Hemings

The Hemings family was an enslaved African-American family in Virginia, known for their multi-generational association with U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. The most prominent member of the Hemings family was Sally Hemings (c. 1773 – 1835), who is widely believed, based on DNA evidence and historical accounts, to have had a decades-long relationship with Jefferson and bore him several children.

Sally Hemings was the half-sister of Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson, sharing the same father, John Wayles. She was brought to Monticello as a child and likely served as a personal attendant to Martha Jefferson. Following Martha's death, Sally accompanied Jefferson's daughter, Maria, to Paris, where Jefferson was serving as Minister to France.

Upon their return to Monticello, Sally Hemings remained enslaved to Jefferson. While she and her children were not formally freed during Jefferson's lifetime (with the exception of two who were allowed to leave Monticello), it is believed that Jefferson unofficially freed them upon his death, either through his will or by allowing them to leave the plantation without resistance.

The Hemings family's story is central to understanding the complexities of slavery, race, and power in American history. The relationship between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson has been a subject of intense historical debate for over two centuries. While Jefferson never publicly acknowledged the relationship or his children with Hemings, the preponderance of evidence supports the conclusion that they had a long-term relationship and children together.

The legacy of the Hemings family continues to be explored through historical research, literature, and public discourse, offering valuable insights into the realities of slavery and its enduring impact on American society.