The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family by Annette Gordon-Reed
Authors: Annette Gordon-Reed
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C HRONOLOGY OF THE H EMINGS F AMILY
1735
Elizabeth Hemings (EH) is born.
1746
The marriage of John Wayles (JW) and Martha Eppes brings EH to the Forest.
1748
Martha Wayles is born. Martha Eppes dies and leaves EH as JW's property.
1753-61
EH gives birth to Mary and Martin Hemings, Betty Brown, and Nancy Hemings.
1762-70
EH gives birth to five children by JW: Robert, James (JH), Thenia, Critta, and Peter.
1772
Martha Wayles Skelton (MWJ) marries Thomas Jefferson (TJ), and Betty Brown comes to Monticello as MWJ's maid.
1773
John Wayles dies at the Forest. The Hemingses come under the ownership of TJ and (MWJ). Sarah (Sally) Hemings (SH), the last child of EH and JW, is born.
1774
The Hemings family moves to Monticello
1776-77
TJ in Philadelphia drafts the Declaration of Independence; fourteen-year-old Robert Hemings (RH) lives with him as a manservant. John Hemings, last son of EH, is born at Monticello; in 1777 her last child, Lucy, is born.
1780
Joseph Fossett, son of Mary Hemings, is born.
1781
Wormley Hughes, son of Betty Brown, is born.
1782
Martin Hemings is left in charge of Monticello when TJ escapes from Tarleton's troops.
1782
MWJ dies at Monticello.
1783
SH goes to Eppington with TJ's daughters. Burwell Colbert, son of Betty Brown, is born.
1784
RH trains as a barber. JH goes to France with TJ.
1787
SH travels to London and lives with Abigail Adams, then joins her brother JH in Paris. Mary Hemings is leased to Thomas Bell.
1789
When SH balks at returning to America, TJ promises her a good life and the freedom of their children when they become adults. JH and SH return to Monticello in December.
1790
JH and RH go to New York with TJ. SH gives birth to her first child, who dies.
1791
JH goes to Philadelphia to serve as chef de cuisine in TJ's home.
1792
Mary Hemings asks to be sold to Thomas Bell. Martin Hemings asks to be sold to anyone.
1793
TJ puts his agreement to free JH in writing.
1794
TJ draws up a deed emancipating RH.
1795
TJ files the RH deed, and RH becomes legally free. Harriet Hemings I, daughter of SH and TJ, is born at Monticello.
1796
TJ draws up a deed emancipating JH. JH goes to Philadelphia, TJ files the deed, and JH becomes legally free.
1797
Harriet Hemings I dies.
1798
William Beverley Hemings, son of SH and TJ, is born.
1799
The first published allusions to TJ and SH appear in the press.
1800-01
Mary Hemings and her children Robert Washington Bell and Sarah Jefferson Bell inherit Thomas Bell's property upon his death. Harriet Hemings II is born at Monticello. JH turns down TJ's request that he become chef in the President's House. JH commits suicide in Baltimore.
1802
James Callender exposes the relationship between SH and TJ.
1805
James Madison Hemings, second son of SH and TJ, is born. Beverley Hemings is identified as the eldest son of TJ and SH.
1807
EH dies at Monticello. Joseph Fossett takes charge of the blacksmith shop at Monticello.
1808
Thomas Eston Hemings, the last child SH and TJ, is born at Monticello.
1809
TJ retires from public life. Burwell Colbert becomes his principal manservant and butler. John Hemings takes charge of the Monticello joinery.
1810-26
Beverley and Madison and, then, Madison and Eston Hemings serve as apprentices to their uncle John Hemings, at Monticello and Poplar Forest. Harriet Hemings learns to weave.
1822
Beverley and Harriet leave Monticello to live as white people.
1826
TJ drafts a will formally freeing Burwell Colbert, Joseph Fossett, John Hemings, and Madison and Eston Hemings. TJ dies. SH, Madison, and Eston Hemings move to Charlottesville.
1827
The auction at Monticello disposes of TJ's personal property; the Hemings family is dispersed.
1831
Monticello is sold.
So the beginning of this was a woman...
—ZORA NEALE HURSTON,
Their Eyes Were Watching God
P REFACE
A NUMBER OF YEARS back, while at the Massachusetts Historical Society for a speaking engagement, I had the chance to read through the original version of Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, an
1735
Elizabeth Hemings (EH) is born.
