18 of those being in the US all with my last name or variants and very distant matches. My great grandmother was Leona G. Phipps from Grayson County, Virginia. I was looking to see if anyone that is connected to the Jones line. Hammon, Jones, Osborn, and Steele on my mothers side. Nash, Nelson, Newman, Niccans, Nichols, Noel, Norris. The Melungeons were dark-skinned and isolated, but the ethnicity of these olive and brown-skinned families has been in question since the early 1800s. However I hit a dead end on her father, Thomas Davis and his parents. I am just trying to think of other places to look, other avenues to try. DORTON DOYLE DRIGGERS DULA DYE DYESS, GALLAGHER GANN GARLAND GIBSON GIPSON GOINS Im from Eastern Kentucky also. Where can I look to find more information? Barker, Barnes, Bass, Beckler, Bedgood, Bell, Bennett, Berry, Beverly, Biggs. You are very welcome, Taking a DNA test might very well help. Her parents born in Amherst Co. VA in 1760s. Well hopefully you can work your skills to help me find a better understanding. I have looked through the regular channels on Ancestry and also in records local to me but have yet to drive over to Lee County, Va or to Hancock county to look at physical records but it is in the plans at some point. My maternal grandfather was Clarence Gibson. Thanks for adding me. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. I do not have everything but I now have a pretty good collection. I sent you that second email before I reread your origninal one, give me a bit of time and Ill see what I can find. Fingers crossed! If this helps my ftdna kit # B511534. Jack Goins is the patriarch of Melungeon research. (I am particularly intrigued by this period, as I have recently been following a deep and growing pull to connect with the Monacan people of Bear Mountain.). Melungeon and Melungeon-related surnames (Carolina's, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky) ADAMS ADKINS BARKER BARNES BECKLER BELL BENNETT BERRY BIGGS BOLEN BOWLIN BOWLING BOWMAN The center of Melungeon territory in former times was Newman's Ridge, Hancock County, Tennessee. I found the connection and sent it to her. Thank you for your time in reading this. Thank you for your consideration. I know she had children in Wise, Virginia as well as in Haticus, W Va, and Morristown, TN between the years of 1915-1935 with my grandmother being the youngest in 1935. All of familys descendants to this day have an olive or yellow cast to their complection. Redbone & Melungeons !!!! I would love to talk with you and compare notes. Surnames include Adkins, Beam (er), Black, Blevins, Brown, Bunch, Bundren, Burke, Burns, Cooper, Davis, Fields, Gist, Gunter, Keys, Lackey, Lowrey, Redwine, Riley, Shankles, and Sizemore. Lowry. Melungeon. If anyone can help us that would be amazing. What are your Stallard Roberson and Mullins ancestors? They had a U.S. Elizabeth Katherine Jones supposed DOB was February 27, 1901. So then we need to go to our trees Thalassemia genes are widely distributed in the world but are found most often among people with ancestors from the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and southern Asia. Smith, Stevens. 36 George Bean later moved to Franklin Co., Tenn. His wife Jane Bean who died about then may have been Isaac's sister. My grandfather had a very dark complexion and when I asked him about this he said these traits were Black Dutch. My siblings and I and my children are the only living biological descendants of this line as far back as my maternal grandparents generation if not farther. I am researching my family.actually that of my husband and children. What an interesting article. Hey, his email came back to me as address not existing! When some names come up, push the button for tree. After that it gets shaky. My aunt Mamie, the second youngest was olive completed with striking green eyes. She is 86 years old and sadly, that time is coming closer than we want to admit and I would love to help her find her moms family before it is too late. I have also done a DNA test at the request of a distant relative to try and connect those with my last name and variations of it. Page 135 - Research Melungeon in the Surnames forums on Genealogy.com, the new GenForum! I believe that she was melungeon. That we