An 1889 Account of Melungeon Origins

February 5th of 1889 Swan Burnett read his piece “A Note on the Melungeons” before the Society of American Anthropologists. It also was printed in the Boston Traveler and appeared five days later in the Atlanta Constitution. Burnett’s article was published in October of 1889, Vol. 11, pp 347-349, "American Anthropologist Magazine." [To see it: Click Here.]

After appearing in the Atlanta Constitution in February a Mr. Laurence C. Johnson wrote to the editor on March 11, 1889 with the history of the ‘Melungeons’ as he knew it. This appeared prior to [Will Allen] Dromgoole [who first published on Melungeons in 1890]. Mr. Johnson was not selling newspapers, writing an article or selling a book. It appears he was simply responding to the article by Swan Burnett and telling an honest account of the Melungeons, as he knew it. I believe this story is an important one in the way that it is told.

~Joanne Pezzullo~

To read Mr. Johnson's letter: Click Here.

This is a tantalizing Melungeon origin account which is certainly of interest; however, so far as I know, it has never been corroborated and it is unclear how it can be reconciled with the known, documented movements of the core Melungeon families prior to their arrival in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.

Which Harvey Gibson?

Submitted by MHS Board Member Katherine James

I have seen many references to various “Harvey Gibsons“ in Hancock County, TN, and particularly a mix-up in the Harvey Gibson who married Eliza Mizer families, etc. Hopefully, this will clarify the Hancock County “Harveys”.

Harvey H. Gibson, born April 9, 1902 , Hancock County, son of Jarvis and Amanda Hicks Carroll Gibson . Died June 10, 1979 in Sneedville, Hancock County, Tennessee. Buried Campbell Cemetery, Sneedville. Married Dolly Mae Tackett, daughter of Oscar Tackett and Clara? Issue:

1. Grant Huston Gibson , born November 5, 1948 in Hancock County, Tennessee.

2. Clara Louise Gibson born May 5, 1951 in Hancock County, Tennessee. Married William Grant Lamb and (2) Darryl C. Mabe.

3. Mandy Gibson married Lawrence Banks.

To read more about this and two more Harvey Gibsons: Click Here.

City-Data.com

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This site is like an answer searching for a question.

To visit this treasure trove of city and county demographic data: Click Here.

Memorial Day, 2009

Lest We Forget . . .

MHS board member and proud Melungeon descendant Cleland Thorpe of Corbin, Kentucky is one of seven brothers who fought in World War II. Two of them were killed in combat and two others were wounded. Now, Cleland's only son has served four tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Today's MHS Blog entry is dedicated to Cleland, and to his son.

Lost Colony Engravings

Previously we discussed the watercolors painted by Lost Colony Governor John White during his stay on Roanoke Island. In 1590, Theodor De Bry made engravings from John White's drawings. In his engravings, De Bry took certain liberties with White's images.

To see more of them: Click Here.

To review the MHS Blog entry on John White's watercolors: Click Here.

The Monacan Vardy

The Amherst Indian School and Mission were analogous to the the Vardy School and Church. The photograph above, taken about 1914, of the mission and school is from the Papers of Jackson Davis, MSS 3072, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library.

To see more pictures of the mission and school, and of the Monacan settlement: Click Here.

Maybe Melungeon

A Research Article
By Jack Goins, MHS VP for Heritage

This story deals with some unanswered questions on the Historical Melungeons. When and where did this name begin and who was the most likely source? The answer to these questions is based on opinions from my research. Some of my direct line ancestors were entwined in this history and some in my Goins family were among the first settlers in the Clinch area. Authors listed them as Melungeon because of various tax, court and census records. To set this story in its correct perspective the Melungeons were designated by census and tax enumerators, courts, and some of their white neighbors as free persons of color, or mulatto.

To continue reading: Click Here.