For more than 200 hundred years the mysterious origins of the Melungeons has mystified many who were searching for facts. Recent research compiled by the Melungeon Research Committee (MRS) reveals the most probable theory thus far.N. Brent Kennedy is the founder of the MRC, and author of "The Melungeons, The Resurrection of a Proud People."Kennedy's search for his heritage led to the conception of MRC in 1992 and the in-depth research performed internationally by the MRC team. Many members of this team, including Kennedy, are Melungeon.Hancock County Historian Dr. Scott Collins is a member of MRC.Kennedy consulted frequently with Collins when writing his book.According to information obtained from Collins, the research committee has discovered that Melungeons most likely descend from 16th century settlers, Portuguese and Spanish, who were abandoned or cutoff when the English overran the Santa Elena Colony, presently known as Beaufort, S.C., in 1587.The MRC believes these settlers came to the coast of South Carolina in 1567 under the leadership of a Spanish captain, Juan Pardo. The settlers consisted of approximately 250 soldiers, their wives and children. "Several forts were built around the borders of South Carolina and Georgia, and one near Chattanooga," Collins' information states. The settlers lived in and around these forts 20 years, "until the English arrived and ran them out of the area."In addition, the research committee has reason to believe several hundred Turks and other Muslim sailors were put off ships at Roanoke Island, N.C. in 1586 by Sir Frances Drake."The evidence indicates that both (groups of settlers) intermarried with Native Americans, primarily Cherokees, Creeks, Catawba and Pamunkey," the information states, "and that the resultant populations were eventually pushed together in the mountains of western North Carolina and upper South Carolina where they merged."Members of this community would later make claims of Portuguese, Moorish, Turkish and Native American descent to disbelieving Anglo-Saxons.

The term "Melungeon," is spelled based on how it sounded to the earliest Anglo settlers, Collins said. It most likely originated from the Turkish term "Melun can," pronounced the same way. Melun can means "cursed soul," or "one who has been abandoned by God." The Melungeons could not be classified as white, black, mulatto or Indian and were categorized as free persons of color. "Their significant land holdings were confiscated, they were denied right to education, voting and judicial process, and driven either westward or higher into the mountains of the Carolinas, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia," according to information supplied by Collins.

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An interesting article. I am not familiar with the family name but understand the desire to know your Heritage.
Some one in my Family compiled a history of my ancestors with some interesting results. Apparently my family started with a Married man and his Girl friend having a son. The mom united both last names for the child creating my last name. This was in Cornwall England in the 1700's. I wont give the name because I have some distant relatives that may not know our line started with by definition a Bastard.
Any way in the 1800's my GR.Gr, GR. GR.Grand Dad had to leave England because he "Borrowed" a horse With out the owners consent. Seems people reacted badly when that happened back then.
I have all this recorded for my children to pass on their kids( or for them to BURN the evidents) as they see fit.

Signed: Roger A. L-------- Oh no you Dont!

coincidentally, i was reading an article about the Melungeons earlier today. i read that the turkish term was "Melun jinn", which meant "cursed soul". the word also is thought to be a corruption of the Afro-Portuguese word for shipmate, "melungo", or "Melange", which is French for mixture.

people believed that they were the descendants of the vanished settlers at Roanoke Island. the theory states that the settlers moved in with the Croatoan Indians, which were an Indian tribe by the Appalchian Mountains, giving reason for the tree with the word, "Croatoan" carved in it.

Another theory says that the Melungeons are the survivors of a Portuguese shipwreck in the 1700s. Early records stated that they claimed to be "Portyghee".

They are the supposed mix of three races: African, Native American, and Caucasian. They spoke in broken Elizabethean english, and did not live in Native American style dwellings.

Author Brent Kennedy states in his book, "The Melungeons: The Ressurection of a Proud People: An Untold Story of Ethnic Cleansing in America" that they came from Turkish slaves brought over by the Portuguese sailors in the 1500s. Kennedy claims in his book that those slaves joined the Cherokee tribe and gave birth to the first Melungeons. He also claims that Elvis Presley, Abraham Lincoln, and Ava Gardner may have Melungeon blood, although he has little proof to back this claim up.

Another group of people, The Jackson Whites, are told of in legends around New Jersey, are pretty much the same as the Melungeons, only up north and a few differences. the Melungeons are referred to as the "Jackson Whites' cousins to the South".

the book i read was "Weird U.S.: Your Travel Guide to America's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets" and is written by Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman. a good book by the way.

Humanities history is so amazing and interesting, there is just so very much to study and learn from!

This may help

http://www.geocities.com/ourmelungeons/davis.html

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1341824/posts

http://www.melungeons.com/articles/mysteryBurke.htm

http://www.melungeonhealth.org/websites.html