1746
The marriage of John Wayles (JW) and Martha Eppes brings EH to the Forest.
1748
Martha Wayles is born. Martha Eppes dies and leaves EH as JW's property.
1753-61
EH gives birth to Mary and Martin Hemings, Betty Brown, and Nancy Hemings.
1762-70
EH gives birth to five children by JW: Robert, James (JH), Thenia, Critta, and Peter.
1772
Martha Wayles Skelton (MWJ) marries Thomas Jefferson (TJ), and Betty Brown comes to Monticello as MWJ's maid.
1773
John Wayles dies at the Forest. The Hemingses come under the ownership of TJ and (MWJ). Sarah (Sally) Hemings (SH), the last child of EH and JW, is born.
1774
The Hemings family moves to Monticello
1776-77
TJ in Philadelphia drafts the Declaration of Independence; fourteen-year-old Robert Hemings (RH) lives with him as a manservant. John Hemings, last son of EH, is born at Monticello; in 1777 her last child, Lucy, is born.
1780
Joseph Fossett, son of Mary Hemings, is born.
1781
Wormley Hughes, son of Betty Brown, is born.
1782
Martin Hemings is left in charge of Monticello when TJ escapes from Tarleton's troops.
1782
MWJ dies at Monticello.
1783
SH goes to Eppington with TJ's daughters. Burwell Colbert, son of Betty Brown, is born.
1784
RH trains as a barber. JH goes to France with TJ.
1787
SH travels to London and lives with Abigail Adams, then joins her brother JH in Paris. Mary Hemings is leased to Thomas Bell.
1789
When SH balks at returning to America, TJ promises her a good life and the freedom of their children when they become adults. JH and SH return to Monticello in December.
1790
JH and RH go to New York with TJ. SH gives birth to her first child, who dies.
1791
JH goes to Philadelphia to serve as chef de cuisine in TJ's home.
1792
Mary Hemings asks to be sold to Thomas Bell. Martin Hemings asks to be sold to anyone.
1793
TJ puts his agreement to free JH in writing.
1794
TJ draws up a deed emancipating RH.
1795
TJ files the RH deed, and RH becomes legally free. Harriet Hemings I, daughter of SH and TJ, is born at Monticello.
1796
TJ draws up a deed emancipating JH. JH goes to Philadelphia, TJ files the deed, and JH becomes legally free.
1797
Harriet Hemings I dies.
1798
William Beverley Hemings, son of SH and TJ, is born.
1799
The first published allusions to TJ and SH appear in the press.
1800-01
Mary Hemings and her children Robert Washington Bell and Sarah Jefferson Bell inherit Thomas Bell's property upon his death. Harriet Hemings II is born at Monticello. JH turns down TJ's request that he become chef in the President's House. JH commits suicide in Baltimore.
1802
James Callender exposes the relationship between SH and TJ.
1805
James Madison Hemings, second son of SH and TJ, is born. Beverley Hemings is identified as the eldest son of TJ and SH.
1807
EH dies at Monticello. Joseph Fossett takes charge of the blacksmith shop at Monticello.
1808
Thomas Eston Hemings, the last child SH and TJ, is born at Monticello.
1809
TJ retires from public life. Burwell Colbert becomes his principal manservant and butler. John Hemings takes charge of the Monticello joinery.
1810-26
Beverley and Madison and, then, Madison and Eston Hemings serve as apprentices to their uncle John Hemings, at Monticello and Poplar Forest. Harriet Hemings learns to weave.
1822
Beverley and Harriet leave Monticello to live as white people.
1826
TJ drafts a will formally freeing Burwell Colbert, Joseph Fossett, John Hemings, and Madison and Eston Hemings. TJ dies. SH, Madison, and Eston Hemings move to Charlottesville.
1827
The auction at Monticello disposes of TJ's personal property; the Hemings family is dispersed.
1831
Monticello is sold.
So the beginning of this was a woman...
—ZORA NEALE HURSTON,
Their Eyes Were Watching God
P REFACE
A NUMBER OF YEARS back, while at the Massachusetts Historical Society for a speaking engagement, I had the chance to read through the original version of Thomas Jefferson’s Farm Book, an
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