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http://www.geocities.com/ourmelungeons/jarvis.html
here are excerpts from the webpage mentioned above.
“Lewis M. Jarvis
Mr. Jarvis was born in 1829 and lived with the “Melungeons” in Hancock County. In the census records you will find him living just doors away from the Gibsons, Collins and other families called Melungeon. He was a schoolteacher in 1850 and knew Vardy Collins and wife Peggy Gibson.
1903 Interview
Hancock County Times
. . .
These people, not any of them were here at the time the first white hunting party came from Virginia and North Carolina in the year 1761– the noted Daniel Boone was at the head of one of these hunting parties . . .
About the time the first white settlement west of the Blue Ridge was made at Watauga River in Carter County, Tennessee, another white party was then working the lead mines in part of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge. In the year 1762 these hunters turned, coming through Elk Garden, now Russell County, Virginia. They then headed down a valley north of Clinch River and named it Hunter’s Valley and buy this name it goes today. These hunters pitched their tent near Hunter’s gap in Powell’s mountain, nineteen mile from Rogersville, Tennessee on the Jonesville, Virginia road. . . .
. . . “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. . .
The white emigrants with the friendly Indians erected a fort on the bank of the river and called it Fort Blackmore and here yet many of these friendly “Indians” live in the mountains of Stony creek, but they have married among the whites until the race has almost become extinct. A few of the half bloods may be found-none darker- but they still retain the name of Collins and Gibson, &c. From here they came to Newman’s Ridge and Blackwater and many of them are here yet; but the amalgamations of the whites and Indians has about washed the red tawny from their appearance, the white faces predominating, so now you scarcely find one of the original Indians; a few half-bloods and quarter-bloods-balance white or past the third generation. The old pure blood were finer featured, straight and erect in form, more so than the whites and when mixed with whites made beautiful women and the men very fair looking men. These Indians came to Newman’s Ridge and Blackwater. Some of them went into the War of 1812-1914 whose names are here given; James Collins, John Bolin and Mike Bolin and some others not remembered; those were quite full blooded.
These were like the white people; there were good and bad among them, but the great majority were upright, good citizens and accumulated good property and many of them are among our best property owners and as good as Hancock County, Tennessee affords. Their word is their bond and most of them that ever came to Hancock county, Tennessee, then Hawkins County and Claiborne, are well remembered by some of the present generation here and now and they have left records to show these facts.
They all came here simultaneously with the whites from the State of Virginia, between the years 1795 and 1812 and about this there is no mistake, except in the dates these Indians came here from Stoney Creek.”
About the above post —
I can find my Waylands in this area and I “think” I have found my Richey’s here. By Woods were further down stream closer to where the Clinch River joins the Tennessee.
Waylands were prominent in the “Primitive Baptist” Church on Stoney Creek and he mentions this creek. He also mentions the “New River”. Haven’t I heard someone talk about this river? Were the Saponi in this area?
He mentions early day Collins who were “friendly Indians”. Also the names Green and Gibson were mentioned.
vance
http://www.geocities.com/ourmelungeons/articles.html
there are a lot of articles here practically stating Melungeons are Indians.
vance
That is an awesome account. I wonder what the academics have to say about that. Oh shoot, I need to stop worrying about what they have to say about things. I believe this old guy. He was born in 1829, and he remembered what he saw, and what he knew. Why would he be lying? How could he be mistaken?
I agree. He said he was not a Melungeon himself, but that he lived around them all his life. There is no motive for him to lie.
If the who question mark about people being darker complected or swarthy complexted is the whole evidence they have collected saying Melungeons are Jews or Turks or whatever — whell that is rediculion. I comwe from a long line of mixed bloods who to the best of my knowledge never were called Melungeons. That’s how we have always looked, some darker and some lighter for several hundred years now! 🙂
Also I am curious about “New River”. That article said these “friendly Indians” came from New River. Can anybody tell me anything about “New River”? Since I have traced my Waylands here and have also found Richey’s here, I thought my Richey’s might have comoe from this New River — at least it is worth investigating. If they didn’t well, I just another blind alley and I’ve chased down a few, one more won’t do any harm. But ever since I have been looking into the “Saponi” alleyway — so far it hasn’t turned “blind” on me — and I really thought that it would have by now. 🙂
vance
Linda and Vance:
I have read Jack Goins book and most of the articles on the Melungeons. I have several of these articles on the front page of my site. I believe the beginning of the Melungeons started in the area of the Flatt River. Vardy Collins was the son of Samuel Collins who was the son of Old Thomas Collins. Many believe Old Thomas was one of the Saponi’s named in the famed Orange Co. Court Case in 1742. Old Thomas “Old Tom” was found living along the Pumumkey River of Louisa Co. Va. and sold land in 1747 moving to the Flatt River, across the border into NC.
