Check this site for index to Confederate and Union Soldiers: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/soldiers.htm BPW

Barbara......I'm not certain we don't have two guys named Peter here but if it is all the same guy he is a big time mover-about. Bud has him (I can't recall the source but I DON'T think it was one Bud would bet the ranch on) dying in SC about 1812. I then find a Peter unquestionably the son of Meredith, Sr. in Georgia in 1809: SCREVEN COUNTY Book A-2, p. 182. 7th day of ____, 1809 Peter Poythress, of Screven County, Ga. first part, conveys to Thomas Cleaton, second part, of Macklenburg (sic) County , Va., for 43L current money of Virginia, paid to his father, Meredith Poythress, by said Cleaton, and for one cent in United States coin, paid to Peter Poythress by Thomas Cleaton, a certain tract of land in Macklenburg (sic) County, Virginia containing 50 acres by estimation. Usual Warranty In presence of: Peter Poythress (ls) Hardy Parker, James Ponder Recorded 30th day of October 1809 Roger McKinney, Clerk (looks like Peter just got skinned out of 43L by his father and grandfather < g>) At this point, Bud and I shared a skeptical observation that even if he did die in SC in 1812 he was for sure in Georgia in 1809. Now we PERHAPS have him appearing in VA enlisting for the War of 1812 in 1814, serving, and then dying in Norfolk, VA in 1815. It would not logically fall into place for him to be enlisting in Pittsylvania County . However, if he was just dying to enlist in VA and not NC, Danville by all logic would be just right over the border. Throwing out the SC death in 1812 as undocumented, it would not be totally unreasonable to speculate that Peter returns to Virginia to enlist in 1814 and dies in 1815 (KIA?). I realize you were winging it from memory when you answered Elaine on this one and will no doubt want to get back to your papers. Mitigating FOR "your" man to be Peter son of Meredith is that Peter himself appears no more in Georgia after this one 1809 document so he could easily have returned to Virginia. As we have learned, these guys were a lot more VA-GA-AL mobile than we originally expected them to be.. Also, we have Peter's brother Cleton's 1828 Screven County will in which he bequeaths something or other to each of his brothers and sisters and brother Peter is not included, perhaps suggesting that Peter did die in 1815 or, at least was not alive in 1828 or maybe alive but not even in Georgia. And if (?) wife Lilly gets land in Arkansas it might well be an award for Peter's service in War of 1812. Otherwise, we still have Lilly hanging out there in thin air and no other connection. What it strikes me that we really need is some linkage between Peter showing in VA tax records 1800-01 as son of Meredith and again in 1809 in GA AND the Peter who enlists in Pittsylvania County, VA in 1814. I would love to wrap this one together as it would wrap Peter up without any loose ends and get him out of the speculation column. Until we do make this linkage, and barring further strong circumstantial evidence that this Peter is indeed one guy and the son of Meredith, Sr., I'm inclined to agree with your origiinal comment that we make this one a "possible." Did you find anything further when you got home? Maynard in a message dated 7/10/2002 8:45:31 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > Elaine, > > I'm travelling & don't have full info about Meredith's son Peter, but I do > have the below info, summarized as [see below for details]: > > Born about 1782 in Dinwiddie County, VA > Was residing in Mecklenburg Co, VA in 1800 & 1801 > Bricklayer > Was enlisted at Danville, [in Pittsylvania County] VA 9 Aug 1814 > Died 19 Feb 1815 Norfolk, VA > > It seems to me that, in addition to this, we've also figured out that he > was married & that his widow was named perhaps Lilly (going by memory here) > & that she got land which may have been in Arkansas -- The info about her > getting land, I think came from the (online) G.L.O., BLM records, Eastern > States Division (which, as I recall, stands for General Land Office, Bureau > of Land Management). > > I have NO marriage info for him in my database, so the above > partially-recalled additional tidbit may have just been in the catagory of > "this info seems to fit with this Peter." > > I don't recall ever learning of him having any descendants. > > Details: > He was listed twice -- in 1800 and 1801, in the "Mecklenburg County, > Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1805" Mecklenburg County, VA; > Family History Library film 1,854,098. [Again, going by memory here: I > think both times he was listed with Meredith, as his son, though maybe only > in 1800 with Meredith as his son, and in 1801 alone maybe?) > > I've also examined Peter's "Compiled Military Service Record, War of 1812" > [which records were not yet filmed as of my review and photocopying of them > on 23 Mar 1996] National Archives, Washington, DC. Notes I made from this > Compiled Military Service Record for the War of 1812 show: > > Peter Poythress, entry # 376, in 83 Regiment (Scott's) Virginia Militia, > containing only one each card for a Muster Roll and a Company Pay Roll > record, both for July 1-6, 1813 at Petersburg, VA on rolls dated 6 Jul > 1813, indicating he was present as a Private in Capt. William H. Cousins' > Co. of Riflemen, 83 Reg't Virginia Militia, War of 1812, and that his pay, > at the rate of $8 per month, was $1.33 for 5 days, > > I also got a copy of his entry in the Register of Enlistment > [Micropublication M-233, roll 10; National Archives, Washington, DC, > "Registers of Enlistment In the U.S. Army 1798-1914, Volumes 19 & 20 (P-R), > 1798-May 17, 1815"] (comments in square brackets below are my own): > > entry # 2835 > listing him as Pothress / Poythress, Peter > rank: Rect. [Recruit?] > Regiment: 20th USI[nfantry?] > height 5'4" > Blue eyes > D[ar]k hair > Lgt [Light] complexion > age 32 > Bricklayer, occupation > born Dinwiddie [under "Town or County"], VA > enlisted Aug[us]t 9, 1814 at Danville, VA by Ens. Smith and Lt. Rawlins for > period of "War" > Remarks: "D.R.[Daily Report?] Danville, Va. Augt 1814. M.R. [Muster Roll?] > Capt. Bern'd Peyton's Co. Oct 31 /14 [1814], Pesent, sick. D.R. [Daily > Report?] Feby 16, [illegible #/letter] I.R. Norfolk, Va. Mch. 15 /15 [March > 15, 1815], Died in Reg'l Hospl [Regimental? Hospital] Feby 19 /15 > [February 19, 1815]" > > Barbara

