Lewis M. Jarvis, 1903 Interview on Melungeons
Lewis M. Jarvis born 1829 Scott County, Virginia, son Daniel Jarvis and Mary
COLLINS, an attorney in Sneedville on the Melungeons:
1903 Interview
Much has been said and written about the inhabitants of Newman's Ridge and
Blackwater at Hancock County, Tenn. They have been derisively dubbed with the
name "Melungeons" by the local white people who have lived here with them.
*It is not a traditional name or tribe of Indians.*
"Vardy Collins, Shepherd Gibson, Benjamin Collins, Solomon Collins, Paul
Bunch, and the Goodmans, chief's and the rest of them settled here about the
year 1804,possibly about the year 1795, but all these men above named, who
are called Melungeons, obtained land grants and muniments of title to the
land they settled on and they were the very first and came here simultaneous
with the white people not earlier than 1795. They then had lost their
language and spoke the English very well. They originally were the friendly
Indians who came with the whites as they moved west. They came from the
Cumberland County and New River, Va., stopping at various points west of the
Blue Ridge. Some of them stopped at stony Creek, Scott Co., Va., where Stoney
Creek runs into the Clinch River.
The white emigrants with the friendly Indians erected a fort on the bank of
the river and called it Fort Blackamore and here yet many of these friendly
Indians live in the mountains of Stoney Creek.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Book Review: a 1983 book which gives Melungeon info
Book Review: a 1983 book which gives Melungeon info
Review of:
From Newman's Ridge, Tennessee to Southeastern Kentucky Highlands: (Trail of the Portuguese Indian and English Mixed Clans)
By Norm Isaac 1983
This review was written by Nancy Sparks Morrison:
From the frontispiece map of total area of Portuguese mixed clans in this book are the following places:
Tennessee
Hancock County; Newman Ridge; Sneedville; Mulberry Gap
Virginia
Rose-Hill (Martins Station); Jonesville (Glade Spring); Pennington Gap; Big Stone Gap
Kentucky
Pineville; Bell County; Harlan; Whitesburg, Letcher County; Pikeville; Manchester, Clay County; Hyden, Leslie County; Hazard, Perry County; Handman, Knott County; Prestonburg, Floyd County; Lexington; Jackson, Breathitt County; Salyersville; Paintsville, Johnson County; Boone's Camp; Inez, Martin County.
Nowhere in this book is the term Melungeon used, but the fact that there was a derogatory term used to describe the earliest settlers in the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky is mentioned. The author uses the term "Portuguese Mixed Clans" or "mixed Portuguese kinfolk on the Ridge."
The author begins by talking about Mahala Mullins noting a visit to her old house on the Ridge. He notes that he "found her grave in the little cemetery near her homestead." "The grave covered an area about six feet wide by eight feet long and was sunken two and one-half feet deep."
His description of how he got to the Ridge is of interest. Accompanied by Ms. Martha Collins, a descendant and Mr. Tom Zackery, (the high school principal) he notes that he was "guided through the old barbed wire, chopping small trees and bushes and digging out rocks to make a trail for the Jeep to the old home of Mahala Mullens."
He says the farmstead sits directly above an almost sheer cliff of probably one thousand feet. The house itself he reports was mostly papered with several layers of newspaper both upstairs and down. He noted a huge fireplace at the north end of the building with a smaller one on the south side. The bigger of the two fireplaces was unfinished when Mahala died, so she was taken to the cemetery from the enlarged hole of that fireplace. North of the house, and eastward of the cemetery, the land began to be meadow-like with an apple orchard which ran flat to the very edge of the cliff.
The author notes that in pioneer times, Newman Ridge was named for an early longhunter named Walter Newman who hunted the area in the years from 1763-1775 and to 1785. He notes that the mixed Portuguese people were living on the Ridge at that time, but no mention of them was made by either Newman or Daniel Boone. How he knows this to be so, he does not explain.
He does mention Governor Sevier recognizing the mixed settlers in the 1780's. He says that the Cherokee called them "white Indians": and mentions the huge bell they used to alert the others that strangers were in the area. He notes that probably after 1785 and the surge of Revolutionary War veterans, the folks farming the bottom lands were forced up onto Newman's Ridge. The author notes that both he and Ms. Martha Collins believe that the Portuguese came into the mountains from a Portuguese ship or shipwrecked sailors. He says this incursion may have been as early as shortly after 1600 or a few years before. He notes the Portuguese soldiers with DeSoto when he traveled through the high ridges in the sixteenth century, but mostly they came he believes from the Carolinas, some of them marrying into the various tribes east of Newman Ridge as well as the white traders commonly found in the area.
The author notes that he tried everything he could to set up a memorial for Mahala Mullens and that many of her descendants and local folks supported the idea. He notes that he wrote to Ms. Bonnie Ball of Big Stone Gap, who also supported the idea as did Jean Patterson Bible of Dandridge, TN. He notes that the Park Conservation Department at Knoxville sent a representative to Sneedville and Hancock County who wrote that not enough people were interested in the project.
Among the surnames the author mentions as early members of the colony were Mullens and Vardaman Collins, and Denham, a Portuguese shipwrecked sailor. An important note here is that the author says that both Ms Bible and Ms Ball recognized that a majority of the original residents and their descendants migrated to more northerly sections of the country.
The author notes the possible inclusion of Basque ancestry amongst the Melungeons since from that area, boats traveled to America in the time of Columbus and later. Other names mentioned were Bowling or Bowlin, Gibson, Goins, Gilbert, Campbell, Manis, Sexton and Bell.
As to why the Melungeons migrated, the author offers up the theory that coal mining lured them at the turn of the century. (1900)
It is at this point that the author begins to spend more time on strip mining than Melungeons, but he lists many of the disastrous strip mining sites in Kentucky and Virginia as places that the Mixed Portuguese Clans migrated and notes that he fought against these in any way that he could.
The author lists the Kentucky counties of Johnson, Pike, Bell, Harlan, Knox, Clay, Owsley, Leslie, Perry and Breathitt as having a good number of the Mixed Clans. And he mentions Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. Alice Lloyd came to the area from Boston and with grit and determination began to teach the children of the area. The author mentions that he has heard of both oral and written biographies of the pioneers of the area, many of whom he believes to be Melungeon. I have written an e-mail to the college to see if indeed it has such in its archives. I will let you know when I hear from them.
The remainder of this book deals with trips and travels through the areas that the author believes are Melungeon (Mixed Portuguese Clans). On page 90, he notes that "I have interviewed many people and families of Portuguese Mixed Clans from Viper to Perry County to Lilly Cornett's Woods in Letcher County, Whitesburg, Hindman in Knott County, Salyersville, Magoffin, and Prestonburg in Floyd. Sometimes a real true gender of a descendant of these people is found - - mostly in the Mullens (Mahala's kinfolks, no doubt), Collins and Gibson progeny. (These were all of the founding of the Portuguese Mixed Clans. There are possibly thirty to forty different families of authentic individuals of the Newman Ridge kith and kin who are found throughout the Southeastern Highlands.)"
Note that Mahala's cabin has been moved from the mountain top and restored as a kind of museum. It sits in Sneedville, TN now.
Review of:
From Newman's Ridge, Tennessee to Southeastern Kentucky Highlands: (Trail of the Portuguese Indian and English Mixed Clans)
By Norm Isaac 1983
This review was written by Nancy Sparks Morrison:
From the frontispiece map of total area of Portuguese mixed clans in this book are the following places:
Tennessee
Hancock County; Newman Ridge; Sneedville; Mulberry Gap
Virginia
Rose-Hill (Martins Station); Jonesville (Glade Spring); Pennington Gap; Big Stone Gap
Kentucky
Pineville; Bell County; Harlan; Whitesburg, Letcher County; Pikeville; Manchester, Clay County; Hyden, Leslie County; Hazard, Perry County; Handman, Knott County; Prestonburg, Floyd County; Lexington; Jackson, Breathitt County; Salyersville; Paintsville, Johnson County; Boone's Camp; Inez, Martin County.
Nowhere in this book is the term Melungeon used, but the fact that there was a derogatory term used to describe the earliest settlers in the mountains of Tennessee and Kentucky is mentioned. The author uses the term "Portuguese Mixed Clans" or "mixed Portuguese kinfolk on the Ridge."
The author begins by talking about Mahala Mullins noting a visit to her old house on the Ridge. He notes that he "found her grave in the little cemetery near her homestead." "The grave covered an area about six feet wide by eight feet long and was sunken two and one-half feet deep."
His description of how he got to the Ridge is of interest. Accompanied by Ms. Martha Collins, a descendant and Mr. Tom Zackery, (the high school principal) he notes that he was "guided through the old barbed wire, chopping small trees and bushes and digging out rocks to make a trail for the Jeep to the old home of Mahala Mullens."
He says the farmstead sits directly above an almost sheer cliff of probably one thousand feet. The house itself he reports was mostly papered with several layers of newspaper both upstairs and down. He noted a huge fireplace at the north end of the building with a smaller one on the south side. The bigger of the two fireplaces was unfinished when Mahala died, so she was taken to the cemetery from the enlarged hole of that fireplace. North of the house, and eastward of the cemetery, the land began to be meadow-like with an apple orchard which ran flat to the very edge of the cliff.
The author notes that in pioneer times, Newman Ridge was named for an early longhunter named Walter Newman who hunted the area in the years from 1763-1775 and to 1785. He notes that the mixed Portuguese people were living on the Ridge at that time, but no mention of them was made by either Newman or Daniel Boone. How he knows this to be so, he does not explain.
He does mention Governor Sevier recognizing the mixed settlers in the 1780's. He says that the Cherokee called them "white Indians": and mentions the huge bell they used to alert the others that strangers were in the area. He notes that probably after 1785 and the surge of Revolutionary War veterans, the folks farming the bottom lands were forced up onto Newman's Ridge. The author notes that both he and Ms. Martha Collins believe that the Portuguese came into the mountains from a Portuguese ship or shipwrecked sailors. He says this incursion may have been as early as shortly after 1600 or a few years before. He notes the Portuguese soldiers with DeSoto when he traveled through the high ridges in the sixteenth century, but mostly they came he believes from the Carolinas, some of them marrying into the various tribes east of Newman Ridge as well as the white traders commonly found in the area.
The author notes that he tried everything he could to set up a memorial for Mahala Mullens and that many of her descendants and local folks supported the idea. He notes that he wrote to Ms. Bonnie Ball of Big Stone Gap, who also supported the idea as did Jean Patterson Bible of Dandridge, TN. He notes that the Park Conservation Department at Knoxville sent a representative to Sneedville and Hancock County who wrote that not enough people were interested in the project.
Among the surnames the author mentions as early members of the colony were Mullens and Vardaman Collins, and Denham, a Portuguese shipwrecked sailor. An important note here is that the author says that both Ms Bible and Ms Ball recognized that a majority of the original residents and their descendants migrated to more northerly sections of the country.
The author notes the possible inclusion of Basque ancestry amongst the Melungeons since from that area, boats traveled to America in the time of Columbus and later. Other names mentioned were Bowling or Bowlin, Gibson, Goins, Gilbert, Campbell, Manis, Sexton and Bell.
As to why the Melungeons migrated, the author offers up the theory that coal mining lured them at the turn of the century. (1900)
It is at this point that the author begins to spend more time on strip mining than Melungeons, but he lists many of the disastrous strip mining sites in Kentucky and Virginia as places that the Mixed Portuguese Clans migrated and notes that he fought against these in any way that he could.
