GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

Archiver > GENEALOGY-DNA > 2002-06 > 1023914541


From: "Dennis Maggard" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] Melungeons - who and what are they?
Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 16:42:21 -0400
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20020611203726.00b1b740@mail.xs4all.nl>


From: <>

> Hello,
> I find your family history very interesting, but am puzzled about the term
> ""Melungeons"". I cannot find anything about them here where I live
> (Amsterdam). I never met the word before, except in this e-mail list.
Since
> it keeps from time to time turning up, I thought that perhaps I might ask
> you to tell something more about their origins and where they lived (or
> live). Thank you. Bert

Melungeons were a mixed race group originating in coastal colonial Virginia.
As time passed, they migrated west with many Melungeon families ending up on
and around the Cumberland Plateau, in the area where Virginia, Tennessee and
Kentucky meet, by the early 19th century.. It was there that they were
first called, and most commonly known as, Melungeons.

For more information I would suggest:

The Melungeon Heritage Association Homepage at:
http://www.melungeon.org

Mike Nassau's online book, _Melungeons and Other Mestee People_, at:
http://www.geocities.com/mikenassau/

Tim Hashaw's work on Melungeons origins at:
http://www.multiracial.com/readers/hashaw.html

As it just so happens, the results of a two year DNA study designed to
investigate Melungeon origins will be announced a week from Thursday. A
summary of these findings will be available on the Melungeon Heritage
Associate Homepage soon after they are announced.

Dennis Maggard
Melungeon-L List Owner


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