
Absolutely!
Sadly that's not the case, but it's beautiful when it does come out.
@@sleepingninjaquiettime Sometimes it takes centuries.
Seriously! Every time
People knew it back then it was published in many newspapers during the remainder of Jefferson's presidency.
Sally was beautiful.
Where's the whole episode?
Yes I want to watch the whole thing!
That indeed was a really anticlimactic ending 😂
I knew this from high-school. I graduated in the 1980s. How do people not know this?
Because it's racist America- with Trump and his cult- negating everything that is clear as day. 🇺🇲☄️
Because certain people would rather you DON'T know.
because there is no proof
DNA has been done. Try to keep up.
@@lolodee3528 You need a paper trail to see if you are a true descendant. The DNA is way too watered down to prove direct descent. You would actually have to have a sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA from his body. There is truly no proof. Just more BS to defame The Founding Father's.
The original copy of the Declaration of Independence did have a section ending slavery, but it was struck out because they were afraid that South Carolina would not vote for Independence. If we are going to tell it, and we should, we should tell it right.
Jefferson was the one who wrote the clause for the Abolishment of Slavery. He was out voted.
I had a somewhat unconventional middle school history teacher who taught us about Sally among other aspects of US history that I later realized was not by-the-textbook. To my understanding, Sally was half-sister to Martha Jefferson (same father... of course), more than a decade younger, and three-quarters white. Martha had died sometime before Sally had children. I believe Sally and Martha naturally looked similar, and Jefferson was known to have loved his wife, so take of that what you will. Many of Sally Hemings' children with Jefferson were white-passing and could blend into white society upon his death.
*many of tj children with sally hemminga.
He had no kids with her. The best evidence is a 1/25 coin flip while there are several Jefferson descendants who claim to be the father. TJ no
Why does this video end so abruptly and unexpectedly just when the story became interesting!
A lot of times, films are posted 3-20 minutes installments. They do not show up in sequence. Sometimes you can find other installments by looking up who posted it. In this case Smithsonian Channel.
@@lisalovett1638 Thanks Lisa! Wish you had told me that 3 months ago. :-)
Interesting ending. Hmmmm...... Well, at any rate, few people know that Sally Hemmings was the half sister of Martha Wayles Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson's first wife.
Thomas Jefferson did actually believe all men were created equal. He also believed that not all men stayed equal.
??
mean slaves and master are considered not equal.
I like to say separate and never will be equal!
Sally was Jeffersons wifes half-sister.. Jeffersons wife died, and I bet she looked just like his wife. He was lonely and fell in love with her.
He did not love her enough to free her and their own children from slavery when he was alive.
I wonder about the 2nd grade teacher now.
Sally Hemings and her brother James could have stayed in France and been free. I guess they didn’t want to give up their family.
They could have indeed. She must have had strong affection for her mother, Betty, and a deep desire to reunite with her in Virginia. Sally did obtain concessions from Jefferson regarding their children's freedom. Although Sally was never emancipated the four surviving children were freed at maturity.
Prečo by tam zostávala? Vo Francúzsku vypukla revolúcia. Lepšie je byť privilegovanou otrokyňou s minimom práce s prísľubom slobody vlastných detí ako žiť v krajine kde by bola pracovala ako slúžka - ťažko a s minimálnym voľnom. Kde ju čakalo väčšie otroctvo? Zrejme vo Francúzsku. Veci niesú vždy také aké sa zdajú.
@@garyturner8898two of the surviving children left for the North during Jefferson's lifetime with his tacit approval, their freedom was a paper exercise. The other two sons were freed and went to live locally, although Sally was never technically free, she lived with them for the last 9 years of her life.
@@robw7676 Thank you for clarification, much appreciated.
Ya see? Even Thomas Jefferson couldn't resist that black 😺
she was 12 bro😭🙏🏽
If you read what the scientists that performed the DNA tests wrote, the test did not conclude that TJ was the father or not the father, he had plenty of relatives around Monticello.
I find it ironic that Jefferson is referred to as the President in this clip. It is the one accomplishment he chose to be excluded from his tombstone.
"From: One Thosand Years of Slavery". Really, Smithsonian Channel?
Right?!
cherrypick what, this is great!
Jefferson's only male heir was Black.... well, he would have been an heir had he gave him anything.
I'm sitting on the fence on whether Thomas Jefferson was the father of SH children after reading about the opposing view. Only Advancement in DNA technology if that ever occurs will change my opinion, meaning it will have to pinpoint who the father is and not family line. I certainly would not feel comfortable betting everything I own on TJ being the father. There was never a portrait done of Sally Hemmings. The one that is always shown is not actually her.
You need a paper trail to see if you are a true descendant. The DNA is way too watered down to prove direct descent. You would actually have to have a sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA from his body.
We do have accounts from the era of her being his concubine, along with the accounts of some of his kids with her, like Eston....
Name*
I agree, I think the only thing we know for sure is that these decedents are of the family line.
Anyone who's ancestors were in bondage in this country is a fool to believe that how can a nation of people believe that they are created equal. That was written for people of European ancestry that was the all and still is.
