Sally Hemings’ children have returned to public attention following new genetic research examining their connection to Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. A Smithsonian investigation involving DNA recovered from Jefferson’s preserved hair has added scientific evidence to a historical question debated for more than two centuries. The findings have renewed interest in Hemings, an enslaved woman at Monticello, and the lives of the children she raised under slavery.

Sally Hemings had six children documented in Jefferson’s plantation records, four of whom survived to adulthood. Their names were Harriet, Beverly, another daughter whose name was not recorded, a second Harriet, Madison and Eston Hemings. Historical testimony also suggests she may have had an earlier child who lived only briefly. Her surviving children eventually gained freedom, although their experiences after leaving Monticello differed considerably.

How Many Children Did Sally Hemings Have?

Sally Hemings had at least six documented children with Thomas Jefferson between 1795 and 1808. Two died during childhood, while Beverly, Harriet, Madison and Eston survived into adulthood.

Her six children recorded at Monticello were:

• Harriet Hemings (1795 to 1797), who died at approximately two years old.
• Beverly Hemings (1798 to after 1822), who became a carpenter and musician.
• An unnamed daughter (1799 to 1800), who died in infancy.
• Harriet Hemings (1801 to after 1822), who worked in Monticello’s textile operations.
• Madison Hemings (1805 to 1877), who later became a carpenter and farmer.
• Eston Hemings (1808 to 1856), who became a musician and cabinetmaker.

The second Harriet was given the same name as her older sister, who had died several years earlier.

According to Madison Hemings’ recollections, his mother also had a child shortly after returning from France in 1789. That child reportedly died soon after birth, but the birth does not appear in Jefferson’s surviving plantation records.

Beverly Hemings and Harriet Hemings Left Monticello in 1822

Beverly Hemings was Sally Hemings’ eldest surviving child. Born in 1798, he grew up enslaved at Monticello and learned skilled trades, including carpentry.

He also played the violin, reflecting the musical abilities found among several members of the Hemings family.

In 1822, Beverly left Monticello with Jefferson’s knowledge. Rather than formally emancipating him, Jefferson allowed him to depart without attempting to bring him back.

Beverly reportedly moved into white society, and his later whereabouts became difficult for historians to establish.

His younger sister Harriet, born in 1801, followed a similar path. She worked as a spinner in Monticello’s textile factory before leaving the plantation in 1822.

Jefferson reportedly provided money to assist her departure. Harriet subsequently lived as a white woman, separating her adult identity from her earlier life in slavery.

Neither sibling’s descendants have been conclusively traced, making their later family histories among the unresolved parts of the Hemings story.

Madison Hemings Revealed His Mother’s Story in 1873

Madison Hemings was born on January 19, 1805, and spent his childhood at Monticello.

He learned carpentry and remained enslaved until Jefferson’s death in 1826. Under Jefferson’s will, Madison received his freedom upon reaching adulthood.

He eventually moved to Ohio, where he worked as a carpenter and farmer and established a family of his own.

Madison became especially important to historians because of an interview published in the Pike County Republican in 1873.

In that account, he identified Thomas Jefferson as his father and described his mother’s relationship with the former president.

He also discussed her time in France and the agreement she reportedly negotiated concerning her future children’s freedom.

His testimony provided a rare firsthand account from someone who had grown up within Jefferson’s enslaved household.

Madison’s descendants continued preserving their family’s history, helping later researchers understand the experiences of Sally Hemings and her children.

Eston Hemings Became a Musician and Changed His Surname

Eston Hemings was Sally Hemings’ youngest documented child, born on May 21, 1808.

Like Madison, he received freedom under the provisions of Jefferson’s will.

After leaving Virginia, Eston settled in Ohio, where he worked as a musician and cabinetmaker. He became known for his musical performances and eventually established his own family.

In 1852, Eston moved to Wisconsin and adopted the surname Jefferson.

He and his family began living publicly as white Americans, a decision shaped by the racial restrictions and discrimination of nineteenth-century society.

Eston’s descendants later played a major role in genetic research investigating Thomas Jefferson’s connection to the Hemings family.

Their preserved family history became an important source of evidence alongside historical records and scientific findings.

Sally Hemings’ Agreement With Thomas Jefferson in France

Sally Hemings travelled to Paris in 1787 while serving members of Thomas Jefferson’s household.

At the time, she was approximately 14 years old. During her stay, she lived in a country where she had a possible legal route to freedom.

According to Madison Hemings’ later testimony, his mother considered remaining in France rather than returning to slavery in Virginia.

Jefferson reportedly persuaded her to return by promising special treatment and freedom for her future children when they reached adulthood.

The arrangement was never preserved in a known written agreement, but Madison’s account has become an important part of the historical record.

Jefferson eventually allowed all four surviving children to become free. Beverly and Harriet left in 1822, while Madison and Eston were freed through his will.

Sally herself was never formally emancipated by Jefferson. After his death, his daughter Martha Jefferson Randolph permitted her to live outside slavery without formal legal emancipation.

Hemings spent her remaining years in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she died in 1835.

What New DNA Research Revealed About Sally Hemings’ Children

For generations, the question of whether Thomas Jefferson fathered Sally Hemings’ children remained controversial.

A major development came in 1998 when researchers compared Y-chromosome DNA from male-line descendants of Eston Hemings with descendants of Jefferson’s paternal family.

The results established a genetic connection between Eston’s descendants and the Jefferson male line.

However, the study could not independently identify Thomas Jefferson rather than another male relative sharing the same paternal ancestry.

Historical evidence strengthened the case. Jefferson was present at Monticello during the likely conception periods of Hemings’ six documented children.

In 2026, research involving preserved samples of Jefferson’s hair brought additional attention to the family’s history. The investigation used advances in genetic sequencing to compare historical DNA with information from living descendants.

The work contributed to a broader scientific and historical examination of the relationship, which Monticello historians have long regarded as established through converging evidence.

Why Sally Hemings’ Children Remain Important to American History

The lives of Sally Hemings’ children reveal the contradictions surrounding Thomas Jefferson’s legacy.

Jefferson helped articulate American ideals of liberty while continuing to enslave people at Monticello, including Hemings and their children.

Their family experiences also demonstrate the different paths formerly enslaved people followed after gaining freedom.

Beverly and Harriet entered white society, while Madison and Eston established families whose descendants preserved important historical memories.

Today, their stories are part of Monticello’s interpretation of slavery and the experiences of African American families connected to the plantation.

Sally Hemings’ legacy extends beyond the question of Jefferson’s paternity. Her children’s lives offer a deeper understanding of family relationships, racial identity, freedom and the lasting consequences of slavery in American history.