Smithsonian scientists report strong genomic evidence that Thomas Jefferson fathered two of Sally Hemings's children after recovering DNA from a lock of hair attributed to Jefferson. Comparing that DNA with samples from 13 living descendants and Hemings's descendants Madison and Eston, the team modelled 20,000 paternity scenarios and estimates a less than 0.001% chance Jefferson was not the father. The study, submitted to PNAS and not yet peer-reviewed, reinforces historical scholarship while highlighting the complicated family legacy tied to slavery and the American founding.
Smithsonian DNA Study Strengthens Case That Thomas Jefferson Fathered Children With Sally Hemings
DNA study confirms Thomas Jefferson fathered children with enslaved Sally Hemings
New genomic evidence from Smithsonian researchers finds strong support that Thomas Jefferson fathered two of Sally Hemings's children, reinforcing long-standing historical scholarship while underscoring the complexity of America’s founding legacy.
Thomas Jefferson — principal author of the Declaration of Independence and the third president of the United States — owned hundreds of people in bondage at Monticello and other properties. Rumors that he had children by Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman in his household, circulated in his lifetime and have been debated by historians for more than two centuries.
Thomas Jefferson (Getty Images)
What the Researchers Did
Scientists at the Smithsonian developed methods to recover DNA from a small lock of hair attributed to Jefferson and compared the resulting genomic data with samples from 13 living descendants of Jefferson and with descendants of Hemings's sons Madison and Eston. After nearly 15 years of work, the team modelled 20,000 simulated paternity scenarios that included Jefferson, his brother Randolph, and Randolph's sons.
"Having recovered Thomas Jefferson's DNA, the genomic evidence further reinforces strong historical scholarship indicative of Thomas Jefferson's paternity of Sally Hemings's children," the authors write in a study submitted to the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Key Findings and Cautions
The researchers report there is "a less than 0.001% chance" that Jefferson was not the father of Madison and Eston Hemings, based on their analyses and simulations. The study's results align with a landmark 1998 genetic study that first pointed to a Jefferson paternity but extend the evidence by recovering DNA attributed specifically to Jefferson.
US presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln tower over the landscape at Mount Rushmore (Getty)
These findings were presented in a manuscript submitted to PNAS and have not yet completed formal peer review. The authors emphasize that genomic evidence complements — rather than replaces — historical records and scholarship on the relationships and power imbalances inherent in slavery.
Broader Implications
Researchers note that the genomic results may allow descendants of both Martha Wayles Jefferson and Sally Hemings to recognize shared ancestry and a complex family history that includes both enslavement and freedom. The study raises enduring questions about consent, power, and legacy in the lives of enslaved people and the founding generation.
Context: Jefferson served as president from 1801 to 1809 and earlier held national office as the first U.S. secretary of state and as vice-president. Historians continue to evaluate genetic results alongside documentary evidence to build nuanced accounts of the past.
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