See below. I intend to answer Charlotte with the Poythress family info we have and tell her that I have posted her message on the Poythress page for any of you to comment to either "the board" at the address above or comment directly to her. Alternatively, she may wish to post a message to the Poythress group herself in which case the address is the same, Charlotte. Offhand , I'm drawing a blank on a Thomas famlly. We have plenty of Thomases except they are and were from the first generation all Christian names. If any of you can help Charlotte, please drop her an e-mail. Thanks, Maynard X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2002 21:19:44 EDT From: [email protected] To: [email protected] I intend to answer Message-ID: <[email protected]> Subject: [VAMECKLE] RE: THOMAS FAMILY > VA Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Hi, I'm hoping to find someone with info on this Thomas family. I recently received some of the info but we aren't certain of a couple of names and are missing the name of Winn/Wynn Thomas's wife. She maybe someone from the Poythress family and both Thomas and Poythress families are probably from Mecklenburg Co.. VA. Winn/Wynn Thomas m ?? children: 1-Tabitha Thomas m Roderick Wesson/Wilson June 2, 1814 2-Lutincy Winn Thomas m Leonard Thomas Nov. 3, 1824 3-Mary Ann Thomas m John Perkinson Dec. 12, 1825 4-Elizabeth Thomas m Harrison Wesson Dec. 13, 1824 If any one has info on this family please let me know, I'll be glad to share what I do have, thanks. Charlotte A.

