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From: "ernest hurst" <>
Subject: RE: [DNA] Melungeon origins
Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 03:51:18 -0500


Hi Dennis

I've been interested in the "melungeon phenomena" for the last couple years
& have read most everything on the net about them, due to possible
"connection(s)", mid 1700s to early 1800s, in VA, NC & East TN. There have
been "theories" that connect them to most every group of possible dark
skinned people that ever arrived at or lived on the North American
continent. There is no concensus about the origins of the word "melungeon"
other than that the first time it appeared in writing (that has been found
so far) was in church minutes, SW VA, in 1813, referring to an unnamed
person in an apparently derogatory manner. Likewise, there is no concensus
about exactly who all were melungeons or where exactly they lived, other
than in the 3 states mentioned plus KY.

The "Melungeon DNA Study" - preliminary results announced last June -
appears to have been mostly MT DNA and indicated a small percentage of the
people tested had Native American, African and other "exotic" origins, but
mostly European of some sort. Final results of this study have yet to be
released, apparently dependant on favorable peer review of the work done by
Dr. Jones, who conducted the study.

Based on what I've seen, and this is only my opinion, there is no one,
unified "melungeon research group", but rather numerous groups of people
attempting to "prove" various theories about the origin(s) of this group.
Also my opinion, but none of the groups have presented a theory that is
totally convincing and they certainly do not agree with one another.
Rootsweb's "MELUNGEON-L" is the only list that I've seen that normally has
more "activity" than this list, with all sorts of viewpoints presented and
argued on an ongoing basis. It'll probably be a long time (maybe never)
before we know, or there is any widespread agreement, exactly where these
folks originated.

Regards

Ernie Hurst


> [Original Message]
> From: <>
> To: <>
> Date: 4/2/2003 11:48:04 PM
> Subject: [DNA] Melungeon origins
>
> Has there been an attempt to link the melungeon origin
> to the exploration of Hernando De Soto in the early 1500's?
> I believe he skirted the southern edge of the Appalachian range.
> I'm sure his men left descendents among the native people they
> encountered.
>
> Didn't the DNA testing reveal some moorish and mediterranean
> genes?
>
> I'm sure this has been considered by the melungeon research
> group.
>
> Dennis West in Knoxville, TN
>
>
> ==============================
> To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records,
go to:
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