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DNA study seeks origin of Appalachia's Melungeons
MSNBC ^ | 5-25-2012 | TRAVIS LOLLER

Posted on 05/27/2012 4:49:30 AM PDT by Renfield

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For years, varied and sometimes wild claims have been made about the origins of a group of dark-skinned Appalachian residents once known derisively as the Melungeons. Some speculated they were descended from Portuguese explorers, or perhaps from Turkish slaves or Gypsies.

Now a new DNA study in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy attempts to separate truth from oral tradition and wishful thinking. The study found the truth to be somewhat less exotic: Genetic evidence shows that the families historically called Melungeons are the offspring of sub-Saharan African men and white women of northern or central European origin.....

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science
KEYWORDS: genetics; godsgravesglyphs; helixmakemineadouble; melungeon; melungeons
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1 posted on 05/27/2012 4:49:38 AM PDT by Renfield
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To: SunkenCiv

Ping for genetic study that might be of some interest...


2 posted on 05/27/2012 4:51:09 AM PDT by Renfield (Turning apples into venison since 1999!)
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To: Renfield
Where the White Women?


3 posted on 05/27/2012 4:53:22 AM PDT by MuttTheHoople (Democrats- Forgetting 9/11 since 9/12/01)
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To: blam

Ping...Melungeons DNA Appalachia


4 posted on 05/27/2012 4:59:24 AM PDT by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus sum)
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To: SunkenCiv

ping


5 posted on 05/27/2012 5:03:34 AM PDT by Perdogg
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To: Renfield

Is that a Melungeon in the White House?


6 posted on 05/27/2012 5:05:05 AM PDT by BigLittle
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To: BigLittle

Boy, you could stir up a hornet’s nest by pursuing that one...


7 posted on 05/27/2012 5:10:20 AM PDT by Renfield (Turning apples into venison since 1999!)
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To: Renfield

Dinah Shore?


8 posted on 05/27/2012 5:13:42 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Renfield

The article mentions 200 such communities in the eastern US. One of the larger ones, the “melange” is from southern WV was not mentioned. Scots/Irish, freed slave, and some Native American is the mix I have been told (family lore as it pops up in one branch of my family tree). Alot from WV came north to PA to work in the mills and surmanes were “Italianized” to “pass” and gain employment. It really is a fascinating story.

Now...i mentioned Family lore!?! Maybe I can now run for the Senate...OR get a sweet job at Harvard:)


9 posted on 05/27/2012 5:14:36 AM PDT by PennsylvaniaMom (Just because you are paranoid it doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.)
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To: BigLittle

No, Melungeons are Americans, you racist.*
(/irony)


10 posted on 05/27/2012 5:16:38 AM PDT by dangus
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To: Renfield
People always tell me your great-great parents are so far back you aren't that much like them. But look how much the guy looks like his great, great grandma - it's astounding.


11 posted on 05/27/2012 5:17:46 AM PDT by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: Renfield
MSNBC so naturally the basic purpose of the article is to impugne the country's racist past.
12 posted on 05/27/2012 5:17:46 AM PDT by Yardstick
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To: Renfield

My greatgrandmother’s family came from Switzerland in 1849, arriving in New Orleans that year from Genoa, Italy. Her father, who was Italian-Swiss, was very dark complected and his wife was fair, blond and with green eyes.

My greatgrandmother was divorced in the state of Ohio by her husband in 1890, who claimed she was colored, and of negro descent. She had her father’s coloring, with dark brown eyes and black, straight hair.

This was a devastating event for my grandfather, who at age 6 was sent to a boardinghouse in western Massachusetts, his father’s home state, to live among strangers while his father served with the U.S. cavalry elsewhere. My grandfather was blond, with very pale blue eyes.

Greatgrandma sought her son, reclaimed him, and they went to live in East St. Louis, where her parents maintained a business. Eventually they migrated to California. She eventually remarried happily in California to an emigrant from Austria.

My grandfather never had education beyond the 4th grade, but he eventually joined the U.S.Navy out of San Diego, taught himself to type and became the youngest CPO in WWI.

Our nation is made up of many different peoples, and their stories aren’t always happy ones or end well. Fortunately for my family, it did end well.


13 posted on 05/27/2012 5:35:13 AM PDT by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS OUR PRESIDENT)
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To: Renfield

This is my gg-grandfather's sister on mom's side. She obviously ain't white. My g-grandfather on dad's side was very dark complected too, very Indian looking.

14 posted on 05/27/2012 5:54:03 AM PDT by Free Vulcan (Election 2012 - America stands or falls. No more excuses. Get involved.)
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To: Renfield

There has never lived on this earth a person who could vouch 100% for the morals of his great great grandmother. No one knows what he is ethnically for certain except perhaps for some remote tribe and even then paternity is uncertain.


15 posted on 05/27/2012 5:54:20 AM PDT by muir_redwoods (I like Obamacare because Granny signed the will and I need the cash)
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To: BigLittle

Obama’s a Melungeon Jim.


16 posted on 05/27/2012 6:03:56 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2
>"Obama’s a Melungeon Jim.

Are you implying the Sheriff is near?

17 posted on 05/27/2012 7:03:11 AM PDT by rawcatslyentist ("Behold, I am against you, O arrogant one," Jeremiah 50:31)
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To: Renfield
I have often wondered if my paternal grandfather was of Melungeon ancestry. His family came out of Tennessee to Arkansas and the to Texas very early but we had no idea where they came from before that. Recently my brother discovered that the first family member was in Isle Of Wight Va. in the mid 1600. Pure Brit, I am guessing.
18 posted on 05/27/2012 7:15:24 AM PDT by Ditter
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To: Renfield

Why would MSNBC run this article now?.....hmmmmm....Elizabeth Warren......the old media is better at providing cover fire than a division of tanks.


19 posted on 05/27/2012 7:17:19 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Ditter

Your paternal grandfather (your father’s father) had the same Y-chromosomes as you do. You could do a Y-DNA test at Family Tree DNA or one of those, and learn more about your paternal line.


20 posted on 05/27/2012 7:28:21 AM PDT by Old_Grouch (64 and AARP-free. Monthly FR contributor.)
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