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Jefferson fathered slave's last child

Author

Listed:
  • Eugene A. Foster
  • M. A. Jobling

    (University of Leicester, Adrian Building)

  • P. G. Taylor

    (University of Leicester, Adrian Building)

  • P. Donnelly

    (University of Oxford)

  • P. de Knijff

    (Leiden University)

  • Rene Mieremet

    (Leiden University)

  • T. Zerjal

    (University of Oxford)

  • C. Tyler-Smith

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

There is a long-standing historical controversy over the question of US President Thomas Jefferson's paternity of the children of Sally Hemings, one of his slaves1,4. To throw some scientific light on the dispute, we have compared Y-chromosomal DNA haplotypes from male-line descendants of Field Jefferson, a paternal uncle of Thomas Jefferson, with those of male-line descendants of Thomas Woodson, Sally Hemings' putative first son, and of Eston Hemings Jefferson, her last son. The molecular findings fail to support the belief that Thomas Jefferson was Thomas Woodson's father, but provide evidence that he was the biological father of Eston Hemings Jefferson.

Suggested Citation

  • Eugene A. Foster & M. A. Jobling & P. G. Taylor & P. Donnelly & P. de Knijff & Rene Mieremet & T. Zerjal & C. Tyler-Smith, 1998. "Jefferson fathered slave's last child," Nature, Nature, vol. 396(6706), pages 27-28, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:396:y:1998:i:6706:d:10.1038_23835
    DOI: 10.1038/23835
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