The remarkable untold story of Thomas Jefferson’s three daughters—two white and free, one black and enslaved—and the divergent paths they forged in a newly independent America FINALIST FOR THE GEORGE WASHINGTON PRIZE • “Beautifully written . . . To a nuanced study of Jefferson’s two white daughters, Martha and Maria, [Kerrison] innovatively adds a discussion of his only enslaved daughter, Harriet … enslaved daughter, Harriet Hemings.”—The New York Times Book Review
Thomas Jefferson had three daughters: Martha and Maria by his wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson, and Harriet by his slave Sally Hemings. Although the three women shared a father, the similarities end there. Martha and Maria received a fine convent school education while they lived with their father during his diplomatic posting in Paris. Once they returned home, however, the sisters found their options limited by the laws and customs of early America. Harriet Hemings followed a different path. She escaped slavery—apparently with the assistance of Jefferson himself. Leaving Monticello behind, she boarded a coach and set off for a decidedly uncertain future.
For this groundbreaking triple biography, history scholar Catherine Kerrison has uncovered never-before-published documents written by the Jefferson sisters, as well as letters written by members of the Jefferson and Hemings families. The richly interwoven stories of these strong women and their fight to shape their own destinies shed new light on issues of race and gender that are still relevant today—and on the legacy of one of our most controversial Founding Fathers.
Praise for Jefferson’s Daughters
“A fascinating glimpse of where we have been as a nation . . . Catherine Kerrison tells us the stories of three of Thomas Jefferson’s children, who, due to their gender and race, lived lives whose most intimate details are lost to time.”—USA Today
“A valuable addition to the history of Revolutionary-era America.”—The Boston Globe
“A thought-provoking nonfiction narrative that reads like a novel.”—BookPage
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Interesting coverage of Thomas Jefferson’s two daughters with his wife and his daughter with his slave and concubine Sally Hemings, whose father was also the father of Jefferson’s wife. For the author of the Declaration of Independence, who wrote that all men are created equal, to own as slaves his own offspring seems to be completely unacceptable to us today. His attitude toward his white daughters and their places in society, despite their extensive education, was also very limiting. Women were expected to run the home and have as many children as possible, not to inject themselves into discussions with men about politics. Jefferson promised Hemings that he would free their children so she returned to Virginia with him and his daughters from France as the French Revolution was beginning. Their children were allowed to leave Monticello as adults, as Harriet Hemings did with her older brother. They “passed as white” and were lost to historical records. The lives of these three daughters of Jefferson were very different, but not very inviting.
Interesting and very educational.
Without giving too much away, this is an interesting, good read. History is a “little different” to me now.
A bit repetitious, closely resembling doctoral disssertation, but interesting topic. The third daughter, Harriet Hennings, is thinly researched because her fate once freed remains unclear. Thus, only Martha, the oldest daughter, is completely presented. Jefferson’s view of females was implicit.
Found myself skipping lots of pages until I finally gave up. Not a smooth transition from character to character.
I’m almost finished & it really is an account without speculation! I probably would have enjoyed a fictional account written with the facts.
Informative history of political leaders of the time. An interesting view of their personalities and Jefferson’s interaction with them. Sometimes the details were too much. The title is misleading as much of the book is not about his daughters. Worth reading for the history if you can get through the minutiae.
Interesting part of US history.
Not a documented biography but, certainly interesting and educational. Unlike a dry historical accounting, this is a good read that provides a solid picture of the differing lives of sisters who’s futures were determined by the ignorance of racism and the cruelty of slavery. For all his brilliance and espousing that “all men are created equal,” Jefferson certainly turned a blind eye to the inclusion of women and Blacks into that creed.
History with a mystery. This was a fascinating glimpse into the life of Thomas Jefferson and his daughters; two with his wife, and another with his enslaved lover. The book is packed with more than enough info, but the most intriguing part was the daughter who was given her freedom at age 21, then managed to hide her identity and whereabouts. A good portrait of TJ as a father, and three daughters that I knew little to nothing about.
Learned so much more of the men so important to our nation during these times. Absolutely loved the portrayal of Mrs. Hamilton. She grew so much in character. Riveting
A fascinating look at the family of one of the most controversial of the Founding Fathers. I cannot recommend this book enough. Learning about Thomas Jefferson’s daughters and the different trials they faced due to their respective statuses was absolutely fascinating.