The subject of Jefferson has come up on another thread.

1)   It's not confirmed that he in fact had children by Sally Hemings.   There is a probability--but there are other factors, other theories--and the DNA evidence is not conclusive. Various groups have been hemming and hawing on this for a while, and it is not settled as a fact.

2)   He did not free most of his slaves in his will--he in fact could not do so due to his financial straits:

Joseph Ellis:   American Sphinx:   The Character of Thomas Jefferson (p. 290)

"Although his fear of living too long proved justified, his providential demise on July 4, 1826 spared him the ultimate tragedy of watching all his worldly possessions, including '130 valuable negroes' sold to the highest bidder."

3)   It is clear that he was no atheist--friend to Tom Paine, but his own views were different.   So the Mudcat atheists who try to claim Jefferson as one of their own are distorting his attitude beyond recognition--as PDQ has already noted.

I know there is at least one poster on this thread who disagrees with my first point--but let him give specific proof--not just a theory--that Jefferson had 4 children by Sally Hemings.    Just giving a book title or two is no answer.

And I will be at a folk festival most of the weekend so not replying very often to postings.


But this is a thread that could run a long time--and it would be fine if it did.