Mountain Melungeons

The Post

Big Stone Gap, Virginia · Thursday, December 17, 1959

Standing Wolf

Museum of the Cherokee Indian 

In 1853, a Raleigh newspaper ran a story that detailed the escape of The Standing Wolf and his family from the Cherokee Removal of 1838. Their journey reveals some of the strategies that Eastern Cherokee families used to stay in their beloved homelands. Newspapers and journals around the country picked up the story, and the 82 year old Standing Wolf, still at home in Wolftown, became the most famous Eastern Cherokee in America

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After painstakingly transcribing this from the Newspaper Article I found it had been transcribed in the article link below.  I needed a kleenex a few times as I was typing it out.  

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FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.

WAH-W-CATOCAH

OR STANDING WOLF

In the early history of Western Carolina, there are many incidents connected with the Cherokee Indians, that are fast passing away. The natural character of the red man, has been well established for honesty, simplicity and hospitality; and this doubtless would have been his characteristic to this day, but for the introduction by the white man, the pretended christian ital "God save the mark," of the accursed "fire water" into his wigwam and around his council fires.

Until they had been deceived and injured by the double-tongue of the pale faces that came in among them with their hypocritical pretensions of friendship, the word of an Indian was always sacred, and his promises performed with unswerving fidelity.  and the incidents we shall here detail, exhibit this trait in the character of one, who, though despoiled of his birth-right and defrauded of his natural and dearest rights by those whose power and force surrounded him, puts to the blush the bonds, securities and safeguards that the whites require of one another. 

Prior to the treaty of 1835, there lived in Haywood county, a Cherokee Indian, known as "Wah-w-catocah, or "Standing Wolf." He possessed all the characteristics of his tribe--honest, hospitable and umsuspecting in his native simplicity, possessing more than an oridingary share of the physical power of his race, with all the courage to make a man good and great.  But unfortunately, he procured from the white man the fatal "fire water," and soon he acquired the habit of using it to drunkenness whenever it was to be obtained.  When intoxicated, he was a terror to his race; boisterous, violent and full of revenge.  All who knew him, feared and shunned him; all the good qualities of the Indian savage were preverted into the most fiendish and brutal passions, so much so that he lost all of that respect and confidence that he once enjoyed with both the Indian and the christians, ital who had sold him the debasing poison.  He was then an outcast! But not by the white man on account of drunkenness but because they feared ital him!

In 1837-38, the Indian country was filled with United States troops, preparatory to removing the Indians west of the "Father of waters," and being engaged to assist in this work, I kept a journal of some passing events; and although fourteen years have passed by, yet the events of those days are still fresh in my memory. 

The order of the commanding General reached our post in the night of the 3d of June, 1838, directing the officers to arrest all the Indians not ready or willing to go west. Preparations for carrying this order into effect occupied the night of the 3rd, and our company was divided into three squads.  One officer and some few men were left at the fort to take charge of the ammunition, provision, &c., while the other two divisions went out to arrest an innocent and unoffending people.  I was interpreter for one of the parties.  After we had succeeded in arousing several families from their peaceful and quiet slumbers, and arresting them, placing a guard over all that were taken, compelling each family to bid a long adieu to his humble but much beloved home--a home and country endeared to them by a thousand fond associations, where they had roamed free as the air amid their native mountains, where they were born, and where rested the bones of their fathers.  Every creek, path, ravine, mountain and cave was familiar to them.  Here they had listened to the song of Whippoorwill, and dreamed of the loved and lost in the "spirit land."  All these to be abandoend, where cluster all their fond recollections, to be driven to an untried and unknown country to them, east behind, as they slowly moved off from their deserted "wigwams" leaving all that was near and dear to them-- their flocks of cattle, sheep, hogs poultry, &c., left a prey to the wild beasts of the forest, or be swallowed up by the more greedy avarice of the white man.  Here was a scene sufficient to move sympathies of the hardest heart; for my own part, I felt that it was dealing out more than death to this unfortunate, afflicted people.  

The work was continued until we came to the house of an aged Patriarch with whom I had been acquainted from childhood.  He had once lived a close neighbor to me and had done me many an honest day's work-- this was Wah-w-catocah-- and from his habits prior to his removal to this part of the nation, I feared we would have trouble with him.--Some time before his removal to where we now find him, he had fallen in with a Methodist itinerant missionary and had been happily converted to the religion of the Bible.-- this, however, was unknown to us.  When we called on him, we expected still to find the bloody savage. 

