#6 Thomas And Martha Jefferson
As one of the founding fathers of America, Thomas Jefferson is famous for a lot of things, but most of them are horrible, and this also included his history with the slave trade and abuse, as well as marrying someone with whom he was related. What’s even creepier is that he was related to not only his wife, Martha (they were third cousins), but also to the slave he sexually abused since she was fourteen and with whom he had several children!
To explain this complicated background, Martha’s father was Thomas Wayles. When his wife died, he took one of the slaves he had as a concubine. Her name was Betty Hemings, and they had six children together (which added to the four from her previous marriage). One of them was named Sally. When Thomas Wayles died, his slaves (including Betty and her ten children) went to Martha.
And when Martha died, her possessions (yes, including her slaves because that was the twisted norm back then) went to her husband. So not only did Thomas Jefferson end up marrying his cousin, but he also sexually abused his half-sister, with whom he was probably related as well if we follow the trend of this story! Talk about being properly twisted!
4 thoughts on “9 Famous People Who Were Related and Still Got Married”
It has been documented that Jefferson and his slave Hemmings were in love. It is not fair to say he abused her. She was half sister to his former wife.
Any couple related or not, also is at risk of having a child with genetic conditions or health problems! Although taboo in some cultures, marriage between first cousins is accepted in many cultures around the world. The vast majority of children of first cousins are healthy and do not have problems due to their parents’ relatedness. It is important to keep in mind that even for an unrelated couple, there is an approximately 2-3% chance that their child is born with a birth defect, genetic syndrome, or disability.
The risk for children of first cousins is increased over this background, by about 3%. ( Not enough to forbid or look down upon )
The above information is from the “Genetic Awareness Project”
Another note of fact: Mary and Joseph were first cousins…. and though Jesus supposedly was immaculately conceived his siblings were definitely born of Mary and Joseph. If G-d sanctioned their marriage then who are we to say that such marriages are taboo?
You missed another famous couple who were cousins. FDR and Eleanor Roosevelt..
The outlaw Jesse James married his first cousin, Zerelda Mimms. She tended to his wounds from the Civil War.