DNA Tests Offer 'Extraordinary Proof' of Thomas Jefferson's Children with Sally Hemings

Cutting-edge DNA tests performed on strands of Thomas Jefferson's hair have provided what researchers are calling "extraordinary proof" that the nation's third president fathered children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman at his Monticello plantation.

The findings, detailed in The New York Times, are the culmination of a 15-year effort by a team of archaeologists, genealogists, molecular geneticists, and historians. This scientific endeavor confirms long-standing historical speculation about the relationship between Jefferson and Hemings, which had circulated since the early 19th century.

Researchers at the Smithsonian Institution compared the genome sequence from Jefferson's hair samples with DNA from 13 individuals identified as living descendants of both Jefferson and Hemings. The lead on the project, Smithsonian scholar Richard Kurin, stated that while individual institutions may not have an official stance, the evidence is compelling and clear, contributing to a deeper understanding of American history.

Kurin emphasized the project's role in elucidating American history, noting that the questions surrounding Jefferson and Hemings have been of public interest for centuries. He believes that pursuing such research is a duty when scientific evidence can illuminate historical truths.

Remarkably, the advanced DNA sequencing techniques developed for the Jefferson project have also proven instrumental in solving high-profile criminal cases. These include the Gilgo Beach murders on Long Island and the apprehension of the Golden State Killer.

Beth Shapiro, an expert in ancient DNA at the University of California, Santa Cruz, noted that the tools refined through the Jefferson hair analysis were crucial in convicting the Gilgo Beach serial killer, Rex Heuermann. Heuermann was apprehended partly due to DNA recovered from a pizza crust, while the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, was identified using familial genealogy websites.

The Jefferson DNA project originated in 2011 when Kurin discovered three hairs in Jefferson's personal Bible while researching a Smithsonian documentary. Initial analysis of these hairs against DNA from a descendant of Jefferson's mother proved to be a non-match, prompting further investigation into hair believed to have been collected from Jefferson on his deathbed in 1826.

This deathbed hair sample was a match, enabling the full sequencing of Jefferson's genome. Biologists conducted over 20,000 paternity simulations, including comparisons with Jefferson's brother, Randolph, and Randolph's sons, who had been considered other possible fathers. The study concluded that the probability of Jefferson not fathering Hemings' sons, Madison and Eston, was less than one in 1,000.

Despite the scientific consensus, the project has faced some controversy. One Hemings descendant, who had provided a DNA sample in 2015, requested its withdrawal due to concerns that Kurin's book was being published before a related scientific journal article. The Smithsonian confirmed that the sample and data were destroyed, and the analysis was rerun without it.

David Miller, a sixth-generation descendant of Jefferson whose mother provided a DNA sample, welcomed the findings, stating they confirmed his family's long-held beliefs. He expressed hope that the results would lead to deserved recognition and acceptance for the Hemings family.