Williamsburg was the capital of Virginia, and of course it was an aristocratic place, where the “bloods” of the Colony and the now State most did congregate. These children went by the name of Hemings. Such is the story that comes down to me.Įlizabeth Hemings grew to womanhood in the family of John Wales, whose wife dying she (Elizabeth) was taken by the widower Wales as his concubine, by whom she had six children-three sons and three daughters, viz: Robert, James, Peter, Critty, Sally and Thena. Hemings soon afterwards sailed from Williamsburg, never to return. Wales to refuse to sell it, for slave masters then, as in later days, had no compunctions of conscience which restrained them from parting mother and child of however tender age, but he was restrained by the fact that just about that time amalgamation began, and the child was so great a curiosity that its owner desired to raise it himself that he might see its outcome. I have been informed that it was not the extra value of that child over other slave children that induced Mr. Being thwarted in the purchase, and determining to own his flesh and blood he resolved to take the child by force or stealth, but the knowledge of his intention coming to John Wales’ ears, through leaky fellow servants of the mother, she and the child were taken into the “great house” under their master’s immediate care. Wales, who would not part with the child, though he was offered an extraordinarily large price for her. Hemings happened to be in the port of Williamsburg at the time my grandmother was born, and acknowledging her fatherhood he tried to purchase her of Mr. She was the property of John Wales, a Welchman. My grandmother was a fullblooded African, and possibly a native of that country. He was captain of an English trading vessel which sailed between England and Williamsburg, Va., then quite a port. I never knew of but one white man who bore the name of Hemings he was an Englishman and my greatgrandfather. Detail from Madison Hemings's published recollections
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