DNA Testing – Are You Related to the Primary Writer of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson, was the primary writer (also one of the 56 signatories and the third president of United States of America) of the United States Declaration of Independence in which was a statement adopted by the Continental Congres on July 4, 1776 to declare independence from Great Britain.
In order to find out whether you are related to Thomas Jefferson, it is wisely to undergo DNA testing to track down the paternal lineage of the former President through Y-choromosome DNA testing. This method is similarly used in tracking down the existence of ‘first male’ or “Adam” – a metaphor, consistent results of tracking the most recent common male ancestor reflect humanity’s origin and spread around the world are within biblical range of about 10,000 to 60,000 years ago.
In the year 1998, genealogy studies via DNA testing was done to investigate the claims whether Thomas Jefferson fathered the child of one of his slaves – Sally Hemings.
Exerpts from Monticello,
“In January 2000, the committee reported its finding that the weight of all known evidence – from the DNA study, original documents, written and oral historical accounts, and statistical data – indicated a high probability that Thomas Jefferson was the father of Eston Hemings…”
However, this controversial claim is still remain unsolved due to absence of historical evidence.
If you’re interested, find more about it via:
- Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: A Brief Account.
- Jefferson fathered slave’s last child (in pdf format).
- Y-Chromosome DNA – if you want to know which haplogroup that Thomas Jefferson is belonged.
- Ancestry of Thomas Jefferson (family tree is included).
Let the bygones be the bygones. Appreciate the freedom that you have and use it for good cause.
Happy Independence day to all US citizens!