#patsy jefferson

[yomawari]

A Holiday at Monticello.

(Left to Right: Philip Hamilton; Patsy Jefferson; Thomas Jefferson; Angelica Hamilton; Alexander Hamilton; and Mary Jefferson.) Background shot of Monticello interior courtesy of wikimedia commons.

[samanthajameswriter]

America's First Daughter: Patsy Jefferson-Randolph

[alexanderhamiltonhasafatass]

Who was your first favorite historical figure

It was never a normal figure. It was Frances Eleanor Laurens, I loved her. I used to just not give two shits about Junior and I was focused on a little world with Frances, Georges Washington de Lafayette, John Payne Todd, Theo Jr, P Ham, and Angelica Ham. So.

[whencyclopedia]

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was an American lawyer, statesman, philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States. A prominent figure of the American Revolution, he wrote the Declaration of Independence and later served as the first secretary of state, the second vice president, and the third president of the United States (served 1801-1809).

Early Life

Thomas Jefferson was born on 13 April 1743 at Shadwell Plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was the third of ten children born to Peter Jefferson, a wealthy planter and land surveyor, and Jane Randolph Jefferson, a daughter of one of Virginia's most influential families. When Peter Jefferson died in 1757, 14-year-old Thomas inherited 5,000 acres of land as well as 60 enslaved people. From 1758 to 1760, he was privately tutored by Reverend James Maury before going on to the colonial capital of Williamsburg to attend the College of William & Mary. In his first year at college, he spent lavishly on parties, horses, and clothing, but he would soon regret this "showy style of living" (Boles, 18). His second year, therefore, was much more studious; he would apparently spend 15 hours a day at his studies, pausing only to exercise or to practice his violin.

The studious Jefferson soon became the protégé of mathematics professor William Small, who he would fondly remember as "the first truly enlightened or scientific man" he had ever met (Boles, 17). Small introduced Jefferson to the two other great intellectuals in Williamsburg – law professor George Wythe and Lt. Governor Francis Fauquier – and, at their weekly dinner parties, the four men would discuss politics and philosophy, greatly influencing the young Jefferson's political and intellectual development.

After completing his formal studies in 1762, Jefferson remained in Williamsburg to study law under Wythe and was admitted to the Virginia bar five years later in 1767. In 1768, he was elected to the House of Burgesses, representing Albemarle County. That same year, he began construction of a new home atop an 868-foot-high (265 m) mountain that overlooked his plantation. Called Monticello – Italian for "little mountain" – the house became the passion of Jefferson's life, and he would spend the next several decades designing and renovating it. The actual labor, of course, was mostly performed by his slaves; over the course of his lifetime, Jefferson owned approximately 600 enslaved people, most of whom were born into slavery on his property.

In 1772, after several failed romantic pursuits, Jefferson was finally married to the beautiful young widow Martha Wayles Skelton. Five years his junior, Martha shared his passions for literature and music; indeed, they often played music together – she on the harpsichord, he on the violin. The couple would have six children, only two of whom – Martha 'Patsy' (1772-1836) and Mary 'Polly' (1778-1804) – would survive to adulthood. When Jefferson's father-in-law died in 1773, he and Martha inherited 11,000 acres of land and 135 more enslaved people. By then, Jefferson had become involved with Virginia's struggle against Great Britain. Parliament's attempts to tax the colonists without their consent were vehemently opposed by the American Patriots, who saw such taxes as violations of their 'rights as Englishmen'. In 1774, Jefferson argued as much in his A Summary View of the Rights of British America. In it, he asserted that the colonies had the right to govern themselves, that they were tied to the English king only through voluntary bonds and that Parliament had no right to interfere in their affairs. This work earned him recognition as a Patriot leader in Virginia and led to his appointment as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the spring of 1775.

Continue reading...

