Hi Joyce, are you seeking specfics? opinions about origins? what exactly are you wanting? In my opinion, the Melungeons are not an exact group of people but several groups of people, all with Meditterean type backgrounds, whether jews, moors from Spain, or whatnot. They settled in different localaties, or drifted there later so the admixtures vary from region to region. Other groups joined their close knit communities, including some blacks. In the East Tennessee region it is thought that there was mixture with Cherokee, as well and probably in the Carolinas. however, there are pockets of these people who mixed with blacks. Because of this there is much confusion about whether they have Cherokee or whether they were mulatto. To understand any particular family, a study needs to be made of the area(s) they came out of. The Melungeons suffered greatly from prejudices in some areas. Especially, those who showed darker characteristics. Even among themselves, there were prejudices about one family being better due to skin color. You can imaigne how alot of them fled areas where there were prejudices and tried to begin anew. Some even changed their names to establish themselves in new identities as white or anglo people. It makes tracing these people extremely hard. Also, they avoided courts, in an effort to not be classified as FPC or some such category. They were very tight knit communities and very closed mouthed. IN some areas they still are. There is much ongoing DNA studies being done on this group of people. They definitely carry meditterean bloodlines and some develop disesaes only know in meditterean regions. Since their heritage is often hidden and unknown diagnosis are often flawed. Some strides are being made on this and disesases such as Joseph Machado disease are being diagnosed. Bechet's is another. Sarcoidosis still another. The last one interests me because of some "odd" diagnosis in my family, unexplained and not fitting the pattern for the disease. let me know what you are really wanting to know. If you are inquiring about where the Cherokee mix entered I don't think it's really pinpointed yet. Most family only have proof in family stories, passed down and photographs which seem to warrant their claims. However, as we know, some of the Meditteran people are very dark skinned, especially those from Moorish background. DNA studies on this group is still continuing. I can get you some info. if you want. Debbie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joyce G. Reece" <bjreece@bellsouth.net> To: <CherokeeGene-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 10:49 AM Subject: [CherokeeGeneCommunity] melungeon/cherokee > Debbie > > Hi! I understand you have done research on the relationship between the > Cherokee and Melungeons? Would you please offer your knowledge and > opinions? > > Joyce Gaston Reece > > ==== CherokeeGene Mailing List ==== > This list is for Genealogy related conversations > Your supporting website http://www.wvi.com/~wb/Cherokee1.html > Please Good manors and no flaming others > For Culture, ridges; bumps; skin tones; or Language lessons Please visit > CHEROKEE-L-request@rootsweb.com > You can also find what you need search the archives > or to get off this list via web site below > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/other/Ethnic-Native/CherokeeGene.html > Listowner = CherokeeGene-admin@rootsweb.com > >

My GG-Grandmother, Adeline MULKEY nee GOINS, had been ascribed by others belonging to Melugeons and Metis peoples. However, she descended from the Mississippi Choctaws. Some of her relatives mixed with Blacks. She was not Cherokee at all, but married to my Cherokee GG-Grandfather, Lewis A. Mulkey. She has been reputed to being either 2/3 Choctaw or a full blood Choctaw. However, she did not apply for the Choctaw Rolls and she was denied on the Cherokee Rolls as an inter-married White because she was Choctaw. P.S. My husband just sent in his DNA packet yesterday to be tested for N/A DNA. He is loosely tied to Pretty Boy Floyd, who was rumored to be either Cherokee or Choctaw. He can trace none of his family to the Dawes. Most of the family settled in western Arkansas before the Removal. Results will be back in 6 weeks. Jerri ~Direct Cherokee Mulkey Descendent --------------------------------- Brings words and photos together (easily) with PhotoMail - it's free and works with Yahoo! Mail.