Makes me wonder how true the relationship was. Would it stand up to a paternity suit today ? The DNA test would show kinship to Jefferson but not necessarily the father of the child.
DNA was done in late 90’s. It ruled out another Jefferson nephew. TJ is indeed father to Hemings’ children.
@@lolodee3528 if you say so. No problemo.
Why continue to deny their family tale?
@@dwaynedrummond4251 don't care one way or another. People today love to live in fantasy land.
@@lolodee3528 You need a paper trail to see if you are a true descendant. The DNA is way too watered down to prove direct descent. You would actually have to have a sample of Thomas Jefferson's DNA from his body to prove anything.
my great aunt who gave birth to thomas is 8th signer of declaration of independence
your great aunt is the mother of Thomas Jefferson??
why not! 😵💫
thomas jefferson is good.
Sure 😂
Good morning everyone
oh boy.
The fact that even the Smithsonian continues the improbable narrative that Thomas Jefferson fathered Hemings' children is concerning. All that is certain is that the youngest son of Sarah Hemings', Eston Hemings, has the Jefferson Y-chromosome, meaning some male in the Jefferson family is the father. That's it.
It's more likely that the father of Eston was Thomas Jefferson's brother, Rudolph Hemings, who was known to party with the Monticello estate slaves.
sooo many people like you in the comments saying it was the brother when there is absolute nothing to substantiate this. Sallys children even said their father was TJ and this is documented. why would they lie? Why would he put only these kids in his will and not his other nieces and nephews? what's your proof? what's your evidence? I'll wait!
Go run to your safe space so what Thomas Jefferson like a little brown sugar it's a fact deal with it!!!
It's strange how so many want to deny what seems so obvious. People suspected Jefferson had children with Hemmings as far back as 1802. It was not uncommon for Virginia planters to have children with their slaves. And Jefferson was progressive relative to many of his southern peers, so I can absolutely see him having a relationship with Sally for decades.
The narrator’s voice is my least favorite.
Wish a complete list of related members could be published. It would be interesting to see if any ultra conservatives legislating against teaching Black history are related. ? 🤤
this is not a lie, they lived togheter, of course their life would be mixed. and this is an amazing story
The sally hemmings story has been debunked so many times.
No it hasn't! 🙄
Exactly
dna evidence and documented evidence say otherwise. don’t disrespect what that poor woman went through to fit your white narrative.
Sooo, we are making up history now?
TJ and SH did not have children. Educate yourselves people.
But the internet and Google algorithm are allied against Thomas Jefferson, because he wanted free commerce and free states, not an autocracy like Lincoln wanted.
You ignore the DNA and familial resemblances? Seems a whimsical stance.
Madison and Easton were there son's 😊
@@lolodee3528
Familial resemblance across 6 generations?
You have 64 ancestors of the 6th generation.
Ain't no way you can look similar to all of them. Stop it
You want people to educate themselves, well, educate us then??
Wow just found out she's my grandma too
Who is here because of Shane Gillis?
Cough cough Democrat
Not so fast. DNA could have come from any Jefferson male. Jefferson's brother was known to spend a lot if time carrying on amoung the slaves.
But the children were the only family Jefferson ever freed (2 before death & 2 through his will). I guess he could've done that for his brother...but it seems more likely he would do that because they were his kids...especially with them being in his will. Also, why would the children lie about him being their father rather than their uncle instead? One of them said that one of the babies fathered by Jefferson with his mother didn't live too long. I'm sure the children witnessed this. Plus, why would a free woman in Paris move to America to become enslaved? I wonder if it was love. It's all so interesting...
@@gabs3174 Jefferson made arrangements with both the slaves he took to Paris. The man I believe was freed once he taught Jefferson's other chiefs how to expertly cook French food. Hemmings as a single black woman probably understood at some level that she would do better enslaved in on Jefferson's estate (at least more secure) with additional privilege's then free and single in France, and negotiated for any children she might have to be freed, which Jefferson agreed to.
Why are you Jefferson defenders always trying to use Jefferson's brother as a scapegoat to make him look innocent, there are so much evidence to prove Jefferson was in fact the father of Sally's children.
@@gabs3174 because “serfs” in America we’re better treated and they got a wage. That’s why.
@@gabs3174 she went back to the USA because jefferson said he would free her children if she did what he wanted. he was manipulative, she wasn’t in love with him. that’s such a weird thing to say why would she ever truly love someone who owned her as property?
Sally chose to come back to Virginia and back into slavery. They skipped that part.
I mean she was only 14 at the time. 😐
@@bethaniejify The 14 year olds in 1787 were far more self-sufficient and responsible than a 2022 14 year old. James had a choice of staying in France too. They could’ve lived together.
@@euphegenia she was forced to…. jefferson wouldn’t let her leave. you think she wanted to come back and be enslaved?
@@euphegenia she first of all didnt speak the language. In france they speak French not English most of the times. But god knows how that went.
@@euphegenia 1787: 14 years old was forced to grow up to secure their life. 2022: 14 years old now are more sheltered and that's just fine 🙂 👌 with me.
Click bait photo. There is no known portrait of Sally.