User:Meghankreidy/sandbox

Preparation for Peer Edits on John Hemings (Hemmings)

Early life and education[edit | edit source]

John was born into slavery as the son of the mixed-race slave Betty Hemings and Joseph Neilson, an Irish workman at Monticello. Of three-quarters European ancestry, he was the eleventh of Betty's children, and half-brother to her six children by her late master John Wayles, as well as to the oldest four by another father. A view of where the Mulberry Row slave cabins once stood. (Explain the spelling of his name)

Hemmings started his working life as an "out-carpenter." He chopped trees, hewed logs, built fences and barns, and helped to build the log slave dwellings on Mulberry Row at the plantation. This relatively unskilled work was just the beginning of his artisan career.

(This is plaigiarism and should be completely rephrased using Annette Gordon-Reed's work)

Marriage and family[edit | edit source]

Although slave marriages were not recognized by Virginian law, John married Priscilla, another slave at Monticello, and had a lifelong partnership with her. She served as nurse to Jefferson's grandchildren when they were living there. Priscilla and John had no children.

(Augment this information. Maybe include some of his greater family tree...ie how he is related to the other Hemingses)

Career[edit | edit source]

John Hemmings must have demonstrated his woodworking ability early, because at the age of seventeen, he was put to work and trained with a succession of skilled woodworkers hired by Jefferson to enlarge the main house. Hemmings learned to make wheels, to use an elaborate set of planes to create decorative interior moldings, and finally to make fine furniture. Hemmings also knew how to read and write.

He was made principal assistant to James Dinsmore, the Irish joiner responsible for most of the fine woodwork of Monticello. Hemmings also crafted much of the interior woodwork of Jefferson's house at Poplar Forest in Bedford County, Virginia. He made all the wooden parts of a large landau carriage Jefferson designed in 1814. He became far more than a carpenter; he was a highly skilled joiner and cabinetmaker.

As the master craftsman of the Monticello Joinery, he trained other young slaves, such as the sons of Thomas Jefferson by his concubine, Sally Hemings. At the age of 14, Beverly, Madison and Eston each became apprentices to Hemmings and learned to be highly skilled carpenters.

John Hemmings was a great favorite with Jefferson's grandchildren, who told of his making toys and furniture for them. After decades in slavery, Hemmings was one of five slaves, all males of the extended Hemings family, whom Jefferson freed in his will. In 1826, he was given his tools from the joinery, as well as the work of his two apprentice assistants, his nephews Madison and Eston Hemings, until they came of age and were freed. Already 21, Madison was freed immediately. Eston was "given his time" and freed before he reached age 21.

Hemmings continued to live and work for wages at Monticello after Jefferson's death in 1826, until about 1831. Martha Randolph and other descendants lived there for some time.

(Add Legacy section including Heming's 'cabin' at Mulberry Row and examples of his work. Discuss where any existing works are)