1. 🧬 The DNA did not point to Thomas Jefferson — it pointed to multiple Jefferson males

Claiming that the 1998 DNA study “proved” Thomas Jefferson’s paternity overlooks a basic fact: no DNA from Thomas Jefferson himself was ever tested.

Because Jefferson had no surviving sons, researchers relied on Y-DNA from other Jefferson males. That result was consistent with more than twenty Jefferson family males who were alive at the time, eight of whom lived within a horse ride of Monticello, including Randolph Jefferson. In fact, the authors clarified in a follow-up article that “It is true that men of Randolph Jefferson’s family could have fathered Sally Hemings’ later children…. Thomas Jefferson can neither be definitely excluded nor solely implicated in the paternity of illegitimate children with his slave Sally Hemings.”

⚖️ Summary:

The DNA narrowed the field (for one Hemings child); it did not close the case.

Sources

• Nature (5 Nov. 1998) — Eugene A. Foster et al., “Jefferson Fathered Slave’s Last Child”

  What it is:
  The original DNA article with the inaccurate headline.

  Why it matters:
  The article’s own diagram shows no DNA data for Thomas Jefferson; the tested DNA came from Jefferson’s uncle. Randolph Jefferson and his sons are not mentioned as candidates in the article or diagram.

👉 Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/23835

• Nature (7 Jan. 1999) — Foster response to critiques

  What it is:
  Follow-up clarification responding to scientific criticism.

  Why it matters:
  The authors acknowledge that Randolph Jefferson was missing from the first article as a candidate, the article’s title was inaccurate, and other possibilities exist for the DNA match.

2. 🧬 Randolph Jefferson was excluded by design, not ruled out by evidence

Although Randolph Jefferson and his sons were known to the lead author before publication, their DNA was never gathered or tested, and they were omitted from the published analysis.

Contemporaneous reporting confirms that alternative Jefferson males — including Randolph — were dismissed as “unlikely” due to what the researchers described as an “absence of historical evidence,” rather than being investigated.

Note: It has not been established whether all co-authors were informed by the lead author (Eugene Foster) of Randolph Jefferson’s candidacy until after publication.

⚖️ Summary:

Randolph Jefferson was dismissed without being examined.

Sources

• Washington Post (1 Nov. 1998) — “DNA Test Finds Evidence of Jefferson Child by Slave”
  What it is: National reporting on the DNA study before official publication.
  Why it matters: States explicitly that the DNA did not rule out Randolph Jefferson and confirms that alternative Jefferson males were dismissed as “unlikely” without scientific investigation.

👉 Link: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/daily/may99/dnatest110198.htm

3. 📅 Randolph Jefferson was at Monticello at the right time

Randolph Jefferson was invited to deliver grass seed purchased by Jefferson and to join their visiting sister at Monticello approximately nine and a half months before the birth of Eston Hemings, placing him there during the conception window.

⚖️ Summary:

Presence at the right time makes Randolph a legitimate candidate.

Sources

• Thomas Jefferson → Randolph Jefferson Letter (1807)
  What it is: Jefferson’s written invitation to Randolph Jefferson.
  Why it matters: Documents Randolph’s presence at Monticello at the relevant time.

👉 Link: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/99-01-02-6159

•  The Jefferson-Hemings Controversy: Report of the Scholars Commission (pp. 223-227)
  What it is: An examination of the invitation to Monticello and presence of Randolph Jefferson for the conception of Eston Hemings.
  Why it matters: Establishes Randolph’s presence and addresses dismissals and counter arguments.

👉 Download: Scholars Commission Report.pdf