I have never seen reference to Melungeons in this area. I have never seen reference to Melungeons in the Piedmont. They were mostly located in the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Kennedy in his book suggested that the Lumbees were also a Melungeon group. I felt that his analysis was very weak in this aspect of his book. I suspect these Indians are primarily of mixed race but am not convinced that they could be related to the Melungeons. I would rather believe that they were related to the Lost Colony as some have suggested. Robert Carpenter ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynn E.Wesson" <[email protected]> To: "'Robert and Sue Carpenter'" <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, December 17, 2004 7:17 AM Subject: RE: [NCLINCOLN] Indian capture>>>> Melungeons > I am not sure this is a question that can be answered here, but does anyone > on the list know if there were Melungeons reported to be as far east as > Lincoln Co. in the 1820s? > Thanks, > Lynn Wesson > > -----Original Message----- > From: Robert and Sue Carpenter [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Thursday, December 16, 2004 10:25 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Fw: [NCLINCOLN] Indian capture>>>> Melungeons > > > Dear folks, > > I have been reading some of your writings over the last few nights but have > not had time to make comments. I have now found some time. > > First, the issue of an Indian capture in the 1830's or so. This would be > highly unlikely in the Gaston-Lincoln-Catawba County area. This is the > period when the Cherokees were removed west. Any contact with Indians would > have been in western NC. The Cherokee posed a serious threat to white > settlers until the American Revolution. While the major Cherokee War which > occurred in 1760-61 was cited here, the Cherokees did pose a threat upon the > frontier in 1775-76. But the frontier at this time was not Lincoln and > Catawba County but rather present Burke and McDowell Counties. The Indians > raided white settlements at Old Fort and at Pleasant Gardens at that time > and General Griffith Rutherford took a 1000 man militia force over the > mountains. His soldiers did not fight many Indians, most of whom had fled. > But rather they simply burned villages and crops. Their destruction in the > Cherokee Expedition of 1776 left the Cherokee nation much weaker. But near > the end of the Revolution in 1781 and 82 rumours of Indian activity > resurfaced upon this western frontier. Again local militia officers from > our area raised units and marched westward destroying towns, crops, and > women and children. The Cherokees never again were seen as a serious threat > to the white settlers. But whites continued to trade with them, to marry > them, and to come into contact with them. > > Melungeons -- what an interesting topic. This unusual group of mixed race > people from the mountains of Appalachia has been the source of much > confusion. I have read Brent Kennedy's book and find the research > fascinating. Unfortunately without DNA evidence or archaeological evidence > I suspect that the truth may remain unconfirmed. Little written information > about these people exist and most of it was written by the Melungeon's > adversaries. The suggestion that they may descend from Portuguese and > Spanish explorers who lived in western NC with Juan Pardo is possible but > also questionable. Too little evidence yet exists to prove their unique > existence except as a mixed race people of the Appalachian Mountians. Of > course that makes DNA testing suspect. > > DNA testing is another tool for genealogists. I have tested my DNA at the > request of a Carpenter descendant from California. He traced his line to > Georgia, to a John T. Carpenter who was born in NC. He could not trace any > further back. He suspected that he was descended from a Lincoln County > Carpenter but could only find circumstancial evidence. He talked me into > having my DNA tested. If we matched we could surmise that he was related in > the manner he suspected. We did in fact match with only one marker off. We > have since concluded that he belongs to our Carpenter family. We are > encouraging other Carpenters from this area to have their DNA tested so that > we might prove that all the descendants of the earliest Carpenter/Zimmermans > are closely related. So far three of us have matched. We need, like Mr. > Cosner, more people to be tested. I encourage anyone who is interested to > get tested. > > Our test is the Y chromosone test which applies to males only. There is a X > test for females. I am not as familiar with that test except that it is > done. > > I have enjoyed all the discussions. > > Robert Carpenter > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Derick Hartshorn" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 2:41 PM > Subject: Re: [NCLINCOLN] Indian capture>>>> Melungeons > > > > One of the most recent History Channel presentations was on a subject near > > and dear to the hearts of researchers in this area: > > the Melungeon > > http://www.melungeon.org/?BISKIT=%3C$::BISKIT%3E&CONTEXT=cat&cat=10023 as > > studied in DNA. > > Abe Lincoln is said to be a Melungeon. They quote: > > > > WEIRD U.S. continues with an investigation into the Melungeons. In 1673, > > when the "first" settlers arrived in Appalachia, they discovered an entire > > group of people already living there. These people -- the Melungeons -- > > were of unknown ancestry. They had physical traits common to Northern > > Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans, as well as unique physical > > characteristics like "shovel teeth" and a prominent bump at the back of > the > > skull. Yet, where had they come from? Were they descendants of early > > sailors? Were they a lost colony that no one knew about? Today, many > people > > in the south think of Melungeons as little more than mythical trolls who > > lived in the mountains. Yet, the Melungeons were real and their ancestors > > are alive and well. The WEIRD U.S. team undertakes the mission of figuring > > out who these people really were utilizing modern DNA testing procedures. > > [see www.historychannel.com for listings]. > > > > --Derick > > > > > > > > At 02:25 PM 12/14/2004, [email protected] wrote: > > >Right on, Crystal. You've just described the process of genealogical > > >research whether we are looking for Indian, Polish, Italian, or > > >fill-in-the-blank ancestors. Most of us on this List are wandering around > > >out there with you! > > > > > >The original inquiry produced some interesting exchanges, and I've > enjoyed > > >the messages. > > > > > >Kathy Sullivan > > > > > >>In a message dated 12/14/2004 11:07:03 AM Eastern Standard Time, > > >>[email protected] writes: > > >> > > >>Almost any family lore that includes Indian relationships or experiences > > >>requires cautious (skeptical) examination. > > >> > > >>Kathy Sullivan > > >>********************************************* > > >> > > >>My family, both sides, have told stories over the years of our Indian > > >>heritage. I do believe there is Indian blood, but do I believe it > exactly > > >>as it has been carried? No. I believe you have to look under stones not > > >>yet turned over. I believe you have to definitely read between the > lines. > > >>Go places no one else has gone. All of this is necessary in tracking > > >>down Indian Ancestors. Even then, there is a strong possibility that > what > > >>you know in your heart to be true, may never be proven. There were too > > >>many secrets. Too much shame placed. Too much running from the truth. > > >>Crystal Murphy > > >>Lincoln Co. NC Descendant > > >>Wandering around in search of lost Ancestors > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > >==== NCLINCOL Mailing List ==== > > >==== LINCOLN Co., NC Mailing List ==== > > >Sharing information on Historic Lincoln Co., NC > > >For further info, see www.rootsweb.com/~nclincol/nclincoln.htm > > >Our thanks to RootsWeb for hosting this list and web page > > > > > > > > > > > ==== NCLINCOL Mailing List ==== > > ==== LINCOLN Co., NC Mailing List ==== > > Sharing information on Historic Lincoln Co., NC > > For further info, see www.rootsweb.com/~nclincol/nclincoln.htm > > Our thanks to RootsWeb for hosting this list and web page > > > > > ==== NCLINCOL Mailing List ==== > ==== LINCOLN Co., NC Mailing List ==== > Sharing information on Historic Lincoln Co., NC > For further info, see www.rootsweb.com/~nclincol/nclincoln.htm > Our thanks to RootsWeb for hosting this list and web page > >