[newusernameidk]

BEYOND MONTICELLO - CHAPTER TEN

| A Thomas Jefferson x Reader fanfic |

Thomas awoke, a gentle warmth settling around him. He lay still for a moment, his eyes drifting toward Y/N, who was still asleep beside him. Her hair spilled across the pillow, and her breathing was slow and steady, the peacefulness of her slumber in contrast to the storm of thoughts racing through his mind.

For a long while, he simply watched her, his heart full but conflicted. The events of the night before felt like a blur—intimate and tender, but now that the morning had come, a weight settled over him, one he wasn’t sure how to bear. He couldn’t help but wonder how this would change everything, and yet he couldn’t find it in himself to regret a single moment.

He carefully slipped out of bed, trying not to disturb her. His mind raced as he moved about the room, finding his clothes and pulling them on. He wasn’t quite sure what to do next, but he knew he wanted to make things right, to ensure that Y/N felt comfortable and cared for. He found one of Martha’s old dresses—one she had never worn—and gently placed it on the bed next to Y/N, hoping it would be a small but thoughtful gesture when she awoke.

With one last glance at Y/N, he quietly made his way downstairs, his mind still clouded with thoughts. The house was silent except for the soft murmur of the servants beginning their duties for the day. He made his way to the kitchen and instructed the staff to prepare breakfast, his tone businesslike but distracted. The smell of freshly baked bread and eggs soon filled the air, grounding him in the reality of the day ahead.

Just as he was about to make his way back upstairs, he noticed Patsy sitting in the parlor. She was early, much earlier than he would have expected. She was knitting, her movements fluid and steady, but her eyes—though focused on her work—tracked him as he entered.

He took a seat beside her, pulling her into his side with a soft exhale. She didn’t speak right away, but he could feel her gaze on him, her thoughts evidently swirling just as his own were. She placed her knitting aside, her hands folding in her lap as she sighed.

“She’s still here, then,” Patsy said quietly, her voice laced with a quiet determination.

Thomas hesitated. “Yes,” he replied softly. “She stayed the night.”

Patsy looked up at him, a serious expression on her face. “I won’t ever see her as a mother figure, papa,” she said firmly, her tone matter-of-fact. “If you choose to bring her into our lives like that, I’ll never see her that way. But… I won’t oppose her presence. You have my word on that.”

Thomas nodded, a knot in his chest loosening slightly at her words. He didn’t expect her to embrace Y/N in the same way he did, but he needed her to accept that this was where he was. “I can live with that, my dear. It’s enough.”

There was a long silence between them, both lost in thought. Finally, Patsy placed her hand on his arm, giving him a small, understanding smile.

“Just… don’t rush things,” she added quietly. “Make sure it’s what you truly want.”

Thomas met her gaze and nodded. “I will, I promise.”

The silence lingered, comfortable now, before they both rose to begin the day.

_____________________________________

After a quiet moment with Patsy, Thomas made his way back upstairs, his mind focused now on Y/N. He approached the door to the guest room with a soft knock, his heart suddenly racing with anticipation.

“Y/N?” he called gently. “It’s time to wake up.”

There was a small stirring from within, and a soft murmur as Y/N slowly shifted beneath the blankets. Her eyes blinked open, still heavy with sleep. When she saw Thomas standing there, her expression softened.

“Good morning,” she murmured, her voice thick with sleep.

“Good morning,” he replied warmly, stepping closer. He sat down beside her, his hand reaching out to gently brush a lock of hair from her face.

Y/N smiled at the tenderness of his touch, her eyes closing for a moment. “I feel like I could sleep for days,” she said with a soft laugh.

Thomas chuckled, the sound rich with affection. “You deserve the rest. You’re welcome to sleep as long as you’d like, but we have a busy day ahead.”

He helped her sit up, his hands moving to untangle the sheets. “I hope you slept well.”

Y/N nodded, though there was a slight hesitation in her gaze. She seemed to be gathering her thoughts, her expression thoughtful. “I did,” she said, her voice quieter now. “But I feel… I feel happy, Thomas. But also a little… unsure of everything.”