The author lists the Kentucky counties of Johnson, Pike, Bell, Harlan, Knox, Clay, Owsley, Leslie, Perry and Breathitt as having a good number of the Mixed Clans. And he mentions Alice Lloyd College in Pippa Passes, Kentucky. Alice Lloyd came to the area from Boston and with grit and determination began to teach the children of the area. The author mentions that he has heard of both oral and written biographies of the pioneers of the area, many of whom he believes to be Melungeon. I have written an e-mail to the college to see if indeed it has such in its archives. I will let you know when I hear from them.
The remainder of this book deals with trips and travels through the areas that the author believes are Melungeon (Mixed Portuguese Clans). On page 90, he notes that "I have interviewed many people and families of Portuguese Mixed Clans from Viper to Perry County to Lilly Cornett's Woods in Letcher County, Whitesburg, Hindman in Knott County, Salyersville, Magoffin, and Prestonburg in Floyd. Sometimes a real true gender of a descendant of these people is found - - mostly in the Mullens (Mahala's kinfolks, no doubt), Collins and Gibson progeny. (These were all of the founding of the Portuguese Mixed Clans. There are possibly thirty to forty different families of authentic individuals of the Newman Ridge kith and kin who are found throughout the Southeastern Highlands.)"
Note that Mahala's cabin has been moved from the mountain top and restored as a kind of museum. It sits in Sneedville, TN now.
The Melungeons by Bonnie Ball
Bonnie Ball was one of the earliest Melungeon writers. If you have not read her book, I suggest that you do so:
The Melungeons
By Bonnie Ball
A generation ago census records of certain mountainous counties of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Carolina, and others proved somewhat confusing. This was due to the presence of a strange group of people whose origin was, and has remained, one of the deepest and most fascinating mysteries of American ethnology.
The "Melungeons" who were called "ramps" in certain areas by their neighbors, have characteristics that range from those of the whites and American Indians to Orientals or Negroes. This variation prevented a definite race classification, and has also given rise to numerous theories concerning their origin.
Some had dark, oily skin, kinky hair, upturned noses and dark stoic eyes. Others, even in the same family had coarse bronzed skin, with straight black hair. Still others, close relatives, differed little from their white neighbors, perhaps having brown or light, fuzzy hair, fair or medium skin, and dark blue or gray eyes. Then there were others among them that had smooth, yellowish skin, curly brown or black hair, and dreamy, almost Oriental eyes.
It would be impossible to make any accurate estimate of how many such people were scattered throughout the mountains of the Southern Appalachians, but it can be assumed that their number fifty years ago would have run into at least five digits.
According to Bruce Crawford, a former newspaperman, and leading student of ethnology of the Appalachian area, the Melungeons were officially recognized about 1887 and given a separate legal existence under the title of "Croatan Indians" on the theory of their descent from Raleigh's Lost Colony of Roanoke Island (North Carolina), a convenient means of disposal, but hardly satisfying to the inquisitive historian.
The older Melungeons insisted that they were Portuguese. I have known the Melungeons from childhood, when three families lived as tenants on my father's farm in Southwestern Virginia. Their children have been my pupils, and I have done first-hand research on their traits, customs, and past, but can give here only the proposed theories of their origin.
Mr. Crawford's research revealed that when John Sevier organized the state of Franklin (Tennessee) there was a colony of "dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people supposed to be of Moorish descent." They were neither Indians nor Negroes, but claimed to be Portuguese.
There is a doubtful theory that the Melungeon was a product of frontier warfare when white blood was fused with the Indian captor's and that of the Negro slave.
There also persist stories (that are recorded in history) that DeSoto visited Southwestern Virginia in the sixteenth century by way of a long chain of mountain leading into Tennessee. One ridge known as "Newman's Ridge" (which could have been "New Man's Ridge") was once the home of a teeming colony of Melungeons who were strongly believed to have descended from members of DeSoto's party lost or captured there.
In both Carolinas Melungeons were denied privileges usually granted to white people. For that reason many migrated to Tennessee where the courts ruled that they were not Negroes.
Traditions still persist that the Melungeons were descendants of the ancient Phoenicians who migrated from Carthage to Morocco, whenced they crossed the Atlantic before the American Revolution and settled in North Carolina. If this theory can be accepted, they were pure Carthaginians, and not a mixed race.
In weighing this last statement it is interesting to note that the Moors of Tennessee called themselves Portuguese, that the Moors of North Carolina came from Portugal, and that a generation ago the Melungeons called themselves Portuguese.
Yet there are factors that are puzzling in these assumptions. Such common surnames among them as Collins, Gipson (Gibson), Sexton, Bolen, Goins, and Mullens suggest no Phoenician background. And there is nothing about the word "ramp" to suggest a shy, usually inoffensive race of people. Neither is there any known reason for usage of the word "Melungeon" which is believed to have been derived from the French word "melange," meaning mixture.
The Melungeons were sometimes shy and reticent toward outlanders, but amiable with neighbors. They were loyal to their kin and employers. While they were fond of whiskey few were boisterous or malicious. I recall a story often told by my father, who was reared only a few miles from Newman's Ridge, about "Big Mahala Mullens" who lived on the Virginia-Tennessee state line. She grew so obese that she was unable to leave her house, and sat at the door all day selling whiskey to travelers. When she discovered the approach of revenue officials she waddled over to the Virginia side of her house if they approached from the Tennessee side, and vice versa if from Virginia. The act was probably unnecessary, since the authorities could not have removed her from the house. When Mahala died the chimney was torn away in order that she could be removed for burial.
Practically all Melungeons preferred a care-free existence with members of their own clan. For many generations they seldom married outsiders, and virtually all families in each area were related. Nearly all Melungeons, young and old chewed tobacco. They lived largely on bacon, corn pone, mush, and strong coffee. In early spring they gathered "crow's foot" from the woodlands, and "bear's lettuce" from spring branches, and ate them raw with salt. They liked wild fruits and berries to eat from the bush, but cared nothing for canning and preserving them. The holiday for Melungeon men was a week in late summer, after the crops were laid by, to be used for a ginseng expedition. No camping equipment was taken along except a water pail, knives, and a frying pan. They slept under the cliffs.
No fisherman could compete with the Melungeons. He simply waded into the stream, shoes and all, and searched with his fingers for fish hiding under stones. It no time he emerged with a nice string of fish.
Theirs was a hardy race, and seldom did they rely on a doctor. They applied many home remedies for injuries and brewed herb teas. Childbirth was a casual matter, usually attended by mountain midwife. Babies, as a rule, grew and thrived without any pretense of comfort or sanitation.
Their religion was of the simple Protestant type. They often attended their neighbors' churches, and occasionally had a patriarch-preacher in their group. They learned some of the old ballads and gospel songs from memory, for few of them could read or write. They accepted attendance at school, in most cases, an "unnecessary evil." Church picnics were always attended by Melungeon boys, but my mother once had a difficult time persuading young Willie that he must have a bath and wear a suit in order to participate in a children's day program. So he appeared, grinning broadly, in my brother's hand-me-down.
Then came industry to the Appalachians - coal, timbering, and railroads. The change was slow. World War I drew Melungeons into industry as well as military service. Coal towns grew up rapidly, and the Melungeon, like other tenant farmers, loaded up his few belongings on a wagon and headed for the "public works." A few remained behind and bought little hillside farms. For some reason their number appears to have decreased sharply in the past three decades, probably a result of long intermarriage, or perhaps many have been lost in white blood. Soon they may become just a legend - a lost race.
Ohio Valley Folk Research Project.
Publications released in 1960 as of June 15, 1960. (1) "Sage's Purple Passon" by Ben Hayes, New Series No. 37 (2) "Hair Balls and the Witch" by Melissa Hughes, New Series No. 38 (3) "Uncle Remus in Syracuse" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series No. 39 (4) "Hewitt, the Hermit" by James Emmitt, New Series No. 40 (5) "Tobacco Folklore" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series, No. 41 (6) "Ox, Capon and the Hare" by Yancy Yadkin, New Series, No. 42 (7) "Hugh Mosher, the Fifer" by Robert L. Walden, New Series, No. 43 (8) "Control of Grasshoppers" by Raymond Embree, New Series, No. 44 (9) "The Lost Silver Mine" by Dr. Carl R. Bogardus, New Series No. 45 (10) "Hog Drive to Evansville, 1879" by Elmer S. Elliott, New Series No. 46 (11) "Johnny Appleseed" by Rosella Rice, New Series, No. 47 (12) "Squirrel Broth" by Merrill C. Gilfillan, New Series, No. 48; (13) "The Undertaker's Revenge," by Jean Dow, New Series, No. 49 (14) "The Jackson County Madstones" by Dr. Gwyn Parry, New Series No. 50. (15) "The Feast of Rosea" by Adlyn Keffer, New Series, No. 51 (16) "Song, Legend of PA and WV" by Keysner and Whiting, New Series, No. 52 (17) "Lazy Tom" by Ellen Margolis, New Series No. 53 (18) "The Story of Nelson T. Gant" by Norris F. Schneider, New Series, No. 54 (19) "The Big Blow" by Laessle Bemis, New Series, No. 55)
The Melungeons
By Bonnie Ball
A generation ago census records of certain mountainous counties of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Carolina, and others proved somewhat confusing. This was due to the presence of a strange group of people whose origin was, and has remained, one of the deepest and most fascinating mysteries of American ethnology.
The "Melungeons" who were called "ramps" in certain areas by their neighbors, have characteristics that range from those of the whites and American Indians to Orientals or Negroes. This variation prevented a definite race classification, and has also given rise to numerous theories concerning their origin.
Some had dark, oily skin, kinky hair, upturned noses and dark stoic eyes. Others, even in the same family had coarse bronzed skin, with straight black hair. Still others, close relatives, differed little from their white neighbors, perhaps having brown or light, fuzzy hair, fair or medium skin, and dark blue or gray eyes. Then there were others among them that had smooth, yellowish skin, curly brown or black hair, and dreamy, almost Oriental eyes.
It would be impossible to make any accurate estimate of how many such people were scattered throughout the mountains of the Southern Appalachians, but it can be assumed that their number fifty years ago would have run into at least five digits.
According to Bruce Crawford, a former newspaperman, and leading student of ethnology of the Appalachian area, the Melungeons were officially recognized about 1887 and given a separate legal existence under the title of "Croatan Indians" on the theory of their descent from Raleigh's Lost Colony of Roanoke Island (North Carolina), a convenient means of disposal, but hardly satisfying to the inquisitive historian.
The older Melungeons insisted that they were Portuguese. I have known the Melungeons from childhood, when three families lived as tenants on my father's farm in Southwestern Virginia. Their children have been my pupils, and I have done first-hand research on their traits, customs, and past, but can give here only the proposed theories of their origin.
Mr. Crawford's research revealed that when John Sevier organized the state of Franklin (Tennessee) there was a colony of "dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people supposed to be of Moorish descent." They were neither Indians nor Negroes, but claimed to be Portuguese.
There is a doubtful theory that the Melungeon was a product of frontier warfare when white blood was fused with the Indian captor's and that of the Negro slave.
