From Indentured Servitude to Racial Slavery

We sometimes imagine that such oppressive laws were put quickly into full force by greedy landowners. But that's not the way slavery was established in colonial America. It happened gradually -- one person at a time, one law at a time, even one colony at a time.

One of the places we have the clearest views of that "terrible transformation" is the colony of Virginia. In the early years of the colony, many Africans and poor whites -- most of the laborers came from the English working class -- stood on the same ground. Black and white women worked side-by-side in the fields. Black and white men who broke their servant contract were equally punished.

But that is not the way it remained.

To read about how this transformation happened: Click Here.

This segment is part of a larger PBS production on slavery in America. To start from the beginning: Click Here.

Final Reminder!!

The 33rd Annual Hancock County Fall Festival is this Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct 4, in Sneedville. The MHS will have a booth at the festival -- be sure to drop by if you're attending! -- and Jack Goins' new book, Melungeons: Footprints from the Past, will be available for purchase on the spot.

For more about the festival: Click Here.

For more about Jack's book: Click Here.

Hening's Statutes at Large

Being a Collection of all the Laws of Virginia
from the first session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619 [to 1792].

By: William Waller Hening

Transcribed for the Internet by: Freddie L. Spradlin, Torrance, CA.

All thirteen volumes are now online, including an index to persons named in the text adjusted to combine variant spellings under one entry.

To view: Click Here.

Appalachian Images

Realm of blue beneath the sky
Waters swiftly rushing by
Ancient land of destiny
Cloaked in green serenity
Trees stand watchful on its hills
And along its creeks and rills
Nature in a dance sublime
Measured by celestial time
Echoing throughout its glades
Whispers from its darkest shades
Mountain murmurs, heart of coal
Appalachia has a soul

Barbara Allen

Perhaps the most famous of the old Appalachian ballads brought from across the Atlantic, there are countless versions of Barbara Allen, also known as Bar'bry Allen, Barb'ry Ellen and Barbara Ellen, among other variations. It is over three centuries old. Samuel Pepys refers to it as the "little Scottish tune" in his Diaries in 1666. I's origins are somewhere in the British Isles: Scotland, England and Ireland all claim it, although Scotland is probably the most likely. Versions are found as far afield as Italy and Scandinavia, as well as the US. According to one source, there are over 98 versions of the tune in Virginia alone.

To visit a site with nine versions of the lyrics: Click Here.

To visit a site with three very old variations, presumably closer to the original: Click Here.

Don't forget, the 33rd Hancock County Fall Festival begins one week from today! Saturday, Oct. 3 and Sunday, Oct. 4. For more information: Click Here.

Greene County History and Genealogy

The present Greene County, Tennessee, located to the southeast of Hawkins County, was organized in 1783. Eleven years earlier, Jacob Brown, a merchant, with several families from North Carolina, tentatively settled on the banks of the Nolachuckey River. He secured a lease on a large tract of land from the Cherokees. Three years later, in March, 1775, an indenture was signed between Jacob Brown and the Cherokee chiefs which gave Brown title to some of the best lands on both sides of the river.

In 1776, the settlers of Watauga and Nolachucky petitioned the protection of North Carolina. The area then became The District of Washington. A year later, the District became Washington County, essentially the entire state of Tennessee.

In 1778, the first Washington County Court was convened. Between 1778 and 1783, a number of settlers came into the area.

Greene County and Greeneville were named in honor of General Nathanael Greene, a Rhode Islander who was credited with outstanding military ability. He played an important role in the American victory over the British in the South during the Revolutionary War. After the war, in 1785, the state of North Carolina granted General Greene a 25,000 acre land grant which encompassed a part of Greene County. That grant is the first recorded deed in the County.

In 1784, North Carolina ceded western lands to the Federal Government. The State of Franklin was organized, with John Sevier as the Governor, and the following year Greeneville became the capital of this short lived political entity. Four years later, the State of Franklin collapsed, and Greene County once again became a part of North Carolina.

The following year, 1789, North Carolina again ceded western lands, and in 1790 Greene County became a part of the Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River.

To visit Greene County's USGenWeb site: Click Here.

To visit a Greene County genealogical site: Click Here.

More on Buck Gibson

Buck Gibson was born about 1765 and along with Vardy Collins was called the 'head and source' of the Melungeons of Newman's Ridge. It is not known who his parents are or where he was born. He first appears in Wilkes County, North Carolina in the part that would later be called Ashe County. It is also unknown who his first wife was but it would appear he had been married before he married to Matilda Denham who was born about 1802. There has been much speculation as to who Buck's father was but today it remains speculation.

GIBSONS IN WILKES COUNTY

The first Gibson found in Wilkes County was John Gibson, son of Gideon Gibson of the Pee Dee Settlement in South Carolina. John was probably born around 1740 and married by 1767 to Agnes Adair, daughter of James Adair, Indian trader and author of "History of the American Indians" published in 1775.

To continue reading: Click Here.

To review last Thursday MHS Blog entry on the Gibson family of Louisa County, Virginia: Click Here.