It's not quite long enough for a novel, but it's way too long for a short story. Check out this historical fiction novella that covers an aspect of enslavement never discussed in polite company: slave breeding. Buckingham Randolph Jefferson was born on the plantation of Thomas Jefferson's brother Randolph but was mostly raised at Monticello. When he was overheard expressing his feelings for Sally Hemings, he was sent to South Carolina, where he was forced to be a "buck," impregnating enslaved women paired with him to produce large, strong children. Buck was involved in planning the Denmark Vesey revolt and later escaped to Ohio. Buck spent time in the Navy and in jail before returning home and to Sally. This book was initially published as a Kindle Vella series in May 2024
From Chapter One:
“When Thomas Jefferson and his slaves, James and Sally Hemings, returned from Paris, Buckingham was twelve years old and really noticed sixteen-year-old Sally for the first time. When Buck first arrived at Monticello, Sally was eight, and he was four. She was just an older girl whom Buckingham paid little attention to.
When Sally returned from France, she was pregnant, but they still became like brother and sister. Sally taught Buckingham some nuances of the French language, often mocking the French aristocrats with whom she had spent so much time. Buckingham played the violin for her and discussed the books he’d been reading.
Sally spent most of her time tending to the needs of Master Jefferson, and Buckingham was much busier now that Thomas was home. Buckingham and Sally still stole away a few minutes to chat about their day. Most evenings, Sally would have to leave early to go to bed. Buckingham thought she was the “tiredest” girl he’d ever met; it would be years before he understood her relationship with Master Jefferson.
Buckingham initially liked Sally because she made him laugh. They saw the humor in the things they weren’t supposed to. When Buckingham was eight, that was enough. In 1797, Thomas Jefferson became Vice-President of the United States, causing him to spend most of his time in Washington, D.C. Jefferson left Sally behind when he was away from Monticello, as he was not ready to display his young Black mistress.
Mistress is the wrong word because it implies choice. An enslaved woman, especially at fourteen when Jefferson started up with Sally, could not say no to her Master. A Virginia law, Partus Sequitur Ventrem, made it legal for masters to rape their enslaved people while absolving them of any crime and responsibility for the inevitable children. Having children wasn’t accidental; it was a primary and secondary goal.
On February 18th, 1801, Vice-President Thomas Jefferson returned to Monticello from Washington with the news most expected to be confirmed months earlier. He would become President of the United States of America. He had just over two weeks before being sworn in and had to put his household in place without a First Lady to assist him. His former friend, President John Adams, had been the first resident of the newly constructed President’s House, but Adams had his wife Abigail to handle matters.
Adams will have been there just five months before turning over the home to Jefferson. Enslaved people were still working on the exterior, and the house was only partially furnished. Abigail and John thought they would have another term in office to settle things, but it was not to be.
Jefferson ordered all the staff at Monticello, including the enslaved, to assemble outside on Mulberry Row, where he would speak to them. It was unusual for Jefferson to talk to his people as a group, as Jefferson was plagued with a terrible stutter and rarely spoke publicly. But this was a unique occasion, calling for extraordinary measures.
Being the end of February, there was more than a slight chill in the air. There was no room inside Monticello to hold the three hundred people on hand. Most of the 250 enslaved people had never set foot inside the main house. Jefferson stood on the pathway leading back to the main home and had everyone gather as close as they could. They huddled close both to hear Jefferson, and to stay warm.
“Residents of Monticello, thank you for c c coming out today, t t there is a matter of utmost imp p portance I need to discuss. Many of y y you may know I have been running for President. As of y y yesterday, it is now official, and I will be the next President of the United States.
T t there will be little time to make the transition. I have two weeks to arrive b b back in Washington and get the President’s House running. I will be asking some of y y you to come with me, in the next few d d days I will be notifying you who will be coming.
I know you all have f f families here. I will do w w wh what I can to keep you intact and allow v v visits as often as possible. Mr. Page will have answers to your q q questions or get an answer from me if he doesn’t know. Those c c coming with me will be excited about this opportunity to s s serve your country. Those who remain will be doing work j j just as important. I k k know it’s cold so you can return to your homes. Thank you once again.”
Jefferson was being deceitful when announcing his plans to keep families intact. Washington, D.C., had a large population of free Black people with whom his slaves would ultimately interact. Jefferson wasn’t looking to provide entire families a chance to escape together; he wanted his staff at the President’s House to have strong ties to Monticello and be afraid to run, knowing they would never again see those they left behind. Edith Hern was the cook who replaced James Hemings when Jefferson fulfilled the contract that gave James his freedom. She was standing next to Sally Hemings at the time of the announcement. Sally was related to Edith’s common-law husband, Joseph Fossett. Sally always called Edith “Aunt Edie,” though their exact familial relationship wasn’t clear.
Edith said, “Think he’ll be takin’ you this time? He didn’t bring you when he was Vice-President.”
Sally said, “The Vice-President isn’t the man in charge. I don’t know, though; I suppose I’ll be finding out soon enough. You know you’ll be going. He says he comes home so much to see me, but it’s your cooking that keeps bringing him back.”
Edith said, “He most likely will. I hope he brings Joseph, too? I ‘spec he’ll be wantin’ Frances as well?”