His family consisted of three grown sons, three or four daughters and a step-son.  On the arrival of the troops at his house, he and his family were told what we had come for; that the General of the Army required that he should leave all, and at once go to the Fort.  On hearing our message, it seemed that he almost sank beneath the weight of feeling that possessed him.  He gazed in silence, looking on his wife and childre; and after some moments had passed, I asked him for his fire-arms. He spoke to his sons, each one stepped to the place of deposit, went into the yard, discharged them at a tree and then handed them to me.  'See said he, my children are almost naked, and in that loom is a web of cloth.  I now beg that my wife and these little ones remain here a few days, until that web be wove out, so that we may be able to clothe them.  I and my sosn will be your prisoners and go with you, but leave my wife and these little ones, a few days, until you are near ready to leave with us for the far west, and I will come and take them to your Fort myself."

I said; "Wah-w-catocah, our commands are positive and without exceptions, yet I have heretofore found you an honest man; if I grant this request, I am responsible, and have no other security than my knowledge of you, for strict hoensty.  I will however take that responsibiltiy."

This seemed to some extent to relieve him, and leave being granted him to prepare some wood for his family, he asked permission to pray with his dear ones before the separation.  How every nerved of my sysem thrilled at this request.  We had been in service of the U.S. for near a year, with all sorts of dissipation and wickedness around us and scarcely ever a pious thought entering our minds; when this is considered and former habits of the poor Indian thought of, the reader will have some idea of the feelings it produced.  If he and his sons had met us at the door of his wigwam with arms presented, it would not have produced such excitement.  I of course unhesitatingly granted his request, and the old man took from a shelf a hymn book of the Methodist church, translated and printed in the Cherokee language; he seemed in that moment to forget all the circumstances that surrounded him, though well calculated to dismay the stoutest heard, and to make the strong voice tremble; sitll, under all this, he sang the anthems and praises of his Redeemer without a single change of voice, but with the composure, calmness and patience that a persecuted christian feels, when he knows that he in an heir of God, and a joint heir with Jesus Christ, who died that he might live.  

While this was going on, the soldiers crowded around the door of the hut, and at the closing verse he fell on his knees, his wife and family following his example he then lifted his hand towards Heaven, and plead the cause of those of his oppressors, and asked God to forgive them all their sins and prepare each one by grace divine, for admission in that "house not made with hands eternal in the heavens." 

My feelings on this occasion can never be described; such I never had before, and the impressions then made on my mind never will be removed.  

Although I was the only one present who understood the Cherokee language, yet all seemed to read the feelings of that old man's heart; and when I began to chide myself for my weakness, I looked around upon my fellow soldiers, and tears were streaming from every eye.  This day and this scene was the theme of converstation for weeks after it occurred. 

The old man and his four sons, in accordance with his promise, went on to the Fort, submitting to all the privations to which they were incident under the circumstances, with a cheerfulness seldom equalled.  On the next day the old man came to me and requested leave of absence until 12 o'clock the day following.  I told him I would try to obtain it, and went to the Major to get him off.  He refused me, but I continued to insist as the old man seemed very anxious to see what had become of his wife and children.  The Major agreed at last that he might go but that he would hold me responsible for his return; I therefore became his surety and let him off. He went home, and at the exact time he returned to the Fort and reported himself--After this, I allowed him to go to his much beloved home and return at his pleasure, and I must here say, that he never failed to be prompt in every promise he made. 

The day now being fixed for the departure of all that we had then taken, to the far west, Wah-w-catocah was directed to bring into his camp his wife and smaller children.  He went alone, promising to bring them all in. And now the test of his honesty : here he was permitted to go at large, with no bonds and no responsibility save his own word. - The reader is almost ready to say I would have forfeited my word, rather than subject myself and family to such great privations and trials.  This however, did not seem to enter the mind of the honest Indian; he had promised, and this was sufficient for him, and without stopping to think of the loss or gain, he kept it righteously. 

Reader, think, pause for a moment, consider the situation of this poor red man of the forest; he was in the midst of plenty; heaven's smiles seemed to beam upon him and upon all he possessed; he knew no restraints save those of the religion of the Bible; his wife, his sons and his daughters, that had arrived to mature age, although their skin was red, yet they too had espoused the same cause with the husband and father, and they now feel that Christ is their only hope, and heaven their only home.  Their earthly home has now to be left forever, not of their own chioce, but torn from a home they loved, where God had blessed the father, mother, brothers and sister, all together.  I can now see them in my imagination, piling up their little plunder preparing to bid it a final farewell. And as the father is busily engaged in arranging his packs, the big tear stands full in his eye, and with his tawny hands he wipes them away: he looks around on a beautiful growing crop, he remembers how providence has rewarded his toils.  His yard is covered with beautiful poultry, his fields with flocks and herds, all the product of his own honest labor.  All are to be left to the mercy of the with man, who had heretofore been his greatest enemy.  Finally, his preparation is completed; taking upon himself the largest burdens and assigning to his wife and each child their load, the big tears begin now to chase each other down their cheeks.  The old man take the lead, his wife next and the children following according to their age.  Silently they all moved out before fairly out of sight the old man turns aorund to take the last lingering look at an humble but much beloved home, and, in a whisper, he bids all that he calls home and countyr 'good-by.'  He now winds his way on to the Fort, soon to depart for the wes.  Here he joins his sons that are prisoners, and the whole family are again united.  

