The Harmon family in VA traces back to the mid-17th century. See Paul Heinegg's research on them in his HARMAN FAMILY page at: http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/ He gives extensive citations to the early records on this family. They seem to have been thoroughly integrated into the colonial community very early on. I've never seen any evidence of Indian ancestry.

The Harmons and many of the other families from Northampton Co. Virginia without a doubt married families of white, black, and native American ancestry. A person who would say that the Harmons were not partially native American would also say that the Black Gingaskin descendants weren't of Indian ancestry. Because they have Black ancestry does not erase their "Indians". These families were called mulatto very early on. It is also more probable that these families were not even originally African American. But rather Portuguese. Rodriguese (Driggers)does not sound like an African name to me. And without a doubt, many of the Johnson family members married people who were called Indian in historic documents. But you will always have those people who will only consider them black. The only way a person could find no evidence of Indian ancestry in these families would be if they picked and choose what it is they wanted to believe. Because they were slaves most purist assume that they must be African, but that was not always the case. Researchers should not draw such definite lines in the sand and make such broad and general statements. Doug ----- Original Message ----- From: Thomas F Brown <tombrown@jhu.edu> To: <NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 3:54 AM Subject: Re: Harmon family > > The Harmon family in VA traces back to the mid-17th century. > See Paul Heinegg's research on them in his HARMAN FAMILY > page at: > > http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/ > > He gives extensive citations to the early records on this > family. They seem to have been thoroughly integrated into > the colonial community very early on. I've never seen any > evidence of Indian ancestry. > > > ==== NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA Mailing List ==== > This NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA list is currently available for adoption! > Interested in becoming the list manager? Go here: > http://resources.rootsweb.com/surnames/adoptrequest.html > > > ============================== > Get a MASTERCARD with NO Credit Check or Up Front > Cash Security Deposit and GUARANTEED* Approval! > NO Interest Rate! http://www.dollarsonthenet.com/cgi-bin/track/1631/19

Dear Mr. Brown: On the Harmons/--ans and paul Heinegg. Heinegg has done a great deal of research; but he reads many records literally and those records often never mention someone's Indian identity, that identity for the sake of documents not being up to the person but to local/county/state officials. I say, read Heinegg with a grain of salt while trying to avoid fabricating what's both there and not there, and rely upon family oral tradition. Especially from about 1750 well into the 20th century, Indians in VA and the Carolinas, as well as neighboring states, were identified as Free Negroes or Free People of Color, or Mulatto, or Black. In NC I understand an Indian couldn't own land but Negroes could; and on eastern Shore VA the bounty on Indians heads wasn't abolished until 1952(!!). So, Heinegg's point is.....? Regards, Ron Welburn English Department University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 545-5518; FAX: (413) 545-3880 Native Studies (413) 577-1607; FAX: 545-9494 On Sat, 24 Jun 2000, Thomas F Brown wrote: > > The Harmon family in VA traces back to the mid-17th century. > See Paul Heinegg's research on them in his HARMAN FAMILY > page at: > > http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/ > > He gives extensive citations to the early records on this > family. They seem to have been thoroughly integrated into > the colonial community very early on. I've never seen any > evidence of Indian ancestry. > > > ==== NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA Mailing List ==== > This NATIVEAMERICAN-DELMARVA list is currently available for adoption! > Interested in becoming the list manager? Go here: > http://resources.rootsweb.com/surnames/adoptrequest.html > > > ============================== > Get a MASTERCARD with NO Credit Check or Up Front > Cash Security Deposit and GUARANTEED* Approval! > NO Interest Rate! http://www.dollarsonthenet.com/cgi-bin/track/1631/19 >