There also persist stories (that are recorded in history) that DeSoto visited Southwestern Virginia in the sixteenth century by way of a long chain of mountain leading into Tennessee. One ridge known as "Newman's Ridge" (which could have been "New Man's Ridge") was once the home of a teeming colony of Melungeons who were strongly believed to have descended from members of DeSoto's party lost or captured there.
In both Carolinas Melungeons were denied privileges usually granted to white people. For that reason many migrated to Tennessee where the courts ruled that they were not Negroes.
Traditions still persist that the Melungeons were descendants of the ancient Phoenicians who migrated from Carthage to Morocco, whenced they crossed the Atlantic before the American Revolution and settled in North Carolina. If this theory can be accepted, they were pure Carthaginians, and not a mixed race.
In weighing this last statement it is interesting to note that the Moors of Tennessee called themselves Portuguese, that the Moors of North Carolina came from Portugal, and that a generation ago the Melungeons called themselves Portuguese.
Yet there are factors that are puzzling in these assumptions. Such common surnames among them as Collins, Gipson (Gibson), Sexton, Bolen, Goins, and Mullens suggest no Phoenician background. And there is nothing about the word "ramp" to suggest a shy, usually inoffensive race of people. Neither is there any known reason for usage of the word "Melungeon" which is believed to have been derived from the French word "melange," meaning mixture.
The Melungeons were sometimes shy and reticent toward outlanders, but amiable with neighbors. They were loyal to their kin and employers. While they were fond of whiskey few were boisterous or malicious. I recall a story often told by my father, who was reared only a few miles from Newman's Ridge, about "Big Mahala Mullens" who lived on the Virginia-Tennessee state line. She grew so obese that she was unable to leave her house, and sat at the door all day selling whiskey to travelers. When she discovered the approach of revenue officials she waddled over to the Virginia side of her house if they approached from the Tennessee side, and vice versa if from Virginia. The act was probably unnecessary, since the authorities could not have removed her from the house. When Mahala died the chimney was torn away in order that she could be removed for burial.
Practically all Melungeons preferred a care-free existence with members of their own clan. For many generations they seldom married outsiders, and virtually all families in each area were related. Nearly all Melungeons, young and old chewed tobacco. They lived largely on bacon, corn pone, mush, and strong coffee. In early spring they gathered "crow's foot" from the woodlands, and "bear's lettuce" from spring branches, and ate them raw with salt. They liked wild fruits and berries to eat from the bush, but cared nothing for canning and preserving them. The holiday for Melungeon men was a week in late summer, after the crops were laid by, to be used for a ginseng expedition. No camping equipment was taken along except a water pail, knives, and a frying pan. They slept under the cliffs.
No fisherman could compete with the Melungeons. He simply waded into the stream, shoes and all, and searched with his fingers for fish hiding under stones. It no time he emerged with a nice string of fish.
Theirs was a hardy race, and seldom did they rely on a doctor. They applied many home remedies for injuries and brewed herb teas. Childbirth was a casual matter, usually attended by mountain midwife. Babies, as a rule, grew and thrived without any pretense of comfort or sanitation.
Their religion was of the simple Protestant type. They often attended their neighbors' churches, and occasionally had a patriarch-preacher in their group. They learned some of the old ballads and gospel songs from memory, for few of them could read or write. They accepted attendance at school, in most cases, an "unnecessary evil." Church picnics were always attended by Melungeon boys, but my mother once had a difficult time persuading young Willie that he must have a bath and wear a suit in order to participate in a children's day program. So he appeared, grinning broadly, in my brother's hand-me-down.
Then came industry to the Appalachians - coal, timbering, and railroads. The change was slow. World War I drew Melungeons into industry as well as military service. Coal towns grew up rapidly, and the Melungeon, like other tenant farmers, loaded up his few belongings on a wagon and headed for the "public works." A few remained behind and bought little hillside farms. For some reason their number appears to have decreased sharply in the past three decades, probably a result of long intermarriage, or perhaps many have been lost in white blood. Soon they may become just a legend - a lost race.
Ohio Valley Folk Research Project.
Publications released in 1960 as of June 15, 1960. (1) "Sage's Purple Passon" by Ben Hayes, New Series No. 37 (2) "Hair Balls and the Witch" by Melissa Hughes, New Series No. 38 (3) "Uncle Remus in Syracuse" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series No. 39 (4) "Hewitt, the Hermit" by James Emmitt, New Series No. 40 (5) "Tobacco Folklore" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series, No. 41 (6) "Ox, Capon and the Hare" by Yancy Yadkin, New Series, No. 42 (7) "Hugh Mosher, the Fifer" by Robert L. Walden, New Series, No. 43 (8) "Control of Grasshoppers" by Raymond Embree, New Series, No. 44 (9) "The Lost Silver Mine" by Dr. Carl R. Bogardus, New Series No. 45 (10) "Hog Drive to Evansville, 1879" by Elmer S. Elliott, New Series No. 46 (11) "Johnny Appleseed" by Rosella Rice, New Series, No. 47 (12) "Squirrel Broth" by Merrill C. Gilfillan, New Series, No. 48; (13) "The Undertaker's Revenge," by Jean Dow, New Series, No. 49 (14) "The Jackson County Madstones" by Dr. Gwyn Parry, New Series No. 50. (15) "The Feast of Rosea" by Adlyn Keffer, New Series, No. 51 (16) "Song, Legend of PA and WV" by Keysner and Whiting, New Series, No. 52 (17) "Lazy Tom" by Ellen Margolis, New Series No. 53 (18) "The Story of Nelson T. Gant" by Norris F. Schneider, New Series, No. 54 (19) "The Big Blow" by Laessle Bemis, New Series, No. 55)
The Melungeons by Bonnie Ball
Bonnie Ball was one of the earliest Melungeon writers. If you have not read her book, I suggest that you do so:
The Melungeons
By Bonnie Ball
A generation ago census records of certain mountainous counties of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Carolina, and others proved somewhat confusing. This was due to the presence of a strange group of people whose origin was, and has remained, one of the deepest and most fascinating mysteries of American ethnology.
The "Melungeons" who were called "ramps" in certain areas by their neighbors, have characteristics that range from those of the whites and American Indians to Orientals or Negroes. This variation prevented a definite race classification, and has also given rise to numerous theories concerning their origin.
Some had dark, oily skin, kinky hair, upturned noses and dark stoic eyes. Others, even in the same family had coarse bronzed skin, with straight black hair. Still others, close relatives, differed little from their white neighbors, perhaps having brown or light, fuzzy hair, fair or medium skin, and dark blue or gray eyes. Then there were others among them that had smooth, yellowish skin, curly brown or black hair, and dreamy, almost Oriental eyes.
It would be impossible to make any accurate estimate of how many such people were scattered throughout the mountains of the Southern Appalachians, but it can be assumed that their number fifty years ago would have run into at least five digits.
According to Bruce Crawford, a former newspaperman, and leading student of ethnology of the Appalachian area, the Melungeons were officially recognized about 1887 and given a separate legal existence under the title of "Croatan Indians" on the theory of their descent from Raleigh's Lost Colony of Roanoke Island (North Carolina), a convenient means of disposal, but hardly satisfying to the inquisitive historian.
The older Melungeons insisted that they were Portuguese. I have known the Melungeons from childhood, when three families lived as tenants on my father's farm in Southwestern Virginia. Their children have been my pupils, and I have done first-hand research on their traits, customs, and past, but can give here only the proposed theories of their origin.
Mr. Crawford's research revealed that when John Sevier organized the state of Franklin (Tennessee) there was a colony of "dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people supposed to be of Moorish descent." They were neither Indians nor Negroes, but claimed to be Portuguese.
There is a doubtful theory that the Melungeon was a product of frontier warfare when white blood was fused with the Indian captor's and that of the Negro slave.
There also persist stories (that are recorded in history) that DeSoto visited Southwestern Virginia in the sixteenth century by way of a long chain of mountain leading into Tennessee. One ridge known as "Newman's Ridge" (which could have been "New Man's Ridge") was once the home of a teeming colony of Melungeons who were strongly believed to have descended from members of DeSoto's party lost or captured there.
In both Carolinas Melungeons were denied privileges usually granted to white people. For that reason many migrated to Tennessee where the courts ruled that they were not Negroes.
Traditions still persist that the Melungeons were descendants of the ancient Phoenicians who migrated from Carthage to Morocco, whenced they crossed the Atlantic before the American Revolution and settled in North Carolina. If this theory can be accepted, they were pure Carthaginians, and not a mixed race.
In weighing this last statement it is interesting to note that the Moors of Tennessee called themselves Portuguese, that the Moors of North Carolina came from Portugal, and that a generation ago the Melungeons called themselves Portuguese.
Yet there are factors that are puzzling in these assumptions. Such common surnames among them as Collins, Gipson (Gibson), Sexton, Bolen, Goins, and Mullens suggest no Phoenician background. And there is nothing about the word "ramp" to suggest a shy, usually inoffensive race of people. Neither is there any known reason for usage of the word "Melungeon" which is believed to have been derived from the French word "melange," meaning mixture.
The Melungeons were sometimes shy and reticent toward outlanders, but amiable with neighbors. They were loyal to their kin and employers. While they were fond of whiskey few were boisterous or malicious. I recall a story often told by my father, who was reared only a few miles from Newman's Ridge, about "Big Mahala Mullens" who lived on the Virginia-Tennessee state line. She grew so obese that she was unable to leave her house, and sat at the door all day selling whiskey to travelers. When she discovered the approach of revenue officials she waddled over to the Virginia side of her house if they approached from the Tennessee side, and vice versa if from Virginia. The act was probably unnecessary, since the authorities could not have removed her from the house. When Mahala died the chimney was torn away in order that she could be removed for burial.
Practically all Melungeons preferred a care-free existence with members of their own clan. For many generations they seldom married outsiders, and virtually all families in each area were related. Nearly all Melungeons, young and old chewed tobacco. They lived largely on bacon, corn pone, mush, and strong coffee. In early spring they gathered "crow's foot" from the woodlands, and "bear's lettuce" from spring branches, and ate them raw with salt. They liked wild fruits and berries to eat from the bush, but cared nothing for canning and preserving them. The holiday for Melungeon men was a week in late summer, after the crops were laid by, to be used for a ginseng expedition. No camping equipment was taken along except a water pail, knives, and a frying pan. They slept under the cliffs.
No fisherman could compete with the Melungeons. He simply waded into the stream, shoes and all, and searched with his fingers for fish hiding under stones. It no time he emerged with a nice string of fish.
Theirs was a hardy race, and seldom did they rely on a doctor. They applied many home remedies for injuries and brewed herb teas. Childbirth was a casual matter, usually attended by mountain midwife. Babies, as a rule, grew and thrived without any pretense of comfort or sanitation.
Their religion was of the simple Protestant type. They often attended their neighbors' churches, and occasionally had a patriarch-preacher in their group. They learned some of the old ballads and gospel songs from memory, for few of them could read or write. They accepted attendance at school, in most cases, an "unnecessary evil." Church picnics were always attended by Melungeon boys, but my mother once had a difficult time persuading young Willie that he must have a bath and wear a suit in order to participate in a children's day program. So he appeared, grinning broadly, in my brother's hand-me-down.