Their stay here was but for a few days, where they, with hundres of others, took up the line of march for hear quarters, whic hat a Calhous, Tenn.  To this place all the Cherokees from Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and Tennessee, that were removed, were brought.  The were in number about 18,000. Here were 18,000 of what were then called savages, arrested by force, all driven from their homes and congregated at this place, without the shedding of blood.  This is unparalleled in history: but such was the fact, although blood was afterwards she in the most inhuman and brutal manne, of which I may hereater give you a full and detailed acocunt, as I have all these events on record yet.  But let us now return to the subject of our story.  

Old Standing Wolf.  We parted with him, when he left for head quarters, about the 20th of June, 1838, little thinking we should ever see him again this side of that great day which is to unalterably fix all our destinies. But so it was, we met him again in August, the same year.  The transportation of the Indians could not be effected until in October or November, in consequence of low water. Having some unsettled business to attend to, I went to head quarters in August.  The settlement of my business was delayed, and I concluded on Sabbath to go out amongst the Cherokees who were encamped some three miles from Town, at a large lime stone spring called the "Rattle Snakes Spring," where I met my old friend, Wah-w-Catocah.  He just saw me, and making his way through the crowd, he seized me by the hand before I saw him.  A copious flood of tears began to flow, and he asked me to remain where I was until he brought his wife to see me.  I agreed to do so, meanwhile falling into deep thought on the scene before me, as I looked over the vast assembly then camped in the open woods.  I was not permitted long to indulge my reflections, for it seemed but a moment had passed before he returned with his wife by his side.  She gave me her hand, and with a down-cast look and faltering voice, said she was glad to see me.  Seating ourselves under the shade of a tree, the tears rolled thick and freely down the tawny face of my companions.  After some time spent in weeping, she began to relate to me the sad events that she had had to encounter since she left their old home.  "Two moons, said she, have passed since we left our own wigwam, and two of our dear little ones have gone to the sprit land; the balance of our family are sick.  We never can go to the west we must all die.  Is there no chance for us to get back to our old home?  The hope of once more seeing that lovely hunting ground, would cheer our wounded spirits more than all the vast hunting grounds of the west.  Can you help us?"  We continued the converstaion for some time, while all wept.  Reader, you may suppose that you never could be induced to shed tears for an obscure Indian family, and perhaps you might not; but I thank God that I have a heart susceptible of feeling and one that has never failed to sympathise with suffering humanity, wherever found.  I sat in silence, listening to a bereaved father and mother mourning for their lost children with that deep anguish of soul only known to those who have had such afflictions to encounter.--I had no help in store for them; I say obstacles on every side, if they attempted to escape.  But this was their only chance; so I advised them to save, of the provisions they drew, all that they could, and when they had a sufficiency to carry them to their old homes, to take the last look at the camp-fires by night, as they did their old home, and return to it and then to use for their support, any and all of the crop they left behind, as it was then my own.  It had been sold by Commissioners appointed by the Government to take charge of the property left by those forced to emigrate, and I became the owner, under one of these sales.  And could that crop or twenty more such, be wanting to give liberty,  ease and comfort to these unfortunate creatures, all would have whether it was right or wrong, and we parted.  I had but little hope of ever seeing him again.  

In a few days I returned to my wife, then in Haywood county.  I often spoke of the old Wolf and his family, and some two or three weeks had gone by and I begun to think less often of the great distress of Standing Wolf and his family, when one day my attention was attracted by a company of Indians moving on in the direction of my house. I looked intently at them, thinking the while that there seemed something about them that was familiar.  At length I recognized old Wah-w-catocah in the lead, with seventeen of his relations following him.  I went out and met them, welcomed them to my house, gave them the best I had to eat.  We then consulted what they should do.  I advised them to go among his own people, as many of them were then living a short distance off, that the Government could not remove, as they had beceome land owners and were subject to the laws of the State.  He took my advice and went to his Father, who was then living. 

