Quote:
Originally posted by fastpat
Was the DNA evidence actually linked to Thomas Jefferson, or merely one of the several males in the Jefferson family. The last I heard, it was the latter.
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The linkage between Sally Hemings sons and Thomas Jefferson is through patrilineal inheritance of the Y chromosome. Only sons of sons of sons etc. can be linked. The father of Hemings last son was either Thomas Jefferson or his brother Randolph. Hemings did not meet Jefferson till after the death of his wife. She was 1/4 black and became his chambermaid. Her rooms were close to Thomas Jeffersons, while Randolph was only an occasional visitor to Monticello.
Sally Hemings had seven children. At least two lived as whites. All were very possibly the children of Thomas Jefferson.