Eston Hemings is a figure whose biography brings together the saga at the heart of the American historical experience. Born a mixed-race child to Sally Hemings, who historians now know was Thomas Jefferson’s lover, his story maps out the story of early America’s race relations.
Early Life
It is for this reason that Eston Hemings who was born in 1808 at Monticello, the famous home of Jefferson in Virginia learnt in a setting that was both ‘Upper Crust’ and ‘Slavehold’. Most of his childhood was spent as a slave, although he enjoyed privileges of the child of Sally Hemings.
The conditions he grew up contributed to his childhood experiences that were rare and unlike any other children of his fellow enslaved at that times. In this home Irish-born Eston studied carpentry and joiner’s trade and other related skills which were useful in his later years.
He also had his musical education; he mastered the violin, an instrument which Thomas Jefferson liked. The mentioned musical talent was one of the essential components of his personal and future career profiles.
Career
After seven years of service in Jefferson’s household as defined in his last will and testament, Eston Hemings started establishing his own life. He became an efficient carpenter and made a lot of money as a musician which he was able to feed his family and earn the respect of the community.
He was such a skilled carpenter that his musical talents could easily have made him a sought-after dancer. Hemings went to Ohio, then to Wisconsin where through Africanization he changed his surname to Jefferson.
This was the new life he chose to live as a white man, this was a very twist in his life because it depicted the very social relations of nineteenth century America.
About Spouse: Julia Ann
The marriage that could well define a particular phase in Eston Hemings’s life narrative is his marriage to Julia Ann Isaacs. The wedding of two people that they had in Ohio happened between two people with very interesting family history.
Julia Ann also knew what it meant to be living in a world filled with racial and social hierarchy as well as living with Eston. Both found their new foothold within their community of Ohio and later of Wisconsin through this partnership. They educated their children, and by doing this provided chances to the coming generation to make it on their own.
This couple managed to show great endurance when it came to tackling the issues characteristic for their marriage. This marriage indeed bore several children that in one way or the other made themselves and their productions useful in the development of the American dream.
Eston Hemings and Julia Ann’s story is brought to life through their descendants who have accepted this relationship, and have endeavored to share the blend with the history of this country. Their story should remind us of the human stories behind the historical events that shape America’s history and makes it so rich.
