[grok] **The primary DNA evidence** in the Thomas Jefferson–Sally Hemings controversy comes from a landmark 1998 study published in the journal *Nature* by Eugene A. Foster and colleagues. It used Y-chromosome (Y-DNA) analysis to examine paternal lineage. ### The 1998 Nature Study: Methods and Key Findings Y-DNA is passed from father to son with minimal change (except for rare mutations), making it ideal for tracing male-line ancestry. Researchers analyzed 19 genetic markers (7 bi-allelic markers, 11 microsatellites, and the minisatellite MSY1) on the Y chromosomes of living male-line descendants. **Tested groups**: - Male-line descendants of **Field Jefferson** (Thomas Jefferson’s paternal uncle). Thomas Jefferson had no surviving sons, so this line shares his expected Y-haplotype. - One male-line descendant of **Eston Hemings Jefferson** (Sally Hemings’ youngest son, born May 1808). - Male-line descendants of **Thomas Woodson** (a putative son of Sally Hemings, sometimes claimed as Jefferson’s). - Male-line descendants of **John Carr** (grandfather of Samuel and Peter Carr, Jefferson’s nephews long rumored in family oral history to be the fathers). - Control samples from other “old Virginia families” to assess population frequency. **Results**: - The **Field Jefferson line** and the **Eston Hemings descendant** shared an identical (or nearly identical) Y-chromosome haplotype. One minor difference in a single microsatellite was attributed to a likely mutation. - This specific haplotype is **rare**—it had never been observed outside the Jefferson family in large reference samples (hundreds to over 1,000 men tested globally for various markers). Average microsatellite haplotype frequency in populations is around 1.5%. - **No match** with Carr descendants → definitively rules out Samuel and Peter Carr as Eston’s father. - **No match** with most Woodson descendants → indicates Thomas Woodson’s father was **not** a Jefferson (one discrepant Woodson line showed a haplotype typical of sub-Saharan African ancestry, suggesting non-paternity in that branch). - Statistical note: The probability of this haplotype match occurring by chance is **less than 1%** (making a genetic relationship through the male line over 100 times more likely). **Core conclusion of the study**: A male in the Jefferson patriline fathered Eston Hemings. The original paper (and its title in *Nature*) phrased it as evidence that Jefferson “fathered slave’s last child,” but lead author Eugene Foster later clarified in follow-up letters (*Nature*, January 1999) and interviews that the data prove **a Jefferson male**, not necessarily Thomas Jefferson specifically. Randolph Jefferson (Thomas’s younger brother) and his male-line descendants were **not tested**, leaving that as a theoretical alternative. A companion *Nature* commentary by geneticist Eric Lander and historian Joseph Ellis was more definitive in suggesting Thomas Jefferson as the father, but the raw genetic data alone do not pinpoint him. ### What the DNA Does and Does Not Prove **Proves**: - Genetic link: Eston Hemings’ father carried the Jefferson Y-chromosome. - Rules out long-standing alternative explanations (Carr nephews). - Rules out Jefferson paternity for Thomas Woodson. **Does not prove**: - That **Thomas Jefferson** specifically was the father (any patrilineal Jefferson male—e.g., brother, nephew, or cousin—could theoretically share the haplotype). - Paternity for Sally Hemings’ other children (only Eston had a tested male-line descendant; others are inferred from patterns). - Details of the relationship (consensual, coercive, etc.). A 2007 follow-up study in the *American Journal of Physical Anthropology* further characterized the Jefferson Y-haplotype as belonging to a rare European lineage (haplogroup context often described as K2 or related; modern projects like FamilyTreeDNA place relevant Jefferson lines in T-M70 subclades). This rarity strengthens the significance of the match but does not resolve which Jefferson male was involved. ### Integration with Historical Evidence (Monticello’s Assessment) In 2000, the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (Monticello) convened a research committee of staff historians and scientists to evaluate the DNA study alongside all other evidence. Their report concluded there is a **high probability** that Thomas Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings *and* most or all of Sally Hemings’ six documented children (Harriet [d. infancy], Beverly, unnamed daughter [d. infancy], Harriet, Madison, and Eston). Key supporting factors beyond DNA: - **Timing/statistical correlation**: Jefferson was present at Monticello during the estimated conception windows for *all* six children. Modeling showed only a ~1% chance of this occurring by coincidence if he were not the father. - **Oral history**: Madison Hemings’ 1873 account explicitly named Thomas Jefferson as his father and described a long-term relationship. - **Freedom patterns**: Jefferson freed all four surviving Hemings children (Beverly, Harriet, Madison, Eston)—a unique occurrence among Monticello enslaved families. Madison reported his mother negotiated “extraordinary privileges” and freedom for her children. - **No credible alternatives**: No other Jefferson male (including Randolph or his sons) has documented presence at Monticello matching the conception windows or historical accusations naming them as fathers. Family denials from Jefferson’s grandchildren had pointed to the Carrs (now genetically ruled out). - Using Bayesian reasoning with a conservative 50% prior probability (based on DNA + Madison’s testimony), the posterior probability rises to ~99% that Jefferson fathered all six children. Monticello’s position (updated and affirmed in later statements) treats the combined evidence as conclusive that Thomas Jefferson fathered Sally Hemings’ children. ### Criticisms, Limitations, and Dissenting Views - **Headline vs. data gap**: Critics (including some in scientific correspondence to *Nature*) noted the original paper’s title and some media coverage overstated certainty about *Thomas* specifically. Randolph Jefferson’s line remained untested. - **Y-DNA