The Family Tree of Thomas Jefferson: Descendants, Ancestors and DNA Genealogy of the Third US President

Like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) is a legendary figure in American history. Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence, served as the third president of the United States and founded the University of Virginia. Due to ancestral DNA testing he has also become famous for his family tree.

Thomas Jefferson Genealogy Legitimate Descendants

In 1772, Jefferson married Martha Wayles Skelton. The couple had six children, but only two survived to adulthood. Martha “Patsy” Jefferson Randolph (1772-1836) and Maria Jefferson Eppes (1778-1804) are the ancestors of Jefferson’s legitimate direct descendants. These descendants form the Monticello Association, a group of over 700 Jefferson descendants who maintain the family cemetery at Jefferson’s former estate. Surnames found among Jefferson’s descendants in these lines include:

Thomas Jefferson, Sally Hemings and DNA

Since 1802, it had been rumored that Jefferson fathered illegitimate children with Sally Hemings, a slave who may have also been his wife’s half-sister. In 1998, Y-DNA testing showed that the descendants of Eston Hemings, one of Sally Hemings’ children, shared the same genetic marker as men in the Jefferson family.

The Thomas Jefferson Foundation believes that Thomas Jefferson was probably the father of Sally Heming’s children. The Monticello Association does not accept Thomas Jefferson as the father, believing that another male Jefferson fathered Heming’s children.

Although DNA testing has shown a link between at least one of Sally Hemings' children and the Jefferson line, DNA results cannot conclusively prove which Jefferson fathered Eston Hemings. Both sides continue to make cases for and against Thomas Jefferson paternity using oral history and supporting documents.

Missing Jefferson-Hemings Descendants

Black or white Americans with a colonial background may have a Hemings connection – Sally was mixed race, and possibly only 1/4 African. As the Thomas Jefferson Foundation notes, “Sally Hemings' children were light-skinned, and three of them (daughter Harriet and sons Beverly and Eston) lived as members of white society as adults.” The descendants of Harriet and Beverly have still not been located, according to the Foundation.

Thomas Jefferson Ancestry

Americans with a colonial background may be related to Thomas Jefferson through common ancestors. Some of Jefferson’s ancestors had been living in Virginia in the 1600s. Surnames found among Jefferson’s ancestors include:

Linking Thomas Jefferson to a Genealogy

A family historian with a colonial background, especially in Virginia, may either share ancestry with Thomas Jefferson or be a lineal descendant. A genealogical table of Jefferson’s legitimate descendants is available through the Monticello Association. More genealogical information about Sally Hemings can be found through the Thomas Jefferson Foundation.

Jun 3, 2009 10:51 AM

Herbert Barger :

For the latest information on the Jefferson-Hemings DNA fiasco click on: www.tjheritage.org and www.jeffersondna.com. Please read the Scholars Commission Report..........NO proof of Thomas Jefferson fathering slave children. Please read the new revealing book, In Defense of Thomas Jefferson, The Sally Hemings Sex Scandal", giving names and attempts at political correctness in this FALSE controversy.
Dr Foster tested a KNOWN carrier of Jefferson DNA as told by Eston Hemings and all future generations. They ALWAYS claimed descent from "a Jefferson uncle or nephew", this would be TJ's much younger brother Randolph, as known by TJ's grandchildren and their slave playmates. He came among the slaves, played the fiddle until late night hours and is reported to have fathered slave children by his own slaves at his plantation, Snowden. He was also invited to visit Monticello when his twin sister had arrived and this was EXACTLY 9 months prior to the birth of Eston Hemings (who claim him as their ancestor.) Therefore there would AUTOMATICALLY be a match, and there was. His brother Madison claimed descent from Thomas Jefferson BUT his descendants REFUSE to test a deceaased son of Madison and say they are happy with their ORAL history, are we happy with their UNFOUNDED claims? There are also misstatements in the Madison Hemings newspaper article claiming his descent from TJ. He was NOT named by Dolley Madison at his birth (Jan 19, 1805) at Monticello as claimed. The Madisons NEVER traveled to Va, from Washington during the winter. So what other claims are false in this article which was used by Monticello as a research paper.
Herb Barger
Jefferson Family Historian

Jun 26, 2009 9:00 AM

Guest :

Thomas Jefferson is my great, great great, great, great, (not sure how many greats) grandfather.

Sep 14, 2009 2:07 PM

Guest :

One would think that so long after slavery ended, the kind of racist thinking revealed by the Jefferson family historian's post would no longer be afflicting our country. It's truly a shame to see that this ridiculous cult of denial among Jefferson's white decendants still exists, especially as minute examination of the situation makes it extremely unlikely that Randolph Jefferson was even present at Monticello during the periods when many of Sally Hemmings' children were conceived. I have news for those decendents: It has been scientifically proven that you are related to black people, whether you want to admit it or not.