Mary Lee Brady, Ph.D.

Jefferson's farm book shows that in the 1783 listing of his slaves, Nancy (Nance) had a son named Billy May who was born in 1780.  We believe she named him Billy May to help comfort her sister Bett Hemings Brown whose son Billy Hemings Brown died in May of 1778.

We believe the father was Benjamin West.

Husband's Name
	Benjamin WEST (AFN:14BW-S2L)							Pedigree
	Born:			Abt 1758		Place:	Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia
	Died:			Abt 1820		Place:	Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia
	Married:			Abt 1778		Place:	Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia
	Father:
	Mother:
Wife's Name
	Peggy RUSSELL (AFN:14BW-S3S)							Pedigree
	Born:			Abt 1758		Place:	Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia
	Died:			Abt 1820		Place:	Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia
	Married:			Abt 1778		Place:	Accomac, Accomack Co., Virginia
	Father:		George RUSSELL (AFN:14BW-RQK)					Family
	Mother:		Sarah BONWELL (AFN:14BX-6KQ)

So far as we have been able to determine, neither Nancy Hemings West or her son Billy May Hemings were on Thomas Jefferson's property listing for 1794. Assumptions are that he was likely leased or sold along with his mother around 1788, and the other possibility is that he may have died. 

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