limits**: It traces only direct male lines and cannot distinguish close relatives. Autosomal DNA (which could potentially narrow it further) has not been feasible due to lack of suitable samples from Thomas Jefferson or Sally Hemings. - **Dissenting scholarship**: The Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society and some researchers argue the evidence is circumstantial for Thomas and propose Randolph Jefferson (or others) as more likely for at least some children. They emphasize the 1998 study’s interpretive limits. - No new large-scale DNA studies have overturned the 1998 findings as of 2026. ### Recent and Ongoing Developments (as of 2026) A court petition was filed in Nashville, Tennessee, seeking authorization to obtain DNA samples from the remains of **John Randolph Jefferson** (1816–1845), son of Randolph Jefferson and thus a direct male-line descendant of Thomas Jefferson’s brother. The goal is to test this previously missing branch and potentially distinguish between Thomas and Randolph (or other relatives) as the source of the matching Y-haplotype. As of mid-2026, the petition remains pending amid legal motions (including motions to dismiss); no exhumation or testing has occurred. This represents the main effort to close the evidentiary gap left by the 1998 study. ### Bottom Line The 1998 Y-DNA study provides **strong scientific evidence** that a Jefferson male fathered at least one of Sally Hemings’ children (Eston) and rules out previously prominent alternative explanations. When combined with documentary records, statistical correlations of presence/timing, oral history, and freedom patterns, it forms a compelling case—accepted by Monticello and most historians—that **Thomas Jefferson** was the father of Sally Hemings’ children. The evidence is not absolute proof in a legal/forensic sense (due to the inability to test Thomas directly or rule out every distant relative at the time), but it is among the strongest genetic-historical linkages available for any Founding Father–enslaved person relationship. Future testing of the Randolph line could provide additional clarity. --- Thinking about your request Exploring DNA evidence linking Jefferson ### Searched web Thomas Jefferson Sally Hemings DNA evidence 1998 Nature study details 10 [ Hemings-Jefferson DNA; an excerpt from "Jefferson Fathered Slave's Last Child" by Eugene A. Foster, et al. (November 5, 1998) - Encyclopedia Virginia L8: ORIGINAL IMAGES L12: CONTEXT L14: In this excerpt from “Jefferson Fathered Slave’s Last Child,” published in *Nature* on November 5, 1998, Eugene A. Foster and his coauthors explain the results of a DNA test that concluded that a Jefferson male (and possibly Thomas Jefferson himself) fathered Eston Hemings, the last son of Sally Hemings . L14: DNA from Field Jefferson, a paternal uncle of Thomas Jefferson, was compared with the descendants of Eston Hemings and Thomas Woodson, another putative son of Sally Hemings. L14: Foster’s coauthors are M. A. Jobling, P. G. Taylor, P. Donnelly, P. de Knijff, Rene Mieremet, T. Zerjal, and C. Tyler-Smith. ... L26: We therefore analysed DNA from the Y chromosomes of: five male-line descendants of two sons of the president’s paternal uncle, Field Jefferson; five male-line descendants of two sons of Thomas Woodson; one male-line descendant of Eston Hemings Jefferson; and three male-line descendants of three sons of John Carr, grandfather of Samuel and Peter Carr (Fig. 1a). ... L28: Four of the five descendants of Field Jefferson shared the same haplotype at all loci, and the fifth differed by only a single unit at one microsatellite locus, probably a mutation. L28: This haplotype is rare in the population, where the average frequency of a microsatellite haplotype is about 1.5 per cent. ... L30: The fifth Wood-son descendant had an entirely different haplotype, most often seen in sub-Saharan Africans, which indicates illegitimacy in the line after individual W42. L30: In contrast, the descendant of Eston Hemings Jefferson did have the Field Jefferson haplotype. Encyclopediavirginia ](https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/hemings-jefferson-dna-an-excerpt-from-jefferson-fathered-slaves-last-child-by-eugene-a-foster-et-al-november-5-1998/)[ Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello L1: Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello L3: Statement on the Report by TJF President Daniel P. Jordan L5: 0) Committee Charge and Overview L6: 1) Assessment of DNA Study L7: 2) Review of Documentary Sources L8: 3) Research Findings and Implications L9: 4) Assessment of Possible Paternity of Other Jeffersons L10: 5) Conclusions L12: . L12: PDF version of Report (contains more information than HTML version) L14: . L14: PDF of Minority Report L18: Appendices L20: 0) Articles in the journal Nature (links are to article summaries; full text available to subscribers or with paid access): L22: Eugene A. Foster et al., "Jefferson Fathered Slave's Last Child," November 5, 1998 L24: Eric S. Lander and Joseph J. Ellis, "Founding Father," November 5, 1998 L26: Eugene A. Foster et al., Reply: The Thomas Jefferson paternity case, letter to editor, January 7, 1999 1) Views of scientists consulted L29: Dr. Kenneth K. Kidd , Professor of Genetics, Yale University, January 1999 L31: Dr. Mark Lovell , Director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Virginia School of Medicine, January 1999 L33: Dr. David Page , Associate Director, Whitehead Institute, MIT Center for Genome Research, December 1998 L35: Dr. Bruce Stillman , Director, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, February 1999 L36: 2) Hemings and Jefferson family trees (not presently available -- pertinent information is found in Appendix J and Appendix H) L37: 3) Foundation statement of November 1, 1998 (.PDF) Monticello ](https://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/report-research-committee-thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings)[ Jefferson fathered slave's last child | Nature L20: In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. L23: * Scientific Correspondence L24: * Published: 05 November 1998 L26: # Jefferson fathered