Father of a President
Peter Jefferson, father of America's third president Thomas Jefferson, was a third-generation colonial in the New World. Tradition in Jefferson family has it that Peter's ancestors came to America from Wales, near the mountain of Snowdon, the highest in Great Britain. He is described as a vigorous man and, according to his great-great granddaughter Sarah Randolph, he was a giant in physical form.
His height and strength was such that on one occasion when he was standing between two hogsheads of tobacco, that were lying on their sides, he could, by seizing one hogshead in his right hand and the other in his left, right them both up at the same time. By Sarah Randolph's telling, the hogsheads weighed some one thousand pounds apiece. It is more likely they were nearer the weight of the standard 560 pounds of today, which in its self, the action would be considerably impressive.
Another incident related about the extreme strength of Peter Jefferson tells of a time that he instructed three slaves to pull down a ruined shed. After the shed was girdled with a rope the three slaves repeatedly tried to pull the building down but failed in their attempt. Finally, Peter told them to stand back. He grabbed the rope and pulled the shed down by him self.
Peter Jefferson had a limited education but was always anxious to improve himself, which shows in the fact that he was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. He was also a justice of the peace, sheriff of Albemarle County, judge of the Court of Chancery, and lieutenant colonel of the militia.
Peter Jefferson: Father of a President continued.
