Here's Where It Gets Interesting
Episode: Martha Jefferson and the Women of Monticello
Host: Sharon McMahon
Date: September 8, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Sharon McMahon delves into the lives of the women who shaped Thomas Jefferson’s world—most notably Martha Jefferson (his wife), their daughters, and Sally Hemings. With her signature warmth and insight, Sharon traces Martha’s journey from privileged heiress to First Lady in all but name, explores the intertwined fates of Jefferson’s enslaved and free female companions, and sets the stage for an ongoing exploration of the Hemings family’s legacy. The episode shines a light on the human stories and complicated relationships that textbooks so often overlook.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Martha Jefferson: Early Life, Family, and Marriage
- Martha Wales Skelton Jefferson was born into a wealthy, prominent Virginian family at “The Forest” plantation in 1748.
- Her mother died when Martha was three weeks old; her father, John Wales, remarried twice and later fathered children with an enslaved woman, Betty Hemings.
- Martha was likely educated at home by tutors in literature, French, religion, and music.
- At 18, she was married to a promising young lawyer who died at 24; their son died in early childhood.
- As a widow at 22, Martha was wealthy, skilled in managing a plantation, and considered a highly eligible match.
"Beautiful, fabulously wealthy from birth and also from inheriting her husband's plantation and land, she would have been a total catch for anyone who came courting. Enter Thomas Jefferson."
— Sharon McMahon (04:49)
- Martha and Thomas Jefferson (her third cousin) married on New Year’s Day in 1772; she brought significant land, wealth, and enslaved people as her dowry.
- Jefferson delighted in designing Monticello, their home atop a little mountain near Charlottesville, Virginia.
- The early years at Monticello were filled with music and companionship.
2. Motherhood, Loss, and Martha’s Death
- Martha and Thomas had six children; only two daughters, Patsy and Polly (also called Mary), survived to adulthood.
- Martha endured difficult pregnancies, smallpox, and untreated diabetes, leading to chronically declining health.
- Jefferson delayed or declined government appointments to care for her.
- In her final days, Martha hand-copied lines from a novel reflecting on the fleeting nature of life.
“Time weighs too fast. Every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity Life follows my pen. The days and hours of it are flying over our heads like clouds of windy day, never to return. More Everything presses on.”
— Martha Jefferson (quoted by Sharon, 10:54)
- After Martha’s death in September 1782 (only months after the birth of her last child), Jefferson was devastated, describing himself as “a blank which I have not the spirits to fill up.”
- Respecting Martha’s wish, Jefferson never remarried.
3. Jefferson in France: Maria Cosway and Connecting Women’s Stories
- After Martha’s death, Jefferson accepted a diplomatic assignment in Paris, taking daughter Patsy with him.
- In Paris, Jefferson developed a close attachment with Maria Cosway, an accomplished musician. Their emotional intimacy resulted in Jefferson’s famous "Dialogue of the Head vs. the Heart" letter.
“He enjoyed the company of married Maria … For reference, the Declaration of Independence, of which Jefferson was the primary writer, is under 1500 words. That is how much he enjoyed the company of married Maria.”
— Sharon McMahon (16:19)
- Through Cosway, Jefferson met Angelica Schuyler Church, who became a friend and frequent correspondent.
4. Sally Hemings: Complex Ties of Family and Slavery
- Sally Hemings was Martha’s half-sister, the daughter of John Wales and Betty Hemings, an enslaved woman.
- Sally accompanied Jefferson’s daughter Polly to Paris as a teenager (age 14–16), initially because Polly's older nurse was unwell. In France, Sally was legally free and earned wages, though at far lower rates than the white staff.
“Most historians agree that it was while in France that Jefferson and Sally Hemings began a sexual relationship. But 'sexual relationship' is a tricky term to use when we're talking about consent between a 44 year old white master and a 15 year old enslaved girl.”
— Sharon McMahon (20:08)
- Sally agreed to return to Virginia only after Jefferson promised her "extraordinary privileges" and to free her future children at age 21. (Madison Hemings, her son, later recounted this negotiation.)
5. Life After France: Women of Monticello and Their Legacy
- Sally Hemings bore Jefferson six children over 32 years; four survived to adulthood.