slave's last child L28: Show authors L30: Nature **volume 396** , pages 27–28 ( 1998 ) Cite this article L32: 2744 Accesses 244 Citations 114 Altmetric Metrics details L37: ## Abstract L39: There is a long-standing historical controversy over the question of US President Thomas Jefferson's paternity of the children of Sally Hemings, one of his slaves 1 , 4 . L39: To throw some scientific light on the dispute, we have compared Y-chromosomal DNA haplotypes from male-line descendants of Field Jefferson, a paternal uncle of Thomas Jefferson, with those of male-line descendants of Thomas Woodson, Sally Hemings' putative first son, and of Eston Hemings Jefferson, her last son. L39: The molecular findings fail to support the belief that Thomas Jefferson was Thomas Woodson's father, but provide evidence that he was the biological father of Eston Hemings Jefferson. L41: This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ... L58: *** L60: ## Author information L62: ### Authors and Affiliations L64: 1. L65: 6 Gildersleeve Wood, Charlottesville, 22903, Virginia, USA Eugene A. Foster 2. L68: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Adrian Building, University Road, LE1 7RH, Leicester, UK M. A. Jobling & P. G. Taylor 3. ... L125: ### Cite this article L127: Foster, E., Jobling, M., Taylor, P. *et al.* Jefferson fathered slave's last child. L128: *Nature* **396** , 27–28 (1998). L128: https://doi.org/10.1038/23835 L130: Download citation L132: Issue date : 05 November 1998 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/23835 Nature ](https://www.nature.com/articles/23835)[ Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings - Assessment of DNA Study | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello L8: The laboratories involved are highly reputable in Y-chromosomal studies and have extensive records of publication in scientific peer-reviewed journals. L8: The study compared nineteen genetic markers on the Y chromosomes of fourteen subjects-five male-line descendants of two sons of Field Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's paternal uncle), three male-line descendants of three sons of John Carr (grandfather of Samuel and Peter Carr), five male-line descendants of two sons of Thomas Woodson, and one male-line descendant of Eston Hemings. L10: The results clearly show that the male-line descendants of Field Jefferson and Eston Hemings have identical Y-chromosome haplotypes (the particular combination of variants at defined loci on the chromosome). L10: Scientists note that there is less than a 1 percent probability that this is due to chance. L10: Thus the haplotype match is over one hundred times more likely when Jefferson and Eston Hemings are genetically related through the male line. L10: This study by itself does not establish that Hemings's father was Thomas Jefferson, only that Hemings's father was a Jefferson. L12: Because of the absence of a match between the Carr and Hemings haplotypes, the study rules out both Samuel and Peter Carr as Eston Hemings's father. L12: Since the Jefferson and Woodson haplotypes also did not match, the study indicates that Thomas Woodson's father was not a Jefferson. L12: We note that the design of the study eliminates any ambiguity resulting from the genetic influence of John Wayles, Thomas Jefferson's father-in-law and Sally Hemings's alleged father, by looking at markers only on the Y chromosome. L12: DNA of male-line descendants of five "old Virginia families" was also included in the analysis in an attempt to sample the local population of Y chromosomes. Monticello ](https://www.monticello.org/slavery/jefferson-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-a-brief-account/research-report-on-jefferson-and-hemings/ii-assessment-of-dna-study/)[ DNA Test Finds Evidence Of Jefferson Child by Slave - The New York Times L16: Advertisement L18: SKIP ADVERTISEMENT L20: Supported by L22: SKIP ADVERTISEMENT L24: # DNA Test Finds Evidence Of Jefferson Child by Slave L26: By Dinitia Smith and Nicholas Wade L28: * Nov. 1, 1998 L30: See the article in its original context from L32: November 1, 1998 , Section 1 , Page 1 Buy Reprints L34: New York Times subscribers* enjoy full access to TimesMachine—view over 150 years of New York Times journalism, as it originally appeared. L36: Subscribe L38: *Does not include Games-only or Cooking-only subscribers. L40: DNA tests on the descendants of Thomas Jefferson's family and of Jefferson's young slave, Sally Hemings, offer compelling evidence that the nation's third President fathered at least one of her children, according to an article in the scientific journal Nature. L42: The report is based on blood samples collected by Eugene A. Foster of Charlottesville, Va., a retired Tufts University professor of pathology. L42: The finding undercuts the position of historians that Jefferson did not have a liaison with the slave some 28 years his junior, as had been speculated. L42: And it confirms, but with a surprising twist, the oral tradition that has been handed down among Sally Hemings's descendants. L44: The new evidence, to be reported in Thursday's issue of Nature, is likely to send historians scurrying to re-evaluate Jefferson, particularly his role in the anti-slavery movement. L44: It may also have a wider resonance. L44: The accusation of an affair with Hemings, one of several charges considered in a mock impeachment trial staged by the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1805, was indirectly denied by Jefferson. L46: Subscribe to The Times to read as many articles as you like. NYTimes ](https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/01/us/dna-test-finds-evidence-of-jefferson-child-by-slave.html)[ Monticello | I. Committee Charge and Overview L1: # Monticello | I. Committee Charge and Overview L3: Skip to content L5: # I. Committee Charge and Overview L7: Skip in page navigation L9: Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings, 2000 L11: I. Committee Charge and Overview L13: January 2000 L15: On December 21, 1998, Dr. Daniel P. Jordan, president of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, appointed a research committee of Monticello