shotheardaroundtheworld

[shotheardaroundtheworld]

Discussing the Evidence: Sally Hemings & Thomas Jefferson

As we go through more letters between June and July of 1787, Sally is mentioned more often, particularly in a letter from Adams to Jefferson on July 10. This is a short post, so it'll be an easy read.

1.5:ABIGAIL ADAMS' LETTERS (1787, CONTINUED)

July 10, 1787

Abigail Adams begins the letter by complimenting Maria's intelligence and rewriting a song that reminded her of the girl.

"What she thinks in her Heart

You may read in her Eyes

For knowing no art

She needs no disguise"

She also continues about writing and guests, and how her husband John will probably make an attempt to talk to him about Mr. Trumbull; "mr Adams will write you— he has not a portrait that he likes to send you. mr Trumble talks of taking one."

She closes the letter with some finances relating to Maria Jefferson and her maid, Sally.

Sally gets less than what Maria had gotten, which is usually expected in this time period.

"12 yds calico for 2 short Gowns & coat, 4 yd half Irish linen for Aprons, 3 pr Stockings, 1 Shawl handkerchief, paid for washing".

In Jefferson's letter on July 10, he does not mention Sally. He mostly talks about his daughter's coming across the channel from Dover to Calais.

"...according to my calculation, my daughter would be crossing the channel, I had calculated the course from Dover to Calais...your favour of the 6th..."

Even in his next letter, July 16, he does not mention Sally. He continues to write about his daughter and the news that he has.

"I had the happiness of receiving yesterday my daughter in perfect health."

Maria and Sally were meant to stay with the Adamses for two weeks, and it was already around the later end of that time.

Sally being mentioned fades out from the scene, and in Jefferson's letters from then don't scarcely say anything about her. Same with Abigail.

Sources & Links:

July 10, 1787 (AA to TJ)

July 10, 1787 (TJ to AA)

July 16, 1787 (TJ to AA)

[shotheardaroundtheworld]

Discussing the Evidence: Sally Hemings & Thomas Jefferson

I'm pretty sure that everyone knows at least something about Sally Hemings: she was one of the enslaved people at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and the one that mothered his children. The most notable piece of evidence of this is the DNA test done in 1998 that connected the Jefferson Y chromosome of Hemings' last child Eston Hemings to "Thomas Jefferson". This led to the common, widespread belief that Jefferson was a child r@pist, and Hemings simply became known as the child slave who gave birth to the founding father's children.

However, despite this test, there's a lot of things that weren't necessarily spoken about; there's an equal amount of evidence that point to Thomas Jefferson being an unlikely candidate of being the paternal father of Sally Hemings' children than those actually supporting the likelihood of him being. It’s been up for debate for years and a conclusive answer may not be decided.

I'll be going through the pieces of evidence that circulate around this relationship— before it, during it, and after it— through several posts. I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not this myth is true. The first evidence I'll be looking at is the letters from 1787 between Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

1. Abigail Adams' Letters to Thomas Jefferson (1787)

Background Information

Between June 26-27, 1787, Abigail Adams sent letters to Thomas Jefferson talking about the journey of his youngest daughter, Maria, coming to France. At this moment, Maria (and Sally, who was taken with her), were spending two weeks with the Adamses in Great Britain. Maria was decided to come to France with her father and sister because of Jefferson’s younger daughter, Lucy Elizabeth II, dying at age two. Sally Hemings was the younger sister of James Hemings, the enslaved man Jefferson took with him to study French cuisine. Originally, a woman named Isabel was suggested to be taken with Maria on her voyage (as it was mentioned in a letter to Jefferson from Francis Eppes in 1785, read here), but she was recovering from either an illness or child birth.

June 26, 1787 (Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson)

Abigail Adams begins with talking about Maria's safe arrival in London. She "...is in fine Health and a Lovely little Girl I am sure from her countanance."

She continues to talk about Maria's behavior, and how she had been clinging onto Captain Ramsey as her friend during her trip sailing. Maria also went by Polly, and is continuously referred as that.

She mentions Isabel, briefly, saying "The old Nurse whom you expected to have attended her, was sick and unable to come," and "She has a Girl about 15 or 16 with her, the Sister of the Servant you have with you." This is talking about Sally and her brother, James.

She is obviously wrong about Sally's age, as she was around 13-14 instead.

Captain Ramsey was the captain of the ship Sally and Maria went on for their departure from America.

It's an inaccurate depiction, especially since Sally is constantly portrayed by an older woman in movies (such as "Jefferson in Paris" by Thandiwe Newton, who was 28, and "Sally Hemings: An American Scandal" by Carmen Ejogo, who was 27.)

June 27, 1787 (Abigail Adams to Thomas Jefferson)

She begins the letter bringing back up her last letter about Maria's safe arrival: "I had the Honour of addressing you yesterday and informing you of the safe arrival of your daughter." She continued, talking about Maria's unease being around unfamiliar faces. But she quickly changed and was more comfortable after a few hours.

Abigail then goes on to talk about Sally specifically.

"The Girl who is with her is quite a child, and Captain Ramsey is of opinion will be of so little Service that he had better carry her back with him. But of this you will be a judge." She is also giving Ramsey's impression of Sally.

However, Abigail quickly talks about her own impression of her. "She seems fond of the child and appears good naturd." She then changes the subject and mostly talks about writing and letters, where she mentions how hard it is to get Maria to get away from her (as she did with Ramsey). She finishes the letter by talking about how Maria stands by her and asks if she always writes to her "Pappa?".

Maria was eight years old.

Sally is described as fairly childish, and Ramsey suggests that he should take her back home to Virginia, but leaves Jefferson to decide.

Portraying Sally Hemings as this "striking young woman" and an "alluring temptress" really takes away the extremity of the situation. She was a child, hardly fourteen, and saying such a thing is dismissing it. It's just wrong.

This also goes for Thomas Jefferson, who was seemingly "entranced and tempted" by this woman. This was a sudden make-over of Sally that certainly wasn't her. Portrayals constantly get this wrong and instead go with the former.

Jefferson, Ramsay and Adams thought that Sally (“the Maid/the Girl”) was immature and maybe wasn’t able to care for Maria as well as another nurse would (like Isabel)

Jefferson's letter on July 1 thanks Abigail for taking care of his little daughter, but he does not mention Sally by name, but he did say that "...should you have incurred any little expences on account of my daughter or her maid, Petit will be in a condition to repay them," or offers to pay the money himself.

It's also important to mention in Abigail's letter to Jefferson on July 6, 1787 says Sally "...wants more care than the child, and is wholy incapable of looking properly after her, without some superiour to direct her."

Sources & Further Reading:

How Sally Hemings Arrived in Paris

June 26, 1787 (AA to TJ)

June 27, 1787 (AA to TJ)

July 1, 1787 (TJ to AA) and July 6, 1787 (AA to TJ)

August 30, 1785 (FE to TJ)

A shorter, more summarized version (in a google doc)