Then came industry to the Appalachians - coal, timbering, and railroads. The change was slow. World War I drew Melungeons into industry as well as military service. Coal towns grew up rapidly, and the Melungeon, like other tenant farmers, loaded up his few belongings on a wagon and headed for the "public works." A few remained behind and bought little hillside farms. For some reason their number appears to have decreased sharply in the past three decades, probably a result of long intermarriage, or perhaps many have been lost in white blood. Soon they may become just a legend - a lost race.
Ohio Valley Folk Research Project.
Publications released in 1960 as of June 15, 1960. (1) "Sage's Purple Passon" by Ben Hayes, New Series No. 37 (2) "Hair Balls and the Witch" by Melissa Hughes, New Series No. 38 (3) "Uncle Remus in Syracuse" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series No. 39 (4) "Hewitt, the Hermit" by James Emmitt, New Series No. 40 (5) "Tobacco Folklore" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series, No. 41 (6) "Ox, Capon and the Hare" by Yancy Yadkin, New Series, No. 42 (7) "Hugh Mosher, the Fifer" by Robert L. Walden, New Series, No. 43 (8) "Control of Grasshoppers" by Raymond Embree, New Series, No. 44 (9) "The Lost Silver Mine" by Dr. Carl R. Bogardus, New Series No. 45 (10) "Hog Drive to Evansville, 1879" by Elmer S. Elliott, New Series No. 46 (11) "Johnny Appleseed" by Rosella Rice, New Series, No. 47 (12) "Squirrel Broth" by Merrill C. Gilfillan, New Series, No. 48; (13) "The Undertaker's Revenge," by Jean Dow, New Series, No. 49 (14) "The Jackson County Madstones" by Dr. Gwyn Parry, New Series No. 50. (15) "The Feast of Rosea" by Adlyn Keffer, New Series, No. 51 (16) "Song, Legend of PA and WV" by Keysner and Whiting, New Series, No. 52 (17) "Lazy Tom" by Ellen Margolis, New Series No. 53 (18) "The Story of Nelson T. Gant" by Norris F. Schneider, New Series, No. 54 (19) "The Big Blow" by Laessle Bemis, New Series, No. 55)
The Melungeons
By Bonnie Ball
A generation ago census records of certain mountainous counties of Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Carolina, and others proved somewhat confusing. This was due to the presence of a strange group of people whose origin was, and has remained, one of the deepest and most fascinating mysteries of American ethnology.
The "Melungeons" who were called "ramps" in certain areas by their neighbors, have characteristics that range from those of the whites and American Indians to Orientals or Negroes. This variation prevented a definite race classification, and has also given rise to numerous theories concerning their origin.
Some had dark, oily skin, kinky hair, upturned noses and dark stoic eyes. Others, even in the same family had coarse bronzed skin, with straight black hair. Still others, close relatives, differed little from their white neighbors, perhaps having brown or light, fuzzy hair, fair or medium skin, and dark blue or gray eyes. Then there were others among them that had smooth, yellowish skin, curly brown or black hair, and dreamy, almost Oriental eyes.
It would be impossible to make any accurate estimate of how many such people were scattered throughout the mountains of the Southern Appalachians, but it can be assumed that their number fifty years ago would have run into at least five digits.
According to Bruce Crawford, a former newspaperman, and leading student of ethnology of the Appalachian area, the Melungeons were officially recognized about 1887 and given a separate legal existence under the title of "Croatan Indians" on the theory of their descent from Raleigh's Lost Colony of Roanoke Island (North Carolina), a convenient means of disposal, but hardly satisfying to the inquisitive historian.
The older Melungeons insisted that they were Portuguese. I have known the Melungeons from childhood, when three families lived as tenants on my father's farm in Southwestern Virginia. Their children have been my pupils, and I have done first-hand research on their traits, customs, and past, but can give here only the proposed theories of their origin.
Mr. Crawford's research revealed that when John Sevier organized the state of Franklin (Tennessee) there was a colony of "dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people supposed to be of Moorish descent." They were neither Indians nor Negroes, but claimed to be Portuguese.
There is a doubtful theory that the Melungeon was a product of frontier warfare when white blood was fused with the Indian captor's and that of the Negro slave.
There also persist stories (that are recorded in history) that DeSoto visited Southwestern Virginia in the sixteenth century by way of a long chain of mountain leading into Tennessee. One ridge known as "Newman's Ridge" (which could have been "New Man's Ridge") was once the home of a teeming colony of Melungeons who were strongly believed to have descended from members of DeSoto's party lost or captured there.
In both Carolinas Melungeons were denied privileges usually granted to white people. For that reason many migrated to Tennessee where the courts ruled that they were not Negroes.
Traditions still persist that the Melungeons were descendants of the ancient Phoenicians who migrated from Carthage to Morocco, whenced they crossed the Atlantic before the American Revolution and settled in North Carolina. If this theory can be accepted, they were pure Carthaginians, and not a mixed race.
In weighing this last statement it is interesting to note that the Moors of Tennessee called themselves Portuguese, that the Moors of North Carolina came from Portugal, and that a generation ago the Melungeons called themselves Portuguese.
Yet there are factors that are puzzling in these assumptions. Such common surnames among them as Collins, Gipson (Gibson), Sexton, Bolen, Goins, and Mullens suggest no Phoenician background. And there is nothing about the word "ramp" to suggest a shy, usually inoffensive race of people. Neither is there any known reason for usage of the word "Melungeon" which is believed to have been derived from the French word "melange," meaning mixture.
The Melungeons were sometimes shy and reticent toward outlanders, but amiable with neighbors. They were loyal to their kin and employers. While they were fond of whiskey few were boisterous or malicious. I recall a story often told by my father, who was reared only a few miles from Newman's Ridge, about "Big Mahala Mullens" who lived on the Virginia-Tennessee state line. She grew so obese that she was unable to leave her house, and sat at the door all day selling whiskey to travelers. When she discovered the approach of revenue officials she waddled over to the Virginia side of her house if they approached from the Tennessee side, and vice versa if from Virginia. The act was probably unnecessary, since the authorities could not have removed her from the house. When Mahala died the chimney was torn away in order that she could be removed for burial.
Practically all Melungeons preferred a care-free existence with members of their own clan. For many generations they seldom married outsiders, and virtually all families in each area were related. Nearly all Melungeons, young and old chewed tobacco. They lived largely on bacon, corn pone, mush, and strong coffee. In early spring they gathered "crow's foot" from the woodlands, and "bear's lettuce" from spring branches, and ate them raw with salt. They liked wild fruits and berries to eat from the bush, but cared nothing for canning and preserving them. The holiday for Melungeon men was a week in late summer, after the crops were laid by, to be used for a ginseng expedition. No camping equipment was taken along except a water pail, knives, and a frying pan. They slept under the cliffs.
No fisherman could compete with the Melungeons. He simply waded into the stream, shoes and all, and searched with his fingers for fish hiding under stones. It no time he emerged with a nice string of fish.
Theirs was a hardy race, and seldom did they rely on a doctor. They applied many home remedies for injuries and brewed herb teas. Childbirth was a casual matter, usually attended by mountain midwife. Babies, as a rule, grew and thrived without any pretense of comfort or sanitation.
Their religion was of the simple Protestant type. They often attended their neighbors' churches, and occasionally had a patriarch-preacher in their group. They learned some of the old ballads and gospel songs from memory, for few of them could read or write. They accepted attendance at school, in most cases, an "unnecessary evil." Church picnics were always attended by Melungeon boys, but my mother once had a difficult time persuading young Willie that he must have a bath and wear a suit in order to participate in a children's day program. So he appeared, grinning broadly, in my brother's hand-me-down.
Then came industry to the Appalachians - coal, timbering, and railroads. The change was slow. World War I drew Melungeons into industry as well as military service. Coal towns grew up rapidly, and the Melungeon, like other tenant farmers, loaded up his few belongings on a wagon and headed for the "public works." A few remained behind and bought little hillside farms. For some reason their number appears to have decreased sharply in the past three decades, probably a result of long intermarriage, or perhaps many have been lost in white blood. Soon they may become just a legend - a lost race.
Ohio Valley Folk Research Project.
Publications released in 1960 as of June 15, 1960. (1) "Sage's Purple Passon" by Ben Hayes, New Series No. 37 (2) "Hair Balls and the Witch" by Melissa Hughes, New Series No. 38 (3) "Uncle Remus in Syracuse" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series No. 39 (4) "Hewitt, the Hermit" by James Emmitt, New Series No. 40 (5) "Tobacco Folklore" by Lawrence S. Thompson, New Series, No. 41 (6) "Ox, Capon and the Hare" by Yancy Yadkin, New Series, No. 42 (7) "Hugh Mosher, the Fifer" by Robert L. Walden, New Series, No. 43 (8) "Control of Grasshoppers" by Raymond Embree, New Series, No. 44 (9) "The Lost Silver Mine" by Dr. Carl R. Bogardus, New Series No. 45 (10) "Hog Drive to Evansville, 1879" by Elmer S. Elliott, New Series No. 46 (11) "Johnny Appleseed" by Rosella Rice, New Series, No. 47 (12) "Squirrel Broth" by Merrill C. Gilfillan, New Series, No. 48; (13) "The Undertaker's Revenge," by Jean Dow, New Series, No. 49 (14) "The Jackson County Madstones" by Dr. Gwyn Parry, New Series No. 50. (15) "The Feast of Rosea" by Adlyn Keffer, New Series, No. 51 (16) "Song, Legend of PA and WV" by Keysner and Whiting, New Series, No. 52 (17) "Lazy Tom" by Ellen Margolis, New Series No. 53 (18) "The Story of Nelson T. Gant" by Norris F. Schneider, New Series, No. 54 (19) "The Big Blow" by Laessle Bemis, New Series, No. 55)
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Melungeons and the Underground Railroad
Melungeons and the Underground Railroad
By Henry Robert Burke
The Melungeon sub-culture has contributed greatly to
Appalachian and American Culture in many ways. Now that DNA
analysis is establishing who Melungeons were/are, I feel
induced to tell the significant role that Melungeons served
in creating and operating the Underground Railroad Movement
in the United States. The Underground Railroad began during
the early period of slavery, when the first slave received
help in his effort to escape from slavery. Sometime between
1793 and 1815, the Underground Railroad became organized and
eventually helped thousands of fugitive slaves from the
South make their way to freedom in Canada and places
outside the jurisdiction of U.S. Fugitive Slave Laws.
Dr. Brent Kennedy, a genuine Melungeon and founder of the
Melungeon Movement, eloquently stated his pride in a
statement issued at the completion of the first DNA
analysis, in which he furnished a blood sample for testing.
He said in effect that his DNA shows various percentages
European, Native American, Northern India (Gypsy) and
African genes. He feels that DNA analysis of other
Melungeons will show similar results. Dr. Kennedy concluded
his statement expressing his pride for being connected to
all the people of this World! Dr. Kennedy and all Melungeons
should feel proud of the contributions that their Melungeons
ancestors have made to the cause of freedom.
During the Slavery Era, the mobility of black people in the
United States was very limited. Laws were enacted not only
to protect slave owners from loss or their human property,
but to prevent slave insurrections. While there always a few
free blacks, they were, for the most part ineffectual in
moving about freely. Black people could easily be identified
and restricted because of their dark skin and Negro
features. Across the entire United States, there were
countless local, state and/or federal laws that restricted
the movements and activities Negroes slave or free. This
made it impossibe for blacks to travel long distances to
establish and maintain the crucial communications to
operate the Underground Railroad.