staff members, including four Ph.D.'s and one medical doctor, and charged the committee with evaluating the DNA study of Dr. Eugene Foster and associates, assessing it within the context of all other relevant historical and scientific evidence, and recommending the impact it should have on historical interpretation at Monticello. ... L27: The committee met as a whole ten times from December 1998 to April 1999, to discuss sources read by all members (see III) and reports by individual members on additional topics (issues of interpretation, media response, and the views of historians). L27: Subcommittees on the scientific and documentary evidence were formed to gather and process information and consult with experts in the field. ... L29: Minutes from the committee meetings are in the files of the Chair, Dianne Swann-Wright. L31: Page L33: Statement on the Report by TJF President L36: A statement by then-Thomas Jefferson Foundation president and CEO, Daniel P. Jordan, on the findings of the research committee he appointed to review and respond to the 1998 DNA study linking the Jefferson and Hemings families. L39: Page L41: II. L41: Assessment of DNA Study L44: An assessment of the science and work done in the DNA study linking the Jefferson and Hemings families. L47: Page L49: III. L49: Review of Documentary Sources L52: A list of historical documents and records considered by the TJF committee looking into the 1998 DNA study linking the Jefferson and Hemings families. L55: Page L57: IV. L57: Research Findings and Implications L60: A review the DNA study's significant findings by the TJF committee looking into the 1998 DNA study linking the Jefferson and Hemings families. L63: Page L65: V. Assessment of Possible Paternity of Other Jeffersons L68: A case-by-case assessment other possible Hemings paternity candidates by the TJF committee looking into the 1998 DNA study linking the Jefferson and Hemings families. Monticello ](https://www.monticello.org/slavery/jefferson-and-sally-hemings/jefferson-hemings-report/i-committee-charge)[ TESTS LINK JEFFERSON, SLAVE'S SON - The Washington Post L1: Published: 1998-11-01 # TESTS LINK JEFFERSON, SLAVE'S SON - The Washington Post L4: Democracy Dies in Darkness L6: # TESTS LINK JEFFERSON, SLAVE'S SON L8: DNA STUDY SUGGESTS A MONTICELLO LIAISON L10: October 31, 1998 More than **27 years ago** L12: Make us preferred on Google L14: By L16: Genetic testing shows that Thomas Jefferson almost certainly fathered a child with one of his slaves, Sally Hemings, according to scientists who argue that their results come as close as possible to solving one of history's most enduring and contentious mysteries. L18: Researchers examined blood samples collected this year from known descendants of the family of America's third president and from those who trace their ancestry to Hemings. L18: In a paper published in the Nov. 5 issue of the journal Nature, they report that DNA comparisons all but conclusively prove that Hemings's youngest son, Eston, was fathered by Jefferson. L20: --- L22: Sign up Washington Post ](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/11/01/tests-link-jefferson-slaves-son/7b355f1f-22e3-4186-b7fa-32626312d0da/)[ Founding father | Nature L8: In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. L11: - News & Views L12: - Published: 05 November 1998 L14: # Founding father L16: Nature **volume 396** , pages 13–14 ( 1998 ) Cite this article L18: 929 Accesses 28 Citations 11 Altmetric Metrics details L23: **Almost two hundred years ago Thomas Jefferson was alleged to have fathered a children by his slave Sally Hemings. L23: The charges have remained controversial. L23: Now, DNA analysis confirms that Jefferson was indeed the father of at least one of Hemings' children. L23: ** L25: For two centuries Thomas Jefferson's legacy has been haunted by the first US presidential sex scandal — the charge of an illicit relationship with his mulatto slave Sally Hemings. L25: From the day the story broke in a Richmond newspaper in 1802, ‘Tom and Sally’ has become the longest running mini-series in American history. L25: Because the evidence was all circumstantial, no authoritative resolution has been possible. L25: Until today, that is. L25: On page 27 of this issue, Foster *et al* . L25: 1 report that DNA testing of Y chromosomes offers strong evidence that Jefferson fathered at least one of Hemings' children. ... L83: ### Cite this article L85: Lander, E., Ellis, J. Founding father. L86: *Nature* **396** , 13–14 (1998). L86: https://doi.org/10.1038/23802 L88: Download citation L90: Issue date : 05 November 1998 DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/23802 L93: Nature (*Nature*) Nature ](https://www.nature.com/articles/23802)[ Jefferson–Hemings Research Resources | DNA Studies, Reports & Primary Documents — Jefferson DNA L11: If you are new to the subject or writing about it, begin with these sources (all linked below): L13: **The 1998 Nature DNA Study** – The original genetic study linking a Jefferson-line male to Eston Hemings. L14: **The 1999 Scientific Responses in Nature** – Letters pointing out the study’s limitations. L15: The 1998 Nature DNA Study: What the Science Showed — and What It Did Not — A critical examination of the scientific limitations and historical context from the wider scientific, legal, and law enforcement communities. L16: **The 2000 Monticello Research Committee Report** – The Foundation's official evaluation concluding that Thomas Jefferson was likely the father of Hemings' children, and the report that subsequent scholarship has examined and contested. ... L21: All these listed materials and others are linked below are are publicly available or historically documented sources. L23: --- L25: ### **Scientific Studies & Official Reports** L27: **📄** 1998 DNA Study: Jefferson father’s slave’s last child (Foster et al., Nature ) ( Download PDF ) **➡ view** critique of 1998 Study The first genetic study to test the Jefferson paternal line against descendants of Eston Hemings. L27: The study showed that a Jefferson-line male fathered Eston but did not distinguish among Jefferson males. L27: DNA of Thomas Jefferson was not available, Randolph