Some historians have written that it is a virtual certainty, while others argue that it was his brother, rather than Thomas himself, that fathered the children.

• 有些史学家著述道，这几乎是一个铁定的事实。但其他一些史学家则反驳说，是他的兄弟，而不是杰佛逊本人，才是这些孩子的父亲。