Melungeons: The Last Lost Tribe in AmericaMost 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. To the contrary, Elizabeth Caldwell Hirschman's research indicates the earliest settlers were of Mediterranean extraction, and of a Jewish or Muslim religious persuasion. Sometimes called "Melungeons," these early settlers were among the earliest nonnative "Americans" to live in the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. For fear of discrimination-since Muslims, Jews, "Indians," and other "persons of color" were often disenfranchised and abused-the Melungeons were reticent regarding their heritage. In fact, over time, many of the Melungeons themselves "forgot" where they came from. Hence, today, the Melungeons remain the "last lost tribe in America," even to themselves. Yet, Hirschman, supported by DNA testing, genealogies, and a variety of historical documents, suggests that the Melungeons included such notable early Americans as Daniel Boone, John Sevier, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and Andrew Jackson. Once lost, but now, forgotten no more. |
From inside the book
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... Indians . " Who are they ? " we asked , " What do they look like and where did they come from ? " Mr. Burns told us that few local residents had actually seen any real Melungeons , but the ones who had , said they were slender , had ...
... Indians . . . Wan- chese and Manteo .... ( It is believed that two Englishmen were left with the Indians as hostages [ for the safe return of the two Indians ] . ) Manteo became a true friend of the English ; he was born , and many of ...
... Indian footprints in the sand . On the bank they found a tree on which was carved the letters CRO ; this , they believed , signified the place where they would find their lost comrades . Next they saw an inland area enclosed by a tall ...
... Indians ) John Prat Robert Ellis Thomas Humfrey Children born in Virginia Virginia Dare ( daughter of Annanias and Eleanor ) Harvie2 Commentary Bonnie Ball's description of the founding and subsequent loss of the Roanoke colony is based ...
Contents
ix | |
DNA Disease and Demographics The Keys to the Mystery | 33 |
1492 A Most Propitious Year | 45 |
Rewriting the Past A New Origin Story | 55 |
Family Trees and Family Treks Migration Marriage and Naming Patterns among the Melungeons | 83 |
The TemplarFreemason Connection | 99 |