Jefferson and his sons were not included in the study. L29: **📄** 1999 Nature Scientific Correspondence: The Thomas Jefferson paternity case ( Download PDF ) Scientific letters published shortly after the DNA study, noting that alternative Jefferson relatives were not ruled out and that the study had interpretive limits. L29: Lead author Foster admits the original title was misleading, and that Randolph Jefferson males were also candidates for paternity. L31: **Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello):**<br>**📄** Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings (2000) ( Download PDF ) **➡ also** **view Minority Report below** The Foundation’s official evaluation of the DNA findings and historical record. Jeffersondna ](https://www.jeffersondna.org/resources)[ Monticello | V. Assessment of Possible Paternity of Other Jeffersons L13: Thomas Jefferson Foundation January 2000 L16: One reaction to the DNA study of Jefferson and Hemings descendants has been the accurate observation that the test results only prove that *a* Jefferson fathered the last of Sally Hemings's children — not that Thomas Jefferson himself was the father. L16: In order to investigate this possibility, Monticello researchers reviewed Thomas Jefferson's papers as well as Jefferson family genealogies to determine the identities and whereabouts of other male members of his family. L18: Sally Hemings's confirmed times of conception extend from early December of 1794 through mid-September of 1807. ... L20: Randolph Jefferson was invited to Monticello during the period of Eston Hemings's conception, but it is not known that he actually made the visit. L22: The committee concludes that convincing evidence does not exist for the hypothesis that another male Jefferson was the father of Sally Hemings's children. L22: In almost two hundred years since the issue first became public, no other Jefferson has ever been referred to as the father; denials of Thomas Jefferson's paternity named the Carr nephews. L22: Furthermore, evidence of the sort of sustained presence necessary to have resulted in the creation of a family of six children is entirely lacking, and even those who denied a relationship never suggested Sally Hemings's children had more than one father. L22: Finally, the historical evidence for Thomas Jefferson's paternity of Eston Hemings and his known siblings overwhelmingly outweighs that for any other Jefferson. L24: See Appendices - Appendix J for a more extended account of the investigation of this issue. Monticello ](https://www.monticello.org/slavery/jefferson-and-sally-hemings/jefferson-hemings-report/v-assessment-of-possible-paternity-of-other-jeffersons) ### Searched web updates or new DNA evidence Jefferson Hemings controversy 1998-2026 5 [ 2026 DNA Study & Tennessee Petition | Jefferson–Hemings Paternity Question — Jefferson DNA L1: # 2026 DNA Study & Tennessee Petition | Jefferson–Hemings Paternity Question — Jefferson DNA L3: 0 L5: # **The 2026 DNA Study and**<br>**Tennessee Petition** L7: #### **Overview** L9: A court petition has been filed in **Nashville, Tennessee** , seeking authorization under state law to obtain DNA samples from the grave of **John Randolph Jefferson (1816–1845)** . L9: John Randolph Jefferson, who died childless with no next of kin, was the last son of Randolph Jefferson **(1755–1815)** , the younger brother of **Thomas Jefferson** . L11: The petition addresses a limitation revealed by the **1998 Jefferson–Hemings DNA study** , published in *Nature* : the absence of genetic data from Randolph Jefferson and his male-line descendants . ... L15: "The instant Petition is the first step in a process that will provide much needed insight into the alternate theories of paternity for Sally Hemings children or, as it may turn out, further confirmation of Thomas Jefferson’s paternity. Either way, the search for the truth will be advanced by granting this Petition." L17: **Petition updates as of 6 March 2026:** ‍ ‍ Motion to Dismiss , Response to Motion to Dismiss , Exhibit A: Father Ryan Petition , Exhibit B: Father Ryan Final Order , Exhibit C: Proof of Publication ; Reply in Support of Respondent’s Motion to Dismiss , Agreed Order . ... L118: These differences form the basis of comparative autosomal analysis in the current study. L120: --- L122: ## **Legal Status** L124: The petition is **pending** and subject to judicial review under Tennessee law. L126: No authorization has been granted to extract DNA samples from John Randolph Jefferson at the time of writing. Jeffersondna ](https://www.jeffersondna.org/2026-study)[ Jefferson–Hemings Paternity Question | 2026 DNA Study & Evidence Review L9: *2026 Update: A* court petition *has been filed in Nashville, Tennessee seeking authorization to obtain DNA from a direct male-line descendant of Randolph Jefferson — filling the evidentiary gap left by the 1998 study. L9: * L11: Over a quarter of a century has passed since the original DNA study, published on November 5, 1998 in the scientific journal *Nature* , which forms the basis of the prevailing consensus. L11: The piece was published under the editorial title Jefferson Fathered Slave’s Last Child — a conclusion the study's own data did not support . L11: In a companion article titled Founding Father , historian Joseph Ellis and Eric Lander echoed the incorrect assertion with the subheading: *DNA analysis confirms that Jefferson was indeed the father of at least one of Hemings' children* . L11: Four days later, however, the lead author of the DNA study, Dr. Eugene Foster, felt compelled to clarify and essentially repudiate the fundamentally misleading headline, writing in the New York Times that " **the genetic findings my collaborators and I reported in the scientific journal Nature do not prove that Thomas Jefferson was the father of one of Sally Hemings children. We never made that claim.** " And two months later, on January 7, 1999, Dr. Foster added in the scientific journal Nature itself that " **It is true that men of Randolph Jefferson's family could have fathered Sally L11: Hemings' later children.