During the Spanish Armada disaster way back beyond forever, some of the Spanish soldiers washed up or were rescued by the coastal peoples of Ireland. They eventually intermarried, producing olive complexion and dark black/brown hair children. Since most Irish are pale skin w/red to blond hair and light colored eyes, these were labeled the "Black Irish." Genetically it is a recessive gene and will appear in the minority in every generation. ----- Original Message ----- From: <Rdvsr@aol.com> To: <VAWISE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2001 8:38 PM Subject: Re: [VAWISE] Mixed bloodlines (was Early Wise County) > The whole "Melungeon" history is interesting and enigmatic. Don't think > we'll ever know for certain. They certainly were a darker skinned people > with black hair and black eyes. I find them listed in 1850 census' as > "mulatto" in many counties. The census taker didn't know what to call > them. Their features were not negroid. The tradition is that the women were > very pretty. > They also did stay at the most inaccessable places, and away from the general > population as much as possible. At this time they have pretty much > disappeared into the general population. > My Mother claimed she was "black Irish" which is one of the names they used > for themselves. She surely didn't look Irish. > I have one sister with very olive skin and green/grey eyes, much darker than > the other children. I was blond and blue eyed! (before I got white haired) > People would remark about her dark skin. She was considered quite > beautiful. Worked in Hollywood as a ?"starlet" when young. > Just don't know where that dark skin came from. In all of my ancestor > tracing the only family that I know of in my history that was considered > Melungeon was the MULLINS family, and they are way up the tree. > Is an interesting question. > > > Rodney D. Veitschegger Bowling Green, KY > > >