The Family Tree of Thomas Jefferson

Descendants, Ancestors and DNA Genealogy of the Third US President

Jun 3, 2009
Rita Marshall

The Family Tree of Thomas Jefferson - Tudou Mao

Founding father Thomas Jefferson has a controversial family tree. Find out who can claim to be in it.

Like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) is a legendary figure in American history. Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, served as the third president of the United States and founded the University of Virginia. Due to ancestral DNA testing he has also become famous for his family tree.

Thomas Jefferson Genealogy Legitimate Descendants

In 1772, Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton. The couple had six children, but only two survived to adulthood. Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph (1772-1836) and Maria Jefferson Eppes (1778-1804) are the ancestors of Jefferson’s legitimate direct descendants. These descendants form the Monticello Association, a group of over 700 Jefferson descendants who maintain the family cemetery at Jefferson’s former estate. Surnames found among Jefferson’s descendants in these lines include:

Randolph
Eppes
Bankhead
Preston
Shine
Bancroft
Hubard
Coolidge

Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings and DNA

Since 1802, it had been rumored that Jefferson fathered illegitimate children with Sally Hemings, a slave who may have also been his wife’s half-sister. In 1998, Y-DNA testing showed that the descendants of Eston Hemings, one of Sally Hemings’ children, shared the same genetic marker as men in the Jefferson family.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation believes that Thomas Jefferson was probably the father of Sally Heming’s children. The Monticello Association does not accept Thomas Jefferson as the father, believing that another male Jefferson fathered Heming’s children.

Although DNA testing has shown a link between at least one of Sally Hemings' children and the Jefferson line, DNA results cannot conclusively prove which Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings. Both sides continue to make cases for and against Thomas Jefferson paternity using oral history and supporting documents.

Surnames in these lines include:

Hemings
Young
Roberts
Jefferson

Missing Jefferson-Hemings Descendants

Black or white Americans with a colonial background may have a Hemings connection – Sally was mixed race, and possibly only 1/4 African. As the Thomas Jefferson Foundation notes, “Sally Hemings' children were light-skinned, and three of them (daughter Harriet and sons Beverly and Eston) lived as members of white society as adults.” The descendants of Harriet and Beverly have still not been located, according to the Foundation.

Thomas Jefferson Ancestry

Americans with a colonial background may be related to Thomas Jefferson through common ancestors. Some of Jefferson’s ancestors had been living in Virginia in the 1600s. Surnames found among Jefferson’s ancestors include:

Randolph
Branch
Rogers
Field
Soane
Isham
Ryland
Banks
Lilburne

Linking Thomas Jefferson to a Genealogy

A family historian with a colonial background, especially in Virginia, may either share ancestry with Thomas Jefferson or be a lineal descendant. A genealogical table of Jefferson’s legitimate descendants is available through the Monticello Association. More genealogical information about Sally Hemings can be found through the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.

Rita Marshall - I'm a freelance writer in southwestern Ontario. Through my company, Longbow Business Solutions, I provide professional writing for small ...

Comments

Jun 3, 2009 10:51 AM

Herbert Barger :

For the latest information on the Jefferson-Hemings DNA fiasco click on: www.tjheritage.org and www.jeffersondna.com. Please read the Scholars Commission Report..........NO proof of Thomas Jefferson fathering slave children. Please read the new revealing book, In Defense of Thomas Jefferson, The Sally Hemings Sex Scandal", giving names and attempts at political correctness in this FALSE controversy.
Dr Foster tested a KNOWN carrier of Jefferson DNA as told by Eston Hemings and all future generations. They ALWAYS claimed descent from "a Jefferson uncle or nephew", this would be TJ's much younger brother Randolph, as known by TJ's grandchildren and their slave playmates. He came among the slaves, played the fiddle until late night hours and is reported to have fathered slave children by his own slaves at his plantation, Snowden. He was also invited to visit Monticello when his twin sister had arrived and this was EXACTLY 9 months prior to the birth of Eston Hemings (who claim him as their ancestor.) Therefore there would AUTOMATICALLY be a match, and there was. His brother Madison claimed descent from Thomas Jefferson BUT his descendants REFUSE to test a deceaased son of Madison and say they are happy with their ORAL history, are we happy with their UNFOUNDED claims? There are also misstatements in the Madison Hemings newspaper article claiming his descent from TJ. He was NOT named by Dolley Madison at his birth (Jan 19, 1805) at Monticello as claimed. The Madisons NEVER traveled to Va, from Washington during the winter. So what other claims are false in this article which was used by Monticello as a research paper.
Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian

Jun 26, 2009 9:00 AM

Guest :

Thomas Jefferson is my great, great great, great, great, (not sure how many greats) grandfather.