Very interesting stuff!! I being one that is researching the "unconnected" Poythress side of the family choose to believe the DNA research. The part about so many different races mixed in you won't ever figure out the original is kinda neat.... Makes this side of the family truly original!! I guess it doesn't really matter at this point what we were then, it all boils down to who and what we are now and how we treat those around us. I could learn to like being Royalty??? Hope everyone had a wonderful 4th!! BGP--Bruce

Elaine, I'm travelling & don't have full info about Meredith's son Peter, but I do have the below info, summarized as [see below for details]: Born about 1782 in Dinwiddie County, VA Was residing in Mecklenburg Co, VA in 1800 & 1801 Bricklayer Was enlisted at Danville, [in Pittsylvania County] VA 9 Aug 1814 Died 19 Feb 1815 Norfolk, VA It seems to me that, in addition to this, we've also figured out that he was married & that his widow was named perhaps Lilly (going by memory here) & that she got land which may have been in Arkansas -- The info about her getting land, I think came from the (online) G.L.O., BLM records, Eastern States Division (which, as I recall, stands for General Land Office, Bureau of Land Management). I have NO marriage info for him in my database, so the above partially-recalled additional tidbit may have just been in the catagory of "this info seems to fit with this Peter." I don't recall ever learning of him having any descendants. Details: He was listed twice -- in 1800 and 1801, in the "Mecklenburg County, Virginia Personal Property Tax Lists 1782-1805" Mecklenburg County, VA; Family History Library film 1,854,098. [Again, going by memory here: I think both times he was listed with Meredith, as his son, though maybe only in 1800 with Meredith as his son, and in 1801 alone maybe?) I've also examined Peter's "Compiled Military Service Record, War of 1812" [which records were not yet filmed as of my review and photocopying of them on 23 Mar 1996] National Archives, Washington, DC. Notes I made from this Compiled Military Service Record for the War of 1812 show: Peter Poythress, entry # 376, in 83 Regiment (Scott's) Virginia Militia, containing only one each card for a Muster Roll and a Company Pay Roll record, both for July 1-6, 1813 at Petersburg, VA on rolls dated 6 Jul 1813, indicating he was present as a Private in Capt. William H. Cousins' Co. of Riflemen, 83 Reg't Virginia Militia, War of 1812, and that his pay, at the rate of $8 per month, was $1.33 for 5 days, I also got a copy of his entry in the Register of Enlistment [Micropublication M-233, roll 10; National Archives, Washington, DC, "Registers of Enlistment In the U.S. Army 1798-1914, Volumes 19 & 20 (P-R), 1798-May 17, 1815"] (comments in square brackets below are my own): entry # 2835 listing him as Pothress / Poythress, Peter rank: Rect. [Recruit?] Regiment: 20th USI[nfantry?] height 5'4" Blue eyes D[ar]k hair Lgt [Light] complexion age 32 Bricklayer, occupation born Dinwiddie [under "Town or County"], VA enlisted Aug[us]t 9, 1814 at Danville, VA by Ens. Smith and Lt. Rawlins for period of "War" Remarks: "D.R.[Daily Report?] Danville, Va. Augt 1814. M.R. [Muster Roll?] Capt. Bern'd Peyton's Co. Oct 31 /14 [1814], Pesent, sick. D.R. [Daily Report?] Feby 16, [illegible #/letter] I.R. Norfolk, Va. Mch. 15 /15 [March 15, 1815], Died in Reg'l Hospl [Regimental? Hospital] Feby 19 /15 [February 19, 1815]" Barbara