Wah-w-catocah still lives; although he is well stricken in years, is in the enjoyment of good health.  He is a good citizen, his hope is yet firm and steadfast; he is no more a drunken savage, but a christian.  He and all his family belong to the M. E. Church, South; two of his sons continually occupy the sacred desk for the benefit of their red bretheren, men of strong mind and truly eloquent; and aided by Grace Divine, have done, and are doing much good for the cause of the religion among the Cherokees in this State.  And now the father, mother, sons and daughters are happy and contented, and are causing many to seek the religion which has given them so much comfort in days passed by, and which enables them to look to the future with so much hope.  They live in Haywood county, an honor to their race, and setting a Godly example even for the white man.  As for myself, if I did wrong, I hope I may yet repent; but I never have yet felt any remorse of conscience for it.  Some may blame and denounce me:- be it so.  

Murphy, N.C., Jan. 17, 1853.

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THE RETURN OF STANDING WOLF 

In 1847, Standing Wolf was among eastern Cherokee leaders named as directors of the “Cherokee Company,” a corporation chartered in North Carolina that was ostensibly formed for the “cultivation and manufacture of Sugar and Silk,” but actually devised as a mechanism to allow eastern Cherokees to operate as a state-sanctioned corporate entity and hold title to lands.18 The 1848 Mullay Roll identified Standing Wolf, age 60, and his wife Wakee (Becky), age 55, at Wolftown on Soco Creek, along with daughters Kaloneeska, Sulstiah, Oolscossity, Sittanneh and their children.19 Most of Standing Wolf’s and Wakee’s other surviving children, including Enoli, Wilson, Sam Wolf, and John Ecooih lived nearby. Wakee died at Wolftown in 1855.20

https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/b901751a-f5e3-4ec3-bce2-9ca8ee303d42/The%20Return%20of%20Standing%20Wolf.pdf

Dr. Brett Riggs presents The Return of Standing Wolf in a special webinar presented by the National Trail of Tears Association.

https://nationaltota.com/the-return-of-standing-wolf

Carter Gibson Cherokee

 

Joseph, John, and William, sons of Solomon Gibson 

son of John and Mourning Carter.  

Portuguese Indians Free People of Color & Slaves

Portuguese Indians Free People of Color & Slaves


 "FREE INDIANS IN AMITY WITH THIS GOVERNMENT"

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MITCHELL, James  and  Nancy McWHORTER
Vol 5Z pp.216-217 Lived in 1815
(he a Portuguese- she of free Indian descent-
she of Colleton District- to Charleston)

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STATE VS AMBROSIO BELMONT

The exceptions in the Act of 1740 in favor of "free Indians in amity with this Government," apply to "free Indians," and their descendants, domiciled in this State, although disconnected with any tribe of Indians; and not merely to Indians preserving a national character, and in amity with the State.

Before Frost, J. at Charleston, October 1847

This was an indictment for assault and battery.  Amelia Marchant, the prosecutrix, was offered as a witness, and was objected to, as a free colored person, and incompetent   to testify. An issue was directed, to try her status.

In support of her competency, Jacob Cohen, testified, that he had known Amelia Marchant all his life.  The family had been under the care of the witness' family.  The grandparents were free Indians, and she and her family have always passed as such.  Her grandmother was born on the premises of the witness' aunt, at Pocotaligo a hundred years ago.  She is the aunt of Thomas Mitchell, and sister of Robert --Her father, James Mitchell, was said to be a Portuguese.

 

Mr. Yeadon testified, that he knew the father and the mother of Amelia Marchant.  The family have always passed as persons of free Indian descent, not liable to capitation tax.  James Mitchell left a considerable estate.  After the death of Col. Cross, Mr. Yeadon was employed, professionally, in the partition of Mitchell's estate, when he first became acquainted with the family.  He was also retained by Robert and Thomas Mitchell, in the proceeding in prohibition, hereinafter mentioned, and then ascertained, from an examination of the records, that none of the family had ever paid a capitalization tax.

The record of an issue in prohibition, in which the City Council of Charleston were plaintiffs, and Robert Mitchell, defendant, was produced in evidence; and also a similar record, in which Thomas Mitchell was defendant.  It appeared that Judge O'Neall had granted a prohibition against the enforcement of a capitation tax upon the defendants and had ordered an issue to be made up, if the City Council were dissatisfied in which the City County Council should be plaintiffs.  At the trial of the issue no witnesses were called for the plaintiffs, and a verdict was found, that the defendants were "of free Indian descent, unmixed with African blood."  On the production of this record, Robert Mitchell was admitted as a witness at the last term.

 

-----Mr. Cohen, recalled.  Has heard his aunt and father say, James Mitchell was a Portuguese.  If he had been a mulatto, they would not have permitted Nancy to marry him.