Legalizing the enslavement of black people from Africa began
in Massachusetts in 1640 and in Virginia around 1661, but it
took until 1700 before Africans completely replaced
indentured servants as the main labor force on tobacco
plantations in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Many
Gypsy people had been purposely rounded up and arrested all
over England other parts of Europe, and transported to the
English Colonies, many ending up in Maryland, Virginia, and
North Carolina to serve indentures on tobacco plantations.
Unlike white European indentured servants, most Gypsies were
assigned to the hard grueling labor, that eventually became
the work of slaves. While some history of Gypsy people is
very well documented, records of the harsh treatment
accorded them as indentured servants on the tobacco
plantations is not! The accounts are scanty and often not
well explained, but enough historical evidence exists to
verify that Gypsy indentured servants were often treated so
bad, they died before completing their term of indenture.
Many Melungeons look like well tanned white people.
Typically Melungeons are tall people with straight hair and
European features. There was one very important difference
that distinguished Melungeons from ordinary white people.
Because of the treatment they received as indentured
servants and other forms of social discrimination they had
endured, Melungeons hated slavery!
When their terms of indenture were completed, Melungeons
moved out to live on the outward fringes of the advancing
frontier. These were places that naturally attracted
fugitive slaves. Melungeons, who were already established on
the frontier sympathized with fugitive slaves as well as
Indians. Melungeons could and did travel freely on the
American frontier. From experience they know routes that
could lead fugitive slaves to freedom. Melungeons felt
compelled to help fugitive slaves.
After the American Revolutionary War, western expansion
began along and across the Ohio River. Melungeons were
already scattered across the mountainous regions of western
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. They already had
experienced helping fugitive slaves. When the northern
states abolished slavery between 1777 and 1803 the
Mason-Dixon Line became the boundary between the Northern
states where slavery was illegal and the Southern States
where slavery was legal.
In the North, white abolitionists joined Melungeons living
north of the Ohio River and organized the Underground
Railroad, but the Melungeon influence reached far back into
slave states like Virginia. The slave culture was so
entrenched in the South that it would have been practically
impossible for fugitive slaves to escape and make it to the
Northern States without the help of Melungeons.
Melungeons in the North maintained communications with their
relatives in the South. Using this line of communications,
Melungeons in the South provided a crucial service by
passing fugitive slaves from one Underground Railroad
station to the next!
Melungeons living in the North along the Ohio River
continued this activity but were eventually joined by
increasing numbers of free blacks and white abolitionists.
The Underground Railroad continued to gain momentum right up
until the American Civil War began. To cap off their effort
for freedom, many Melungeons joined the Union Forces and
fought in the Civil War.
I encourage Melungeons to examine your family histories
closely. I am sure that you will find that your ancestors
worked on the Underground Railroad!
By Henry Robert Burke
The Melungeon sub-culture has contributed greatly to
Appalachian and American Culture in many ways. Now that DNA
analysis is establishing who Melungeons were/are, I feel
induced to tell the significant role that Melungeons served
in creating and operating the Underground Railroad Movement
in the United States. The Underground Railroad began during
the early period of slavery, when the first slave received
help in his effort to escape from slavery. Sometime between
1793 and 1815, the Underground Railroad became organized and
eventually helped thousands of fugitive slaves from the
South make their way to freedom in Canada and places
outside the jurisdiction of U.S. Fugitive Slave Laws.
Dr. Brent Kennedy, a genuine Melungeon and founder of the
Melungeon Movement, eloquently stated his pride in a
statement issued at the completion of the first DNA
analysis, in which he furnished a blood sample for testing.
He said in effect that his DNA shows various percentages
European, Native American, Northern India (Gypsy) and
African genes. He feels that DNA analysis of other
Melungeons will show similar results. Dr. Kennedy concluded
his statement expressing his pride for being connected to
all the people of this World! Dr. Kennedy and all Melungeons
should feel proud of the contributions that their Melungeons
ancestors have made to the cause of freedom.
During the Slavery Era, the mobility of black people in the
United States was very limited. Laws were enacted not only
to protect slave owners from loss or their human property,
but to prevent slave insurrections. While there always a few
free blacks, they were, for the most part ineffectual in
moving about freely. Black people could easily be identified
and restricted because of their dark skin and Negro
features. Across the entire United States, there were
countless local, state and/or federal laws that restricted
the movements and activities Negroes slave or free. This
made it impossibe for blacks to travel long distances to
establish and maintain the crucial communications to
operate the Underground Railroad.
Legalizing the enslavement of black people from Africa began
in Massachusetts in 1640 and in Virginia around 1661, but it
took until 1700 before Africans completely replaced
indentured servants as the main labor force on tobacco
plantations in Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. Many
Gypsy people had been purposely rounded up and arrested all
over England other parts of Europe, and transported to the
English Colonies, many ending up in Maryland, Virginia, and
North Carolina to serve indentures on tobacco plantations.
Unlike white European indentured servants, most Gypsies were
assigned to the hard grueling labor, that eventually became
the work of slaves. While some history of Gypsy people is
very well documented, records of the harsh treatment
accorded them as indentured servants on the tobacco
plantations is not! The accounts are scanty and often not
well explained, but enough historical evidence exists to
verify that Gypsy indentured servants were often treated so
bad, they died before completing their term of indenture.
Many Melungeons look like well tanned white people.
Typically Melungeons are tall people with straight hair and
European features. There was one very important difference
that distinguished Melungeons from ordinary white people.
Because of the treatment they received as indentured
servants and other forms of social discrimination they had
endured, Melungeons hated slavery!
When their terms of indenture were completed, Melungeons
moved out to live on the outward fringes of the advancing
frontier. These were places that naturally attracted
fugitive slaves. Melungeons, who were already established on
the frontier sympathized with fugitive slaves as well as
Indians. Melungeons could and did travel freely on the
American frontier. From experience they know routes that
could lead fugitive slaves to freedom. Melungeons felt
compelled to help fugitive slaves.
After the American Revolutionary War, western expansion
began along and across the Ohio River. Melungeons were
already scattered across the mountainous regions of western
Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. They already had
experienced helping fugitive slaves. When the northern
states abolished slavery between 1777 and 1803 the
Mason-Dixon Line became the boundary between the Northern
states where slavery was illegal and the Southern States
where slavery was legal.
In the North, white abolitionists joined Melungeons living
north of the Ohio River and organized the Underground
Railroad, but the Melungeon influence reached far back into
slave states like Virginia. The slave culture was so
entrenched in the South that it would have been practically
impossible for fugitive slaves to escape and make it to the
Northern States without the help of Melungeons.
Melungeons in the North maintained communications with their
relatives in the South. Using this line of communications,
Melungeons in the South provided a crucial service by
passing fugitive slaves from one Underground Railroad
station to the next!
Melungeons living in the North along the Ohio River
continued this activity but were eventually joined by
increasing numbers of free blacks and white abolitionists.
The Underground Railroad continued to gain momentum right up
until the American Civil War began. To cap off their effort
for freedom, many Melungeons joined the Union Forces and
fought in the Civil War.
I encourage Melungeons to examine your family histories
closely. I am sure that you will find that your ancestors
worked on the Underground Railroad!
Barbados Link May Provide "Smoking Gun" Clue to Melungeon Surnames
Barbados Link May Provide "Smoking Gun" Clue to Melungeon Surnames
(with permission of the author)
Melungeon ancestry possibilities have expanded to include significant numbers of "English" and "Scotch" settlers who came to South Carolina in the late 1600s and early 1700s, but not from England. Although these people held English citizenship, their actual ethnic make-up was far different from the prototype Anglos of that period. These settlers were from Barbados, ethnically mixed people seeking better lives in the mainland colonies.
These so-called "freedmen" tended to be a mixture of English and Scotch, native Barbadians (i.e. Indian), Portuguese Jews, other Mediterranean people, and Africans. And, most telling, their surnames match those English names that most commonly show up among the earliest Melungeon populations. It would seem likely that, over time, these ethnically mixed "Englishmen" would have indeed moved northward and admixed with Melungeon ancestral groups in the Carolinas and Virginia. There are many related documents detailing the movements of these early settlers, but one will suffice for this first announcement (this document kindly provided by Angela Andrews of the University of Virginia). John Camden Hotten's work on the Barbados settlers provides the following astonishing surname list of "English" settlers from Barbados: (see below for Library of Congress citations)
Freedman
Clark
Hall
Kennedy
Phipps
Portuguese Jews
Atkins
Cole
Isham
Miner
Sizemore
Prisoners
Adams
Atkins
Bennett
Collins
Cooke
Cox
Crow
Dale
Denham
Dennis
Dyer
Greene
Hall
Hill
Hillman
Lockbeare (Lockleare)
Moore
Mullins
Nash
Osborne
Reeves
Weaver
White
Williams
Willis
These surnames are virtually a directory of Melungeon surnames, and can potentially play a major role in demonstrating how specific English and Scotch-Irish names popped up among the various Melungeon populations. It also reaffirms how the official U.S. census records can be misleading regarding race, ethnicity, and actual origin. These people were all legitimate "English" and "Scotch-Irish" settlers, and would have passed this heritage along to their offspring. But ethnically they were of mixed European, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African origin. One more lesson in the flaws of unquestionably accepting the written census record as "fact."
Additional data relating to the possible Barbados connection will be posted in the near future, but hopefully this first post will spur others to look more carefully as the often mentioned "West Indies" connection within their families.
Provided by Brent Kennedy
December 2, 1997
(with permission of the author)
Melungeon ancestry possibilities have expanded to include significant numbers of "English" and "Scotch" settlers who came to South Carolina in the late 1600s and early 1700s, but not from England. Although these people held English citizenship, their actual ethnic make-up was far different from the prototype Anglos of that period. These settlers were from Barbados, ethnically mixed people seeking better lives in the mainland colonies.
These so-called "freedmen" tended to be a mixture of English and Scotch, native Barbadians (i.e. Indian), Portuguese Jews, other Mediterranean people, and Africans. And, most telling, their surnames match those English names that most commonly show up among the earliest Melungeon populations. It would seem likely that, over time, these ethnically mixed "Englishmen" would have indeed moved northward and admixed with Melungeon ancestral groups in the Carolinas and Virginia. There are many related documents detailing the movements of these early settlers, but one will suffice for this first announcement (this document kindly provided by Angela Andrews of the University of Virginia). John Camden Hotten's work on the Barbados settlers provides the following astonishing surname list of "English" settlers from Barbados: (see below for Library of Congress citations)
Freedman
Clark
Hall
Kennedy
Phipps
Portuguese Jews
Atkins
Cole
Isham
Miner
Sizemore
Prisoners
Adams
Atkins
Bennett
Collins
Cooke
Cox
Crow
Dale
Denham
Dennis
Dyer
Greene
Hall
Hill
Hillman
Lockbeare (Lockleare)
Moore
Mullins
Nash
Osborne
Reeves
Weaver
White
Williams
Willis
These surnames are virtually a directory of Melungeon surnames, and can potentially play a major role in demonstrating how specific English and Scotch-Irish names popped up among the various Melungeon populations. It also reaffirms how the official U.S. census records can be misleading regarding race, ethnicity, and actual origin. These people were all legitimate "English" and "Scotch-Irish" settlers, and would have passed this heritage along to their offspring. But ethnically they were of mixed European, Middle Eastern, Indian, and African origin. One more lesson in the flaws of unquestionably accepting the written census record as "fact."