Sally said, “He likely will. It’s probably best to just wait and see.”
Edith was a full five inches taller than Sally, which meant she was looking down at her.
Edith said, “I know you can’t say anything against him to me or nobody. I understand. But if you ever need anybody to talk to. Aunt Edie will always be here for you.”
Sally said, “Thanks, Aunt Edie, it’s a bit cold, and I’m going to head back inside.”
Sally took the path leading to the main house. Edith took a left on Mulberry Row to the hut she shared with Joseph and their child. Buckingham had been standing with some others from the house staff. He watched Sally turn down the thirty-yard-long path and sprinted to catch her. Nineteen-year-old Buckingham was now 6'5" and caught up in six strides.
Buckingham said, “Change is in the wind around here. Have you talked with Master Jefferson yet?”
Sally said, “I haven’t had a chance since he returned. I don’t know more than anyone else, mon ami!”
Buckingham said, “I would hate it if we were parted. Who else would I turn to for advice around here?”
Sally said, “I hear the rumors about you and the girls in the quarters. I suspect you’re long past the point of needing my help.”
Buckingham said, “Sally?”
She stopped and faced him, looking up directly into his eyes.
Sally said, “What is it, Buckingham?”
Buckingham paused, “Nothing, Sally; as you said, I need to start working things out on my own. I’ll see you later.
Bye, Sally!”
Sally said, “Au revoir, mon ami!”
Buckingham ran to the right to the basement entrance while Sally went left toward the steps to the front door. Buckingham couldn’t explain the tingling he felt when Sally was close. He truly didn’t need advice as to what to say to the girls in the slave quarters, The woman, no longer a girl he didn’t have words for was Sally Hemings. The feelings he had when she was near, he’d never felt before. Buckingham longed for her touch in a way he never felt for the women of Mulberry Row.
It was a few hours before Thomas Jefferson finished his meetings and sent word for Sally to join him. Sally gave her special knock on the bedroom door, entering without awaiting a reply. Thomas was sitting at the desk near the bed and rose to hug and greet her. Sally sensed he was in a mood and soon found out the cause.
Jefferson said, “It’s been far too long since I’ve seen you. Politics is little but insanity with rules. I’ve m m missed you!”
Sally said, “It’s not the same when you aren’t here, mon ami. Now it seems you’ll be away more than ever?”
Jefferson said, “That’s part of being President; you k k knew this would likely happen.”
Sally said, “Why did it take so long for them to decide? You barely have any time to get moved in?”
Jefferson said, “There was a tie between Aaron Burr and me in the Electoral College. It wasn’t supposed to be that way b b but somebody d d didn’t do what they should. Then that bastard Burr decided he wanted to be President himself instead of Vice-President, which s s screwed everything up. It is w w what it is. Funny how it got r r resolved. Hamilton from the other p p party doesn’t like me, but he can’t stand Burr, so he turned things my w w way.”
Sally said, “Congratulations, Mister President. The President’s House awaits. Who from the household are you taking?”
Jefferson said, “I’ve almost finished with the list. I’ve decided on Ursula; we can’t do without her pastries at formal receptions and dinners. Edith and Frances, of course, to cook. I’m taking John Freeman and Jack Shorter, Buckingham, as well. There w wwill be a few others; I have to work out who I can take and who needs to k k keep things running here.”
Sally said, “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”
Jefferson paused, “You k k know I can’t take you; I’ll be the President, p p people were already talking during the campaign. Our reputations w w would be terribly s s sullied.”
Sally said, “You don’t mean our reputations; you mean yours. The name Sally Hemings has been tarnished for years; Jefferson’s whore, Sally the slut, concubine, nigger wench; shall I go on?”
Jefferson said, “Please stop, Sally. You know our time apart is unbearable for me as well. If there w w were any way for me to bring you, I would.”
Sally said, “There is a way; it’s merely the will that’s lacking.”
Jefferson hung his head and said nothing.
Sally said, “There’s another matter; I wouldn’t have brought it up had we been leaving together. I don’t like the way Isham looks at me, and he’s started speaking to me in a personal way. The greater your distance, the greater his nerve is becoming.”
Jefferson said, “He’s just a boy, harmless.”
Sally said, “He’s almost twenty, far more than a boy. He’s already creeping down to the quarters. It will be no surprise if some of the girls currently with child turn out to have mulattoes not belonging to you or your brother Randolph.”
Jefferson said, “Enough! I will s s speak with Isham, and m m make sure he doesn’t bother you. Enough t t talk for tonight, take off your clothes. I would get reacquainted w w with you.”
Saying no more, Sally removed her clothes and climbed into the bed. She allowed Jefferson to take her. Sally’s eyes stayed closed, her responses involuntary until she found a fantasy she could respond to. It was a wicked thought but one that excited her all the same. She pictured Buckingham’s muscular arms wrapped around her. A secret thought she’d never reveal.”
The Kindle Edition is available on Amazon for $3.99 and free at Kindle Unlimited.
This needs to be discussed more in polite society. The Daughters of the Confederacy have whitewashed slavery so effectively that many people will not believe things like this happened. We need more dialogue on the laws and the consequences of standing up to slaveowners! Thanks for this information!