The Melungeons

melungeons.com blog

Monday, November 28, 2005

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee

Leonard Peltier Defense Committee: "Day Of Mourning Message From Leonard Peltier
Aho my relations,

I again write to you on this day of mourning as I approach the end of 3O years of deprived freedom. I am here to appease a vengeful government that has come onto our lands, committed genocide and continues to rob us of our history and culture while giving away our land, murdering, and torturing our people. I am held here because of the corruption of two countries (Canada and the United States) which illegally extradited me, and which led to an illegal conviction and imprisonment. Despite the incessant claims of this being a country of laws and an example to the world of justice, freedom, and democracy, it is obvious that this Government protects whoever it wants, and imprisons and kills whoever it wants.

My imprisonment is one key example of what lengths this Government will go to in order to achieve its goal of repressing indigenous dissent. The United States Government continually seeks to imprison all indigenous peoples on our land. The US Government has been increasing its oppressive and tyrannical tactics. All peoples rights are being eroded and fears are heightened as a tool to keep the war machine alive and increase the destruction of Mother Earth. Innocent people are dying, not only in this country, but all over the world in the name of 'democracy and freedom.'"

Sunday, November 27, 2005

11/26/2005 - Exploring Cherokee Heritage Saturday, Dec. 3 at Library - Memories - Chattanoogan.com

11/26/2005 - Exploring Cherokee Heritage Saturday, Dec. 3 at Library - Memories - Chattanoogan.com: "Exploring Cherokee Heritage Saturday, Dec. 3 at Library
posted November 26, 2005

Documenting Eastern Cherokee Heritage
Linda Woodward Geiger

Saturday, December 3, 10:00 a.m.
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library Main Branch

Ms. Geiger is a Certified Genealogical Records Specialist and a Certified Genealogical Lecturer. She has spoken at the National Genealogical Society Conference, the Federation of Genealogical Societies Conference, and is on the faculty of the Samford University Institute of Genealogical and Historical Research."

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Tongva - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tongva - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The Tongva are a Native American people originally inhabiting the area in and around Los Angeles, California, previously known as the 'Gabriele�o,' 'San Gabriele�o,' or 'Gabrielino' tribe. Tongva means 'people of the earth' in the Tongvan language. (They are sometimes referred to as the Gabriele�o-Tongva tribe.) Following the Spanish custom of naming local tribes after nearby missions, they were called the 'Gabriele�o' or 'Gabrielino' in reference to Mission San Gabriel Arcangel. Other bands were known as 'Fernande�o' after Mission San Fernando Rey de Espa�a.
The Tongva are one of only two New World peoples who regularly navigated the ocean (the other was the Chumash, a neighboring tribe located just to the north). They built seaworthy canoes, called ti'at, using planks that were sewn together, edge to edge, and then caulked and coated with either pine pitch, or, more commonly, the tar that was available either from the La Brea Tar Pits, or as asphaltum that had washed up on shore from offshore oil seeps. These titi'at could hold as many as 12 people and all their gear and all the trade goods they were carrying to trade with other people, either along the coast or on one of the Channel Islands. The Tongva canoed out to greet Spanish explorer Juan Cabrillo when he arrived off the shores of San Pedro in 1542.
The Tongva language is in the Uto-Aztecan family of languages.
Modern place names with Tongva origins include: Pacoima, Tujunga, Topanga, Rancho Cucamonga, Azusa, and Cahuenga Pass."

Sunday, November 20, 2005

LA Weekly: News: Casino Nation

LA Weekly: News: Casino Nation: "introduced in February by Assemblyman Mervyn Dymally (D-Compton), is scheduled to be heard in the Government Operations Committee on April 12.

This is only the latest controversy involving the tribe. Last October, a construction crew at Playa Vista found an Indian burial ground; so far, remains of 200 people have been uncovered. The discovery caused even more division between the two groups. Members of the Santa Monica tribe, some hired for $300 a day as monitors at the Playa site, said the find was not a big surprise and should not halt the project. San Gabriel tribe members thought otherwise, and allies of that group have filed a $525 million federal lawsuit seeking to halt the huge project"

Playa Vista

Playa Vista: "The Tongva/Gabrielino Saa'anga Village and Cemetery, also known as Ballona Wetlands or Playa Vista Development project is being destroyed. Everyday the number of Ancestors being removed is increasing. Today the number is well over 200!! Bones, jewelry and funerary objects are being removed.