Yes, Elaine, N.F. Poythress was one of James E. Poythress' sons. Full name was reportedly Nathan Francis Poythress. He never married. He was the second eldest son (& 2nd child) of James E. Poythress & Catherine S. Preston, born 18 Oct 1830 per the family's Bible record (which is available online at Library of Virginia, in their online Bible records, as Accession #34866, complete with information about that record). In the 1850 Census for the 98th Regiment area of Mecklenburg Co, VA, he was listed (on 26 Sep 1850 by the enumerator) in his father's household as "Nathan" age 19, occupation "laborer." (National Archives, Washington, DC, Micropublication M432, Reel 960, sheet stamped 62, or handwirtten page number 123, dwelling 217, family 217, James Poythress household entry). By the way, his parents were both shown as age 45, father as Carpenter, no real estate; his older brother, age 21, carpenter & their 16-yr old brother was also laborer; no occupation for the younger 5 children. (ages 4-13). See Poythress website for entire list. The entire family moved, in a 6-wk trip in a wagon train, in about early 1863, to Sumter County, Alabama [News article, Mrs. Rebecca Lavender (Rebecca Poythress), "Pioneer Woman of Magic City Near To Century Mark: Celebrates Her Ninety-Fourth Anniversary With All Of Children Present," with her photograph, The Birmingham News, Birmingham, Alabama,Thursday 17 Nov 1932] The following information was gleaned from "Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations From the State of Mississippi" (National Archives, Washington, DC, Micropublication M269, roll 70, and Family History Library film number 1488095): No given name was listed for him in his Compiled Service Record, he was always shown as "N.F." N. F. Poythress was enlisted at Scooba, Mississippi [from where they lived in Sumter County, Alabama, Scooba is just across the AL-MS stateline, in Lauderdale County, Mississippi] on 25 March 1861 as a Private, Company C, Jeff Davis Legion, Mississippi Cavalry. N. F. Poythress was listed as sick in several entries. The first indication of any sickness appears on a company muster roll for July 20 to August 31, 1861, which shows he was absent on furlough on account of sickness. He was subsequently present for the following muster rolls, until the one for January and February 1862 indicates he was sent to Warenton [sic] Hospital on January 15, 1862. [BPN notes this was probably Warrenton, Virginia.] His name then appeared on reports of sick, hospitalized at C. S. A. General Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia, admitted there on 28 February 1862 with "Catarrh" [which is a name used back then for pneumonia-like illnesses]; he died there of "Pneumonia" either on 10 March 1862 (according to two of the entries), or on 11 March 1862 (according to another entry), or on 4 March 1862 (according to yet another entry). His Compiled Service Record also shows that his name appears on a Register of Effects of Deceased Soldiers, turned over to the Quartermasters, C. S. A., showing a certificate number 6449, in the amount of $9.50.

Very interesting article on the BBC website regarding Welsh being true Brits which might be of interest to some on list. <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_2076000/2076470.stm">BBC News | WALES | English and Welsh are races apart</A> http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_2076000/2076470.st m Bellinda Myrick - Barnett

Elizabeth Roderick punted me to Virginia somebody who was a clerk in Digitial Reproductions in charge of all decisions not in excess of 25 cents. She walked me through the drill that we'd have to spend $25 for the first 10 copies and .50 thereafter and it would be the same if we "came" to the library, etc. etc. Obviously, I didn't get the decision maker. As for when they are going to microfilm the stuff, I felt sure they would never store 30+ boxes of stuff rather than microfilming it. Virginia said not necessarily but you can talk to Jay Gaidmore (804-692-3629) and he is in charge of microfilming and maybe can tell you that. She was as anxious to get rid of me as I was to get another name because she was only reading the rule book. I'll phone Jay when I return Monday. But we are still going to have to get to some heavy breather before we can catch a break on this one. I'm gone to Jawja.....too early to pick cotton so I'll just eat peaches. Be back Tuesday AM. Have a nice week and week-end guys and gals. Maynard

Hi Bellinda.....I'm going to suggest we dance away from this topic as leading nowhere. I wish (once again) I had never brought it up. Last trip we were arguing race, apparently we have at least stepped up in class to "history." Would that the Madoc legend were true. Unfortunately, the vote is virtually unanimous that "Anthropologists have rejected these (claims) as fantastic" per Encyclopaedia Britannica. There are guys across the Ohio R. at the falls of the Ohio who claim even today to have evidence Madoc even showed up here. Sort of like a 12th century Elvis if one were cynical about it. However, it's going to take more than a UDC marker to convince me, as sacrosanct as I view that organization in another context. As for the "Elizabethan" reference in the report being "an error", that probably needs to be disregarded in today's world. For several centuries now virtually any English not modern gets lumped under the heading "Elizabethan"...the rule must have been something like "if you don't understand it, it's Elizabethan." In point of facts, post-Victorian is what they speak now, preceded by Elizabethan in 17th century, preceded by middle English (Chaucer who is unreadable to 99.9% of modern Americans), preceded by Old English (Beowulf, the Domesday Book, etc.), practically a foreign language but "old English." If Madoc did get here in the 12th century he would have spoken Welsh or one of its myriad dialects.. At that precise point in time the Welsh would have been long since driven west back into Wales by the invading Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Frisians plus a few Scandinavians (meanwhile those guys all having been more or less conquered themselves by the Normans 1066).. In fact the very term "Welas" means foreigner, something of the utimate insult to the "original" natives. Since no one but the Welsh understand Welsh, the reporters could very well have believed it to be "Elizabethan English." I'm afraid I need more proof before I pick up that snake, but for the sake of equinamity, I'll concede there is an awful lot of smoke swirling around the Madoc thing. Best, Maynard

