Elizabeth Hemings (abt. 1735 - 1807)

Born about 1735 in Francis Eppes's Plantation, Bermuda Hundred, Henrico, Virginia [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 22 Aug 1807 at about age 72 in Monticello Plantation, Albemarle, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: US Black Heritage Project WikiTree [send private message] and Anna Berkes [send private message]

Biography

Betty Hemings is Notable.

Betty Hemings is a part of US Black history. Join: US Black Heritage Project Discuss: black_heritage

According to her grandson, Madison Hemmings (1805-1877), Elizabeth Hemings was born to a "captain of an English trading vessel" and a "fullblooded African" woman.

Her father was Capt John Hemings and her mother was Biabaye Eppes (1717-1807). She was the property of John Wales, a Welshman.^[1] According to her grandson, Madison, Captain Hemings acknowledged his fatherhood and attempted to purchase his daughter but Mr. Wales refused to sell. Madison was informed it was not the extra value she had over other slave children; instead, Mr. Wales was curious about the effects of amalgamation and desired to see the results for himself. Captain Hemings soon sailed from Williamsburg and never returned. Elizabeth grew to womanhood on the plantation of John Wales.^[2]

Subsequent to the death of John Wales' wife, he took Elizabeth as his concubine. She had six children by him - Robert, James, Peter, Gritty, Sally, and Thena; all of whom went by the surname Hemings. On the death of John Wales, Elizabeth and her children, became the property of Thomas Jefferson's wife Martha (daughter of John Wales by his "1st" wife) and consequently the property of Thomas Jefferson.^[3]

Three of her children and six of her grandchildren were the only people Thomas Jefferson freed. She had twelve children, six of whom were likely fathered by one of her masters, John Wayles, Thomas Jefferson's father-in-law.^[4]

Elizabeth died and was buried at Monticello African-American Graveyard, Albemarle County, Virginia, United States.

Slave Owner

1. Francis Eppes IV (1686-1734)
2. John Wayles (abt.1715-1773)
3. Martha (Wayles) Jefferson (1748-1782)/Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Sources

1. ↑ Findagrave bio, quoting from Memoir of Madison Hemings
2. ↑ Brodie, F. M. K. (1974) "Thomas Jefferson an intimate history", Norton: Appendix I, Part 1, Reminiscences of Madison Heming, (pp.471-472); citing "Life Among the Lowly, No. 1," Pike County (Ohio) Republican, March 13, 1873.
3. ↑ Brodie, F. M. K. (1974) "Thomas Jefferson an intimate history", Norton: Appendix I, Part 1, Reminiscences of Madison Heming, (p.472).
4. ↑ Elizabeth Hemings-Thomas Jefferson

• Monticello Plantation, Albemarle, Virginia
• Wikipedia contributors. (2022, October 10). Betty Hemings. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 05:24, November 30, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betty_Hemings&oldid=1115329667
• Elizabeth “Betty” Hemings (1735-1807) on Find A Grave: Memorial #170099541 retrieved 13 August 2019
• Thomas Jefferson Foundation. "Elizabeth Hemings." https://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/elizabeth-hemings
• Gordon-Reed, Annette. The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family. New York: Norton, 2008.