[Ditter]

I am fascinated by the Melungeons. I wish I knew more. My paternal grandfather's family came from that part of the country, central Tennessee. He was sort of a strange looking man, dark hair, light eyes, tall and thin. He died at about 90+ and only had a couple of gray hairs in his head. I have always wondered if he was one of them but he died in about 1959 and I had never heard of Melungeons until a few years ago.

[RegulatorCountry]

There is a genetic project or two going on, or was. Clues in behavior and speech, too. Sort of restless, moved a lot outside of their, what, strongholds in VA, TN and NC? Not sure if that’s the right word. So-called “shovel teeth” are a physical trait, claiming to be “Black Dutch” or “Portugee” would be a linguistic clue.

I’ve got a few genealogical lines with strong ties to the group, most notably Sizemore.

[centurion316]

In the South, Melungeons was often used to explain away the appearance of dark pigmentation within a White Southern Family. No matter the actual reason: genetic anomoly, French, Italian, Indian, or (heaven forbid) African; the Melungeon explanation was a way to avoid derogatory social gossip.

The truth is that the South was far more ethnically diverse than many of our dear sweet elderly Aunts were prepared to admit.