were from the Carolinas , Virginias and Appalachias. Ramey, Rasnick, Reaves/Reeves, Revels, Richardson, Roberson/Robertson/Robinson, Russell. Thanks! Johnson, Jones. My great grandfather is Harris Brown, a Melungeon, and also has Portuguese ancestry, however I don't have information past his father John Brown who married Eliza Ann Jenkins Richardson a . Glad to see the name here. My grandmother Margaret Davis is dark and had coarse hair. Wright. My dad was always told we had Cherokee in us. Ramey, Rasnick, Reaves/Reeves, Revels, Richardson, Roberson/Robertson/Robinson, Russell. I just recently found out about maternal grandrnothers line. Ive been stumped. I was thinking maybe someone would see my ost any maybe have some new ideas of where I can search for records or what to look under as the regular ones do not pan out. My grandmother is Bessie Zackery and her mother was Elizabeth Collier or Dicey Elizabeth Collier and her mother was a Mary Ann Norris. Does anyone have any information to share? Enjoying The Company While On TheJourney. We were Black Dutch, Melungeon, Blackfoot and Osage. John Brown-Warrants 26 Dec 1760, 700 acres on the Flatt River, includes Bolins, Riddles and Collins Improvements. Thank you! Here are some of the most common surnames that exist for Melungeons: Bowlin Bunch Collins Epps Denham Evans Fields Goins Gibson Mullins Reeves Williams While this is not an exhaustive list of surnames, this should give you an idea of how many names may be related to the Melungeon tribe of people. Little. occurring in North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Right now I am researching for someone else and I came across a rumour that Faith Parker (b. She was very religious. Im having a hard time finding any information abt the Browns in the Halifax, Sampson County, and Virginia borderline area. . The college of UVA Wise, Va. held an event several years ago about Melungeon. If anyone knows anything concerning the melungeons from Grayson County, Virginia. Among the northern Europeans, the Melungeon ancestors include English, Scot, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, and German parents. Jack, a Melungeon descendant through several ancestors, expected that his Y paternal . Hello. As soon as I get things settled and get back to researching Id love to connect with you. The name Melungeon derives from mlange, an appellation bestowed by early French settlers on the Clinch river. I am a Denham..Been researching this info a great confirmation! Do the companies get different results? My family is from Tennessee and Northern Alabama. She was a black person in Memphis, Tenn., I believe. I guess we didnt like staying that home.. Owens, Ke. So hopefully I can hear more. She just said, our only concern was surviving. All my mother would ever say isI dont need to know. I was able to trace her lineage back to Captain Nathaniel Basse whose son, Reverend John Basse, married a Nansemond woman. "Jordan, son of Gilbert Gibson was undoubtedly born after 1746/7, possibly as late as 1752 or so. So interesting! Naturally there are many questions. I am looking for any leads towards a melungeon bloodline within my family because it would answer a lot of questions. The pages wont let me open them . Maybe in finding this site I can do so know. There is no proof that Melungeons even have Mediterranean ancestry, . I and everyone else in my family has run into issues finding the parents of Jane Taylor who Married Beniah MacKnight. I have added links to certain names that I have more information to share. Melungeons ( / mlndnz / m-LUN-jnz) are an ethnicity from the Southeastern United States who descend from Europeans, Native American, and sub-Saharan Africans brought to America as indentured servants and later as slaves. I would like to email you about my connection to the Shavers/Chavis/Chavers, Brown, Hall, Kelley and other family names in Alabama and Franklin County Tennesse. Change). North American Indian ancestors include people from the tribes of Powhatan, Mattaponi, Monie, Nansemond, Rappahanock, Pamunkey, Chickahominie, Cherokee (Buffalo Ridge) and Choctaw. research for The Melungeons: The Resurrection of a Proud People Well hope you know and I hope you enjoy my DNA. Cynthia Millican 2/06/01. but im very sure my father is of