James Hemings, born in 1765, became one of the most important figures in the history of American cuisine, due largely to his connection with Thomas Jefferson. Hemings was born enslaved, brought to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate when he was just nine years old with his siblings and mother, Elizabeth Hemings. Jefferson inherited the Hemings family from his wife, Martha Wayles Jefferson’s estate. The Hemings family made up the largest family at Monticello, free or enslaved, many of them forced to work as domestic workers or tradespeople for Jefferson.
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