In elementary school, children learn about Thomas Jefferson who was one of the founding fathers, second vice president for eight years and third president for another eight years of the United States. Some kids later on also learned that Jefferson was a slave owner all his adulthood life and actually owned over hundreds of slaves in his famous home of Monticello. Although Jefferson never admitted his relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, he had also never denied it either and it was through his actions that proved he had cared for Hemings.
Jefferson and Hemings' Relationship
Sally Hemings was born a slave in Virginia to John Wayles, Jefferson's father in-law, in which he would inherit her and the rest of her family as well. Her mother, Betty Hemings, was a mulatto herself and was a concubine to Wayles as well. To most people today, this might sound quite strange but, …show more content…
She was in the house and had great talent. Once in Virginia she had remained a slave to him at Monticello. She was reunited with the rest of her Hemings siblings and Jefferson made most of them work in and around the household. Her main duties were to take are of Jefferson’s closet which mean she was in his room quite often. She had received the special treatment that was not only obvious to the other slaves but also obvious to friends and family who would come a visit.
As time went by, he and Sally Hemings’ relationship continued to grow. Throughout the years she had gotten pregnant and birth several of his children. Jefferson had documented all of Hemings’ births and their names were close to those of his own family. Jefferson knew to hide it from the public, especially as a political figure in America. Jefferson never admitted any relation with her but it was very obvious that he had cared for her. He had fulfilled his promises and freed all her children just as he had
Jefferson and Hemings' Relationship
Sally Hemings was born a slave in Virginia to John Wayles, Jefferson's father in-law, in which he would inherit her and the rest of her family as well. Her mother, Betty Hemings, was a mulatto herself and was a concubine to Wayles as well. To most people today, this might sound quite strange but, …show more content…
She was in the house and had great talent. Once in Virginia she had remained a slave to him at Monticello. She was reunited with the rest of her Hemings siblings and Jefferson made most of them work in and around the household. Her main duties were to take are of Jefferson’s closet which mean she was in his room quite often. She had received the special treatment that was not only obvious to the other slaves but also obvious to friends and family who would come a visit.
As time went by, he and Sally Hemings’ relationship continued to grow. Throughout the years she had gotten pregnant and birth several of his children. Jefferson had documented all of Hemings’ births and their names were close to those of his own family. Jefferson knew to hide it from the public, especially as a political figure in America. Jefferson never admitted any relation with her but it was very obvious that he had cared for her. He had fulfilled his promises and freed all her children just as he had