He looked at her, his brows furrowing. “You don’t have to be unsure. I promise you, nothing about last night changes how I feel about you. But if you’re feeling uneasy about anything, we can talk about it.”

Y/N paused, her eyes finding his, and she placed a gentle hand on his. “I guess I feel strange because we didn’t marry first. I know that might seem silly to you, but I can’t help but feel… guilty. Like I’ve broken some rule.”

Thomas shook his head, brushing his thumb across her hand. “You haven’t broken any rule. If anything, it was a part of me wanting to show you that I care for you. I want you to know that none of this—none of what happened—changes how I feel about you. It just feels right to me.”

She smiled softly, leaning against him for a moment, comforted by his words. “I feel the same way, Thomas. I’ve never felt like this before, so maybe that’s why I’m unsure. But I am happy. And I’m glad it was with you.”

He kissed her gently on the cheek, his lips lingering there for just a moment longer than usual. “I’m glad too.”

They both sat in a quiet embrace for a while, the weight of the night before still lingering in the air, but no longer uncomfortable. The morning light filtering in through the window was warm and peaceful, a stark contrast to the intensity of the emotions they both felt.

Finally, Thomas stood, helping Y/N to her feet. “I’ll help you get dressed,” he said, his tone warm and steady. “And after that, we can have breakfast. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”

Y/N smiled up at him, her heart swelling with affection. “I’d like that.”

_____________________________________

After breakfast, the house was quiet once more, the staff moving efficiently to tidy the rooms and prepare for the rest of the day. Thomas could feel the weight of the moments slipping away, knowing that Y/N would soon have to leave. The happiness from the morning lingered, but there was a certain bittersweetness in the air.

Y/N, dressed in one of Martha’s old gowns, stood by the door, adjusting her shawl with a hesitant hand. She turned to Thomas, her expression soft but conflicted.

“Thomas, I really should be going,” she said, her voice low with reluctance. “I wasn’t meant to stay the night, and I’m sure George is wondering where I am.” Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she added, “You’ve already been more than kind to me.”

Thomas smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He had known this moment would come, but he had hoped it wouldn’t feel so final.

“I understand,” he said quietly, moving toward her. He stood close, his eyes lingering on hers, filled with an unspoken yearning. “But I can’t help but ask… Will you allow me the honor of courting you? With the intent, of course, to make this more official in time?”

Y/N’s heart fluttered in her chest at the question. She had never expected this, not this soon, but somehow it felt right. She didn’t hesitate long before responding, her voice soft but sincere.

“Yes,” she said. “I would like that. I… I feel the same, Thomas. I want to be with you, but we must take it slowly, right? We’ll need time. And your daughters…” She trailed off, her gaze dropping as she thought of them.

Thomas’s heart warmed at her words. He could see the thoughtfulness behind them—the care she had for his family, for his daughters, even as she began to navigate this new chapter with him.

“I promise you, we’ll take it one step at a time,” he said gently, reaching out to cup her cheek. “But I would be honored to have you by my side.”

Y/N smiled softly, her eyes shining with affection, and leaned into his touch. “You know I will visit, Thomas. I’ll come as soon as I can.”

Before she could say anything else, Thomas gently pulled her into a kiss, the warmth of it settling deep into both their hearts. When they pulled away, their foreheads met in a soft embrace.

“I’ll wait for you, Y/N,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Y/N smiled, a tender expression on her face. “I know you will. And I’ll come back to you. Soon.”

With one last lingering kiss, Thomas opened the door for her, watching as she stepped into the hallway, her back to him. As she walked away, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of their shared moment, knowing that while the future was uncertain, it was one they would face together.

[taraross-1787]

This Day in History: Martha Jefferson

On this day in 1748, Martha Wayles, future wife of Thomas Jefferson, is born.

Martha “Patty” Wayles Skelton Jefferson is a bit of a mystery! We don’t even have a portrait of her, although the attached silhouette is believed to be hers. Jefferson burned all of their correspondence after her death. By all accounts, though, the two were deeply in love.