I will offer some very belated comments on Barbara Poythress Neal's transcription of the Poythress v. Giles Bill of Chancery, Mecklenburg Co., Va., 1820-12. Barbara posted this transcription to us in August 2001. First, compliments to Barbara on a careful, thorough and accurate transcription. I have checked Barbara's transcription against my own set of photocopies of the case and have found no differences of substance. Second, this case shows without further doubt that John Poythress, a.k.a. Jack Poythress, is the son of Lewis Poythress and Elizabeth Giles. Edward Giles refers to John P. as his grandson. John P. refers to Lewis P. as John's father. John P. refers to Edward Giles as John's grandfather. Third, this case satisfies me that Edward Poythress is the son of Lewis Poythress and Elizabeth Giles. Here's my argument: Edward Giles names both John P. and Edward P. as heirs and as grandsons. From this case we know that John P. is the son of Lewis Poythress. *IF* Edward Poythress were not the son of Lewis Poythress and Elizabeth Giles, *THEN* Edward P.'s mother must be another daughter of Edward Giles, and his father another Poythress. Further, this supposed other daughter would have been deceased by the time Edward Giles wrote his will. Our research has revealed no other Poythress-Giles marriages and no likely prospects. On this basis, I suggest we move forward supposing John and Edward are brothers. Thanks to Craig Scott for fetching these documents from Richmond and thanks to Barbara for her hours of labor to deliver us a transcription that enabled some progress on proving our Poythress relationships. Best regards, Lyn Baird

If you want to read a full transcription of the adventures of "THE JOURNEYS OF JAMES NEEDHAM AND GABRIEL ARTHUR IN 1673 AND 1674 THROUGH THE PIEDMONT AND MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA TO ESTABLISH TRADE WITH THE CHEROKEE" go to: http://rla.unc.edu/Archives/accounts/Needham/Needham.html This is very interesting reading, BTW, though quite long. But there's not a word in this letter that states the strange "white" people they found were Christian, and I could not find anything to support the assertion that they spoke "Elizabethan English" (or any other language that a European might understand). There are some words about Spaniards, and a black people and village, but I cannot be fully sure of the context to confidently repeat what I think it said. If you want to try the authentic version use the "original letter" link. With regard to these people being Welch, I say posh! The Welch of 1100 were the original Britons -- dark haired, dark eyes, etc. And no Welshman who left the Islands in that time frame knew how to speak English -- I'm not even sure that the Angles ("English") could speak it at that time. I think that a careful read of the letter will also reveal that the two Englishmen who went on that exploration did not live to tell what they saw, and that Abraham Woods was only repeating what the Indians had told him. There's an intriguing mystery in all this to be sure, but I think the few facts that have come down to us have been distorted in the re-telling. Lou

