After doing an awful lot of reading on Melungeons lately, I'm beginning to entertain the possibility that Thomas Sr.'s first wife (if there was one) might have been of this mysterious quasi-indigenous group. They are said to be a mix of American Indian (Pomunkey/Powhatan/Cherokee), Turkish Berber (North African) and what ever else came along afterward. Many of my old Payne and Monday ancestors referred to themselves as "Black Dutch." One of the earliest accounts of the Melungeon people in the mid-1600s described them as marrying, then "divorcing" frequently. Later, law forbid marriage between Melungeons and other groups. Even if, one party was also part Melungeon, but passed for white. This went on until well after 1900 and that is why many were forced to call themselves "Black Dutch, Black German and Black Irish." I am descended from Thomas Sr. and have the classic spoon shaped teeth of a Melungeon, but am white as snow. Other members of my family have symptoms of an affliction associated with a genetic defect on chromosome number 14 which has been identified with persons of Melungeon descent. I can trace back three generations of my Payne family. It is said, and I do say "said not proven" that Thomas Sr.'s first wife was Cherokee. Many early Melungeons were also simply referred to by their American Indian blood. Melungeons were known to have populated GA, SC,NC, TN and VA as far back as the early 1600s. Yes, even before Jamestown! Just another thought to pour into the kettle. Regards, Barb McCreary Visit my website at: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Hollow/9401/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Martha W. Acker <mwacker@bellsouth.net> To: <PAYNE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, September 06, 1999 5:08 PM Subject: Thomas and Yanaka Payne > The phrase In the Will of Thomas Payne, Jr. of Franklin Co. GA 1786, > " all my brothers, stepbrothers and sisters" continues to cause > problems. > > WWWEBSTER DICTIONARY on line defines stepbrother as a son of one's > stepparent by a former marriage . Now that would really make for > problems! > but > The 1755 DICTIONARY OF SAMUEL JOHNSON defines the useage of " Step" as > one related only by marriage, and > WEBSTER'S 1828 DICTIONARY defines "step-brother" as a brother in law > or by marriage > There are, I'm sure, dictionaries from 1786, but these are the two > closest ones I have access to. > > I do not believe the terminology of the will shows Thomas Payne, Jr. was > > referring to brothers, HALF brothers and sisters. I > believe he was referring to his sister's husbands. > > This in no way precludes the possibility that some siblings were "of > the whole blood" and others > "of the half blood." But the will simply does not speak to that, and > can not be used to prove it. That is something that will have to > be proven in some other way. > > In addition, the wide range of birth dates listed for Thomas > Payne, Jr.'s mother, Yanaka Ayers > Payne (everywhere from 1722 to 1744) does not preclude the possibility > that she is the mother of > all the children. This issue is very important to those striving to get > the correct ancestors > > I suggest we curtail the speculation, stay open-minded on the subject, > and keep watching for evidence that Thomas Payne, Sr. did/did not have a > > wife previous to Yanaka, and for evidence that Yanaka > was/was not mother of all of husband Thomas' children. It would be very > helpful to discover evidence either way. > > Cordially, > Martha W. Acker > > > > > > >