- Despite living closely with the Jefferson family, Sally never accompanied him to the White House.
- Jefferson's relationship with Sally was not a secret among contemporaries; the press broke the story in 1802. Jefferson’s daughter Patsy stepped in to manage public perception.
6. Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph: Daughter, Hostess, and Preserver of Legacy
- Patsy, described as “cultured…an accomplished dancer, harpsichord player and horsewoman,” married her cousin Thomas Randolph, with whom she had 12 children.
- As Jefferson’s unofficial First Lady, Patsy occasionally stayed at the White House and served as his hostess; in 1806, she gave birth to the first child ever born in the White House.
- Patsy’s deep devotion to her father included overseeing his household, supporting his image after scandals, and running both Monticello and her own estate during hard times.
- After Jefferson’s death, Patsy (facing debts) was forced to sell Monticello and its enslaved people.
7. The End of an Era: Emancipation, Family Ties, and Future Episodes
- Sally Hemings’s children Beverly and Harriet left Monticello and blended into white society; sons Madison and Eston were freed by Jefferson’s will.
- After Jefferson’s death, Patsy informally ensured Sally’s freedom and stated in her will that her children were to formalize it, but Sally died before it was needed.
- Both Sally Hemings and Patsy died within a year of one another, closing a unique chapter in American life—but Sharon hints at deeper stories in the Hemings lineage, promising to continue their tale in a future episode.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Martha’s role at Monticello:
“By the time Martha was a 22 year old widow…she would have been a total catch for anyone who came courting. Enter Thomas Jefferson.” (04:49) -
Description of Martha’s homecoming to Monticello:
“When he and Martha reached Monticello in a January snowstorm, the house was silent…[they] toasted to their new, only partially furnished home with a bit of wine they had left from their journey and had song and merriment and laughter.” (06:53) -
On the women’s burdens:
“Martha had very difficult pregnancies…each one left her in poorer health, as did a bout with smallpox and untreated diabetes. The physical strain of being pregnant weakened Martha so much.” (09:45) -
Martha’s final words and Jefferson’s response:
- Martha (copied lines): “Time weighs too fast. Every letter I trace tells me with what rapidity Life follows my pen. The days and hours of it are flying over our heads like clouds of windy day, never to return.” (10:54)
- Jefferson (addition): “And every time I kiss thy hand to bid adieu, Every absence which follows it are preludes to that eternal separation which we are shortly to make.” (14:28)
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On Sally Hemings’s situation and negotiation:
- “In France, she was free. Well, if she returned to Virginia, she would be re-enslaved. So she refused to return with him. To induce her to do so, he promised her extraordinary privileges and made a solemn pledge that her children should be freed at the age of 21 years.” — Sharon, quoting Madison Hemings (21:15)
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Patsy's role after the scandal:
“When the newspaper scandal about his illegitimate children broke, Patsy's presence and the presence of her young children helped to reinforce Jefferson's image as a devoted family man with a stable domestic life. And it worked.” (29:15) -
On the tangled web of relationships:
“Ah, what tangled webs we weave, right? There is so much more to the story, though. I need to tell you way more about the Hemings family, so join me in the next episode.” (33:31)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Martha Jefferson’s early life and marriage: 02:31–07:14
- Monticello, music, and family life: 07:15–09:40
- Martha’s pregnancies, illnesses, and death: 09:41–11:18; 14:25–16:00
- Jefferson’s Paris years, Maria Cosway, and Angelica Schuyler: 16:01–17:56
- Introduction of Sally Hemings and her background: 17:57–19:15
- Sally in France and negotiation for herself and children: 19:16–22:15
- Sally’s life at Monticello, Jefferson’s presidency, Patsy’s role as First Lady: 26:10–29:14
- Patsy’s later life and the end of Monticello: 29:15–31:30
- Sally Hemings’ children’s fates and conclusion: 31:31–33:31
Conclusion
This episode provides a nuanced, empathetic look at the women of Monticello—free and enslaved—emphasizing their agency, struggles, and influence on American history. Sharon McMahon sensitively navigates the complexities of privilege, power, and family, challenging listeners to see beyond simple narratives and readying them for a deeper dive into the Hemings family story in the next episode.