Patty was a young and wealthy widow when the two married on New Year’s Day in 1772. Their first child was born 8 months and 26 days after their wedding. They named her Martha, and they called her “Patsy.” Mrs. Jefferson would have six total children over the course of her ten year marriage to Jefferson. Only two would live to adulthood.

FULL STORY: http://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-martha-jefferson

[publius-library]

Can you tell me everything you know about Martha Jefferson?

I would love to. In my opinion, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson is one of the most tragic figures of the 18th century, and her life shows the many challenges a woman would face in this time period, due to the incredible expectations put on them. I'd like to open by saying that the importance of discussing women in history not only gives us a more full perspective on any and every historical event, but it also gives light to less commonly discussed historical figures that were equally important that we don't know as much about. Martha Jefferson is undoubtably one of those people.

Martha Wayles was born on October 30, 1748 to her wealthy father. Her father was an English immigrant who moved to America and accumulated a decent fortune through slave trading, planting, and his law practice.

Content warning: mention of sexual assault within slavery, skip next paragraph if this may be distressing

Her father is a very interesting figure. In his law practice, he specialized in debt collections, which made him very unpopular among the locals. Additionally, he raped an enslaved woman on his property several times, Elizabeth Hemmings, after the death of his third wife. She would have several children by him, including Sally Hemmings, who would later be raped and have several children by Thomas Jefferson. It is disgusting, but crucial to mention that because of the slave system in America, and the violation of African American women, Martha Jefferson was the half sister of Sally Hemmings.

Martha married Bathurst Skelton when she was 18. They would have one child, John, who died in infancy. Her first husband died six months before Jefferson married Martha, and her first child with Jefferson, Martha aka Patsy, would come nine months after Martha's first child. Her almost constant pregnancy and troubles in maternity would eventually lead to her death.

She married the very eligible bachelor Thomas Jefferson on New Years Day, 1772 at her plantation home, "The Forest". There was a five year age gap between them, as she was 22 going on 23, and he was 28. Jefferson would actually scarcely mention her first husband, and would even report false information that he did not exist, that Martha was a spinster when he married her. The motivations for this are not confirmed.

The young couple arrived at Jefferson's home, Monticello, during a snowstorm, where all the servants were asleep and the house was cold. They toasted their marriage with a leftover bottle of wine, and entered into a period of domestic happiness.

Martha and Thomas had complimentary personalities, balancing out each other's characteristics. They shared an interest in music, as Jefferson played the violin or the cello, and Martha played the piano or the harpsicord. She was said to be very talented.

While there is no known portraits of her, she was described as very beautiful and accomplished. She was slim with hazel eyes and auburn hair. She was the subject of frequent praise from all that knew her.

The Jeffersons had five children in ten years, but only two would survive to adulthood, Martha (Patsy) and Mary (Polly or Mary). Martha was under such strain from her frequent pregnancies that she fell very ill in 1781. The British had invaded Richmond, which forced her away from her husband back to Monticello, but Jefferson often left his political career to stay with her during her sickness. The British would raid Monticello, forcing her to travel in her poor condition yet again.

Her condition continued to worsen, until she died on September 6, 1782, at 11:45 AM at the age of 33. Jefferson would never record his relationship with her, so her life remains mostly a mystery among historians.

Martha Jefferson was far more than the deceased wife of the third president. During her life, she was the mother of several children, who frequently had to grieve their deaths. She was the mistress of a fashionable household, and the wife of an energetic, young politician who was making strides in the cause of liberty and American independence. Her life was riddled with tragedy and mourning, but she was a lively, creative woman who had an untimely death at a cruel age.

[yr-obedt-cicero]

Hi! If you don’t mind me asking what is up with the nicknames in the 1700s/1800s? Bc literally like Martha Washington JR was nicknamed “Patsy” and I don’t see how that works anyways love ya! <333

Hello. The simple answer is, colonists were weird with nicknames.