 

The jury were instructed, that only three classes of persons are recognized in this State:  free white men under the constitution; slaves; and free persons of color; and that there is no intermediate fourth class, between the whites and slaves, enjoying peculiar rights, privileges, immunities, or exemptions.  The Act of 1740 declares that 'all negroes, Indians, mulattoes, or mestizoes, who now are, or hereafter shall to be born, shall be, and remain, forever hereafter, absolute slaves; and shall follow the condition of the mother." --"Free Indians in amity with this governmment, and negroes, mulattoes, or mestizos, who are now free," are excepted.  "If any negro, Indian, mulatto, or mestizo," shall claim his freedom, the same mode of trial is prescribed.  On such trial, 'it shall always be presumed, that every negro, Indian, mulatto and mestizo, is a slave, unless the contrary can be made to appear."

The Indians, 'In amity with this government," are excepted.  Respecting them, it is enacted, that the burden of proof "shall be on the person claiming such Indian as a slave."  "the evidence of all free Indians," like that of slaves, is admitted without oath, against slaves and free negroes, Indains, {except those 'In amity,"] mulattoes, and mestizoes."  All crimes and offenses, "committed by free negroes, Indians [except those 'in amity,'] mulattoes, or mestizoes," "shall be heard and adjudged in the same manner as is provided for the trial of crimes and offences committed by slaves." The same crime, "committed by an slave, free negro, mulatto, Indian, [those 'in amity' excepted] or mestizo" are declared capital felonies.

"Free Indians in amity with this government," it was held, referred to the tribes or nations of Indians which then occupied a large portion of the Province, whose independence and national character were recognized by the Provincial Government; and that between independent nations only, could the relation of ''amity'' properly be said to subsist; the relation of an individual to the government in whose jurisdiction he may reside, being that of allegiance.--  It was said, incidentally, in explanation of the law affirmed, for there was no evidence which required any instruction on that subject, that it might be,if a member of an independent tribe, inhabiting the State, should, during the national existence of the tribe, have separated from it and become incorporated with the citizens of the State, such Indian would be recognized as a citizen.

The jury were accordingly instructed,that the proper issue was, whether Amelia Marchant was a free white, or a free colored woman.  this question, they were told, was not to be determined by any prescribed degree of admixture between the white and degraded castes; but depended on complexion, and feature, reception in society, association, the exercise of the rights of citizen ship in voting, serving on juries, giving evidence in Court, and performing militia, or other duties proper to a free white man, and very much on character.

 

After the charge was concluded, the Attorney General moved that the jury should be instructed, as the proper issue, to enquire, "whether Amelia Marchant was of free Indian descent;" but it was refused, because  the issue pressed was immaterial; the testimony of a person of '' free Indian decent'' not being distinguishable, under the tct of 1740, from that of a person of free negro descent.

 

The Jury found Amelia Marchant to be a "free person of color."

Thomas Hall Portuguese

 Thomas Hall

MAURY COUNTY, TN - COURT - Thomas Hall, Proof of Race Affidavits

Contributor's Notes:  I would like to share these two Tennessee documents.  
Document number one is a Proof of Race affidavit document acquired by my Great
Great Grandfather Thomas Hall, on September 19, 1835, in Maury County,
Tennessee when he appeared before Justice of the Peace, James L. Crawford.

The second document seems to be a certification by William E. Erwin, Clerk of
the Court of Pleas and quarter session for Maury County, that James L.
Crawford had full authority to issue the Proof of Race document. This
document was dated October 13, 1835.

On June 26, 1843, these documents were filed in Marion County at Yelleville,
Arkansas.  

In 1850 he moved to Oregon County, Missouri and they were recorded there and
filed on February 13, 1850, by J. R. Woodside, Clerk of that county. The
documents were recorded again in Howell County, Missouri on May 5, 1890. at
9: o'clock A.M. by T.B. Carmical, Recorder.
                            
This was recorded after Thomas Hall's death on December 30, in 1888, in
Howell County, Missouri.  This was filed after his death because his
children's children were expelled from school because they were dark and
caused of being Negroes.  There were several trials in Missouri and Oklahoma.  
The trials proved that they were of Portuguese descent and not Negroes.

                              

1835 Proof of Race affidavits from MAURY County, Tennessee

Recorded in Oregon County, Missouri 1850     
Recorded in Howell County, Missouri 1890

State of Tennessee Maury County
I William E. Erwin Clerk of the Court of please and quarter sessions for
said County  do hereby certify that James L Crawford  is an acting justice of
the peace in and for said County of Murry in the State of Tennessee  duly
commission and qualified according to law and that all his official acts are
intitled  to full faith and credit given under my hand and the seal of my
office at office this 13 day of October 1835  and 60 th year of American
Independence
Wm  E  Erwin clk.