In a message dated 7/8/2002 10:27:29 AM Central Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: > These olive- and copper-skinned people have lived in isolated pockets across > > Appalachia over the past several centuries. The Melungeons were > "discovered" > in 1654 by English explorers and were described as being "dark-skinned with > > fine European features." In April of 1673, James Needham, an Englishman, > and > Gabriel Arthur, possibly an indentured servant, came to the Tennessee > Valley > as explorers with approximately eight Indians. There, Needham described > finding "hairy people .... (who) have a bell which is six foot over which > they ring morning and evening and at that time a great number of people > congregrate togather and talkes" in a language not English nor any Indian > dialect that the accompanying Indians knew. Needham also described these > people as "hairy, white people which have long beards and whiskers and > weares > clothing...." who lived in log cabins with peculiar arched windows. Some of > > these peoples were also described as having red hair, and others with very > distinctive blue or blue/green eyes. They practiced the Christian religion > and told the explorers in broken Elizabethan English that they were > "Portyghee." > Hello, Maynard, and others discussing the Melungeon information, This, also, has probably been discussed on the list before but the latter people mentioned above as < Some of these peoples were also described as having red hair, and others with very distinctive blue or blue/green eyes. They practiced the Christian religion and told the explorers in broken Elizabethan English that they were "Portyghee." > could quite possibly be those descended from a combination of the Portugese explorers, Native American Indians and another group of individuals that were of Celtic lineage with light eyes and red/blonde and brown hair and were descendants of Prince Madoc of Wales and those who journeyed with him as colonists on his 2nd voyage to North America. There is a marker that was erected in 1953 beside a road in southern Alabama by the Virginia Cavalier chapter of the D.A.R. and that marker cites, "In memory of Prince Madoc, a Welsh explorer, who landed on the shores of Mobile Bay in 1170, and left behind, with the Indians, the Welsh language." In the second paragraph, the marker mentions another source in citing: "Authority is Encyclopedia Americana. . ." The Encyclopedia Americana says that Madoc was a "Welsh Prince who in consequence of some civil dissensions went to sea with ten ships and 300 men in 1170, and discovered America. He made a second voyage to and from this unknown land but finally was lost to the knowledge of his countrymen.. ." There were those final few last survivors of a tribe of people called the MANDAN Indians that after most had been wiped out by plague, battle or assimilation into other cultures that themselves joined with the South Dakota Sioux in the 1800s. There is actually a good deal of information that can be found regarding the way in which they lived with the very unique types of housing and boats that came out of their lifestyle in Wales. In addition to the marker in Alabama there is a commemorative marker at the port in Bristol, England, as well, commemorating Prince Madoc's voyage to what would become America. Bellinda Myrick - Barnett

