What It Meant
The new findings confirmed that Thomas Jefferson was the father of Sally Hemings’ children. When you are close proximity, it is much easier to spot. Genetic evidence was also present in the DNA test in the ‘90s. They eventually agreed that they had the children together. Fraser Neiman, the estate’s director of archaeology, explained, “This room is a real connection to the past. We are uncovering and discovering, and we’re finding many, many artifacts.” We are glad they found the hidden room. It unveiled new details about Sally Hemings, who arrived at Monticello as a slave.
What It Meant
The Life Of Enslaved People
“This discovery gives us a sense of how enslaved people were living. Some of Sally’s children may have been born in this room,” Monticello’s restoration director added. Gardiner Hallock continued, “It’s important because it shows Sally as a human being — a mother, daughter, and sister — and brings out the relationships in her life.” After all the discoveries were made, historians finally discovered why Sally Hemings called to return to the US. Jefferson must have promised to free the children once they were adults. He freed only the Hemings family in his lifetime. He freed individuals, not families.
The Life Of Enslaved People