Additional data relating to the possible Barbados connection will be posted in the near future, but hopefully this first post will spur others to look more carefully as the often mentioned "West Indies" connection within their families.
Provided by Brent Kennedy
December 2, 1997
The Indian Ancestry of the Melungeons
The Indian Ancestry of the Melungeons
A Summary of the Lecture Delivered Before the
Melungeon Heritage Association 2000 – 2006 Regarding the
Indian Ancestry of the East Tennessee Melungeons
James H. Nickens
Virginia Indian Historical Society
Melungeon Heritage Association
Mid-Atlantic Native American Researchers
Sixth Union
June 8-10, 2006
Kingsport, Tennessee
Introduction
My first encounter with the Melungeons was through a daily newspaper. The reference was to a mysterious people living in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, a historic people of unknown origin. Until then I had never heard the word Melungeon. A trip to the Bull Run Library in Manassas, Virginia produced a copy of a book about Melungeons written by Brent Kennedy. To my astonishment I found the name Niccans (Nickens) listed by Kennedy as a Tennessee Melungeon surname.
In late October of that same year I received a call originating from the Meherrin Tribal Pow Wow in Winton, North Carolina. Rose Powhatan, a cousin from the Pamunkey Tribe of my Gr Gr Grandfather, had met a dancer there who was a Tennessee Indian Commissioner by the name of James Nickens. Rose was certain that James and I were related, and stated that “from the looks of you two, you have got to be cousins”.
That night I received a call from James, better known as Eddie, and the Tennessee connection was made. Later conversation with Eddie’s father, Thomas Nickens, revealed that his ancestors were of the Meherrin Tribe, who in Tennessee had called themselves “Portagee” since the time that Indian removal was threatened in the 1830’s. At that time, an ugly but popular component of American thought was that the only good Indian was a dead Indian.
Thomas gave me the address of a Florida cousin, Dr. Carolyn Nickens , an anthropologist by training. In a letter of December 29, 1999, Dr. Nickens related an incident which had taken place about 15 years earlier, when she accompanied a Collins descendant to Sneedville, Tennessee on a heritage quest. There they met “a very old man whose name was Bill Grohse”. To Carolyn’s surprise, Grohse stated “You do know that Nickens is a Melungeon name.”
Until that time, The Virginia Indian Historical Society had devoted its efforts to the genealogical tracking of a close kinship group from the Jamestown era Rappahannock Indian Nation to the old Cuttatawomen Indian Town, and thence to the Meherrin, Chowanoke, and Nansemond Tribes, with earlier links to the Lower Cherokee and the Shawnee of Winchester, and later links to the Catawba, Pamunkey, Tuscarora, and the supposedly “extinct” Nanzatico and Chiskiack people. With the letter from Carolyn Nickens, our attentions took a sharp turn to the west into the great state of Tennessee, home of the Melungeons.
Tennessee was a lay-over point in the migration of coastal Indian people to the western Indian Nations. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, migrants from east of the Appalachian Mountains pushed westward into contested Indian Lands. The new United States Government erected The Territory of the United States Southwest of the Ohio River. Revolutionary war veterans were encouraged to settle these territorial lands. Much of this territory today lies in the state of Tennessee.
Among the pioneers were specific Indian descendants of specific colonial era tribes of Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Many were patriots in the American Revolutionary cause. Others had good reason to see the colonials as their true enemy, and supported the King by default. It is no accident that the names Bass, Collins, Gibson, Hart, Minor, Riddle, and Sizemore are prominent among the Tories, Loyalist, and North Carolina Regulators.
These citizen Indian migrants came in kinship groups, acquired land, established farms, and raised families. One such group settled a remote area in the mountains of East Tennessee. These were reputed to have been “the friendly Indians who came with the whites as they moved west”, and who had helped to build Fort Blackmore.
Over time these settlers were joined by and intermarried with other migrants from the east. The citizens of this distinctive community came to be recognizable by their relatively darker skin tone and unexplained exotic physical features. Local whites noted the unique nature of this community and gave a name to the swarthy mountain people – Melungeons .
The ethnic identity and origins of the Melungeon people have perplexed investigators of every stripe for more than a century. Imaginative theories have suggested Phoenician, Carthaginian, Portuguese, Turkish, and early Welsh origins. Others believed the Melungeons were a lost tribe of Israel or survivors of the Roanoke Colony. Speculation grew that Melungeons were descended from Spanish explorers, shipwrecked Portuguese sailors, or Turkish Pirates. Court cases established Melungeon as a distinct yet problematic racial identity - that of a relatively dark mountain people formerly classified as Free People of Color but later reclassified as white. Melungeons thus became the stuff of legend.
The earliest responsible first hand accounts are consistent in identifying the Melungeon patriarchs as the Indians Vardeman Collins and Sheppard Gibson. Among later migrants were descendants of “Gowin the Indian“ of York County, Virginia. Many and varied physical descriptions have been recorded of the Melungeons. Among those recorded descriptions are “Indian “, “not as dark as the Indian “, and “a race of light skinned Indians”. Note was later made of a dark skinned exotic strain with straight black hair, further adding to the Melungeon mystery. This strain has proven to be of particular interest, opening a new chapter of Melungeon Lore.
Nevertheless, the recurrent theme in Melungeon lore has been that of Indian ancestry. It is this aspect of the Melungeons which commands the attention of the Virginia Indian Historical society. Cherokee ancestry has generally presumed by the Melungeon people, and may indeed be true even if undocumented. Various investigators have stated that the Melungeons of east Tennessee were Saponi Indians, or were descendants of Powhatan tribes. It is, however, the Tuscarora and Catawba who supply recorded links to the east Tennessee Melungeon population. It is here that genealogy provides answers that have eluded historians.
The systematic investigation of the Melungeons began by lumping the Melungeons with a variety of so-called mystery people, populations which fell outside of the white-black-mulatto racial construct. The term Tri-Racial Isolates was adopted in reference to these aloof rogue elements of American society. The uninformed assumption was made that these populations were some ill defined mixture of the perceived races, presumably Indian, white and Negro.
The conclusions of the Tri-Racial Isolate theorists are marred in four critical areas:
1. Lack of sufficient knowledge of Indian history
2. Lack of familiarity with Indian genealogy
4. Failure to identify Indian people outside of a historical tribal context
3. A race driven paradigm which ignores ethnicity
In short – Insufficient Research.
Minimal genealogical effort and research into Indian history would have clearly identified the so-called Lassiter Tribe as Chowanoke Indians. These same Chowanokes, who settled among the Alabama Choctaw in Mobile and Washington Counties, Alabama were called Cajans by tri- racial isolate proponents. They are still there among the Choctaw. Meherrin, Nottoway, and Tuscarora migrants were called Redbones in Louisiana.
In fairness to Tri-racial isolate theorist, it should be noted that the research upon which their theories were based occurred in a timeframe which predated the information age. The information disseminating power of the internet is not to be understated.
Genealogical examination of colonial records has demonstrated that not one single group in the south, formerly termed a Tri-racial Isolate group, is composed of only Indian, white, and Negro components. Most, if not all, have been shown to include the descendants of seventeenth century East Indian and Gypsy ( Rom ) Virginians. These are not new findings discovered in some obscure archaic source. This information has been available to the Virginia public for more than two hundred years, ignored by scholars who apparently preferred an American history composed only of white, slave, and free “African American“ components. Such a “preferred history” ignores the diverse ethnic fabric of colonial America, and disposes of Indian people in favor of a simple race-driven black-white social construct.
Given that those populations previously referred to as Tri-racial Isolates have been proven to be neither tri-racial nor isolated, it is the considered opinion of this investigator that Complex Ethnic Populations be coined as the more accurate and appropriate descriptor. It should be noted that each Complex Ethnic Population has an ancestry and history unique to that group.
The Melungeon Genesis lecture series is presented as an historical road map to the origins of the Melungeon people of East Tennessee. The genealogical focus is placed upon the Collins, Gibson, Gibson, and Goins families. Several aspects of American ethno history have been chosen for presentation in this series. These topics have been selected because of their historical importance bearing on the evolution of the Melungeon people. The narrow focus of this series is directed upon that Melungeon population in the environs of Newman’s Ridge in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee. Melungeon Genesis is an evolving and ongoing effort.
A Summary of the Lecture Delivered Before the
Melungeon Heritage Association 2000 – 2006 Regarding the
Indian Ancestry of the East Tennessee Melungeons
James H. Nickens
Virginia Indian Historical Society
Melungeon Heritage Association
Mid-Atlantic Native American Researchers
Sixth Union
June 8-10, 2006
Kingsport, Tennessee
Introduction
My first encounter with the Melungeons was through a daily newspaper. The reference was to a mysterious people living in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee, a historic people of unknown origin. Until then I had never heard the word Melungeon. A trip to the Bull Run Library in Manassas, Virginia produced a copy of a book about Melungeons written by Brent Kennedy. To my astonishment I found the name Niccans (Nickens) listed by Kennedy as a Tennessee Melungeon surname.
In late October of that same year I received a call originating from the Meherrin Tribal Pow Wow in Winton, North Carolina. Rose Powhatan, a cousin from the Pamunkey Tribe of my Gr Gr Grandfather, had met a dancer there who was a Tennessee Indian Commissioner by the name of James Nickens. Rose was certain that James and I were related, and stated that “from the looks of you two, you have got to be cousins”.
That night I received a call from James, better known as Eddie, and the Tennessee connection was made. Later conversation with Eddie’s father, Thomas Nickens, revealed that his ancestors were of the Meherrin Tribe, who in Tennessee had called themselves “Portagee” since the time that Indian removal was threatened in the 1830’s. At that time, an ugly but popular component of American thought was that the only good Indian was a dead Indian.
Thomas gave me the address of a Florida cousin, Dr. Carolyn Nickens , an anthropologist by training. In a letter of December 29, 1999, Dr. Nickens related an incident which had taken place about 15 years earlier, when she accompanied a Collins descendant to Sneedville, Tennessee on a heritage quest. There they met “a very old man whose name was Bill Grohse”. To Carolyn’s surprise, Grohse stated “You do know that Nickens is a Melungeon name.”
Until that time, The Virginia Indian Historical Society had devoted its efforts to the genealogical tracking of a close kinship group from the Jamestown era Rappahannock Indian Nation to the old Cuttatawomen Indian Town, and thence to the Meherrin, Chowanoke, and Nansemond Tribes, with earlier links to the Lower Cherokee and the Shawnee of Winchester, and later links to the Catawba, Pamunkey, Tuscarora, and the supposedly “extinct” Nanzatico and Chiskiack people. With the letter from Carolyn Nickens, our attentions took a sharp turn to the west into the great state of Tennessee, home of the Melungeons.
Tennessee was a lay-over point in the migration of coastal Indian people to the western Indian Nations. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, migrants from east of the Appalachian Mountains pushed westward into contested Indian Lands. The new United States Government erected The Territory of the United States Southwest of the Ohio River. Revolutionary war veterans were encouraged to settle these territorial lands. Much of this territory today lies in the state of Tennessee.
Among the pioneers were specific Indian descendants of specific colonial era tribes of Maryland, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Many were patriots in the American Revolutionary cause. Others had good reason to see the colonials as their true enemy, and supported the King by default. It is no accident that the names Bass, Collins, Gibson, Hart, Minor, Riddle, and Sizemore are prominent among the Tories, Loyalist, and North Carolina Regulators.
