This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Annhelen7 Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.georgia.counties.fayette/76.259.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: I was very interested in your data. I did a fair amount of research on the Preacher family of Sweats, since I suspected some tie with our S.C. lines of Cook, Richardson, etc. Farley Sweat moved to Chatham county, GA and lived next door to our Samuel Richardson when he was there. They were neighbors back in (Barnwell, Beafort, then Hampton)S.C. and were near the same age. Have you ever heard rumors that the Sweats were of some exotic ancestry, like Portuguese, Spanish, American Indian, etc.? Sweat is a so called "Melungeon" name in the Pee Dee River region, where my Cooks came from before they moved into Hampton County. I never heard the term "Melungeon" from my relatives, but they did say we had Portuguese/Spanish/American Indian and Gypsy, with some tale about pirates. I had a dna test done which verfies the Portuguese, Spanish, American Indian, and probably Gypsy, also Sephardic Jew (Portuguese). Please let me know if any of this rings a bell with you or your kinfolk. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.