One of Thomas Jefferson's descendants who was born in Nelsonville has dedicated her life to tracing her own family's genealogy as well as other multi-ethnic groups in southeast Ohio.
Ada Woodson Adams, 65, is a sixth-generation descendant of Jefferson and Sally Hemings's firstborn, Thomas Woodson.
Once you document your history and have it written down
it can't be taken away from you Mrs. Adams said.
Mrs. Adams, a native of Nelsonville and alumna of Ohio University, has spent a majority of her life researching and documenting genealogical history. She and her husband, Alvin Adams, are founders of the Multicultural Genealogical Center in Chesterhill, Ohio.
Passionate about researching multicultural and multi-ethnic groups, Mrs. Adams encourages college-age students to read more than what is given to them in their school setting.
As a race a black race
a lot of young people don't have any sense of pride in themselves
said Mrs. Adams. Black people developed
nurtured
shaped and made this America what it is.
As a young child, Mrs. Adams had taken a general interest in reading and researching. However, it was not until 1980 that she speculated she was a descendant of Jefferson and Hemings.
I had all the information
but I couldn't connect all the dots
Mrs. Adams said.
But in 1992, after receiving the military pension papers of her great-grandfather, William G. Woodson, she said she was certain of her lineage.
Mrs. Adams said she is a descendent of Hemings and Jefferson - naming Hemings before Jefferson.
Sally Hemings is more important. Sally was the enslaved one. While Thomas Jefferson cared for his children and bounced them on his knee in his home
Sally had to nurture her children and remind them that they were alright
Mrs. Adams said.
In past years, there has been dispute about the children of Jefferson and Hemings. There were never any written documents