melungeon descent, he is a dark ivory skin with dark hair and blue eyes. I am 4 th cousin s with lowry,revels and bakers per my 2018 ancestry.com test results. Her mother was Elmeda Johnson who died in childbirth,her father Jim cogdill went to ww1 and her grandparents raised her, family stories have suggested her mother was NA and Ive seen the name Luna johnson in my search once , it suggested that Luna johnson was her grandmother or great grandmother, all my grandmothers sons look very Hispanic in old photos but a lighter skin tone,say lighter than a Mexicans but quite a bit darker than a regular Caucasian,she her self had what Ive heard described as very ruddy complexion but to me she looked pure cherokee. Surnames: Allen. I had no idea what that meant. Scott. My husbands mother has been dead way over 25 years and he has been dead for years. Hall, Hammon, Harmon, Harris, Harvie/Harvey, Hawkes, Hendricks/Hendrix, Hill, Hillman, Hogge, Holmes, Hopkins, Howe, Hyatt. The Clarks and Coopers were listed on the census in Malboro Co, Kershaw Co and Gafney, SC. She had pictures of both g- grandmothers. I am trying to see if I can locate my Great Grandmother. A good deal of my research, in addition to Mulungeon, leads back to Cherokee heritage from northeastern AL. They also have a very specific twang or dialect when speaking. See more ideas about appalachia, history, appalachian people. Have fun tracing your lineage. The family claimed Cherokee and white but resided around Roanoke, VA at least since the 1850s. I am a Cooper. Do you have any information? Could use any help I can get from you or anyone reading this on pinning things down. Any info on the Boone line would be appreciated, or sites with Boone dna projects. Looking at my Ancestry DNA, I have a match with a common Bass ancestor. Did you find any info on the finger print info?? This Thomas and Mary are believed to be the same Thomas and Mary found in Stoney Creek Church Records.Thomas and Mary Gibson along with Charles, Reubin and Henry are found in the early church records with Valentine Collins . I am looking for information on the Jones, Barker, and Smith lines specifically but I cross about 15 of these families in my tree several times. A famous bearer of this name is Jelmer Wiersma a Dutch heavy metal guitarist. Thanks Ms. Gray! My ancestor, John Washington Cooper, left Virginia for Louisiana circa 1830, where he and his children married into old French Creole families. The parents settled in Owens Co. Ke. The Melungeon, who called their leaders "king" instead of "chief," intermarried with the Cherokee Indians and were considered a branch of the tribe. Some Melungeons suspect Abe Lincoln, Elvis Presley and Ava Gardner may all have had some Melungeon blood. I wont be attending, as I live 3000 miles away, but it might be useful to you who live near Virginia. Compared to the sophistication of genetics in the second decade of the 21 st century, Melungeon DNA testing in the 1990s was rather simplistic. The family names from your list above are: Berry, Davis, Jones, Tolliver (Sara Isabelle Tagliferro is my ancestor via the Berry Line), Phipps, Osborne, Richardson and many more. My grandfather used the term Portuguee with affection, and his Melungeon (I assume) Indiana grandparents were Malissa Delph and William Addison Wright from Tennessee. I was born and raised in Big Stone Gap Va I am of mulungeon descent. So youre saying that your grandmother was a Melungeon? This article provides greater insight into my families probable history. Aakster Dutch. I am so saddened by your grandmothers story. My name is Relaeh and this journey has been wild. I would love to find out if any of them are Melungeon! Im researching my Berry family from Hawkins /Tennesse and Virginia . I asked my grandfather (1885-1973) what his familys origins were and he said Black Dutch. I hope Im on the right track. I too have always thought Cherokee but found out it was Creek. As time permits my intention is to research as many of these families as I can. Hi Pinky Blevins, I read your post interesting. Just to note, a lot of Melungeon families are mixed with Roma. Some of the most prominent surnames that have been claimed as potentially associated with a Melungeon identity include Bowling (Bolin), Bunch, Chavis (Chavez), Collins, Epps, Evans, Fields, Francisco, Gibson, Gill, Goins, Goodman, Minor, Mise, Moore, Mullins, Osborn (e), Phipps, Reeves (Rives, Rieves, Reeves, Reaves), Ridley (Riddle), Rodrigues, The `so-called,' Melungeons were `discovered' in the Appalachian Mountains in 1654 by English explorers and were described as being `dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people supposed to be of Moorish descent, who were neither Indian nor Negro, but had fine European features, and claimed to be Portuguese." (Louise Davis, "The Mystery of the White. My grandfather was straight black hair, brown eyes, and really dark in the summer sun. Since then, the Dutch started adopting surnames. Locklear. Most of my siblings and I have those chestnut color eyes like our mother and grandfather. Other Surnames in his line are Brewer, Davis, Seals, Phipps, Tagliaferro(toliver) and many more. My brother is very fair and red hair. I was led to this site through research and also as a result of our unexpected DNA results as well which have been a wonderful surprise and way to help me find our family lines and also some small medical answers. From the Little Peedee in S.C. too Hancock Cty.,TN. So far this is all word of mouth and not confirmed. Who knows we my be related. Bridger. Grandmaw Janie Perkins always told me we came from the Carolinas and the Virginias. Alternatively, Italian pioneers in Virginia used their word for aubergine to. They were from Roanoke Va, Patty, if youre on Facebook we can chat find me Joyceann Gray, I just checked your list of family namesfound two crcst test prep; crcst free test questions; paid test; crcst exam prep notes; subscribe Would taking one of the ancestry dna tests help determine this or just make it more confusing? The Short surname was my maiden name. Upon reading message boards someone suggested that the father could be Mlungeon. They were originally from SC and settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains around Gaston/Lincoln Co, Rutherford Co and Cleveland Co. Match case Limit results 1 per page melungeon and melung eon-related s urnames (North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Kentucky) ADAMS - ADKINS- BARKER - BARNES - BECKLER - BELL - BENNETT - BERRY - BIGGS - BOLEN - BOWLIN - BOWLING - BOWMAN - BRANHAM - BROGAN - BULLION - BURTON - BYRD - CAMPBELL - CARRICO - CARTER - CASTEEL - CAUDILL - CHAVIS - CLARK - COAL - COFFEY - COLE - COLEMAN - COLES . Please contact me if you have any information you would like to share or questions. What can you tell me? What do you have on the BARKERs, my grandfather on my fathers side was GEORGE WASHINGTON BARKER. Where was your Clarence Gibson fromScreenshot 2022-11-29 at 9.43.57 AM Some these Wood cousins have JM 172 Haplogroups. Thanks for posting. Thank you. My grandfather was known as Brownie because of his color, and had indian looking features but his sisters had blonde hair. During Reconstruction, most southern states passed One drop laws. I appreciate any help you can give. I guess meaning that I have far far less matches in R1b as compared to the majority of testers. BOWLING BOWMAN BRADBY BRANHAM BRAVBOY BRIGER/BRIDGER BROGAN Hello! Stay tuned! They also married into the Goins, Ashe, Whitworth, Hunt, Hunter, Richardson, Gibbs, and other families. Our DNA came back though with european, african, NA . The name "Melungeon" was not applied to these first Afri- cans by white outsiders or slave owners. Bryson Gibson was born between 1775 and 1782 Washington County, Virginia to Thomas and Mary Gibson. Dalton, Dare, Davis, Denham, Dennis, Dial, Dorton, Doyle, Driggers, Dye, Dyess. Gann, Garland, Gibbs, Gibson/Gipson, Goins/Goings, Givens, Gowan/Gowen, Graham, Green(e), Gwinn. I am stumped here and cant seem to find much on them. My Grandfather was Cleo Berry Son of Lydia Price and Calvin Berry. Hi Brent, The other listed names are somewhere in between all of these. Sammons, Sampson, Sawyer, Scott, Sexton, Shavis, Shepherd/Shephard, Short. My 4th G-Grandpaw was Jeremiah Bass Jr. b.1746 Bertie, N.Carolina d.1808 Addams Co, Mississippi. I have been doing some ansestry searching, combined with some hints that my great grandma spoke of often. I am seeing several surnames from my sides. Thanks for what you are doing. What a great feeling you must be