BLACK DUTCH: Some say that the term "Black Dutch" refers to Sephardie Jews who married Dutch Protestants to escape the Inquisition, many of their descendants later moving to the Americas, the "black" referring to their dark hair and complexions; perhaps rarely, German immigrants from the Black Forest region, e.g., "For the most part, the Black Dutch came after 1740." Others disagree and say it is doubtful that the Black Dutch were of Jewish or (Holland) Dutch heritage. Others say that no authoritative definition exists for this intriguing term. There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch'' were swarthy complexioned Germans but Anglo-Americans loosely applied the term to any dark-complexioned American of European descent. Some say the term was adopted as an attempt to disguise Indian or tri-racial descent. By the mid-1800s the term had become an American colloquialism; a derogative term for anything denoting one's small stature, dark coloring, working-class status, political sentiments, or anyone of foreign extraction. It has been used as a derogatory expression labeling German Union troops in the Civil War. Another fanciful and widely circulated explanation about the "Black Dutch'' is that they were Netherlanders of dark complexion who were descendants of the Spanish who occupied The Netherlands in the late 16th century and early 17th centuries, and intermarried with the blonde natives. However, the Dutch government's Central Bureau for Genealogy, established as a state archive and genealogical organization, is unable to offer an explanation for the term. Some genealogists have suggested that the Black Dutch were either an offshoot of the Melungeons or one of the tri-racial isolate groups in Appalachia. > > There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch" were swarthy complexioned Germans. Anglo-Americans loosely applied the term to any dark-complexioned American of European descent. The term was adopted as an attempt to disguise Indian or infrequently, tri-racial descent. By the mid-1800s the term had become an American colloquialism; a derogative term for anything denoting one's small stature, dark coloring, working-class status, political sentiments, or anyone of foreign extraction. Gordon McCann, an Ozarks folklorist, speculates that "Black Dutch" might be a derogatory expression labeling German Union troops in the Civil War. While Raymond G. Matthews, a consultant at the Family History Library, says "it is doubtful that the Black Dutch were of Jewish or [Holland] Dutch heritage (one popular theory), and Dr. Arlene H. Eakle of the Genealogical Institute in Salt Lake City stated there was "absolutely no Jewish culture tie-in" found during an in-depth genealogical study of one line that family members claimed was "Black Dutch." Another fanciful and widely circulated explanation about the "Black Dutch" is that they were Netherlanders of dark complexion who were descendants of the Spanish who occupied The Netherlands in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and intermarried with the blonde natives. However, the Dutch government's Central Bureau for Genealogy, established as a state archive and genealogical organization, is unable to offer an explanation for the term. Jared Suess, the Family History Library's Swiss specialist, believes the term "Black Dutch" probably was derived from those who came from areas in the Schwarzwald, or Black Forest of Germany, which runs along Switzerland's northern border. Back in the 1600s this forest covered a much larger area, extending to Switzerland and Bavaria

This great little treatise reminds me of a friend from Jasper, Indiana, whose family has lived here for several generations. He still switches from English to German at will and, when relaxed, makes his English so accented that you could believe he just got off the boat. He would assure you that "Schwarzies" all come from Schwarzwald. Bettie ----- Original Message ----- From: <MarkleVon@aol.com> To: <PENNA-DUTCH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 12:43 AM Subject: [PADutch] Black Dutch--Take your pick > BLACK DUTCH: > Some say that the term "Black Dutch" refers to Sephardie Jews who married > Dutch Protestants to escape the Inquisition, many of their descendants later > moving to the Americas, the "black" referring to their dark hair and > complexions; perhaps rarely, German immigrants from the Black Forest region, > e.g., "For the most part, the Black Dutch came after 1740." Others disagree > and say it is doubtful that the Black Dutch were of Jewish or (Holland) Dutch > heritage. > > Others say that no authoritative definition exists for this intriguing term. > There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch'' were swarthy > complexioned Germans but Anglo-Americans loosely applied the term to any > dark-complexioned American of European descent. Some say the term was adopted > as an attempt to disguise Indian or tri-racial descent. > > By the mid-1800s the term had become an American colloquialism; a derogative > term for anything denoting one's small stature, dark coloring, working-class > status, political sentiments, or anyone of foreign extraction. It has been > used as a derogatory expression labeling German Union troops in the Civil War. > > Another fanciful and widely circulated explanation about the "Black Dutch'' > is that they were Netherlanders of dark complexion who were descendants of > the Spanish who occupied The Netherlands in the late 16th century and early > 17th centuries, and intermarried with the blonde natives. However, the Dutch > government's Central Bureau for Genealogy, established as a state archive and > genealogical organization, is unable to offer an explanation for the term. > > Some genealogists have suggested that the Black Dutch were either an offshoot > of the Melungeons or one of the tri-racial isolate groups in Appalachia. > > > > > > > There are strong indications that the original "Black Dutch" were swarthy > complexioned Germans. > Anglo-Americans loosely applied the term to any dark-complexioned American of > European descent. > The term was adopted as an attempt to disguise Indian or infrequently, > tri-racial descent. > By the mid-1800s the term had become an American colloquialism; a derogative > term for anything denoting one's small stature, dark coloring, working-class > status, political sentiments, or anyone of foreign extraction. Gordon McCann, > an Ozarks folklorist, speculates that "Black Dutch" might be a derogatory > expression labeling German Union troops in the Civil War. While Raymond G. > Matthews, a consultant at the Family History Library, says "it is doubtful > that the Black Dutch were of Jewish or [Holland] Dutch heritage (one popular > theory), and Dr. Arlene H. Eakle of the Genealogical Institute in Salt Lake > City stated there was "absolutely no Jewish culture tie-in" found during an > in-depth genealogical study of one line that family members claimed was > "Black Dutch." > > Another fanciful and widely circulated explanation about the "Black Dutch" is > that they were Netherlanders of dark complexion who were descendants of the > Spanish who occupied The Netherlands in the late 16th and early 17th > centuries, and intermarried with the blonde natives. However, the Dutch > government's Central Bureau for Genealogy, established as a state archive and > genealogical organization, is unable to offer an explanation for the term. > > > Jared Suess, the Family History Library's Swiss specialist, believes the t erm > "Black Dutch" probably was derived from those who came from areas in the > Schwarzwald, or Black Forest of Germany, which runs along Switzerland's > northern border. Back in the 1600s this forest covered a much larger area, > extending to Switzerland and Bavaria > > > > > > > > > ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== > New lists and web sites that are about the PA DUTCH > are gladly advertised here. > > > ============================== > Visit Ancestry's Library - The best collection of family history > learning and how-to articles on the Internet. > http://www.ancestry.com/learn/library > >