Filed February 13, 1850    J. R. Woodside    Typed exactly as written:  
State of Tennessee Maury County  this day personally appeared before me James
L: Crawford one of the Justices of the peace in and for said county THOMAS
HALL and made proff by private testomony that the said THOMAS HALL is intitled
to all of the privileges of a private citizen  THOMAS HALL great grand father
on his fathers sid was a poutagee and his great grand father on his mothers
sid was a inglish - man, and THOMAS HALL grand on his fathers side was of the
poutagee desent, and his grand father on Mothers sid was an Irishman and his
own father was of the poutugee  decent and his mother was a white american
born woman.  sworn to and executed before me this the 19th dayof september
1835.    
James L. Crawford  J.P.               his                 
                            PRESCOTT   X   NUPANS   (seal)
                                      mark
                                      his
                              LONNEY   X    HALLS   (seal)
                                      mark

---

HOWELL COUNTY GAZETTE     
Aug. 23, 1906   West Plains, Missouri
 
Are They Negroes?
 
Questions About Henderson Halls  Descendants.
 
In the Indian Territory Wesley Hall -- His Children Were Excluded from the White
School..
 
 In the taking of depositions here Saturday all these facts were brought out.
In addition it was shown that Jeff Hall has photographs and locks of hair of
a number of his ancestors and he even introduced land titles which were given
members of his family in Tennessee before the war showing conclusively that
they were not negroes, for blacks could not own land in those days.
 
 Wherever they have gone the Halls have had difficulty with the school boards
for refusing to permit their children to attend the white schools. In every
instance they have won their case for they are able to prove that they are of
Portuguese origin instead of having negro blood course through their veins,
as many might believe from their appearances.

Hancocks Melungeons Part II

 

Hancocks Melungeons Part II

In the third DNA study in 2012 it was reported the Melungeons were of Sub Saharan men who mixed with European women. Two of the authors and the journalist who reported on it acknowledged half of the results showed men with European DNA, and the 'Mtdna study' consisted of just six women, with no genealogy shown. Apparently the Melungeon Heritage Association, those that are supposed to represent the Melungeon families, are using this jaded study to promote the 'African heritage' of the Melungeons. 

If you have read the previous blog on Benjamin Collins you have seen that Miss Will Allen Dromgoole reported they were Cherokee Indians.  This family carries the E haplogroup. Indians with Sub Saharan DNA.  Roberta Estes was aware of the Cherokee DNA  R1b haplogroup and 'Pre-Contact' before 2012 when she wrote a paper on it. (1) If there were Cherokee with R1b DNA PRE CONTACT then the slaves with DeAyllon in 1527 PRE-CONTACT likely left their Sub Saharan DNA also. She was also well aware of the 100 slaves who came with DeAyllon on the Pee Dee River in 1527 as well as the Portuguese who came with DeSoto in 1540 and mixed with the Native women, as told in the DeSoto Journals. (2)

I couldn't find any of this in the paper in 2012 that declared them Sub Saharan men and European women. 

Let's look at what they say in the paper about Benjamin Collins; 

• In his 1903 article, Jarvis identifies the Melungeons as Vardy Collins, Shepard Gibson, Benjamin Collins, Solomon Collins, Paul Bunch and the Goodman Chiefs p6 (3)
• William P. "Bill" Grohse, a Hancock County Historian, was the first to research these families. He published a newsletter in 1980s called “Echoes from Vardy.” In a letter to Ruth Johnson, copy provided to Jack Goins, dated 7/26/1987, he states that "true Melungeons are descendants of Vardy Collins, Solomon Collins, Benjamin Collins, Levi Collins, Jordon Gibson, Shepard Gibson, William Goodman, Edmund Goodman, Jesse Goodman, William Nichols, Zachariah Minor, (4) John Minor, and their families, also include James and John Mullins." p23
• Benjamin Collins Group - E1b1a7a Benjamin Collins is first found in Wilkes County, NC in 1787 (5) along with the other Collins males. He is then found in the same counties as the other Melungeon families culminating with Hawkins County where in the 1830 census he is listed as a free person of color. There are 5 individuals in this group, plus a match to a Goins and a Cook from Hancock County. Benjamin Collins E1b1a7a Group Ethnicity Haplogroup E1b1a7a is of sub-Saharan African origin. The records of Benjamin as a "person of color" indicate he was not entirely of European origin. Haplogroup E1b1a7a supports those records. p49
• Dromgoole reportedly stayed with Calloway Collins who stated that his grand-father was a Cherokee Chief. His Collins grandfather was Benjamin Collins who lived on Newman's Ridge and did not remove in 1835. There are no known Cherokee who lived on Newman's Ridge. The Cherokee Nation was significantly further south prior to removal in 1835. (6)
  
  
  

(1) Proving Your Native American Heritage: 

Successfully Using Y-Line, Mitochondrial and Autosomal DNA Results - Roberta Estes 2009