Last time this subject was broached it was as if someone tossed a hand grenade in the campfire. I still say supposed Portuguese stonemasons shipwrecked off N. C. coast showing up in the mountains couple hundred miles N. W. and inland is not the origin of "Poythress" for those of you unaware of the previous fist fight on the subject. And as for being a lost tribe of Israel, I'm going to be a hard sell. Although, I will take some of their extra hair applied to my headbone...even if molecular biologist Wayne Jones does wimp out at the crucial moment of judgment for his "study.". Don't shoot, I'm only the piano player. <g> Maynard DNA Analysis Fails to Prove Melungeon Origins Who or what are the Melungeons? If you could prove the answer to that question, a lot of people would be interested. The Melungeons were first discovered in 1654, living in the Appalachian Mountain areas that are part of present-day eastern Tennessee, southwestern Virginia, and western North Carolina. There is some evidence that the Melungeons were established in those areas even before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Various researchers have speculated that the Melungeons originated in Portugal or Spain or Turkey or England, or perhaps that they were one of the Lost Tribes of Israel. So far, nobody has been able to prove where these people came from. A just-completed genetic study of some of their 15,000 to 50,000 modern-day descendants failed to find the ethnic origins of these people. These olive- and copper-skinned people have lived in isolated pockets across Appalachia over the past several centuries. The Melungeons were "discovered" in 1654 by English explorers and were described as being "dark-skinned with fine European features." In April of 1673, James Needham, an Englishman, and Gabriel Arthur, possibly an indentured servant, came to the Tennessee Valley as explorers with approximately eight Indians. There, Needham described finding "hairy people .... (who) have a bell which is six foot over which they ring morning and evening and at that time a great number of people congregrate togather and talkes" in a language not English nor any Indian dialect that the accompanying Indians knew. Needham also described these people as "hairy, white people which have long beards and whiskers and weares clothing...." who lived in log cabins with peculiar arched windows. Some of these peoples were also described as having red hair, and others with very distinctive blue or blue/green eyes. They practiced the Christian religion and told the explorers in broken Elizabethan English that they were "Portyghee." The biggest question is where did these "hairy, white people" with olive- or copper-colored skin learn Elizabethan English? They also practiced Christianity long before any other Christians were in the area. Also, where did these people learn to build log cabins with arched windows when the natives lived in tents and small huts? The Melungeons must have possessed metal smithing skills in order to make a bell at a time when American Indians possessed no such skills. Many Melungeons described themselves as "Portyghee," which gave credence to their supposed Portuguese ties. However, to the confusion of ethnologists, many spoke Elizabethan English, and the term Melungeon may refer to a French word for melange, or mixture. "Melungeon" also sounds exactly like an Arabic word meaning "cursed soul," a self-deprecating term for one who feels abandoned by God. The term was also used by 16th century Ottoman Turks and by "Conversos," Jews and Moors who converted to Christianity around the time of the Spanish Inquisition. One interesting theory is that early Melungeons were Turks, possibly Ottoman prisoners of war, who were probably taken to the New World by Sir Francis Drake in the late 1500s. One could assume that these prisoners learned English from their captors. That might explain the two languages that Needham and Arthur noted. A term paper written by Mehmet Cakir, a Turkish student at the University of Colorado, points out the many linguistic similarities between Turkish and Melungeon languages; you can read this paper at <A HREF="http://www.colorado.edu/iec/FALL299RW/can.html"> http://www.colorado.edu/iec/FALL299RW/can.html</A> . In an attempt to trace the Melungeons' genetic origins, molecular biologist Kevin Jones took DNA samples from 130 descendants and compared their mitochondrial DNA, which passes intact through maternal lines, to a gene databank. Jones' results, presented at an annual meeting of Melungeon descendants and researchers last month, found a complex ancestry that included European, Asian, Indian, African, and Native American blood. "There is nothing truly definitive about this study," Jones admitted. "Current Melungeons are so racially mixed that it will be difficult to identify their origins. As far as I can tell, Melungeons are a self-defining population, and not a genetically distinct population," said Jones. "Melungeon identity is cultural. That is very real and important, not reflected by any genetic basis, but it is still something to be quite proud of." Reacting to this study, Wayne Winkler, president of the Melungeon Heritage Association, pointed out, "One of the nice things about the DNA study is that parts of many of these various theories are still possible." Winkler then offered his own version of their origins and added, "The Portuguese traded all over the world, and they had a trading outpost in India, where gypsies originated. I've always kind of liked the fact that we have this mystery about us." You can read more about the Melungeons and their quest for information about their origins at: Melungeon Heritage Page – <A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/%7Emtnties/melungeon.html"> http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mtnties/melungeon.html</A> Melungeon Links of Interest – <A HREF="http://homepages.rootsweb.com/%7Emtnties/mlgnlinks.html"> http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~mtnties/mlgnlinks.html</A> Melungeon Heritage Association – <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Inn/1024"> http://www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Inn/1024</A> What Is a Melungeon? – <A HREF="http://www.geocities.com/mikenassau/what.htm">http://www.geocities.com/mikenassau/what.htm</A> The Melungeon Health Education and Support Network – <A HREF="http://www.melungeonhealth.org/"> http://www.melungeonhealth.org</A> The Melungeon information page for the American Local History Network – <A HREF="http://dmoz.org/Society/Ethnicity/Melungeon/"> http://dmoz.org/Society/Ethnicity/Melungeon/</A> SKMIE - Southeastern Kentucky Melungeon Information Exchange – <A HREF="http://www.bright.net/%7Ekat/skmie.htm"> http://www.bright.net/~kat/skmie.htm</A>

I was looking in the Prince George County Virginia Records 1733-1792 by Benjamin B. Weisiger III and ran across a Charles Poythress. Has anyone ever connected him? I don't see him on the Bolling Batte Study. My first incounter with the name Charles was Charles David Poythress, son of David Poythress and Sally Dortch. Quote "Case of Thomas Gibson against Drury Oliver for non payment of cost of salivateing a negro man named Peter, belonging to the defendant, on Nov. 6, 1736 and for divers medicine, plasters, ointments, and mercurial bolus's. Jury impanelled: Thomas Williams, William Gibbs, Peter Leath, Edward Mitchell, Edmond Irby, Jr., John Mason, Charles Poythress, John Eppes, John Hamlin, William Batte, John Butler, & William Crawley. Found for the defendant. Suit dismissed & plaintiff to pay costs. I wish I had already received my A to Zax dictionary. What in the world is salivateing a person? Doesn't sound very hygenic but I am sure it means something else entirely. Elaine

