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Jefferson's Daughters

Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America
Community comment are the opinions of contributing users. These comment do not represent the opinions of Contra Costa County Library.
Mar 16, 2019DorisWaggoner rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I've read multiple books about Jefferson, including Annette Gordon-Reed's work proving via DNA that he was the father of Sally Hemmings' children. This book is more narrowly focused on his 3 daughters, Martha and Maria by his wife, and Harriet, by Sally. The comparisons are fascinating, starting with the different educations the girls received. Sally was sent to Paris as a chaperon to Maria after he sent for his younger daughter, whom he missed. While his white daughters were in an elite convent school, Sally lived in Jefferson's home, and was pregnant when the time came to return. She'd learned that if she stayed in France, she'd be free, but what would she do? She drove a hard bargain for returning with him, though--none of their children would work in the fields, and all would be freed at 21. He did honor those promises, though he did not free Sally herself. Two things especially interested me about this book. First, while Monticello is a beautiful house, it was built for Jefferson's convenience, and he never altered it for either his wife, or for the family of Martha and her family of 12 children when they moved in to take care of him after his retirement. Martha had one 15' square room in which to teach her 7 daughters, write letters, run the house; their bedrooms were all tiny and on upper floors connected by inconvenient, unlit, spiral staircases dangerous to anyone carrying supplies or babies. The other thing is that while Jefferson did free his children with Sally, Kerrison was unable, even with all the records now available online, to find Beverly or Harriet, who seem to have left together. At least she left with money, and clothing she'd need to pass as white, and to this day nobody's been able to find evidence of any descendants. Didn't show Jefferson at his best, but an interesting book.