Sep 14, 2009 2:07 PM

Guest :

One would think that so long after slavery ended, the kind of racist thinking revealed by the Jefferson family historian's post would no longer be afflicting our country. It's truly a shame to see that this ridiculous cult of denial among Jefferson's white decendants still exists, especially as minute examination of the situation makes it extremely unlikely that Randolph Jefferson was even present at Monticello during the periods when many of Sally Hemmings' children were conceived. I have news for those decendents: It has been scientifically proven that you are related to black people, whether you want to admit it or not.

Jan 5, 2010 8:57 PM

Guest :

As far as I can tell, Herb Barger's title of Jefferson Family Historian is not based on any real credentials, but seems to be a self appointed one. The observation noted above that such diatribes (which are posted everywhere on the internet where the words Hemings and Jefferson are used in combination) come off as racist is an interesting one. Why else would so much energy be spent, trolling the network, with the sole purpose of posting such remarks?

Whether you believe the story is true or not, the reaction to it seems to be a Rorschach test of an individuals feelings about mixture of the races. I prefer to remain ambivalent. I shudder to think what that says about me!

Feb 20, 2010 6:45 PM

Guest :

I bet she was real pretty and that any of us warm blooded males would have wanted to share a bed with her. get over it. you've got black cousins. hey, if you go back far enough, we're all black anyway.

Mar 1, 2010 6:57 AM

Guest :

I agree with the last comment. If you study the history of the world and mankind it strongly suggests every person originally came from what is now Africa, since the continents were originally joined, and called Pangea,

Mar 2, 2010 2:52 PM

Guest :

I think its fascinating that people can trace their roots back to famous people. It amazes me that a family history can be totally lost in just a few generations- even a famous family. Once lost it is almost impossible to recreate. The stigma at the time of Jefferson's purported dalliance is certainly part of the reason that the history is vague. I don't believe the Jefferson relatives who deny this connection to Hemings is based on race, but rather on the lack of any real official documentation of them having had children. The opposite theory, that there were no children between TJ and Hemings, is equally as probable. It doesn't make them racist because they believ that.

Apr 15, 2010 5:52 PM

Guest :

Thomas Jefferson is also my great great great great great great great great great great grandfather and I'm asian hahaha...

Apr 18, 2010 6:48 PM

Guest :

I have proof that I'm a great, great, etc. grandaughter.

Jul 11, 2010 5:04 AM

Guest :

you lot should read nightjohn, its a very powerful book based on the slavery on thomas jeffersons father in laws estate

Aug 26, 2010 2:17 PM

Guest :

thomas jefferson is my 6th great granfather

Aug 29, 2010 2:46 PM

Guest :

I am fascinated with Thomas Jefferson, the man, and Jefferson and family. If you are related to Jefferson you have alot to be proud of. A brilliant man.

Sep 18, 2010 4:50 PM

Guest :

I was always taught that Sarah (Sally) Hemings became pregnant in France when she was there with Thomas Jefferson at the age of 16. There is currently a program on the History Channel about TJ. Interesting stuff.

Oct 23, 2010 5:08 PM

Guest :

Wowww , Thomas Jefferson is my blood realtive !!!!! Great great great great grandfather !!!! I'm soooo glad to be in Walthall family :) !!!!!

Oct 28, 2010 11:57 AM

Guest :

Good grief. I'm happy to be a Skelton (Martha's first husband). And then a bit sorry to not have been "blood", but close! Oh so close.

Dec 2, 2010 10:36 AM

Guest :

&# 9774 i found this information very useful ?

Dec 5, 2010 1:15 PM

Guest :

It is a well know fact that Slave owners raped their "slaves". These women worked hard in many ways. The wives and daughters turned their heads. I don't care how much the Jefferson's deny the story-it is true. Jefferson's daughter burned the letters. However, if the journalist who initially exposed all of this had lived-we'd have a lot more information. As for Beverly and Harriet, they passed out of their need to be accepted since they looked white. I implore anyone with suspicions that you may have "black" ancestors that passed to research it. You'll be surprised how many people have this blood. It would probably stamp out some of the ignorance and racism. Yes, you racist could possibly have some black blood and in some cases this is why you try so hard to show how much you hate Blacks. Get real.

Dec 19, 2010 11:04 AM

Guest :

What was Jefferson's background? Parents, siblings, education, etc. ?

Dec 31, 2010 6:37 AM

Guest :

Hemengs had a special place in the jefferson family, but you forget that his daughter was with him in France and he was in love with a married woman. He was a thin skinned and sensitive man by all accounts. He may have thought the races different enough that he couldn't conceive of an equality between the races, but nothing in his biography or character would indicate that he would take advantage of a slave in that way...she was younger than his daughters and his character doesn't match those allegations.

Jan 14, 2011 9:33 AM

Guest :

AHHH WHAT MEN AND "SAINTS" WILL DO FOR SEX!

Jan 25, 2011 6:37 AM

Jodi Noblett :

My, what a tangle web we weave. Interesting article.