I was looking over the Bolling Batte Study that Nell Tims sent me a while back and in one of the notes for John Poythress from the Present State of Virginia For The Year 1714 Sampson Meredith and John Poythress were both Justice's of the Peace. I know that doesn't connect our Martha Patsy Unknown but it does link the two families indirectly. I haven't gotten to do much research lately, had 6 Mississippians come to visit and now I am getting the finishing touches done on the Information, I am taking to our Family Reunion on the 19th. I am going to attack the Meredith line when I get back. I just have this gut feeling, that is driving me crazy. I have another post to make but will make it on a seperate email. (Different subject.) Take care, Elaine

From a new site on origins of given names: > MEREDITH m,f English > Possibly "great lord" or "sea lord" from Welsh Maredudd > > Maynard

"1807 Land Lottery Registrants of Hancock Co., GA" By Nathan Mathews Georgia Genealogical Society Quarterly, pp. 74-100, Vol. 38, No. 2, Summer, 2002. Captain Coffee's District Name/# Draws to which entitled Elizabeth Poythress 1 Orphs. of Fras. Poythress 1 Note: There were 7 Georgia Land Lotteries. In only one lottery, the first in 1805, were the lists of registrants as well as "fortunate drawers" both uniformly preserved. Since as a practical matter, the 1805 lottery for those eligible amounted to a chance for "free money" (a winning ticket could be sold), the 1805 list of lottery registrants is regarded as a fairly good proxy for an 1805 Georgia census. For the other 6 (1805-1832) lotteries, contrary to the rule, a rare list of registrants will sometimes turn up in a county courthouse. Author Mathews has turned up such a list in the Hancock County Ordinary's office incorrectly labeled "Tax Digest, 1806, Hancock County" and is presenting the list as previously undocumented information. Other than revealing to us that there were no Poythress registrants in Hancock County in 1807 OTHER THAN the two above, serendipitously for us the matter is irrelevant. The two Poythress entrants above were both "fortunate drawers" and would have appeared in the 1807 public record in any case. All of the information above, as well as detailed information on multiple Poythress registrants and "fortunate drawers" in each lottery is contained in an 18 page study titled "Georgia Land Lotteries and Poythress Participants" available by request. It is digitalized and will be returned as an e-mail attachment (with corrections or additions solicited). Maynard

Maynard, I agree with your assessment: that makes no sense to me either. But maybe if they knew the copying was to be done for a group (vs. an individual), and one that is likely to post the information on the web at that, maybe they could be persuaded to make an exception. Lou -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, June 28, 2002 5:51 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Batte Papers Carol Morrison provides reliable and bad news on the matter of accessing box # 18. The library limits the number of copies one can make from this box per day, a dread scenario likely to be undone only if or when the library digitalizes the stuff and puts it on line. As quickly as they got the Batte cards up, I would hope they would do an encore with the "papers." It's almost impossible to criticize the LVA considering the trail they have blazed and are blazing with respect to putting stuff on their site but this one sounds at least a tad dumb to this guy who merely doesn't understand the reason. I'll keep pursuing it but it appears a dead end for the moment. But it's out there and I have a hunch it's going to be big. Maynard ==== POYTHRESS Mailing List ==== Poythress Geneaology Research Web http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~poythress/

Carol Morrison provides reliable and bad news on the matter of accessing box # 18. The library limits the number of copies one can make from this box per day, a dread scenario likely to be undone only if or when the library digitalizes the stuff and puts it on line. As quickly as they got the Batte cards up, I would hope they would do an encore with the "papers." It's almost impossible to criticize the LVA considering the trail they have blazed and are blazing with respect to putting stuff on their site but this one sounds at least a tad dumb to this guy who merely doesn't understand the reason. I'll keep pursuing it but it appears a dead end for the moment. But it's out there and I have a hunch it's going to be big. Maynard

How exciting!!!!!! I will be happy to pitch in on cost and anything you can think of that I can help with. I would even try to meet some of you in Virginia, if it can be arranged after October. I am not experienced enough to do that type of research by myself but would love to learn from some of you. Please keep us all posted. Elaine