Podcast Summary
Thomas Jefferson's Life with Two Remarkable Marthas: From hiring professionals on LinkedIn, sharing homes on Airbnb, to making proposals with lab-grown diamonds from Blue Nile, various platforms offer innovative solutions to everyday challenges. Thomas Jefferson's life was shaped by two remarkable women named Martha.
Thomas Jefferson's life was intertwined with two remarkable women named Martha. Martha Wayles Skelton, whom he married in 1772, was a young, wealthy, and beautiful widow who had previously been married to a promising lawyer. Despite losing her first husband and their young son at a young age, she was a mother to six children with Thomas Jefferson. Martha was born into wealth and was described as having large hazel eyes, a slender build, and rich auburn hair. Meanwhile, in the world of technology and hiring, LinkedIn is a valuable resource for small businesses looking to hire professionals. With over 70% of LinkedIn users not visiting other leading job sites, it's a prime place to find potential candidates, even those who aren't actively searching for a new job. Moreover, for those who enjoy cooking and entertaining at home, Airbnb offers an opportunity to share their homes with others when they're not there. And for those planning to propose, Blue Nile's lab-grown diamonds provide a stunning and cost-effective alternative to natural diamonds. In conclusion, whether it's finding the perfect hire, sharing a home, or making a memorable proposal, these platforms offer unique solutions to everyday challenges. And in the case of Thomas Jefferson, the influence of two remarkable Marthas played a significant role in his life and political career.
Martha Jefferson's Upbringing and Dowry: Martha Jefferson, an accomplished and desirable bride, grew up in wealth and received a home education. Her dowry included significant property and enslaved people, expanding Thomas Jefferson's estate and contributing to their success.
Martha Jefferson, daughter of John Wales and his first wife Martha, grew up in wealth and prominence in Virginia. After her mother's early death, her father remarried multiple times, and Martha likely received a home education in literature, poetry, French, religion, and music. She managed the forest plantation and oversaw its enslaved workers, making her an accomplished and desirable bride. Martha married her third cousin Thomas Jefferson in 1772, and they moved to his home, Monticello. There, they bonded over their shared love of music and literature, and Martha brought significant property and enslaved people as part of her dowry. The inheritance of land from both her previous husband and her father expanded their estate and contributed to the success of Thomas Jefferson's tobacco and wheat plantation. Martha was an accomplished pianist and an agreeable, sensible, and accomplished lady, as noted by an officer who visited the Jefferson's at Monticello.
Martha Jefferson's Challenging Life: Martha Jefferson, wife of Thomas Jefferson, faced numerous challenges including difficult pregnancies, multiple child losses, and early death at age 33. Despite these hardships, Thomas honored her wish to never remarry and kept their correspondence private.
Martha Jefferson, wife of Thomas Jefferson, experienced numerous challenges throughout her life, including difficult pregnancies that left her in poor health and ultimately led to her early death. Despite their happiness together and the birth of six children, Martha and Thomas faced significant losses, including the death of four of their children and Martha's own death at the age of 33. Martha's last words, written during her final days, express the fleeting nature of life and the impending separation she and Thomas were soon to face. After her death, Thomas honored her wish to never remarry and kept their correspondence private. Martha's life was marked by love, loss, and the physical and emotional challenges of motherhood.
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Jefferson's Friendship with Angelica Schuyler and the Complexities of Slavery: Thomas Jefferson formed a close friendship with Angelica Schuyler during his time in Paris, but his life was also marked by the stark realities of slavery, as seen through the experiences of his enslaved maid Sally Hemmings and his daughters.
During Thomas Jefferson's time in Paris, he met Angelica Schuyler, whom he befriended despite his rivalry with her husband, Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson's daughter Polly, accompanied by their enslaved maid Sally Hemmings, later joined him in Paris. Sally, who was the youngest half-sister of Jefferson's late wife Martha, was born into slavery despite her white paternity. Jefferson's friendship with Angelica was marked by letter exchanges, while he pined for Maria Causeway and later sent for his daughter Polly. This period also saw the death of his second daughter, Lucy. Despite the differences in their upbringings, Sally and Martha grew up in the same homestead but experienced vastly different lives. The discussion underscores the complexities of Jefferson's personal and political relationships, as well as the stark realities of slavery in the context of his life.
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings' Complex Relationship: Despite societal norms, Jefferson promised Sally Hemmings freedom for her children after their relationship began in Paris. They had six children together, three of whom were born during his presidency. Jefferson's image was protected by his daughter Patsy when their relationship was exposed.
The power dynamics and societal norms of the time significantly influenced the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings. While Jefferson arranged for Sally to accompany his daughter Polly to Paris, where she was a free person, their relationship began and she was later promised freedom for her children in exchange for her return to enslavement in Virginia. Sally had six children with Jefferson, three of whom were born during his presidency. The societal norms of the time allowed for wealthy plantation owners to have sexual relationships with enslaved women, but expected these relationships to be kept discreet. When a newspaper revealed Jefferson's relationship and children out of wedlock, it was left to his daughter Patsy to protect her father's image. Patsy, who grew up in Paris and was well-educated and cultured, married Thomas Randolph in 1790. Overall, the complex power dynamics and societal norms of the time shaped the relationship between Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, and the impact of that relationship on their lives and the lives of their children.
Patsy Jefferson Randolph: The Unofficial First Lady: Patsy Jefferson Randolph, as the wife of Jefferson's nephew, served as the de facto First Lady during her father's presidency, supporting him and helping reinforce his image as a devoted family man during a scandal, but their financial difficulties led to the sale of Monticello and its enslaved people in 1831.
Patsy Jefferson Randolph, Thomas Jefferson's second cousin and wife of his nephew, played a significant role as the de facto First Lady during her father's presidency despite not officially holding the title. She supported Jefferson during his 8 years in office, making lengthy visits to the White House and acting as his hostess. Her presence and her young children helped reinforce Jefferson's image as a devoted family man during a scandal about his illegitimate children, which in turn helped him maintain his popularity and get elected to a second term. After Jefferson's retirement, they moved to Monticello, but Randolph's erratic behavior and their financial difficulties led to the sale of Monticello, including the enslaved people, in 1831. Despite the challenges, Patsy remained devoted to her father until his death in 1826.
The complex relationship between Sally Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson: Sally Hemmings' children were allowed to leave Monticello before being officially freed, and she was unofficially freed by Patsy Jefferson. However, an official freeing did not occur until after Sally's death in 1835
The relationship between Sally Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson was complex and involved a tangled web of events leading to her eventual freedom. Four years before Jefferson's death, Sally's older children, Beverly and Harriet, were allowed to leave Monticello without being legally freed and assimilated into white society. Sally was unofficially freed or given her freedom by Patsy when her father passed away, and Jefferson's will freed her younger children, Madison and Esten. However, an informal addendum to Patsy's will in 1834 instructing her children to officially free Sally was not carried out until after Sally's death in 1835. The story of the Hemmings family is much more intricate, and there are many more fascinating details to be shared. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider following or subscribing to the Sharon Says So podcast, leaving a rating or review, or sharing this episode on social media. This podcast was written and researched by Sharon McMahon and Heather Jackson, produced by Heather Jackson, edited and mixed by Jenny Snyder, and hosted by Sharon McMahon. Thank you for listening.