experiencing with this new found gem! there you will find relatives who can possibly hold the key for you! FORUM ARTICLES SEARCH. Thanks for adding me. My moms side are lots of Jones and Clarks and my dads Dentons have been in states since 1634 with the ma bay colony. Its been a long road just to here! These laws required anyone with one drop of African blood to be classified as black. Viccars. I have been trying for so long to do this on my own. My Reeves family always claimed Indian descent. In addition, it leaves untouched some of the families who in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were typically classed as whites, but who claimed Native American ancestry, such as the Sizemore claimants among the Eastern Cherokee applicants." Ms. Lady Jae: Received some great information from you sometime ago for surname Goin. Fathers surname of CROS(S)LOW seems to hit a wall several generations back. An Untold Story of Ethnic Cleansing in America. What was a Melungeon? Where did they come from? His wife was Nancy Gray and son was Moses Bass. I think I solved the mystery. The Melungeon core families, as identified by their paternal (surname) lines include European and African progenitors, about half and half. All around 1700-1800 time frame. If I run across anything new Ill shoot it your way or post it here on my site. Smiling, Smith, Stallard, Stanley, Steel, Stevens, Stewart, Strother. A lot of evidence has led me to see that I come from Ashkenazi and Portuguese Sephardic descent. C 2. Maddox, Maggard, Major, Male/Mayle, Maloney, Marsh, Martin, Miles, Minard, Miner/Minor, Mizer, Moore, Morley, Mullins, Mursh. Co. Kentucky. HER FATHER WAS Richard and they say he was a Pony Express rider. Sparks Morrison Also Mary Bolling 1720-1790 Wilkes NC m. Andrew Baker 1720-1779 Rowan NC. Is Jones her maiden name? Of course, these surnames are common names in America, and are only considered "Melungeon" names in the areas where Melungeons live. My grandmother, a Chapman, when young was always asked if she were Jewish, to which she simply replied, no. In the early 80s when I was a little girl, I remember Papaw Chapman (her father) always saying we were Dutch Indian and Black Dutch. It is like her whole Jones line does not exist. If I can help Id be glad to offer more suggestions once you begin your tree. Have you started a family research project? From my mother Chapman. Joyceann. We have always been told we are of cherokee and possibly Saponi descent. Physical Traits. When I asked why my mother was so dark, I was told that it was because she had Cherokee blood. My grandparents and all 13 kids used to go up to NJ and work the fields when jersey was the garden state still. Log in or Sign up to hide all adverts. I am a Johnson from Halifax county, VA. All of my paternal line are dark skinned, dark hair and blue eyes with a very specific nose. Dad was a Revolutionary soldier. Mixed Melungeons had lived in Vir- ginia from 1660. It was an open secret that they were not white. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. These common kinships of cousins show the Melungeon society was becoming cohesive and distinctively apart in colonial America at least 100 years before the American Revolution. Hello Ms. J Gray: On another list the surname Riddle was given as a surname for Melungeons. She grew up there and was adopted by a Mitchell family. Hello, I looking for any information on the Collins, Campbell, Burford, Taylor so what I am looking for is any information on families that moved to Texas. Grandson of John Snow Creek Taliaferro and Sarah Smith, both from Virginia. Hi! Historical records are sometimes sketchy and amorphous. I just came upon this site. I have traced my ancestry back to the right areas at the right times, I have pictures of them that just dont match up with the white on their census records. The Majority of my ancestors are from The Appalachians. Most of us probably think of America as being settled by British, Protestant colonists who fought the Indians, tamed the wilderness, and brought "democracy"-or at least a representative republic-to North America. Not looking like any of the others. Best of luck and Merry Christmas! My maiden name is Barker. where o you believe she was raised? This match comes up as 4th gen cousin to