[21] He was of English, and possibly Welsh, descent and was born a British subject.[22] His father Peter Jefferson was a planter and surveyor who died when Jefferson was fourteen; his mother was Jane Randolph.[b] Peter Jefferson moved his family to Tuckahoe Plantation in 1745 upon the death of William Randolph III, the plantation's owner and Jefferson's friend, who in his will had named Peter guardian of Randolph's children. The Jeffersons returned to Shadwell in 1752, where Peter died in 1757; his estate was divided between his sons Thomas and Randolph.[24] John Harvie Sr. then became Thomas' guardian.[25] In 1753 he attended the wedding of his uncle Field Jefferson to Mary Allen Hunt, who became a close friend and early mentor.[26] Thomas inherited approximately 5,000 acres (2,000 ha; 7.8 sq mi) of land, including Monticello, and assumed full authority over his property at age 21.[27]

Education and early family life
Thomas Jefferson's Coat of Arms
Jefferson began his education together with the Randolph children by tutors at Tuckahoe.[28] Thomas' father Peter was self-taught, regretted not having a formal education, and entered Thomas into an English school at age five. 