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 Yet, Hirschman, supported by DNA testing, genealogies, and a variety of historical documents, suggests that the Melungeons included such notable early Americans as Daniel Boone, John Sevier, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and Andrew Jackson.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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... living in the mountains for as long as anyone could remember . Our teacher said that he himself had never met any actual Melungeons , but that those who had met them said they were shy and preferred to keep to themselves . Though ...
... living down winding dirt roads in desolate cabins . Little did I imagine then that many decades later their identity would be discovered , and I would learn that I was one of them . In this book I will present evi- dence from multiple ...
... living at the time . Bolton had a daughter " famed for her beauty , her grace of manner and modesty . She was a dark brunette . She had a suit of black hair , which was coveted by all the girls who knew her . Her form was petite , and ...
... living . When asked how he remembered the exact date so well , one witness said that it was impressed on his mind because his wife had given birth to a baby girl that same evening , and the date and name were in the family Bible . The ...
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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 |