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 > >
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 >