Hemings family facts for kids

The Hemings family was a large family who lived in Virginia during the 1700s and 1800s. They were mostly enslaved people. This means they were forced to work without pay and could not leave. Their story begins with Elizabeth Hemings, her children, and her later family members.

Many of the Hemings family members had ancestors who were brought from Africa across the Atlantic Ocean during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Over time, some members of the family gained their freedom. The Hemings family was enslaved by the Eppes family, the Wayles family, and later by Thomas Jefferson. They were the biggest family living at Jefferson's home, Monticello.

The Family's Beginnings

Historians learned a lot about the Hemings family from Madison Hemings. He was Elizabeth Hemings' grandson. Madison said his grandmother Elizabeth's mother was a woman from Africa. He wasn't sure if she was born in Africa or not. This African woman was enslaved by the Eppes family.

Historians don't know the exact name of Elizabeth's mother. Old papers from the Eppes family list names of enslaved women like "Dinah," "Judy," "Abbie," "Sarah," and "Parthenia." Historian Annette Gordon-Reed noticed that many girls in the Hemings family were named "Thenia," which might come from "Parthenia." Also, "Sally" is a common nickname for "Sarah," and there were many "Sarahs" and "Sallys" in the family.

Captain Hemings' Story

Madison Hemings also shared a story about Elizabeth Hemings' father. He said Elizabeth's father was an English sea captain named Hemings. When Elizabeth was born, the sea captain tried to buy her freedom from her owner. He offered a lot of money, but the owner refused. The owner wanted to see what a child with both African and white parents would look like.

After that, Captain Hemings tried to sneak into the Eppes' house to take his daughter. But someone told the owner about his plan. Captain Hemings then left Virginia and was never heard from again in the family's stories.

Historians aren't sure which Eppes family member owned Elizabeth Hemings at the time. They don't know her exact birth year, but one paper says "around 1735."

Life with the Wayles Family

Elizabeth Hemings lived at the Eppes family's home, called Bermuda Hundred, until 1746. That year, Martha Eppes married John Wayles. Elizabeth and other enslaved people moved with Martha to Wayles's house. This was part of Martha's marriage settlement. Even though Elizabeth worked for the Wayles family, the Eppes family technically still owned her.

Elizabeth Hemings worked as a house servant. Historians believe she helped raise Martha Wayles, who later married Thomas Jefferson. When Martha Wayles Skelton married Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth Hemings and many of her family members moved with Martha to Jefferson's home at Monticello. Historians think Elizabeth Hemings cared for Martha Wayles Skelton-Jefferson when she became ill and was with her when she passed away.

Family Life at Monticello

The Hemings family was known for helping each other out and sharing what they had. Historian Annette Gordon-Reed noted that they often named their children after other family members.

Many of Thomas Jefferson's letters and writings still exist today. Because of this, historians know more about the Hemings family members who lived at Monticello than about many other enslaved people. Six of Elizabeth Hemings' children were half-brothers and half-sisters to Martha Jefferson. This is because they shared the same father, John Wayles.

Trusted Roles

During the American Revolutionary War, Robert and James Hemings helped Martha Jefferson and her daughters escape from British soldiers. Historians don't know exactly what the Hemings men were thinking. Were they helping their sister and nieces, or their master's wife and daughters, or both?

Thomas Jefferson trusted many people in the Hemings family. When he was away from Monticello, he sometimes allowed the Hemings men to leave and work for other people. They were even allowed to keep all the money they earned. This was unusual because the law in Virginia at that time said slave owners didn't have to do this. Usually, owners would keep some or all of the money an enslaved person earned.

Jefferson freed several members of the Hemings family, but not all of them. His writings show that he had a big disagreement with Martin Hemings, which led him to sell Martin.

Freedom and Its Challenges

Jefferson was not always eager to free enslaved people. When Robert Hemings asked to buy his freedom, Jefferson thought someone else must have convinced Robert to leave. After freeing Robert, Jefferson started letting his enslaved people travel less. Historian Annette Gordon-Reed believes Jefferson realized that letting enslaved people live as if they were free made them want to be legally free. It also allowed them to learn more about the world outside the plantation.

Hemings Family Tree

Here are the known children of Elizabeth Hemings and their families:

Children with an Unknown Partner

• Mary Hemings Bell (born 1753, after 1834)
  • Mary Hemings' children with earlier partners:
    • Daniel Farley (1722-1837)
    • Molly (1777-after 1790)
    • Joseph Fosset (1780-1858)
    • Betsy Hemings (1783-1857)
  • Mary Hemings' children with Thomas Bell:
    • Robert Washington Bell
    • Sarah Jefferson Bell
• Martin Hemings (born 1755, after 1795)
• Betty Brown (born 1759, after 1831)
  • Billy (1777-1778)
  • Wormley Hughes (1781-1858)
  • Burwell Colbert (1783-1862)
  • Brown Colbert (1785-1833)
  • Melinda Colbert (1787-1860)
  • Edwin (1793-after 1819)
  • Robert (1799-after 1820)
  • Mary Colbert (1801-1843)
• Nancy Hemings (born 1761, after 1827)
  • Billy (1780-after 1795)
  • Critta Hemings (1783-1819)

Children with John Wayles

• Robert Hemings (1762-1819)
  • Robert Hemings' children with his wife:
    • Martin Hemings
    • Elizabeth Hemings
• James Hemings (1765-1801)
• Thenia Hemings (1767-1795)
  • Mary
  • Lucy
  • Betsy
  • Susan
  • Sally
• Critta Hemings (1769-1850)
  • James Hemings (1787-after 1815)
• Peter Hemings (1770-after 1834)
  • Eugenia Hemings (1803-1885)
  • James Hemings (1804-1870)
  • Anderson Hemings (1808-1868)
  • Betty Hemings
• Sally Hemings (1773-1835)
  • Sally Hemings' children with Thomas Jefferson:
    • an unnamed baby
    • Harriet (1795-1797)
    • Beverly Hemings (1798- after 1822)
    • a daughter (1799-1800)
    • Harriet Hemings (1801- after 1822)
    • Madison Hemings (1805-1877)
    • Eston Hemings Jefferson (1808-1856)

Children with Joseph Neilson

• John Hemings (1776-1833)
• Lucy Hemings (1777-1786) (possible)