“Patsy” was a nickname for names like Martha and Matilda, like how “Polly” was a nickname for Mary. Oftentimes, M's were changed to P's, and a feminine suffix was added at the end. Additionally, the nicknames were usually an altered version of a nickname. So, it would roughly follow down the pipelines of nicknames like “Peggy” for “Margaret”; Margaret → Meg/Meggy → Peg/Peggy. Or Mary → Molly → Polly. Elizabeth → Beth → Betsey.

As you can see this with many figures like Margaret “Peggy” Schuyler, Martha “Patsy” Jefferson, Mary “Polly” Eleanor Laurens, Elizabeth “Betsey” Schuyler, etc, etc. It is similar with the nickname “Neddy”; Edward → Ed/Eddy → Ned/Neddy.

[georgewashington-official]

*knocks on door*

@sassy-macaroni-1743

@patsy-jefferson199

For: @john-parke-custis + @georgewashington-official

Ah, Mister Jefferson! And you brought your lovely daughter. It's good to have you over. Please do come in.

[valend]

does that mean you're slavic patsy jefferson 😭

is she the one who wanted to join a convent when... she wasnt even..... catholic????? if so then yeah maybe

[aswithasunbeam]

Madison, March 1815

Madison swallowed, forcing his ears to pop as the coach finished climbing the mountaintop and swung into the drive before Monticello. Dolley stretched her arms and back on the seat in front of him, preparing to disembark after the long journey. The shifting of the baggage in the back of the carriage began simultaneously with the carriage door being opened for them.

Two of Jefferson’s young grandchildren came tearing across the lawn, shouting to each other as they chased a hoop. Dolley smiled at them and remarked, “Jefferson does like to keep his house full, doesn’t he?”

Madison chuckled, finishing a big stretch before reaching out to offer her his arm. Together, they moved towards the entrance. The walls were decorated with Native artifacts of all kinds, shipped to Thomas by Louis and Clark during their expedition years earlier. Thomas had turned his front room into a kind of museum to entertain visitors to his mountain retreat.

“Hail the conquering heroes,” Patsy Randolph greeted, sweeping from the main parlor towards them with a gracious smile. “Welcome to Monticello, Mr. President. Mrs. Madison.”

“Oh, stop you. We’ve had quite enough of that nonsense,” Dolley said, stepping forward to give Patsy a kiss. “Lovely to see you, my dear.”

“Is the great man in?” Madison asked.

Patsy laughed. “Father’s back in his office, still packing his books to ship to Washington. He says he's still organizing and indexing everything. In all honesty, I think he finished ages ago and he’s just saying his goodbyes now, though he won’t admit it.”

“I’m surprised he was willing to part with such a large portion of his library. Grateful, of course, but surprised.” After the Library of Congress had been burned during the British occupation of Washington, Jefferson had generously offered his own collection as a replacement. Congress had jumped at the offer.

“I was floored,” Patsy agreed. “I thought he’d part with me and the grandchildren before ever parting with his books.”

“Nonsense,” Madison said, though when he locked eyes with Patsy, they both grinned with mutual understanding.

“You can go right on back,” Patsy invited. “May I offer you some tea, Mrs. Madison?”

Madison took the first door on the right to cut through the family parlor and made his way into Thomas’s private office. Crates upon crates had turned the space into something of a maze. He pushed forward in the general direction of Jefferson’s desk and called, “Thomas?”

“Just in here,” Thomas’s voice called back.

Navigating through a narrow path in the boxes, he found an opening to where Thomas’s silvery-auburn hair was catching the sunlight from the windows. Thomas’s hand was stroking the spines of a stack of books near his desk; Madison had to force down a smile at the sight. When he managed to take the seat across from Thomas’s desk, Thomas asked, “I’m glad to see you finally escaped from Washington. Was it as exuberant as it sounded?”

“News of peace brought quite an explosion of joy from the populous,” Madison agreed.

Madison would never forget that blessed day.

Hamilton had been seated in his office, pouring over the latest dispatches about their victory in New Orleans along with Burr’s efforts to rally the people around a Canadian advance. New Orleans had greatly whetted the general appetite to attack the British on all fronts, relegating discussions about the report from the Hartford Convention to a mere secondary news item.

Edward Coles had opened the door to the office with wide, hopeful eyes. “Mr. Monroe and Mr. Carroll to see you, sir.”

Hamilton shifted up in his chair, spine straight with expectation. The same hope had begun to swell in his violet eyes. “Henry Carroll?”

Madison had nodded once, deliberately, his breath caught in his chest.

“Should I go?” Hamilton offered.

“No,” Madison said. “You, out of everyone in this country, deserve to hear this first.”

The large chest landed on his wooden desk with a decisive thunk. Coles did the honor of unlocking it and pulling out the cover letter from Henry Clay.

“There are omissions,” Monroe had cautioned. “Significant omissions that will raise more than a few eyebrows in Congress.”

“Eyebrows, perhaps, but not voices,” Hamilton had said. A smile brightened his features, the worry that had burdened his brow lifting as he considered what he’d heard. “You can defend this, Jemmy. This will pass the Senate.”

“I agree,” he’d said. “I agree most emphatically.”

Peace.

Good Lord, peace at last.

The news had traveled through the city like wildfire, popping the thick tension that had laid over every citizen like a needle to an overfilled balloon. Fireworks erupted into the night, music threaded through the air, and champagne poured freely in every house along the street.

“I expected nothing less,” Thomas said, smiling as he brought Madison back from his wandering thoughts. “Congratulations, Jemmy. You must be overjoyed to have completed your trials. Are you already preparing the way for your successor?”

“I’ve a bit more time left on my term, as you well know,” Madison said with a sigh. “But hopefully the most eventful occurrences are now behind us.”

“Hear, hear,” Thomas concurred. “Efforts are underway to unwind that beastly standing army, I hope?”

“Yes, indeed,” Madison agreed, though a tinge of sadness accompanied the thought.

Hamilton had been his rock, his steadying presence as the worst of the war unfolded. Having to shake his hand to bid him farewell had been unexpectedly emotional for him.

Hamilton had gripped his hand firmly, and remarked slyly, “I doubt this is the last you’ll see of me. At last count, I had fifteen different inquiries on my desk requesting advice regarding a Second National Bank.”

“That sounds more of a threat than a reassurance,” Madison had countered.

“Take it as you will,” Hamilton had shrugged, mischief brightening his eyes. With more sincerity, he’d added, “You’re always welcome at the Grange, Jemmy.”

Thomas was nodding in approval at the news that their army was being dismantled. “An unnecessary and dangerous force, to be sure. New Orleans proved that an assembly of volunteers can easily defeat an army when put to the task of defending their homes.”

Madison frowned. “I’m not sure that’s true.”

Thomas’s brow furrowed in return. “No?”

“New Orleans was a lucky circumstance, where Jackson could choose his battle ground. The entrenchment assured the men could be well protected while reloading their firearms, while the British were forced to fight on open land. Not every battle is so ideally situated.” Bladensburg still loomed in his memory; the smell of smoke, the screaming wrenching the air, the terror as that snake of red loomed ever closer.

Thomas gave a dismissive wave of his hand. “No matter. The need has passed, in any event. Although, the three-headed serpent will still need watching.”

Madison’s head cocked to the side, a moment passing before he understood Thomas’s meaning: Hamilton, Burr, and Jackson, the three military heroes to emerge from the conflict. “They are quite popular.”

“Jackson was a great apologist for Burr back in ’07,” Thomas noted. “Will loyalty keep him in second place, do you think? Or will he battle Burr for the honor?”

“I couldn’t say,” Madison said, pondering.

“I suppose the great unanswered question is, what will Hamilton do?”

“Surely, he would intervene if Burr took up the notion of public office again,” Madison said. Then again, he’d seen the two men together recently. Hamilton seemed easier with Burr, a camaraderie existing between them Madison never would have expected. And Burr had looked at Hamilton differently, a sort of gratitude and…loyalty suffusing his gaze.

Monroe had designs on the highest office, of course. His efforts to see the Treaty of Ghent through were meant to push him above the military exploits of the others who might try for the seat. But Hamilton’s position remained strong. Hamilton had been the country’s bedrock as much as Madison’s when it came to military matters, a steadying presence who had defended the capital with his very life. Hamilton had stayed in the city, had tried his best to repel the attack. Just as he’d assured Madison from his hospital bed later, people remembered that they’d tried, even where they’d failed.

Would Hamilton…no. Madison took a breath. He’d said more than once that he had no interest in returning to politics. But that gleam of mischief in his eyes…and his feeling towards Monroe were hardly a secret….

Madison met Thomas’s eyes across the desk.

“We may have a problem.”

[rootsandwingsboutique]

I have been SPEEDING through America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie. The #historicalfiction #novel takes us back to the days when Patsy Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson, was growing up. She saw more of the world than her children ever did, even living in #paris for several years. She lived through wars and tough times but endured through it all and showed those that may have disliked her and her father that she was not going to give up. I highly recommend this novel.

.

Please Support my small business today at https://www.rootsandwingsboutiquehandmade.com

AND

https://rootsandwingsboutiquehandmade.com

[volfoss]

Leaving it up to Tumblr to choose my next comic chronology in like... 2 months when I'm free of green lantern (2 months is not very generous I fear)

Reasoning under the cut :3 (very long)

Duke- pretty short (less than 200 issues), I really like his character from what I've seen of him. I think it will also be hell (as is the nature of most batman adjacent chronologies) but it'll be worth it... Nice and short one and also swag character

Jefferson- 1. Black lightning is very fun early on and 2. I've already made the spreadsheet so I just have to read it. He's just like... A very cool character and I like him a lot so far. I just am gods scaredest soldier with long chronos (which his isn't too bad but it's ALSO batman adjacent and those are so scary)

Barbara - my best friend Babs but also if I have to reread the killing joke I AM killing Alan Moore ok. In theory I love her SOOOO much. In practice I think the fact I'm having to keep a "how bad is the disability rep" counter next to each issue says a lot. Unfortunately. Also already made this spreadsheet but I think it would be a very bad and good time.

Clint- again in theory would be fun. He seems right up my alley but alas if I have to see Tony Stark I do fly into a blind rage. And unfortunately I think he appears a lot... And also unfortunately I think I would suffer due to blonde man disorder ok (as I always do)

Silhouette+Aaron- package deal bc they're siblings. I've already started this one and then stopped because whoever is writing the early stuff SHOULD go to hell for what they're doing. For those unfamiliar, silhouette is one of the only heroes I've ever seen using forearm crutches (pretty awesome) and her power is that she can kind of travel via shadow iirc? Which would be really cool if they didn't like... Make her lose all her clothes and mobility aids when she's doing this. Which is why I quit. But she's very very cool minus that (and in my mind... I know she's written better later on) and her brother is his own can of worms (in... Definitely a way). In theory tho I rly gotta get through their stuff

Theodore - first off: I am a FIEND for marvel 70s horror comics. Second off: he is better than swamp thing. Third off: his big red eyes. But to be serious though like .. the Steve Gerber and Gerry Conway era of man thing is SO good and like .. political in an interesting way. I just need motivation to get around to it. Also he's cutesy ok!!!

