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 Yet, Hirschman, supported by DNA testing, genealogies, and a variety of historical documents, suggests that the Melungeons included such notable early Americans as Daniel Boone, John Sevier, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and Andrew Jackson.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. |
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The Last Lost Tribe in America Elizabeth Caldwell Hirschman. The Last Lost Tribe in America This One JC3Y - 153-1PYW Roanoke & Neighboring Islands , late 1500s Roanoke River Pamlico. Melungeons.
... Island Neuse River ROANOAC Secotan TUSCARORA 40 miles 70 kilometers 01996 MAGELLAN Geographix " Santa Barbara , CA 1-800-929-4MAP 1000 AD HATTERAS Hatteras N 76 ° 75 ° c.1500 Roanoke and Neighboring Islands , late 1500s 36 ° 35 ° 2000 ...
... Island The first [ English ] settlement [ in the New World was founded ] on Roanoke Island [ North Carolina ] in 1854 [ sic ; that is , 1584 ] . Officers of this settlement included the following men : [ Master ] Philip Armadas Arthur ...
... Island ... was made by Sir Richard Grenville in 1685 [ sic ; 1585 ] , from Plymouth , England . It had as principle " Gentlemen in the Company " : Raymond M. Stuckey Bremige Vincent John Clark . Grenville left fifteen Englishmen at ...
... Island was lost forever . The fifth and last voyage to Virginia was long delayed and beset by numerous disappointments . Raleigh eventually obtained a license from the queen [ Elizabeth I ] to send three ships in which a convenient ...
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 |