These citizen Indian migrants came in kinship groups, acquired land, established farms, and raised families. One such group settled a remote area in the mountains of East Tennessee. These were reputed to have been “the friendly Indians who came with the whites as they moved west”, and who had helped to build Fort Blackmore.
Over time these settlers were joined by and intermarried with other migrants from the east. The citizens of this distinctive community came to be recognizable by their relatively darker skin tone and unexplained exotic physical features. Local whites noted the unique nature of this community and gave a name to the swarthy mountain people – Melungeons .
The ethnic identity and origins of the Melungeon people have perplexed investigators of every stripe for more than a century. Imaginative theories have suggested Phoenician, Carthaginian, Portuguese, Turkish, and early Welsh origins. Others believed the Melungeons were a lost tribe of Israel or survivors of the Roanoke Colony. Speculation grew that Melungeons were descended from Spanish explorers, shipwrecked Portuguese sailors, or Turkish Pirates. Court cases established Melungeon as a distinct yet problematic racial identity - that of a relatively dark mountain people formerly classified as Free People of Color but later reclassified as white. Melungeons thus became the stuff of legend.
The earliest responsible first hand accounts are consistent in identifying the Melungeon patriarchs as the Indians Vardeman Collins and Sheppard Gibson. Among later migrants were descendants of “Gowin the Indian“ of York County, Virginia. Many and varied physical descriptions have been recorded of the Melungeons. Among those recorded descriptions are “Indian “, “not as dark as the Indian “, and “a race of light skinned Indians”. Note was later made of a dark skinned exotic strain with straight black hair, further adding to the Melungeon mystery. This strain has proven to be of particular interest, opening a new chapter of Melungeon Lore.
Nevertheless, the recurrent theme in Melungeon lore has been that of Indian ancestry. It is this aspect of the Melungeons which commands the attention of the Virginia Indian Historical society. Cherokee ancestry has generally presumed by the Melungeon people, and may indeed be true even if undocumented. Various investigators have stated that the Melungeons of east Tennessee were Saponi Indians, or were descendants of Powhatan tribes. It is, however, the Tuscarora and Catawba who supply recorded links to the east Tennessee Melungeon population. It is here that genealogy provides answers that have eluded historians.
The systematic investigation of the Melungeons began by lumping the Melungeons with a variety of so-called mystery people, populations which fell outside of the white-black-mulatto racial construct. The term Tri-Racial Isolates was adopted in reference to these aloof rogue elements of American society. The uninformed assumption was made that these populations were some ill defined mixture of the perceived races, presumably Indian, white and Negro.
The conclusions of the Tri-Racial Isolate theorists are marred in four critical areas:
1. Lack of sufficient knowledge of Indian history
2. Lack of familiarity with Indian genealogy
4. Failure to identify Indian people outside of a historical tribal context
3. A race driven paradigm which ignores ethnicity
In short – Insufficient Research.
Minimal genealogical effort and research into Indian history would have clearly identified the so-called Lassiter Tribe as Chowanoke Indians. These same Chowanokes, who settled among the Alabama Choctaw in Mobile and Washington Counties, Alabama were called Cajans by tri- racial isolate proponents. They are still there among the Choctaw. Meherrin, Nottoway, and Tuscarora migrants were called Redbones in Louisiana.
In fairness to Tri-racial isolate theorist, it should be noted that the research upon which their theories were based occurred in a timeframe which predated the information age. The information disseminating power of the internet is not to be understated.
Genealogical examination of colonial records has demonstrated that not one single group in the south, formerly termed a Tri-racial Isolate group, is composed of only Indian, white, and Negro components. Most, if not all, have been shown to include the descendants of seventeenth century East Indian and Gypsy ( Rom ) Virginians. These are not new findings discovered in some obscure archaic source. This information has been available to the Virginia public for more than two hundred years, ignored by scholars who apparently preferred an American history composed only of white, slave, and free “African American“ components. Such a “preferred history” ignores the diverse ethnic fabric of colonial America, and disposes of Indian people in favor of a simple race-driven black-white social construct.
Given that those populations previously referred to as Tri-racial Isolates have been proven to be neither tri-racial nor isolated, it is the considered opinion of this investigator that Complex Ethnic Populations be coined as the more accurate and appropriate descriptor. It should be noted that each Complex Ethnic Population has an ancestry and history unique to that group.
The Melungeon Genesis lecture series is presented as an historical road map to the origins of the Melungeon people of East Tennessee. The genealogical focus is placed upon the Collins, Gibson, Gibson, and Goins families. Several aspects of American ethno history have been chosen for presentation in this series. These topics have been selected because of their historical importance bearing on the evolution of the Melungeon people. The narrow focus of this series is directed upon that Melungeon population in the environs of Newman’s Ridge in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Tennessee. Melungeon Genesis is an evolving and ongoing effort.
The surnames found on this page are some of those considered common amongst Melungeons and some of their 'cousin-groups' such as Red Bones, Carmel Indians of Ohio, the Guineas of WV, Turks and some Native American groups.
Not everyone with these names are Melungeon of course, and some Melungeon families will have other surnames because many Melungeon women 'out-married' carrying the genetics with them but not the surnames.
Not having one of these surnames in your lines, doesn't mean that you aren't Melungeon, just that you have found one of them YET!! :-)
COMMON MELUNGEON SURNAMES
Adams, Adkins, Allen, Allmond, Ashworth,
Barker, Barnes, Bass, Beckler, Bedgood, Bell, Bennett, Berry, Beverly, Biggs, Bolen/Bowlen/Bolling/Bowling, Boone, Bowman, Badby, Branham, Braveboy, Briger/Bridger, Brogan, Brooks, Brown, Bunch, Butler, Butters, Bullion, Burton, Buxton, Byrd,
Campell, Carrico, Carter, Casteel, Caudill, Chapman, Chavis, Clark, Cloud, Coal/Cole/Coles, Coffey, Coleman, Colley, Collier/Colyer, Collins, Collinsworth, Cook(e), Cooper, Cotman, Counts, Cox/Coxe, Criel, Croston, Crow, Cumba/Cumbo/Cumbow, Curry, Custalow,
Dalton, Dare, Davis, Denham, Dennis, Dial, Dorton, Doyle, Driggers, Dye, Dyess,
Ely, Epps, Evans, Fields, Freeman, French,
Gann, Garland, Gibbs, Gibson/Gipson, Goins/Goings, Gorvens, Gowan/Gowen, Graham, Green(e), Gwinn,
Hall, Hammon, Harmon, Harris, Harvie/Harvey, Hawkes, Hendricks/Hendrix, Hill, Hillman, Hogge, Holmes, Hopkins, Howe, Hyatt,
Jackson, James, Johnson, Jones,
Keith, Kennedy, Kiser,
Langston, Lasie, Lawson, Locklear, Lopes, Lowry, Lucas,
Maddox, Maggard, Major, Male/Mayle, Maloney, Marsh, Martin, Miles, Minard, Miner/Minor, Mizer, Moore, Morley, Mullins, Mursh,
Nash, Nelson, Newman, Niccans, Nickens (NA), Nichols, Noel, Norris,
Orr, Osborn/Osborne, Oxendine,
Page, Paine, Patterson, Perkins, Perry, Phelps, Phipps, Pinder, Polly, Powell, Powers, Pritchard, Pruitt,
Ramey, Rasnick, Reaves/Reeves, Revels, Richardson, Riddle, Roberson/Robertson/Robinson, Russell,
Sammons, Sampson, Sawyer, Scott, Sexton, Shavis, Shepherd/Shephard, Short, Sizemore, Smiling, Smith, Stallard, Stanley, Steel, Stevens, Stewart, Strother, Sweat/Swett, Swindall,
Tally, Taylor, Thompson, Tolliver, Tuppance, Turner,
Vanover, Vicars/Viccars/ Vickers,
Ware, Watts, Weaver, White, Whited, Wilkins, Williams, Williamson, Willis, Wisby, Wise, Wood, Wright, Wyatt, Wynn
Not everyone with these names are Melungeon of course, and some Melungeon families will have other surnames because many Melungeon women 'out-married' carrying the genetics with them but not the surnames.
Not having one of these surnames in your lines, doesn't mean that you aren't Melungeon, just that you have found one of them YET!! :-)
COMMON MELUNGEON SURNAMES
Adams, Adkins, Allen, Allmond, Ashworth,
Barker, Barnes, Bass, Beckler, Bedgood, Bell, Bennett, Berry, Beverly, Biggs, Bolen/Bowlen/Bolling/Bowling, Boone, Bowman, Badby, Branham, Braveboy, Briger/Bridger, Brogan, Brooks, Brown, Bunch, Butler, Butters, Bullion, Burton, Buxton, Byrd,
Campell, Carrico, Carter, Casteel, Caudill, Chapman, Chavis, Clark, Cloud, Coal/Cole/Coles, Coffey, Coleman, Colley, Collier/Colyer, Collins, Collinsworth, Cook(e), Cooper, Cotman, Counts, Cox/Coxe, Criel, Croston, Crow, Cumba/Cumbo/Cumbow, Curry, Custalow,
Dalton, Dare, Davis, Denham, Dennis, Dial, Dorton, Doyle, Driggers, Dye, Dyess,
Ely, Epps, Evans, Fields, Freeman, French,
Gann, Garland, Gibbs, Gibson/Gipson, Goins/Goings, Gorvens, Gowan/Gowen, Graham, Green(e), Gwinn,
Hall, Hammon, Harmon, Harris, Harvie/Harvey, Hawkes, Hendricks/Hendrix, Hill, Hillman, Hogge, Holmes, Hopkins, Howe, Hyatt,
Jackson, James, Johnson, Jones,
Keith, Kennedy, Kiser,
Langston, Lasie, Lawson, Locklear, Lopes, Lowry, Lucas,
Maddox, Maggard, Major, Male/Mayle, Maloney, Marsh, Martin, Miles, Minard, Miner/Minor, Mizer, Moore, Morley, Mullins, Mursh,
Nash, Nelson, Newman, Niccans, Nickens (NA), Nichols, Noel, Norris,
Orr, Osborn/Osborne, Oxendine,
Page, Paine, Patterson, Perkins, Perry, Phelps, Phipps, Pinder, Polly, Powell, Powers, Pritchard, Pruitt,
Ramey, Rasnick, Reaves/Reeves, Revels, Richardson, Riddle, Roberson/Robertson/Robinson, Russell,
Sammons, Sampson, Sawyer, Scott, Sexton, Shavis, Shepherd/Shephard, Short, Sizemore, Smiling, Smith, Stallard, Stanley, Steel, Stevens, Stewart, Strother, Sweat/Swett, Swindall,
Tally, Taylor, Thompson, Tolliver, Tuppance, Turner,
Vanover, Vicars/Viccars/ Vickers,
Ware, Watts, Weaver, White, Whited, Wilkins, Williams, Williamson, Willis, Wisby, Wise, Wood, Wright, Wyatt, Wynn
Who are the Melungeons Most Closely Related To?
Who are the Melungeons Most Closely Related To?
THE MELUNGEONS: THE PIONEERS of the INTERIOR SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 1526-1997
by Eloy J. Gallegos
On p. 80 of the above text, Eloy Gallegos provides a Table giving the Mean Measure of Divergence (MMD) of Melungeons from Other Populations taken from a 1990 study by James L. Guthrie.