This sometimes becomes confusing, because the single most common male haplogroup among current Cherokee tribal members who have tested is R1b.  How can this be, you ask?  Clearly, one of three possibilities exists: 

1. The Cherokee (or those tribes who were assimilated into the Cherokee) adopted a European male into the tribe or a European male fathered a child that was subsequently raised as Cherokee.
2. The R1b ancestor was not adopted into the tribe, maintained their European/American identity but married a Cherokee individual.  This might be the case where one of the 8 great-grandparents in our example was white, and the other 7 were not.
3. There is some level of R1b admixture in the Native Population that preceded contact with Europeans that we have not yet identified. 
    https://sites.rootsweb.com/~molcgdrg/pubs/nah.htm

(2) The Portuguese People with DeSoto mixed with Native Women  1540
https://the-melungeons.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-portuguese-people.html

DeSoto Journals- Gentleman of Elvas published 1587 
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/34997/pg34997-images.html

(3) Lewis Jarvis Hancock County Times 1903

“Vardy Collins, Shepherd Gibson, Benjamin Collins, Solomon Collins, Paul Bunch and the Goodmans, chiefs and the rest of them settled here about the year 1804, possibly about the year 1795, but al these men above named, who are called Melungeons, obtained land grants and muniments of title to the land they settled on and they were the friendly Indians who came with the whites as they moved west. They came from the Cumberland County and New River, Va., stopping at various points west of the Blue Ridge. Some of them stopped on Stony Creek, Scott County, and Virginia, where Stoney Creek runs into Clinch River.

"Lewis Jarvis was a respected local attorney in Hancock County. He knew and lived among the Melungeon families on Newman's Ridge. His mother was a Collins. Without his historical notes, much of the Melungeon history would have been lost. 2012 paper p6"

(4) Ancestry.com (2011): The 1880 census lists many of these families as Portuguese. For example the Hancock County census, District 4, page 278, ED 90, page 8, page 278, ED 90, page 10 show Goins and Minor families’ racial designation overwritten from Portuguese to “W”, indicating white    2012 Paper p23

(5) Benjamin Collins is part of the Collins men found in Caswell County in 1777-78.  This part of Caswell was cut from Orange County, NC., dividing the lands of Thomas and George Gibson on the Flatt River with Thomas in Caswell and George's land remaining in Orange County.  Thomas Collins was on the Flatt River with Gibsons in 1752.  Paul, Martin, Charles and Millington Collins are on the first tax of Caswell. Solomon Collins entered service in 1778 from Caswell County, visited his kin in South Carolina, returned to find his family had 'moved west' and is next found in Georgia. 
Millington and Benjamin Collins are found together on tax list of Grayson and Giles County [Big Reed Creek] until around 1802 when Millington sold his land.  This land is part of the Person County cut from Caswell that is today home of the Person County Indians. 

(6) Dromgoole reportedly stayed with Calloway Collins who stated that his grand-father was a Cherokee Chief. His Collins grandfather was Benjamin Collins who lived on Newman's Ridge and did not remove in 1835. There are no known Cherokee who lived on Newman's Ridge. The Cherokee Nation was significantly further south prior to removal in 1835.  2012 paper p95

          This map is included for 'proof' Cherokee weren't North of that line. 

      Perhaps the authors never heard of the Treaty of Holston 1785. 

 

       Cherokee weren't in that part of Tennessee and Cherokee weren't in                             Kentucky but they had a Treaty and Boundry Line drawn                 up                                 in 1785 that went through Sneedville

This is the 1745 Jefferson - Frye Map

https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3880.ct000370/?r=0.406,0.476,0.189,0.094,0

You can follow the Cherokee Catawba Trading Route as it goes through the Flatt River through Granville County before it became Orange County up through the Saponi lands/Monks Creek to Prince George County. Most of the Indian Traders of Prince George County can be found later in Bertie County, North Carolina. 

 But these families, couldn't have been Cherokee right? 

                                            

 

 

Indian Collins Family

 

HANCOCKS MALUNGEONS

MORRISTOWN GAZETTE

Will Allen Dromgoole in Nashville American, September 8: 1890

If the writer will take the cars to Chattanooga, Knoxville, Lone Mountain then get a horse at Mulberry Gap, then Sneedville and sit on the courthouse step half an hour, he will soon discover whether or not the Manlungeons are molattos.  In case he should decide affirmatively I should advise him not to make the announcement until he is wll out of Hancock county. 

If, as he says, the Malungeons are molattos, it is a blot upon the name of Tennessee; a disgrace so black that morality would hide her face, and, shrieking, leave the world forever, for these people have children of white mothers, fathers of white blood, and sons who would silence forever the tongue that dare to call them molattos. 

