Thomas Jefferson had six children with Martha Wayles Skelton; only two survived to adulthood. He also fathered additional children with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman he owned, beginning in the 1790s. Of the six Jefferson–Skelton children—born between 1770 and 1782—only two daughters, Martha Jefferson Randolph and Mary Jefferson Eppes, lived past age three. The Hemings sons and daughter entered adulthood in free or white-passing circumstances in northern states. This verified account outlines each child’s name, birth and death years, and known outcomes to clarify Jefferson’s full parental legacy.
Jefferson’s Children with Martha Wayles Skelton
Martha Wayles Skelton brought four children from her first marriage into the union with Jefferson. Together with Jefferson, she had two additional children. The table below summarizes each child’s name, lifespan, and brief status.
| Name | Birth–Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Martha Jefferson (Patsy) | 1770–1836 | Survived to adulthood; married Thomas Mann Randolph Jr. |
| Jane Randolph Jefferson | 1774–1775 | Died in infancy. |
| John Wayles Jefferson | 1775–1800 | Infant death; known historically as an infant son. |
| Mary Jefferson (Polly) | 1778–1804 | Survived to adulthood; married John Wayles Eppes. |
| Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson | 1780–1781 | Died in infancy; first of two daughters named Lucy Elizabeth. |
| Lucy Elizabeth Jefferson | 1782–1784 | Died in early childhood; second daughter with this name. |
Only Two Jefferson–Skelton Children Reached Adulthood
Martha (Patsy) Jefferson Randolph became the central female figure in Jefferson’s later family life, managing Monticello and raising her own large family. Mary (Polly) Jefferson Eppes also survived into middle age and maintained close contact with her parents. The other four children—two infants named Jane and John Wayles, and two infants named Lucy Elizabeth—died before age four, reflecting the high childhood mortality of the era.
Jefferson’s Relationship with Sally Hemings and Their Children
Beginning in the 1790s, while residing in Philadelphia and Paris, Jefferson maintained a long-term relationship with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman and his wife’s half-sister. Most historians accept that Jefferson fathered her children based on a convergence of historical evidence, including family traditions, documentation, and modern scholarship.
Sally Hemings bore six pregnancies; four resulted in live births who survived past early childhood. These children were three sons and one daughter, each of whom navigated freedom and racial identity in their own way.
| Name | Birth–Death | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Harriet Hemings | 1795–1797 | Died in infancy; possibly freed informally or died of illness. |
| Hether Hemings | 1796–1852 | Survived to adulthood; lived as a free woman in the North and Ohio. |
| Madison Hemings | 1805–1873 | Survived to adulthood; lived as a free man in Ohio and claimed Jefferson paternity publicly. |
| Eston Hemings | 1808–1856 | Survived to adulthood; moved north, lived as a free white man in Wisconsin under the surname Jefferson. |
Legacy of the Hemings Children
The Hemings sons Madison and Eston integrated into white communities in the North, while their sister Hether also pursued a free life in Ohio. Historians note that both Madison and Eston identified with the Jefferson family in various capacities, and Madison Hemings gave an interview late in life detailing his upbringing at Monticello and his relationship with Jefferson. Their daughter Julia Ann Isaacs married into African American communities in the Midwest, extending the family line well into the 20th century.
Clarifying Common Misunderstandings
Some sources mistakenly count infants who died in childhood as full members of the adult family, leading to inflated numbers. Others minimize or omit the Hemings children, reducing the complexity of Jefferson’s parental legacy. In total, Jefferson fathered eight known children: six with Martha Wayles Skelton (two of whom survived) and at least four with Sally Hemings (four of whom survived into adulthood).
- Total confirmed live births: at least eight children across two family contexts.
- Children who reached adulthood: four—Martha Jefferson Randolph, Mary Jefferson Eppes, Madison Hemings, and Eston Hemings.
- Children who died in infancy: at least four, including known infants of both the Jefferson–Skelton and Hemings relationships.
Contemporary Historical Consensus
Modern scholarship, including DNA testing and archival research, supports Jefferson’s paternity of Sally Hemings’ children. Institutions such as the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello and major historical associations recognize the Hemings relationship as an integral part of Jefferson’s family history. This consensus informs how historians count Jefferson’s children and present their stories.
FAQ
Reader questions
Did Thomas Jefferson have any children who survived into old age?
Yes. Martha Jefferson Randolph and Mary Jefferson Eppes survived into middle age and beyond. Madison Hemings also lived into his late 60s and provided a detailed account of his life at Monticello.
Why does the number of Jefferson’s children vary in different accounts?
Counts vary because some sources exclude infants who died early, omit the Hemings children, or combine named children differently. Including all known biological children brings the total to eight, with four reaching adulthood.
Are the Hemings children recognized as Jefferson’s descendants today?
Yes. The Monticello Research Department and many genealogical organizations acknowledge the Hemings descendants as part of Jefferson’s familial legacy, consistent with historical consensus and DNA evidence.
Where can I verify details about Jefferson’s children?
Reliable sources include the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello, peer-reviewed biographies, and archives such as the Library of Congress and the National Archives. These materials outline birth records, household documents, and descendant lineages.