Gallegos notes that he asked Dr. A. F. Gallegos to comment on this study to which Dr. Gallogos stated (p.79) that, “Overall, I believe the gene frequency approach taken to resolve Melungeon origins is the best available given the limited funding and time available for the project, however, it is equally important to support gene frequency studies with historical, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological information which might be obtained from the Melungeon group. "
He continued, "finally, a study of human values, traits of this group...etc, world-view, religious aspirations, motivational traits, eccentric and habitual behavior, and idiosyncrasies could be used in support of establishing Melungeon origins when compared to other world population groups.”
A perfect match meaning that a person is to be considered absolutely pure blooded, would equal 0.000. I believe that the most distant match indicating no connection whatsoever would be 0.999.
POPULATIONMMD
Close Matches:
Libya(Tripoli*)0.017
Cyprus (Toodos-Greek)0.017
Malta*0.018
Canary Islands (Spanish)0.019
Italy (Veneto)0.022
Portugal0.024
Italy (Trentino)0.026
Spain (Galacia)0.027
U. S. Whites (Minnesota)+0.028
Ireland#0.029
Italy0.030
Sweden0.030
Libya (minusFezzan)0.030
Germany0.031
Britain0.031
Greece0.032
Netherlands0.032
Wales0.033
Corsica0.034
France0.035
Spain0.036U.
S. Whites0.036
England0.040
Sicily0.040
Iceland0.041
Northern Ireland0.042
Finland0.046
Sardinia0.051
Turkey0.053
Cyprus0.058
U.S. Blacks0.189
Distant Matches:
Gullas (Blacks South Carolina)0.222
Seminole, Oklahoma0.241
Cherokee0.256
Seminole, Florida0.308
*
The Arab/Berber (Moorish) component of the Spanish/Portugese of today.
+Probably Swedes. Could reflect the Moorish in Swedes.
# Married into Melungeon families in the S. E. U. S. Does not include Northern Ireland.
In spite of the close corrolation between the Turks and the Melungeons, Gallegos, who is of Spanish/Portugese extraction, does not agree with Dr. N. Brent Kennedy on Melungeon origins. His book is aimed toward the Spanish/Portugese expeditions prior to the establishment of the English on the American continent in 1607. In the * above, he says that the Moorish component came through the Spanish/Portugese whose genes combined with the Moors, rather than from that group of people themselves.
THE MELUNGEONS: THE PIONEERS of the INTERIOR SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 1526-1997
by Eloy J. Gallegos
On p. 80 of the above text, Eloy Gallegos provides a Table giving the Mean Measure of Divergence (MMD) of Melungeons from Other Populations taken from a 1990 study by James L. Guthrie.
Gallegos notes that he asked Dr. A. F. Gallegos to comment on this study to which Dr. Gallogos stated (p.79) that, “Overall, I believe the gene frequency approach taken to resolve Melungeon origins is the best available given the limited funding and time available for the project, however, it is equally important to support gene frequency studies with historical, cultural, linguistic, and archaeological information which might be obtained from the Melungeon group. "
He continued, "finally, a study of human values, traits of this group...etc, world-view, religious aspirations, motivational traits, eccentric and habitual behavior, and idiosyncrasies could be used in support of establishing Melungeon origins when compared to other world population groups.”
A perfect match meaning that a person is to be considered absolutely pure blooded, would equal 0.000. I believe that the most distant match indicating no connection whatsoever would be 0.999.
POPULATIONMMD
Close Matches:
Libya(Tripoli*)0.017
Cyprus (Toodos-Greek)0.017
Malta*0.018
Canary Islands (Spanish)0.019
Italy (Veneto)0.022
Portugal0.024
Italy (Trentino)0.026
Spain (Galacia)0.027
U. S. Whites (Minnesota)+0.028
Ireland#0.029
Italy0.030
Sweden0.030
Libya (minusFezzan)0.030
Germany0.031
Britain0.031
Greece0.032
Netherlands0.032
Wales0.033
Corsica0.034
France0.035
Spain0.036U.
S. Whites0.036
England0.040
Sicily0.040
Iceland0.041
Northern Ireland0.042
Finland0.046
Sardinia0.051
Turkey0.053
Cyprus0.058
U.S. Blacks0.189
Distant Matches:
Gullas (Blacks South Carolina)0.222
Seminole, Oklahoma0.241
Cherokee0.256
Seminole, Florida0.308
*
The Arab/Berber (Moorish) component of the Spanish/Portugese of today.
+Probably Swedes. Could reflect the Moorish in Swedes.
# Married into Melungeon families in the S. E. U. S. Does not include Northern Ireland.
In spite of the close corrolation between the Turks and the Melungeons, Gallegos, who is of Spanish/Portugese extraction, does not agree with Dr. N. Brent Kennedy on Melungeon origins. His book is aimed toward the Spanish/Portugese expeditions prior to the establishment of the English on the American continent in 1607. In the * above, he says that the Moorish component came through the Spanish/Portugese whose genes combined with the Moors, rather than from that group of people themselves.
physical, behavioral, historical and genetic characteristics of Melungeons
This post was sent to our OLD Melungeon mailing list by Beth. I am placing it here for your perusal. It gives physical/behavorial characteristics etc of some Melungeon families:
Dear Melungeon Listers,
It would be very useful to have an operational definition of Melungeon
that met social science standards of validity, reliability and measurablity and
that was also compatible with the historic and current understandings of this
term.
As I view it, Melungeon refers to an Appalachian ethnic group with
distinct physical, behavioral, historical and genetic characteristics. These
characteristics served to set Melungeons apart from other peoples dwelling in
southeastern North America from the 1500's onward.
PHYSICALLY, Melungeons were distinct in appearance from the other major
ethnic groups familiar to persons living in the Southeastern United States
from 1500 onward.
Thus, they would have had observable physical features which served to set
them apart from those whose ancestry was primarily sub-Saharan African, Native
American, or Northern European. From the various historical and contemporary
sources used to describe Melungeon physical features, these would be dark
straight or wavy hair, dark (but not black ) skin, high cheekbones, and
Mediterranean facial features. While some specific Melungeons might vary from these
traits, the overall group appearance would necessarily be physically homogeneous
and distinct from persons in other ethnic groups.
BEHAVIORALLY, Melungeons had distinctive food preparation, food
preference and food consumption practices. They ate some highly spiced foods, did not
consume blood products, did consume onion and leek based vegetables, fried
breads and other items that appear to be somewhat consistent with Mediterranean
ancestry.
Many observed a one year mourning period for deceased loved ones,
buried loved ones on an east-west axis in private burial grounds, gathered in the
cemeteries of their deceased loved ones once a year to re-mound and decorate
their graves, and belonged to the Primitive Baptist religious denomination.
Some of the women wore black hair coverings. Several of the men wore full beards.
Marriages were often performed in the homes of the bride's parents, rather
than in churches.
Melungeons also displayed marked pattterns of endogamy, marrying
cousins, including first cousins, over an extended period of time (in some cases 400
years). These marriage patterns are consistent with historic and contemporary
Sephardic Jewish and Muslim behavior.
Naming patterns also served to demarcate Melungeon ethnicity. Given names included not only 'Old Testament' Hebrew names, BUT ALSO Aramaic, Arabic, non-Biblical Hebrew, Greek, Italian, Spanish
and Portuguese names. These naming patterns are observable from the 1600's onward.
GENETICALLY, Melungeons and their descendants were and are distinctive.
They do not have primarily Northern European, sub-Saharan African, Native
American, or East Asian haplotypes/haplogroups. Intead they primarily carry DNA
patterns typical of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East and some
Central Asian and Indo-Pakistani populations.
Taken as a whole, the most parsimonious explanation for this set of Physical, Behavioral and
Genetic characteristics would appear to be a Sephardic Jewish and Muslim Moorish origin, likely
resulting from the historically documented expulsion of Jews and Muslims from various European,
Mediterranean and Central Asian countries from the 1500's onward, coupled with the establishment of
Spanish, Portuguese, British, French and Dutch settlements in North America post 1500.
It is also very likely that some persons of Melungeon descent would
have some sub-Saharan, Native American, Northern European or other (e.g.,
Roma) ancestry, as well, due to specific instances of exogamous marriage.
Dear Melungeon Listers,
It would be very useful to have an operational definition of Melungeon
that met social science standards of validity, reliability and measurablity and
that was also compatible with the historic and current understandings of this
term.
As I view it, Melungeon refers to an Appalachian ethnic group with
distinct physical, behavioral, historical and genetic characteristics. These
characteristics served to set Melungeons apart from other peoples dwelling in
southeastern North America from the 1500's onward.
PHYSICALLY, Melungeons were distinct in appearance from the other major
ethnic groups familiar to persons living in the Southeastern United States
from 1500 onward.
Thus, they would have had observable physical features which served to set
them apart from those whose ancestry was primarily sub-Saharan African, Native
American, or Northern European. From the various historical and contemporary
sources used to describe Melungeon physical features, these would be dark
straight or wavy hair, dark (but not black ) skin, high cheekbones, and
Mediterranean facial features. While some specific Melungeons might vary from these
traits, the overall group appearance would necessarily be physically homogeneous
and distinct from persons in other ethnic groups.
BEHAVIORALLY, Melungeons had distinctive food preparation, food
preference and food consumption practices. They ate some highly spiced foods, did not
consume blood products, did consume onion and leek based vegetables, fried
breads and other items that appear to be somewhat consistent with Mediterranean
ancestry.
Many observed a one year mourning period for deceased loved ones,
buried loved ones on an east-west axis in private burial grounds, gathered in the
cemeteries of their deceased loved ones once a year to re-mound and decorate
their graves, and belonged to the Primitive Baptist religious denomination.
Some of the women wore black hair coverings. Several of the men wore full beards.
Marriages were often performed in the homes of the bride's parents, rather
than in churches.
Melungeons also displayed marked pattterns of endogamy, marrying
cousins, including first cousins, over an extended period of time (in some cases 400
years). These marriage patterns are consistent with historic and contemporary
Sephardic Jewish and Muslim behavior.
Naming patterns also served to demarcate Melungeon ethnicity. Given names included not only 'Old Testament' Hebrew names, BUT ALSO Aramaic, Arabic, non-Biblical Hebrew, Greek, Italian, Spanish
and Portuguese names. These naming patterns are observable from the 1600's onward.
GENETICALLY, Melungeons and their descendants were and are distinctive.
They do not have primarily Northern European, sub-Saharan African, Native
American, or East Asian haplotypes/haplogroups. Intead they primarily carry DNA
patterns typical of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Middle East and some
Central Asian and Indo-Pakistani populations.
Taken as a whole, the most parsimonious explanation for this set of Physical, Behavioral and
Genetic characteristics would appear to be a Sephardic Jewish and Muslim Moorish origin, likely
resulting from the historically documented expulsion of Jews and Muslims from various European,
Mediterranean and Central Asian countries from the 1500's onward, coupled with the establishment of
Spanish, Portuguese, British, French and Dutch settlements in North America post 1500.
It is also very likely that some persons of Melungeon descent would
have some sub-Saharan, Native American, Northern European or other (e.g.,
Roma) ancestry, as well, due to specific instances of exogamous marriage.
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