Biography
Francis Eppes was born in 1801 to Maria (née Jefferson) and John Wayles Eppes at Monticello, her parents' plantation in Albemarle County Virginia. After his mother died when he was three, Francis spent much time at Monticello with his maternal aunt Martha Randolph and his grandfather, the widower Thomas Jefferson. He was cared for as a child for years at his father's plantation by the slave Betsy Hemmings, later called "Mam Bess". Jefferson gave her to his parents at their wedding. She was the daughter of Mary Hemings and the grand-daughter of Betty Hemings, who was held by the Jeffersons at Monticello. His first nurse was Critta Hemings Bowles, an aunt of Betsy Hemmings.
Eppes studied law, but never completed his legal studies.
Read more about this topic: Francis W. Eppes
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