** " L13: View the Critiques of the 1998 DNA Study L15: --- L17: ## **Addressing a Scientific Gap in the Jefferson–Hemings Paternity Question** L19: A court petition has been filed in Nashville, Tennessee , seeking authorization to obtain DNA samples from the grave of **John Randolph Jefferson** (1816–1845), the last son of Randolph Jefferson (1755–1815), the younger brother of Thomas Jefferson. L19: Although his grave has never been found, Randolph Jefferson and his descendants were excluded from the 1998 DNA study , and no DNA from Randolph’s male line was ever collected or compared with DNA from descendants of Eston Hemings. L19: Scientific critiques published in Nature pointed to this omission as a significant gap in the available data and analysis. Jeffersondna ](https://www.jeffersondna.org/)[ New Petition Seeks More DNA Evidence in the Jefferson-Hemings Story | Your DNA Guide L1: # New Petition Seeks More DNA Evidence in the Jefferson-Hemings Story | Your DNA Guide L3: # Back to News & Announcements L7: A new petition in Tennessee is making headlines: a descendant of the Jefferson family is asking for permission to exhume the remains of **John Randolph Jefferson** , Thomas Jefferson’s nephew, for DNA testing. L9: The goal? L9: To gather more genetic evidence about the Jefferson male line—and possibly shed new light on the long-debated question of who fathered the children of **Sally Hemings** , an enslaved woman at Monticello. L11: This isn’t the first time DNA has played a role in this story. L11: A well-known 1998 Y-DNA study ( reviewed here by the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Foundation ) showed that the **male-line descendants of Eston Hemings** match the Jefferson male line, meaning a Jefferson man—someone with that Y-chromosome—fathered at least one of Sally Hemings’s sons. L13: What this new petition suggests is that the researcher wants to further explore which Jefferson man that might have been. L13: Thomas Jefferson himself? L13: One of his brothers? L13: A nephew? L15: **Why the petition matters** Testing a nephew’s remains could help researchers compare different branches of the Jefferson male line. ... L19: Here’s why: L21: **Timing:** Every known conception of Sally Hemings’s children lines up with the times **Thomas Jefferson was at Monticello** . L21: This pattern holds across more than a decade. L22: **Other Jeffersons:** While a few nephews lived in the region, there’s **no evidence** they were at Monticello during the conception windows. Yourdnaguide ](https://my.yourdnaguide.com/c/announcements/new-petition-seeks-more-dna-evidence-in-the-jefferson-hemings-story)[ Discoveries that changed what historians knew about Founding Fathers | Fox News L97: According to the Thomas Jefferson Foundation (TJF), Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence, fathered at least six children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman at Monticello. L101: Historians continue to uncover new evidence that sheds light on the lives and legacies of America's Founding Fathers, including Thomas Jefferson (left) and George Washington (right). L101: (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images; Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) L103: Though it was rumored during his lifetime that Jefferson fathered children with one of the enslaved women, it wasn't until a landmark 1998 DNA study that historians found scientific evidence that appears to support the claim. ... L115: "Decades later, Jefferson freed all of Sally Hemings’s children ... [he] did not grant freedom to any other enslaved family unit." L117: ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH STRANGE HEAD DEPICTING ROMAN GOD BENEATH CATHOLIC BASILICA L119: After reviewing documentary, scientific, statistical and oral history evidence, the Foundation concluded that Jefferson most likely fathered Hemings' children, a position now widely accepted by mainstream historians. L121: Not all historians agree with that assessment, however. L125: The reflection of Thomas Jefferson's Monticello appears on the pond water in Charlottesville, Virginia. L125: (Edwin Remsburg/VW Pics via Getty Images) L127: After reviewing historical evidence, the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society concluded that Hemings "was only a minor figure in Thomas Jefferson's life and that it is very unlikely he fathered any of her children," according to the TJF website. L129: "This committee also suggested in its report, issued in April 2001 and revised in 2011, that Jefferson's younger brother Randolph (1755-1815) was more likely the father of at least some of Sally Hemings's children," the website adds. L131: ### George Washington's distillery Fox News ](https://www.foxnews.com/travel/discoveries-reshaped-what-historians-knew-about-americas-founding-fathers)[ Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello L1: Report of the Research Committee on Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings | Thomas Jefferson's Monticello L3: Statement on the Report by TJF President Daniel P. Jordan L5: 0) Committee Charge and Overview L6: 1) Assessment of DNA Study L7: 2) Review of Documentary Sources L8: 3) Research Findings and Implications L9: 4) Assessment of Possible Paternity of Other Jeffersons L10: 5) Conclusions L12: . L12: PDF version of Report (contains more information than HTML version) L14: . L14: PDF of Minority Report L18: Appendices L20: 0) Articles in the journal Nature (links are to article summaries; full text available to subscribers or with paid access): L22: Eugene A. Foster et al., "Jefferson Fathered Slave's Last Child," November 5, 1998 L24: Eric S. Lander and Joseph J. Ellis, "Founding Father," November 5, 1998 L26: Eugene A. Foster et al., Reply: The Thomas Jefferson paternity case, letter to editor, January 7, 1999 1) Views of scientists consulted L29: Dr. Kenneth K. Kidd , Professor of Genetics, Yale University, January 1999 L31: Dr. Mark Lovell , Director of the Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Virginia School of Medicine, January 1999 L33: Dr. David Page , Associate Director, Whitehead Institute, MIT Center for Genome Research, December 1998 L35: Dr. Bruce Stillman , Director, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, February 1999 L36: 2) Hemings and Jefferson family trees (not presently available -- pertinent information is found in Appendix J and Appendix H) L37: 3) Foundation statement of November 1, 1998 (.PDF) Monticello ](https://www.monticello.org/site/plantation-and-slavery/report-research-committee-thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings) ### Searched web Thomas Jefferson Y-chromosome DNA haplotype Hemings descendants 5 [ Sally Hemings | A Presidential Paternity Case - Your DNA Guide - Diahan Southard L26: “3 Thomas Jefferson,” GPA Photo Archive, Flickr. L26: Public Domain Mark 1.0 L28: ## YDNA test results L30: In 1998, DNA testing–specifically YDNA testing–shed more light on the claims. L30: Dr. Eugene Foster and a team of geneticists conducted YDNA testing on male-line descendants of Eston Hemings as well as male-line descendants of both Field Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson’s paternal uncle, who would share his YDNA signature) and John Carr (the grandfather of Jefferson Carr’s nephews, who would share *their* YDNA signature). ... L34: Results showed that Eston’s descendants shared no Y-chromosome relationship with the Carrs. L34: But researchers discovered that Eston did indeed carry the Jefferson Y chromosome. L34: Quoting from its assessment of the DNA study: L36: “The results clearly show that the **male-line descendants of Field Jefferson and Eston Hemings have identical Y-chromosome haplotypes** (the particular combination of variants at defined loci on the chromosome). Scientists note that there is less than a 1 percent probability that this is due to chance. Thus the haplotype match is over one hundred times more likely when Jefferson and Eston Hemings are genetically related through the male line. **This study by itself does not establish that Hemings’s father was Thomas Jefferson, only that Hemings’s father was a Jefferson** .” ( source ) L38: That last sentence is key: carrying the Jefferson Y chromosome did not specifically prove descent from Thomas. L38: YDNA can’t uniquely distinguish between brothers or other close male relatives who have the same Y signature. L40: About 25 Jefferson males who would have that same Y signature were living in the Virginia area at the time. L40: So how did the finger get so confidently pointed at Thomas? L40: Quoting again from the committee’s report: L42: > “While there is a scientific possibility that Randolph Jefferson (Jefferson’s brother), one of his sons, or one of Field Jefferson’s grandsons, was the father of Eston Hemings, the preponderance of known historical evidence indicates that Thomas Jefferson was his father. Randolph Jefferson and his sons are not known to have been at Monticello at the time of Eston Hemings’s conception, nor has anyone, until 1998, ever before publicly suggested them as possible fathers. Field Jefferson’s grandsons are unlikely candidates because of their distance from Monticello…. > “The ... L49: > “The DNA study, combined with multiple strands of currently available documentary and statistical evidence, indicates a high probability that Thomas Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings, and that he most likely was the father of all six of Sally Hemings’s children appearing in Jefferson’s records. Those children are Harriet, who died in infancy; Beverly; an unnamed daughter who died in infancy; Harriet; Madison; and Eston.” Yourdnaguide ](https://www.yourdnaguide.com/ydgblog/sally-hemings)[ FamilyTreeDNA - Jefferson DNA project L1: # FamilyTreeDNA - Jefferson DNA project L3: | Jefferson DNA project - Y-DNA Classic Chart For genealogy within the most recent fifteen generations, STR markers help define paternal lineages. L3: Y-DNA STR markers change (mutate) often enough that most men who share the same STR results also share a recent paternal lineage. ... L3: DYS494 DYS533 DYS636 DYS575 DYS638 DYS462 DYS452 DYS445 Y-GATA-A10 DYS463 DYS441 Y-GGAAT-1B07 DYS525 DYS712 DYS593 DYS650 DYS532 DYS715 DYS504 DYS513 DYS561 DYS552 DYS726 DYS635 DYS587 DYS643 DYS497 DYS510 DYS434 DYS461 DYS435 Jefferson Line 1 - Haplogroup T (T-M70>>PF7444>>BY56077>>FT78438). L3: Please also join the Haplogroup T Project. L3: 746979 Jefferson John Jeafferson, b. 1589 England T-M70 13 24 15 10 13-16 11 12 12 12 15 27 16 9-9 11 13 25 14 19 34 10-12-16-17 10 10 23-23 15 14 17 16 36-38 11 9 870064 Jefferson Peter Jefferson - 29Feb1708/17Aug1757 United States T-M70 13 24 15 10 13-16 11 12 12 12 15 27 16 9-9 11 13 25 14 19 34 10-12-16-17 10 10 23-23 15 14 17 16 36-39 11 9 874718 Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, b.1629 and d. 1697 United States T-PF7444 13 24 15 10 13-16 11 12 12 12 15 27 16 9-9 11 13 25 14 19 34 10-12-16-17 10 10 23-23 15 14 17 16 36-39 11 9 11 8 17-17 8 11 10 8 12 9 12 20-20 15 10 12 12 14 8 11 24 19 17 11 L3: 12 13 10 11 12 11 31 16 8 15 12 23 28 19 11 11 13 13 12 9 11 11 10 10 13 31 11 12 21 14 10 12 19 15 18 12 23 15 12 15 27 12 21 19 9 12 20 9 11 11 MK61038 Jefferson Unknown Origin T-FT78438 13 24 15 10 13-16 11 12 12 12 15 27 16 9-9 11 13 25 14 19 34 10-12-16-17 10 10 23-23 15 14 17 16 36-39 11 9 11 8 17-17 8 11 10 8 12 9 12 20-20 15 10 12 12 14 8 11 24 19 18 11 11 13 10 11 12 11 30 16 8 15 12 23 28 19 11 11 14 13 12 9 11 11 10 10 13 31 11 12 21 14 10 12 19 15 18 12 23 16 12 15 27 12 21 19 9 12 20 9 11 11 Jefferson Line 2 - Haplogroup R1b (R-M269>>L21>>DF41) 907296 Jefferson Unknown Origin L3: R-M269 13 24 14 11 11-16 12 12 12 13 13 29 17 9-10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15-16-17-17 11 11 19-23 17 15 19 17 36-38 11 12 328844 Jefferson Unknown Origin R-M269 13 24 14 11 11-16 12 12 12 13 13 29 17 9-10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15-16-17-17 11 11 19-23 17 15 20 17 36-38 11 12 211721 Jefferson Jefferson England R-L151 13 24 14 11 16-16 12 12 12 13 13 29 17 9-10 11 11 25 15 19 30 15-16-17-17 11 11 19-23 16 15 19 17 36-37 11 12 11 9 15-16 8 10 10 8 10 11 12 21-24 16 10 12 12 14 8 12 22 20 13 14 11 13 11 11 12 12 34 15 9 16 12 23 26 19 13 11 11 12 11 9 14 12 10 11 11 30 12 14 24 13 10 10 20 15 20 13 24 17 Familytreedna ](https://www.familytreedna.com/public/jefferson?iframe=ydna)[ Thomas