Feb 14, 2011 6:58 PM

Guest :

crappy

Feb 14, 2011 6:58 PM

Guest :

not enough modern information

Feb 21, 2011 8:09 AM

Guest :

My name is Thomas Jefferson Marlin Jr. Would like to know if I am a family member of our Pres. Thomas Jefferson. My email address is.

Marlin_56@msn.com

Mar 22, 2011 8:53 AM

Guest :

lol i have cousins on the c hat with me... hes my great (dont know how many) grandfather

Mar 24, 2011 5:14 PM

Guest :

It's not helpful

May 31, 2011 10:47 PM

Guest :

Jefferson and Hemmings were together for 39 years.

Jun 21, 2011 10:07 AM

Guest :

Mr. Barger, I'd like you to know that I traced my ancestry and did a DNA test and discovered that Judith Jefferson, the sister to Peter jefferson, is my grandmother, my tree ties me as a direct descendent as Judith was his Aunt, at which she is my grandmother. So this would make me tied to The Third President, as my DNA test also is proof to this, some of my genetic markers match up to him, and I am black, no connection or relation to the Hemmings, I am legitimate relative, . So there it is, Jefferson has more black relatives than that of controversial Hemmings situation. Records and DNA are both indisputable.

Jul 10, 2011 2:38 PM

Guest :

From contemporary accounts, Sally Hemings was the half sister to Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson. Martha and Sally's father, John Wayles, is suppose to have fathered several children by Betty Hemings, including Sally Hemings. At the time of the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings her children would have been seven eighths of European bloodlines and under Virginia law at that time would have been considered Caucasian. Yet during his life time, if Jefferson did, in fact, father the children of Sally Hemings, then he kept his own children as chattel slave property on his plantations. During his lifetime Jefferson allowed Robert Hemings to purchase his freedom at market rates in 1794; and he freed Robert's younger brother, James Hemings in 1796 after requiring him to train his brother Peter for three years as a chef. These are the only slaves granted their freedom from Thomas Jefferson ownership during his lifetime.

Feb 20, 2012 5:06 PM

Guest :

Mr. Barger opinion is just a good and in some case better than most who have posted here, at least he knows what he is talking about, the rest is just spouting off, using the two most proper words in the black language, slavery and racism. PEOPLE awake up, there is no PROOF POSTIVE to prove Sally Hemmings children were Thomas Jefferson and there NEVER WILL BE. The participates of this mess are all dead, and there were to many Jeffferson males around Jefferson's home, to prove who fathered Sally's children. We can all grip and rest cane, until the chickens come home, but there is no Positive answere, so give it up and MOVE ON. PS, the Jefferson family is tire of being attacked. Leave them alone, and stop pissing on their family, when there is no prove their G-G-G-G-G-G grandfather did anything wrong, and you and no one else can prove otherwise.

Feb 20, 2012 5:11 PM

Guest :

Sally Hemmings raped. Please, it is well know by stories told by Black's and White's alike, she was treated completely different from the other slave's on the Jefferson plantation. She was always given lite work, dusting, setting the table, mending clothes and watching the children, and was never mistreated. She was Mrs. Jefferson's half-sister and was treated well, so who would have the nerve to rape her. NO ONE that is who. She wanted to be white, tried to pass herself off as white and even played up to White men who came to the plantation, who did not her, as being white, until they were told otherwise by other family members. So, Sally was not innocent or a victim. She knew what she wanted and did everything in her power to get it. No matter what it took.

Apr 1, 2012 5:08 PM

Guest :

As I read this post, I understand there are some people out there that may have a problem with the Hemmings situation, but since Thomas Jefferson is my 1st cousin 6X removed for the fact that Judith Jefferson Farrar is my grandmother, and that straight through my tree I am here and I have taken a Y-DNA test to ensure authenticity outside of birth records, so I am just giving those people something else to be mad at, My ancestry is also authentic by my affiliation and association with the Sons of the Revolution, and yes, upon appearance I look like what people call to be a black man, But if my Y-DNA straight through my forefathers is mainly from white men, and I am the third generation to have an african mix in me, what would this make me? To me it just doesn't really matter, for the way I grew up befriending people of all different backgrounds. We as people need to stop looking at differences and draw closer to the fellow man to make this world a better place, we must love one another, and I'm sure this is what my cousin would have wanted, My grandmother Judith would have also wanted the same thing. I am proud to be an American, I am proud what my family started, and most of all, I am proud that I came from a legacy of great people, and want to represent and honor all the sacrifices that were made and I will surely make this my personal duty to continue their what they started to make this country so great!!!! So to you Mr.Barger, I give you yet, if this is what you want me to be, another black man to try to dismantle and destroy, George Farrar married Judith and I my friend am a Farrar!!!!

Apr 1, 2012 5:12 PM

Guest :

33 Comments