[Tana]

I am interested in finding anyone who may have any type of tribal registries related to the Melungeon tribes of Eastern KY (Morgan County) and Western, West Virginia in Wayne County which used to be Kanawah County, Virginia. I am related to Adkins, Lykins, Spencers and Mills from those areas. The research I have done keeps pointing to those two tribes, but I cannot tell who were the whites and who were the Native Americans. I am fairly sure that Helena Parisade Mills (maiden name of Adkins) was Indian according to family lore and a picture I once saw of her. I do not know the tribe. I was told Cherokee by my father, but all the Adkins I can find in genealogical records where stories are recorded refer to Chickahominy or Melungeon. My dad also referred to one of his grandfathers as being a small dark man who was part Portugese, which points to possible Melungeon. can anyone point me to any research or registries where I might find out which tribe my family was from? Of course it may be more than one tribe. My grandfather was in trouble with the law and changed his name before marriage and moved away, so I do not know any of my father’s people. He was originally Tommy Ray Spencer before changing his name to Augustus Ray. The Indian blood supposedly came from Tommy’s mother’s side, although by the looks of my grandfather there could have been Indian on both sides. His life and family are a mystery I am trying to solve. All my relatives on that side that would know anything have all passed on. Any help or a suggestion of where to start would be appreciated.

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