Jefferson's Y chromosome belongs to a rare European lineage - King - 2007 - American Journal of Physical Anthropology - Wiley Online Library L1: Published: 2007-04-01 # Thomas Jefferson's Y chromosome belongs to a rare European lineage - King - 2007 - American Journal of Physical Anthropology - Wiley Online Library L4: - Skip to Article Content L5: - Skip to Article Information L7: American Journal of Physical Anthropology L9: Volume 132, Issue 4 pp. 584-589 L11: Research Article L13: # Thomas Jefferson's Y chromosome belongs to a rare European lineage L15: Turi E. King , L17: Turi E. King L19: Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK L21: Search for more papers by this author ... L119: view metrics L121: Accessibility issue? L122: Request accessibility update. L124: PDF L126: ### Abstract L128: We have characterized the Y chromosome carried by President Thomas Jefferson, the general rarity of which supported the idea that he, or a patrilineal relative, fathered the last son of his slave Sally Hemings. L128: It belongs to haplogroup K2, a lineage representing only ∼1% of chromosomes worldwide, and most common in East Africa and the Middle East. L128: Phylogenetic network analysis of its Y-STR (short tandem repeat) haplotype shows that it is most closely related to an Egyptian K2 haplotype, but the presence of scattered and diverse European haplotypes within the network is nonetheless consistent with Jefferson's patrilineage belonging to an ancient and rare indigenous European type. L128: This is supported by the observation that two of 85 unrelated British men sharing the surname Jefferson also share the President's Y-STR haplotype within haplogroup K2. L128: Our findings represent a cautionary tale in showing the difficulty of assigning individual ancestry based on a Y-chromosome haplotype, particularly for rare lineages where population data are scarce. Onlinelibrary.wiley ](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ajpa.20557)[ Hemings-Jefferson DNA; an excerpt from "Jefferson Fathered Slave's Last Child" by Eugene A. Foster, et al. (November 5, 1998) - Encyclopedia Virginia L26: We therefore analysed DNA from the Y chromosomes of: five male-line descendants of two sons of the president’s paternal uncle, Field Jefferson; five male-line descendants of two sons of Thomas Woodson; one male-line descendant of Eston Hemings Jefferson; and three male-line descendants of three sons of John Carr, grandfather of Samuel and Peter Carr (Fig. 1a). L26: No Y-chromosome data were available from male-line descendants of President Thomas Jefferson because he had no surviving sons. L28: Seven bi-allelic markers (refs 7–12), eleven microsatellites ( ref. 13) and the mini-satellite MSY1 (ref. 14) were analysed (Fig. 1b). L28: Four of the five descendants of Field Jefferson shared the same haplotype at all loci, and the fifth differed by only a single unit at one microsatellite locus, probably a mutation. L28: This haplotype is rare in the population, where the average frequency of a microsatellite haplotype is about 1.5 per cent. L28: Indeed, it has never been observed outside the Jefferson family, and it has not been found in 670 European men (more than 1,200 worldwide) typed with the microsatellites or 308 European men (690 worldwide) typed with MSY1. L30: Four of the five male-line descendants of Thomas Woodson shared a haplotype (with one MSY1 variant) that was not similar to the Y chromosome of Field Jefferson but was characteristic of Europeans. L30: The fifth Wood-son descendant had an entirely different haplotype, most often seen in sub-Saharan Africans, which indicates illegitimacy in the line after individual W42. L30: In contrast, the descendant of Eston Hemings Jefferson did have the Field Jefferson haplotype. Encyclopediavirginia ](https://encyclopediavirginia.org/primary-documents/hemings-jefferson-dna-an-excerpt-from-jefferson-fathered-slaves-last-child-by-eugene-a-foster-et-al-november-5-1998/)[ Monticello | II. Assessment of DNA Study L16: The study compared nineteen genetic markers on the Y chromosomes of fourteen subjects-five male-line descendants of two sons of Field Jefferson (Thomas Jefferson's paternal uncle), three male-line descendants of three sons of John Carr (grandfather of Samuel and Peter Carr), five male-line descendants of two sons of Thomas Woodson, and one male-line descendant of Eston Hemings. L18: The results clearly show that the male-line descendants of Field Jefferson and Eston Hemings have identical Y-chromosome haplotypes (the particular combination of variants at defined loci on the chromosome). L18: Scientists note that there is less than a 1 percent probability that this is due to chance. L18: Thus the haplotype match is over one hundred times more likely when Jefferson and Eston Hemings are genetically related through the male line. L18: This study by itself does not establish that Hemings's father was Thomas Jefferson, only that Hemings's father was a Jefferson. L20: Because of the absence of a match between the Carr and Hemings haplotypes, the study rules out both Samuel and Peter Carr as Eston Hemings's father. L20: Since the Jefferson and Woodson haplotypes also did not match, the study indicates that Thomas Woodson's father was not a Jefferson. L20: We note that the design of the study eliminates any ambiguity resulting from the genetic influence of John Wayles, Thomas Jefferson's father-in-law and Sally Hemings's alleged father, by looking at markers only on the Y chromosome. L20: DNA of male-line descendants of five "old Virginia families" was also included in the analysis in an attempt to sample the local population of Y chromosomes. Monticello ](https://www.monticello.org/slavery/jefferson-and-sally-hemings/jefferson-hemings-report/ii-assessment-of-dna-study) Browsed [monticello.org/slavery/jefferson-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-a-brief-account/monticello-affirms-thomas-jefferson-fathered-children-with-sally-hemings/](https://www.monticello.org/slavery/jefferson-slavery/thomas-jefferson-and-sally-hemings-a-brief-account/monticello-affirms-thomas-jefferson-fathered-children-with-sally-hemings/) Analyzing the DNA evidence