![]() ![]() Six of Elizabeth Hemings' children were Martha Jefferson's half-brothers and half-sisters because they had the same father: John Wayles. ![]() Many of Thomas Jefferson's letters and other writings survive, so historians know more about the Hemingses who lived on Monticello than about many other enslaved people. They also had what historian Annette Gordon-Reed calls a "mania" for naming their children after each other. The Hemingses were known for pooling resources. ![]() Historians think Elizabeth Hemings took care of Martha Wayles Skelton-Jefferson when she became sick and that she was present at her death. When Martha Wayles Skelton married Thomas Jefferson, Hemings and many people in her family went with Martha Skelton to Jefferson's house at Monticello. After John Wayles' wife died, he made Elizabeth Hemings his concubine, which means they had a sexual relationship but he did not marry her, free her, or free their children. Historians think that Elizabeth Hemings' job with the Wayles family was to help raise Martha Wayles, who would later marry Thomas Jefferson. Įlizabeth Hemings lived as a house servant. Technically, the Eppes family owned Elizabeth Hemings even when she worked for the Wayles. Elizabeth and other enslaved people went with Martha to Wayles's house as part of her marriage settlement. That year, Martha Eppes married John Wayles. Įlizabeth Hemings lived at the Eppes family's house, which was called Bermuda Hundred, until 1746. One paper says "about 1735." It could have been either of two men, depending on which was still living at the time. ![]() The man with whom Captain Hemings negotated for his daughter was a member of the Eppes family, but historians do not know which one because they do not know when Elizabeth Hemings was born. Captain Hemings left Virginia and disappeared from Hemings family lore. Then Captain Hemings tried to steal into the Eppes' house and take his daughter away "by force or stealth," but someone told the owner about his plan. He said he wanted to see what a half-white, half-African child would look like. Even though he offered the owner a large sum, the owner refused to sell Elizabeth. The sea captain tried to buy Elizabeth Hemings from her owner when she was born. Īccording to Madison Hemings, Elizabeth Hemings' mother was an African woman and her father was an English sea captain named Hemings. But she also says that "Sally" is a nickname for "Sarah," and there were many girls named "Sarah" and "Sally" in the Hemings family too. Historian Annette Gordon-Reed said that there were many girls named "Thenia" in the Hemings family, and they might have been named after Parthenia, also spelled Parthena. Papers with the names of enslaved women in the Eppes family list "Dinah," "Judy," "Abbie," "Sarah," "Parthenia," and others. Historians do not know for sure what her name was. When he was interviewed, Madison Hemings told a historian that his grandmother Elizabeth's mother had been a fully African woman but he did not know whether she was born in Africa. The Hemingses were the largest family to live at Jefferson's house, Monticello. For part of their history, they were enslaved to the Eppes family, to the Wayles family, and to Thomas Jefferson. Some of them became free later in their lives. They were enslaved people with at least one ancestor who had lived in Africa and been brought over the Atlantic Ocean in the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. They were Elizabeth Hemings and her children and other descendants. The Hemings family lived in Virginia in the 1700s and 1800s. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |