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Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:24 am
by _gramps
I was listening to Dr. Peterson's interview with Dan Wotherspoon recently. Dr. Peterson thought it highly unlikely that Jefferson fathered at least one of Sally Heming's children. I thought it would be interesting to see what people on this board thought about this matter.
What say you?
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:41 am
by _gramps
I may have overstated Dr. Peterson's opinion on this matter. Apologies if so.
But, I would love to hear him develop his ideas on this a little more thoroughly then he did in the interview.
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:04 am
by _Chap
It is very unlikely that a man with pretensions with respectability in his community would ever allow himself to think of a female domestic in sexual terms. Even less so, of course, if she had a sister working in the house.
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:51 am
by _Doctor CamNC4Me
http://www.monticello.org/site/plantati ... ef-accountShortly after the DNA test results were released in November 1998, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation formed a research committee consisting of nine members of the foundation staff, including four with Ph.D.s. In January 2000, the committee reported its finding that the weight of all known evidence - from the DNA study, original documents, written and oral historical accounts, and statistical data - indicated a high probability that Thomas Jefferson was the father of Eston Hemings, and that he was perhaps the father of all six of Sally Hemings' children listed in Monticello records - Harriet (born 1795; died in infancy); Beverly (born 1798); an unnamed daughter (born 1799; died in infancy); Harriet (born 1801); Madison (born 1805); and Eston (born 1808).
I wonder, if perhaps Mr. Peterson's latent Mormon-centric racism compels him to deny what is apparent to others?
V/R
Dr. Cam
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:45 am
by _gramps
Hummmm, no one seems to be agreeing with Dr. Peterson, as yet.
I am looking forward to hearing why he doesn't think it was likely.
I'd hate to think Dr. Cam has hit on something.
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 5:20 pm
by _marg
Is Dan P ever right?
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:23 pm
by _Chap
marg wrote:Is Dan P ever right?
I hear that he is pretty much in the right when he gives classes on the grammar of classical Arabic.
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:04 pm
by _Spurven Ten Sing
Fools! If you think Peterson is wrong, it is only because you don't understand the position. Peterson has observed this to be the case.
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 8:16 pm
by _MrStakhanovite
I recall a few years ago watching a presentation on Book-TV where a Jefferson scholar said the DNA evidence was more strongly linked to Jefferson's brother, but I don't remember any details.
Re: Did Jefferson father at least one of Sally Heming's children
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 9:06 pm
by _gramps
MrStakhanovite wrote:I recall a few years ago watching a presentation on Book-TV where a Jefferson scholar said the DNA evidence was more strongly linked to Jefferson's brother, but I don't remember any details.
Yeah, there are some other possibilities, perhaps. It isn't a slam dunk, in my opinion. I thought I would post up some more stuff after a bunch more votes come in. And let people consider them.
I am sure Dr. Peterson may have some ideas, as well.
Though so far, it is yes all the way.