1773 – 1835

Sally Hemings

American enslaved woman (c1773-1835); owned by Thomas Jefferson and mother of his children

Born
1773-01-01, Charles City County
Died
1835-01-01
Birthplace state
Virginia

Biography

Sally Hemings, whose given name may have been Sarah, was an enslaved woman, inherited among many others by the third President of the United States Thomas Jefferson, from his father-in-law, John Wayles. Her mother was Elizabeth "Betty" Hemings. Her father was John Wayles, the enslaver of Elizabeth Hemings who owned her from the time of her birth. Wayles was also the father of Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles, making Hemings the half-sister to Jefferson's wife.

Connections to Virginia

Sally Hemings was born in Charles City County, Virginia in 1773. Explore other notable figures from Virginia, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Virginia›Virginiahistory ›Historic sites in Virginia›
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Everything a full report reveals about Charles City County

Sally Hemings came from Charles City County. A full Aubrey report on Charles City County pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Virginia

Other historical figures born in Virginia, ranked by historical prominence.

George Washington
George Washington
founding Father and first U.S. president; soldier and slave owner (1732–1799)
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
president of the United States from 1801 to 1809 (1743–1826)
James Madison
James Madison
President of the United States from 1809 to 1817 (1751–1836)
James Monroe
James Monroe
president of the United States from 1817 to 1825 (1758–1831)
Zachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor
president of the United States from 1849 to 1850
John Tyler
John Tyler
president of the United States from 1841 to 1845
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
president of the United States in 1841

Frequently asked about Sally Hemings

Who was Sally Hemings?
Sally Hemings was American enslaved woman (c1773-1835); owned by Thomas Jefferson and mother of his children, born in Virginia (1773 – 1835).
When and where was Sally Hemings born?
Sally Hemings was born on 1773-01-01 in Charles City County.
When did Sally Hemings die?
Sally died on 1835-01-01.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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