Local family’s roots gain a presidential pedigree

Series of old photographs lead to a possible link to Thomas Jefferson through his slave, Sally Hemings

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   For one Princeton family with roots stretching south, the unexpected discovery of a series of old photographs has led them one step closer to validating a presidential family tree that, they say, they always knew through their own oral history.
   Continuing genealogical investigation that couples photographic research and oral accounts has made an increasingly convincing case that members of Princeton resident Charles Phox’s family are descendents of Thomas Jefferson through a child he is believed to have fathered with slave Sally Hemings.
   The link has been made through relatives on the side of Mr. Phox’s mother, Estelle, also of Princeton, and more specifically through his great-great grandmother, Eliza Coleman — a gatekeeper at Jefferson’s Monticello home believed to be related to Ms. Hemings within two generations, Mr. Phox said.
   However, Eliza Coleman, whose maiden name is unknown by the family, is the oldest verifiable relative of the Phox family. The ancestry of Eliza’s parents is the missing link of information sought by Mr. Phox’s family to confirm to all what they — through spoken words — have known for years.
   "What we’ve been trying to find out is (Eliza’s) maiden name," Mr. Phox’s aunt and unofficial family historian Sylvia Coles said. Ms. Coles, a resident of Charlottesville, Va. — located near Monticello — said the family has always had deep roots at the Jefferson estate and a verbal understanding of the magnitude of their connection. As a child, Ms. Coles recalls visiting the property with the wish of going to "Uncle Tom’s" house.
   But the discovery of the photographs — which proved that Mr. Phox’s family is certainly connected with Monticello in one way or another — was made quite by chance. While researching the president’s estate on the Monticello Web site, Mr. Phox’s first cousin, Paul Harris — coincidentally, a former Virginia state delegate who was elected in 1997 to the legislative seat once held by Jefferson — unearthed photographs of his relatives.
   The photographs, found in "Getting Word," the Monticello African American oral history project featured online at www.monticello.org, include a 1912 photograph of Eliza Coleman in front of the gatehouse as well as a photograph of Mr. Phox’s grandparents, Joseph and Rosa Harris. Joseph Harris — Ms. Coles’ late father — was the grandson of Eliza Coleman.
   Although historians have not officially recognized that Eliza Coleman was, in fact, related to Sally Hemings — historians as a whole haven’t confirmed that the affair between the president and his slave mistress occurred — Mr. Phox said he has more than oral genealogical history to lead him to believe she was.
   "Only so many people were given a good position at Monticello, and those people were descendents of Ms. Hemings," Mr. Phox said, adding that his great-great grandmother and her husband, Thomas, were gatekeepers at the estate who lived there for years.
   Further, Mr. Phox said, the 500 acres owned by his family near Monticello is a sure sign that the connection to the third president exists.
   Mr. Phox said the slaves with whom President Jefferson had a particular connection — namely Sally Hemings and her kin — were left a piece of property according to his will. "That is why my family has 500 acres," he said, adding the family is currently in a brainstorming phase to decide what to ultimately do with the property.
   While Mr. Phox says the presidential connection has always been common knowledge in his family, the discovery of the photos was a satisfying revelation.
   "We’ve always known for some years, but we never had actual proof," Mr. Phox said.
   For now, family members say that they are enjoying the pursuit of more evidence to verify a family tree of such historical importance.
   "We all get excited when we find out a little bit more," Ms. Coles said, adding that several members of her extended family ranging from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. and Charlottesville are involved in the research effort.
   Ms. Coles said the family would love to have scientific proof through DNA studies that the connection exists — but mainly for posterity. "We grew up knowing enough, but if there is anything more it would help our grandchildren and children," she said. "It would be good for them to know."
   Mr. Phox — equally confident in the authenticity of the family’s oral history — said finding the visual proof of a Monticello connection has been gratifying for his family and has pushed him to continue the research.
   "It feels good because it makes you feel like you’re part of American history, and that’s actually what we are," he said.