Jason Blood- another consequence of the 70s horror era fan but this guy has CRAZY lore. He's a medieval knight who got possessed by a demon thanks to Merlin and then he's just lived through the centuries and become an occult guy. Reasons why I stopped this one - sometimes old horror comics are bad and horrible. And also a like 60 issue Garth Ennis written series. But I do really wanna finish his stuff bc he's like .. DC's version of Hellstrom (which. Genuinely awesome character, if you're interested in older horror comics def check his original run out <- my plug for my silly husband hellstrom who sucks so much or whatever. He's rly good tho seriously)

Jennifer - I've already made her spreadsheet and started it but the writers are soooo fucking bad most of the time. It's actually horrific. Pros for her- pretty good character when written well (her hellcat series stuff was REALLY nice for me. But I'll always hype up patsy walker aka hellcat at any chance) cons for her- the misogyny ... And my reward for finishing it is watching the she hulk show. So take that as you will

Dracula- I started his stuff bc I was PROMISED Gerry Conway (who is like.. one of my top 5 writers. He does amazing old horror comics and made a bunch of very cool characters). And then he left like 2 issues in and it went downhill. Some of the same authors who did some of the good (other marvel vampire who is redacted for my own safety ok) issues did stuff for drac. In theory this would be silly campy 70s horror comics fun. In practice oh my god I am gaining new authors to hate so bad...

[whencyclopedia]

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was an American lawyer, statesman, philosopher, and a Founding Father of the United States. A prominent figure of the American Revolution, he wrote the Declaration of Independence and later served as the first secretary of state, the second vice president, and the third president of the United States (served 1801-1809).

Early Life

Thomas Jefferson was born on 13 April 1743 at Shadwell Plantation in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was the third of ten children born to Peter Jefferson, a wealthy planter and land surveyor, and Jane Randolph Jefferson, a daughter of one of Virginia's most influential families. When Peter Jefferson died in 1757, 14-year-old Thomas inherited 5,000 acres of land as well as 60 enslaved people. From 1758 to 1760, he was privately tutored by Reverend James Maury before going on to the colonial capital of Williamsburg to attend the College of William & Mary. In his first year at college, he spent lavishly on parties, horses, and clothing, but he would soon regret this "showy style of living" (Boles, 18). His second year, therefore, was much more studious; he would apparently spend 15 hours a day at his studies, pausing only to exercise or to practice his violin.

The studious Jefferson soon became the protégé of mathematics professor William Small, who he would fondly remember as "the first truly enlightened or scientific man" he had ever met (Boles, 17). Small introduced Jefferson to the two other great intellectuals in Williamsburg – law professor George Wythe and Lt. Governor Francis Fauquier – and, at their weekly dinner parties, the four men would discuss politics and philosophy, greatly influencing the young Jefferson's political and intellectual development.

After completing his formal studies in 1762, Jefferson remained in Williamsburg to study law under Wythe and was admitted to the Virginia bar five years later in 1767. In 1768, he was elected to the House of Burgesses, representing Albemarle County. That same year, he began construction of a new home atop an 868-foot-high (265 m) mountain that overlooked his plantation. Called Monticello – Italian for "little mountain" – the house became the passion of Jefferson's life, and he would spend the next several decades designing and renovating it. The actual labor, of course, was mostly performed by his slaves; over the course of his lifetime, Jefferson owned approximately 600 enslaved people, most of whom were born into slavery on his property.

In 1772, after several failed romantic pursuits, Jefferson was finally married to the beautiful young widow Martha Wayles Skelton. Five years his junior, Martha shared his passions for literature and music; indeed, they often played music together – she on the harpsichord, he on the violin. The couple would have six children, only two of whom – Martha 'Patsy' (1772-1836) and Mary 'Polly' (1778-1804) – would survive to adulthood. When Jefferson's father-in-law died in 1773, he and Martha inherited 11,000 acres of land and 135 more enslaved people. By then, Jefferson had become involved with Virginia's struggle against Great Britain. Parliament's attempts to tax the colonists without their consent were vehemently opposed by the American Patriots, who saw such taxes as violations of their 'rights as Englishmen'. In 1774, Jefferson argued as much in his A Summary View of the Rights of British America. In it, he asserted that the colonies had the right to govern themselves, that they were tied to the English king only through voluntary bonds and that Parliament had no right to interfere in their affairs. This work earned him recognition as a Patriot leader in Virginia and led to his appointment as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia in the spring of 1775.

Writing the Declaration of Independence

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (Public Domain)

Continue reading...