Rumors of Jefferson's liason with Sally Hemings, a slave at Monticello, date back more than 200 years. Recent DNA analysis convinced many historans that Jefferson was indeed the likely father of Eston Hemings (1808-1856), who moved to Wisconsin in 1852 with his wife and three children. These grandchildren of Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson passed as white in Wisconsin census and other public records, and played important roles in the Civil War and Madison public life. The entire Eston Hemings family is buried in Forest Hill Cemetery, Madison. Readers should bear in mind, however, that other scholars, including some close to the DNA investigation, consider the question still unresolved.

The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Thomas Jefferson Letter for details.

Learn More

Thomas Jefferson

See more images, essays, newspapers and records about Thomas Jefferson.

Dictionary of Wisconsin History

Explore more than 1,600 people, places and events in Wisconsin history.