me. I also have linked back with Mary Bolling and a Bunch surname. my father's last name is King but that is not a Melungeon name but Brown is. And thank you for checking in on my site, I hope you enjoyed reading! my mothers last name is Brown, my fathers last name is King but that is not a Melungeon name but Brown is. Butler. Wish I knew of someone that could help point me in the right direction. The mother of my grandfather, Harris Brown, her name is Eliza Ann Jenkins Richardson (Brown). I have noticed that it can be difficult to discern skintones in old black and white photos unless some one was very pale or very dark skinned depending on the photo.I was that way too, until I moved to Vermont 20+ yrs ago, the 9 month long Winters have taken their toll but a week of 80 degree sunny days and bam its back, LoL, lots of blue eyes and some green to, I have brown but its a pretty light colored brown, I grew up in the 15th from time to time(name comes from long ago, instead of a county they were numbered districts or something to that effect) my family also looked quite a bit different than most of the people in the grassyfork/ delrio/ Hartford tn area. Would love to hear if you have tips or suggestions! No Cherokee blood showed up in my daughters DNA test. Where are you living I too am a Foresman. I was raised not knowing anything of my fathers family, he died when I was 18 months old. One set of my 7th great grandparents were Jane Bunch, Carolinas, 1740-1782 m. Hugh Smith, d. Wilkes Co. NC, 1738-1781. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Enjoying The Company While On The Journey! Ethnically my immediate family is all some mix of Irish/ North African / Subsaharan African/ Eastern European/ Southern European/ Native American. I came across this site and am hoping to find some answers. Yes, on ancestry, send me your email and Ill invite you. I really enjoyed reading your article, and hope to learn even more in the future. Wow!! I recently read a wonderful novel based on that terrible place. I have been trying to place my Melungeon ancestors as well as my Native ancestry. Her family is from the Cumberland Gap area of Kentucky. Were most of these peoples of Native American ancestry? Take a look at this website: https://the-melungeons.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-best-of-will-allen-dromgoole.html?fbclid=IwAR3n_jqz-VJhuT8WDjuQJxnQmGUhh5C6azEmc687FNvJurqMwFqraBlIPDs. Among the northern Europeans, the Melungeon ancestors include English, Scot, Irish, Welsh, Dutch, and German parents. Langston, Lasie, Lawson, Locklear, Lopes, Lowry, Lucas. I, too, have no Native American or black ancestry showing up in my DNA results from ancestry.com, nor any Spanish, Portuguese, or Mediterranean ancestry. Hello On the 1870 Census it states that his race is Black. Melissa, I too am from the Blevins family from Eastern Kentucky. I did have an Uncle by the name of Neal who was married to Loretta. Surnames on my maternal grandmas side are Mullins, Stallard, Stanley and Roberson/Robertson/Robinson. Some of the most prominent surnames that have been claimed as potentially associated with a Melungeon identity include Bowling (Bolin), Bunch, Chavis (Chavez), Collins, Epps, Evans, Fields, Francisco, Gibson, Gill, Goins, Goodman, Minor, Mise, Moore, Mullins, Osborn (e), Phipps, Reeves (Rives, Rieves, Reeves, Reaves), (LogOut/ Hello my name is Melissa Blevins Nesbit. I hope you get your answers. Hi, on my fathers side I have Davis, Spillman and Ramey as well as Berry all from south eastern kentucky. I have an olive tone that turns to a reddiah brown in the summer months. Jane Taylor was born in Virginia in 1798 and died in Marietta ,Ohio in 1883 or 1888. A lady invited me to a revival at her church. (LogOut/ I am researching my family tree. The study found the truth to be somewhat less exotic: Genetic evidence shows that the families historically called Melungeons are the offspring of sub-Saharan African men and white women of northern or central European . These families seem to have originated in the same place and traveled together to Mississippi after the Louisiana Purchase. . One of their kids, Wyatt Wert Wood, born in Illinois, 1913 1993, moved to Garland, Texas. Look in Bibles and record any folklore that might have been passed down.