Sally Hemings’ Family
Madison Hemings, son of Sally, was able to answer some questions for the record in his lifetime. According to him, sally is actually the half-sister of Martha Jefferson (above). That’s right, Thomas Jefferson’s wife! Sally was born in 1773 to a planter and slave trader named John Wayles. John is also the father of Martha. Sally’s mother was Betty Hemings, who was biracial and born into slavery. If a mixed child was born into slavery, they were also slaves. That’s how it went back then. The worst part? Sally and Betty were brought to Jefferson’s home because John Wayles listed them as Martha’s inheritance in his will. So, Martha now ‘owned’ her half sister and her mother as slaves.