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Jemima Jefferson was the daughter of Capt. Thomas Jefferson, II.
She was born about 1730 in the Colony of Virginia since she had her first child about 1745. She died after her youngest child Betty Davis was born in 1770.
No official vital records were kept by the state in the era while she was living. As such, records are lacking for her date of birth and death. However, according to her son William Davis' pension application dated 17th day of September 1832, he stated he was 85 years old which means he was born in 1747. If Jemima was of child bearing years or about 16 years old or older when she became pregnant with her son William, then she was born about 1730 or earlier. Also, according to the source "The Davis Family" which was written in 1892 by Jemima's descendant Constant Elisha Watson Davis, Jemima was previously married to an unidentified man with the surname Collins and had children by him before she married John Davis about 1746. Consequently, she was of child bearing years before she married and had children with Mr. Collins before 1746 which is a strong indication she was born possibly before 1730 and was born as early as 1725.
Jemima's parents have been the subject of a lot of discussion. However, in the source "The History of Logan Co., WV" written in 1896 by Henry Ragland, Jemima's children claimed to be first cousins to President Thomas Jefferson.[1] This supports the conclusion Jemima (Jefferson) was the president's aunt and she was the daughter of president Thomas Jefferson's grandfather Capt. Thomas Jefferson, II. The captain's second wife Alice "Ailsey" (Ward) died about 1724 when the captain was only 47 years old.[2] Consequently, it is logical due to his age he would have married again or at least had a companion or consort. Jemima was born after the death of his second wife which suggests he had Jemima with an another wife or consort whose identity remains unknown. Jemima was born before the captain died in 1731. In fact, when Jemima was born about 1730 or earlier, Capt. Thomas Jefferson, II was still in the prime of his life since he was only about 50 years old when Jemima's mother became pregnant with her. It has also been suggested it is possible Jemima was born shortly after the captain died in 1731 and Jemima was the captain's posthumous child.
Many of Jemima's descendants have taken an autosomal DNA test which has revealed many of her descendants are a genetic match with descendants of all the children of Capt. Thomas Jefferson, II and supports the conclusion Jemima was also a child of the captain.[3]
Jemima's husband John Davis was listed in the "Order Entry Book 1737-1770" (combined for the western area of Brunswick Co. and containing the present counties of Halifax, Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin & Patrick). The entry shows on Mar. 7, 1763 John Davis 400 acres beginning at Reeds Creek on Turkeycock extending down the mountain for qty. transferred to George Jefferson. John Davis was also listed on the 1767 list of tithables as an overseer of a plantation in Pittsylvania County, VA owned by George Jefferson of Mecklenburg County, VA. George Jefferson was the first cousin of President Thomas Jefferson since George's father Field Jefferson was the President's uncle. Since George Jefferson was living in a different county than the one where he had a plantation operated by John Davis in Pittsylvania County, it suggests that George Jefferson had an unusual amount of trust for John Davis as just an employee, which suggests John or his wife Jemima (Jefferson) were probably related to him, especially since Jemima's maiden surname was Jefferson which was the same surname for George Jefferson.
John Davis a resident of Virginia, married Mrs. Jemima Collins, whose maiden name was Jefferson, a relative of Thomas Jefferson. John Davis' children were: Robert, Thomas, William, James, John, Mary, Jemima, Elizabeth and possibly Mildred Esther Davis who was married to William Bingham Meade and was closely associated with the family of John and Jemima (Jefferson) Davis.
Jemima's son Robert had a grandson Constant Elisha Watson Davis who stated in his manuscript "The Davis Family", written in 1892, that Robert's mother, Jemima (Jefferson) Collins Davis was related to President Thomas Jefferson. This claim is later confirmed by the previously mentioned source "History of Logan County, West Virginia", which was written in 1896. As stated In this source, Jemima's children claimed to be first cousins to President Thomas Jefferson.
Additional research may be necessary to establish the identity of Jemima Jefferson's first husband whose surname was Collins as well as the name of Jemima's mother and the status of her relationship with President Thomas Jefferson's grandfather Capt. Thomas Jefferson, II. A descendant of John and Jemima (Jefferson) Davis, Minerva Jane Davis Baker named her son Peter Jefferson Baker. After contacting a historian at Monticello, the Jefferson home-place, they stated that Jemima could not have been Peter Jefferson's daughter Jane Jefferson since she died young and was never married. This would also eliminate any claim or suggestion that Jemima was the president's sister.
From Kate Davis:
My great grandfather's name was William Henderson Davis. We are direct descendants of John Davis and Jemima Jefferson Davis (if this was her name--I have found no vital records for either). Thomas Jefferson's mother's will was witnessed by Thomas and a man named William Henderson. This does not prove a connection with Thomas Jefferson--it merely indicates the continuation of the family "myth" at least as far as the 1860s. This relationship claiming Jemima was the president's sister Jane should be broken! Thomas Jefferson's sister Jane died unmarried at age 25!!!
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