So did he allow his own progeny to stay slaves as well? What an unpleasant man.
I’ve always doubted that Thomas was the father. My money has always been on Randolph.
-JT
People want to think that it's "settled science" that Jefferson impregnated Sally Hemings, but the fact is, that has never been proven, since his nephew was also living at the estate during the time period when she had those children, and biologically, they could have been the nephew's. But that possibility just doesn't make as good an indictment, for the Left, of the Founders as does blaming Jefferson.
As others have noted, Jefferson was a terrible businessman and died in debt. Until he died, one imagines he kept trying to make the place profitable, which required workers, so he was in a reciprocating bind. He "suffered" from creative genius that outstripped his managerial skills. He designed many architectural innovations not only at Monticello, but also at Poplar Forest, the "summer" estate he inherited from his father-in-law. Both required extensive labor to build and maintain, and Poplar Forest, whose house looks like a smaller version of Monticello, was never finished. Monticello also had a large experimental vegetable garden and orchards requiring a lot of work. Jefferson was also the designer of the main campus of the University of Virginia. His vision exceeded his ability to execute "on time and under budget."