According to Jack Goins, who is also a RIDDLE descendant, old Moses Riddle is documented in Pennsylvania Co.Va as being Indian. He believes there is also a link between the two families by marriage. ( Old Thomas sister married Moses Riddle or one of Old Thomas daughters married Moses Riddle….not sure but it would be wonderful if we could find out) Also living along the Flatt was the Gipson’s and Bunches. More families associated with the Melungeons…….first living as friendly Indians in Virginia.
Brenda
Brinda & Linda —
I gues I need a map. I don’t know where New River is. I don’t know trhe Flatt River or any of these places geographically . . . These places I guess are in East Tennessee, Western North Carolina and and Western Virginia, but maybe that eventually became West Virginia?
I need help with my geography! Once I reread everything with a map in front of me, this should make more sense. Also I need to knnow the routs of migration of the Saponi from Ohio to “Piedmont” — see I don’t know where “Peidmont” (sp?) is either. Right now these are just words to me. I am finally ready to take the next step and say I think we probably are descended from these people. It is a big step to go from saying I am researching it to I think this is where we came from.
Only now am I ready to try looking into the 18th century. I think I have more on where the Waylands were before Stoney Creey area near this Clinch River. I found it on a map, now I gotta look for the rest of these places.
Before I couldn’t find any place where my ancestors were where these other surnames were — I couldn’t connect my ancestors up with living the same places yall’s ancestors did in the Virginia area. So I didn’t read yall’s past posts as closely as I should have I guess. I was thinking they could habve lived any where. But finding this Fort Blackmore reference with ichey’s thre and Waylands too with the woods family downstrream from them on the same river maybe 100 miles made me think harder about it.
I am just discoverig what part of Virginia my ancestors came from before they went to Indiana and Arkansas. I am a few years behind yall in my genealogy research for these ancestors, so please be patient with me. 🙂
vance
Is there any way to edit my spelling? When you changed formats I lost the ability to do that. It’s a wonder anyone can follow anything I write . . .
NEW RIVER
A rugged, white water river, flowing northward through deep canyons, the New River is among the oldest rivers on the continent.
Located in southern West Virginia, It flowes through Virginia and into North Carolina.
FLATT RIVER
http://home.attbi.com/~p.a.miller/genealogy/narr/danieljames.htm
About 1/4 way down this site is a map. It points out where the Flatt River Baptist Church was and also the North Fork of Flatt River.
Hope this helps.
Brenda
Vance,
I have no problem following what you type, as your words always come straight from the heart. 🙂
CoheeLady
I checked out the time line mentioned.
“1773
– Fort Blackmore is built by Capt. John Blackmore
– Daniel Boone & Capt. William Russell meet in the Clinch Valley to plan a
settlement in Kentucky.
– (9/25/73) Boone, his family, and 5 other families depart for Ky.
– Jonathan Wood & James Davidson (his brother in law) move to the site
of the 1st settlement in Scott Co. (Big Moccasin Valley)
– Charles Kilgore moves to Scott Co. and joins Patrick Porter at Falls Creek.
– Col. Richard Henderson retires as N.Carolina Judge and steps up his plans
to acquire and speculate on a large tract of Kentucky land
– James Boone & Henry Russell (and party) are ambushed and killed by Indians
atop Powell Mtn. near the Lee Co. line.
– Boone and family return to Moore’s Ft.(Castlewood) to spend the winter.
– Fall – Shawnee grow increasingly more hostile, a general out-break seems eminent.”
My ancestor Isaac Crabtree and his brother were with Boone’s son and others when they were ambushed. All were killed except Isaac and the two slaves that were with them. The indians wanted to capture the slaves to sell them. Later while returning with the one captured slave, two indians got into a fight over who was going to receive the money on the sale of the slave. The indian raiding party leader decided to end the disagreement by killing the slave.
Isaac and the other slave were the only survivors. Isaac was wounded. When healed, he vowed vengence.
Ironic, since my Crabtree line is supposed to have indian blood in it. I have not been able to find it yet.
White Hawk,
I have Patrick Porter in my line. My gr.gr.gr. grandmother, Catherine Porter Carter was the granddaughter of Patrick Porter. Also she was the granddaughter of Joseph Carter, one of the three Carter brothers that built Carter Fort in the Rys Cove, Scott Co. VA.
Jim
Vance and All,
You’ve probably already seen this page but I’ll repost it anyway for any who have not. It’s the Stony Creek Baptist Church Minutes (Fort Blackmore Scott Co VA) from 1801-1814. Many of the names that we’re all researching; Gibsons, Collins, Nevel Wayland (Clerk for the Church), Wilson, and my Joseph Carter are all mentioned. Also, Sexton and my gr.gr.gr.gr. grandfather, Presley Carter.
Bill Childs,
Didn’t I hear you mention the name Flannery recently? They’re refered to here too. Here’s the link: http://searches.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/archives/va/scott/church/stonycrk.txt
Jim
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