I researched this question a few years ago, and here's what I remember about the DNA evidence: it showed that some, but not all, of Sally's children were related to a male Jefferson. Maybe Thomas, maybe another one.
And the newspaper reporter who wrote the story was a disappointed office-seeker who had a grudge against Jefferson.
Given this, I'm somewhat amused by the vehemence with which both sides defend their point of view: those (few) who proclaim that Jefferson could not have been involved with his slave this way, and those many who not only accept the relationship as proved but go on to state that it either must have been or could not possibly have been a romance.
For what it's worth, I think the preponderance of evidence supports that there was a sexual relationship that produced children. Beyond that, I don't know if the 14-year-old Sally fell in love with this remarkable man or if in his private life he was capable of raping his slave. Given that her oldest child wasn't a Jefferson, the "tradition" that their relationship began in Paris seems suspect.
Finally, Jefferson himself simply refused to address the embarrassing newspaper reports. Everyone involved is long dead, and we'll probably never know for sure. Such is the nature of history (some of the time).
And the newspaper reporter who wrote the story was a disappointed office-seeker who had a grudge against Jefferson.
Given this, I'm somewhat amused by the vehemence with which both sides defend their point of view: those (few) who proclaim that Jefferson could not have been involved with his slave this way, and those many who not only accept the relationship as proved but go on to state that it either must have been or could not possibly have been a romance.
For what it's worth, I think the preponderance of evidence supports that there was a sexual relationship that produced children. Beyond that, I don't know if the 14-year-old Sally fell in love with this remarkable man or if in his private life he was capable of raping his slave. Given that her oldest child wasn't a Jefferson, the "tradition" that their relationship began in Paris seems suspect.
Finally, Jefferson himself simply refused to address the embarrassing newspaper reports. Everyone involved is long dead, and we'll probably never know for sure. Such is the nature of history (some of the time).