I send with this a picture of one of them, Calloway Collins, who declared his father was a full-blooded Cherokee.  CALLOWAY IS AN INDIAN IF EVER ONE LIVED ON TENNESSEE SOIL.   The picture was drawn by Mr. Thomas M. Sharpe, of Nashville, and is exceedingly well done.  Calloway was a soldier belonging to the First Tennessee, under Brownlow (See Below)  and to-day draws a pension for three bullet wounds.  His daughter Dorcas (one of Mr. Sharpe's drawings) speaks for herself.  The family group is from life.  We visited this family with Mr. John Tyler, the brother of Hon. A. J. Tyler of Sneedville.  I send the pictures along with this, and my anonymous critic can see them by calling at the American office. 

      Calloway Collins, son of Jordan, grandson of                                             Benjamin Collins

Dorcas Belle, daughter of Calloway Collins,

From Will Allen Dromgoole

• Calloway Collins is an Indian if ever one set foot on Tennessee soil.  He is very fond of his red skin, high cheek-bones and Indian like appearance.

• The man's very instincts are Indian.  He sleeps in leaves, inside or out, as he feels inclined.  He smokes almost unceasingly; so often, in fact, that his wife, Ann Calloway, finds it necessary to cultivate a 'torbacy spot'' for her ''ole man ter smoke up.''

•  They have fourteen children and grandchildren, but Calloway is especially fond of Dorcas, who, he declares, "shows the Injun in her."

• 
  
  

• Old Benjamin Collins, one of the pioneers, was older than Vardy, but came to Tennessee a trifle later. He had quite a large family of children, among them Edmond, Mileyton, Marler, Harry, Andrew, Zeke, Jordon. From Jordan Collins descended Calloway Collins who is still living today and from whom I obtained some valuable information.

• old Jordan Collins, had been a healer too, — a healer and a chief; a full-blooded Cherokee chief. No doubt about that: it was on the records.
• the old Cherokee — Jordan — had been sleeping for fifty years. A Cherokee! Such he claimed, and none have yet successfully denied the claim; 
• Old Jordan was an Indian, "Soft Soul" they called him, and he had been respected by the whites. No man had ever dared call old Jordan a negro: he was a Cherokee, feared and respected as a Cherokee.

The Malungeons need no defense from me.  They can speak for themselves, and all Hancock county can speak for them.  I first saw the name in the New York Worlds, and many old gentlemen of Hancock county have corroborated the existence of the people and the correctness of the name.  And the fact that one croaker rises to dispute their existence because he has not seen them does not in the least alter the fact of their existence. 

Colonel James P. and John Bell Brownlow

Sons of the Parson Brownlow

Calloway Collins served under Colonel James P. Brownlow

Colonel Edward M. McCook, reporting on the fight at Mossy Creek, wrote: “The gallant 1st East Tennessee Cavalry, and their brave young commander, Lieutenant Colonel Brownlow, added new laurels to their brilliant reputation by the splendid sabre charge they made.” The tribute would seem to have been well deserved, for the division had been entirely surrounded by Confederate forces under Generals Martin, Armstrong and John T. Morgan, and the charge of the 1st Tennessee enabled it to break the ring and escape. It should be stated that from the time the regiment reached Nashville the regiment had been under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Brownlow.   

These links are to two court cases, Wayne Winkler and the MHA want you to believe court cases don't mean anything, people lie.  But you can believe the people who claimed, not under oath, they were colored, Negro, Mulatto, etc., or the hundres of years old DNA, or the countless armchair researchers who make presentations at their gatherings.  The testimony of people who lived around them, their neighors etc., are not to be believed, they are 'eyewitnesses to history' but their opinions don't mean chit -- just ask one of these presenters who have read a book.    

Letter to the Editor; John Bell Brownlow  Remnant Indians 

"in this paper is the true story of a small number of people to be found in a few counties of East Tennessee, as in other sections of the Appalachian region, called Melungeons or Malungeons. I have traveled horse-back before, during and since the Civil War, in the counties where these people live, and have seen them in their cabin homes and from information received independently of what *Judge Shepherd says, I am satisfled his statement is to be relied upon."    

            Judge Lewis Shepherd     BOLTON TRIAL 

"The foremost jury lawyer of East Tenn. of his generation was the late Hon. John Netherland, the son-in-law of the John A. McKinney, referred to by Lucy S. V. King, and he gave me the same account, substantially, of the origin of these people that Judge Shepherd does." 

Hon John Netherland        Illegal Voting Trial

"In my boyhood days they were called Portugese. The word Mulangeon is comparatively modern as to its general use"

"I believe there was some mixture of these Portugese with the Cherokee Indians, but not with negroes".