Steve Soboroff, President of Playa Vista Capitol Corporation, has refused to work with the American Indian community to preserve this site. The State of California Native American Heritage Commission has issued a Cease & Desist letter, dated February 19, 2004. He has ignored the letter and has increased the number of archaeologists at the site to move the fragile remains more quickly.

We need Attorney General Bill Locklyer to step in Now!!

YOU have the power to help us save Saa'anga!!

What you can do Today: Make phone calls and send e-mails to those in power.

Dr. Knox Mellon, State of California Historic Preservation Officer
Phone: 916.653.6624
Emil: calshpo@ohp.parks.ca.gov

Bill Locklyer, State Attorney General
Phone: 916.445.4533 (message taken)

Steve Soboroff, President, Playa Vista Capital Corp.
Phone: 310.822.0074
Playa Vista: spirit@playavista.com"

Life & Times Transcripts: 05/10/04

Life & Times Transcripts: 05/10/04: "Val Zavala>> Tonight on Life and Times --

Digging on sacred ground. What happens when a major development
encounters an ancient Indian burial ground?

Robert Dorame>> That is an intact cemetery. This is a village
site. This belongs, and always has been respectively belonging,
to the Tongva people.

Val>> And then, remembering Cesar Chavez. He had a huge impact
on the health and welfare of farm workers, but is his legacy
still intact?

All that and more straight ahead on tonight's Life and Times.

Life and Times is made possible through the generous support of
the L.K. Whittier Foundation dedicated to improving the quality
of life by supporting innovative endeavors in the fields of
medicine, health, science and education.

Val>> What happens when a construction crew unearths a sacred
Indian burial ground? Well, that's what happened last fall at
the huge Playa Vista development near Marina Del Rey.
Construction crews uncovered an Indian cemetery. It wasn't a
big surprise. After all, the Tongva-Gabrieleno Indians had
lived in that area for centuries. But what to do with the
remains sparked an intense battle not only between Native-
Americans in Playa Vista, but within the tribe itself."

Tribal home of the Gabrieleno/Tongva of San Gabriel

Tribal home of the Gabrieleno/Tongva of San Gabriel: "The unearthing of over 92 Native American human remains in Playa Vista CA (between the Los Angeles Airport and Marina Del Rey)

The Playa Vista company while developing 1/3 of the Ballona Wetlands have discovered a Gabrieleno/Tongva Cemetery known to the Tongva people as Saa'angna .

SRI, (the archeological firm) that is working on the site is separating funerary objects from the remains, and have accidentally broken bones. This is completely illegal,Unjust and inhumane.

Let our ancestors rest. The meaning of Tongva is People of the Earth, if these remains are not allowed to go back to the earth as intended, our culture may never be the same....."

World Talk Radio�American Indian Movement Today: Playa Vista Dig & Remains, NAGPRA, & Santa Rosa Update

World Talk Radio�American Indian Movement Today: Playa Vista Dig & Remains, NAGPRA, & Santa Rosa Update: "Playa Vista Dig & Remains, NAGPRA, & Santa Rosa

Update

Sam Dunlap is a Council member of the Gabrielino-Tongva tribe. The Tongva people use to occupy the Los Angeles area. Sam has been a monitor at the famous and controversial site known as the Playa Vista Development. The Site has tragically yielded over 375 human remains and the count is still climbing. This site has drawn the attention and debate of Indian people, archaeologist, anthropologist and others.

You Host Marty Hiles will visit the site with Sam Dunlap to get a first hand view of this sensitive situation. Then we will interview Sam and get his perspective on the controversial surrounding his peoples land and buried ancestors.

NAGPRA-We will discuss the implications and results that the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act has had on not only museums, repositories and anthropologist, but on Indian Country.

We will discuss the Playa Vista site in L.A. where they have dug up 375 Indian remains and still counting.

Also the famous Barona Museum an Indian Living museum. Also Tribal Cultural Resource Management."

World Talk Radio�American Indian Movement Today: Playa Vista Dig & Remains, NAGPRA, & Santa Rosa Update

World Talk Radio�American Indian Movement Today: Playa Vista Dig & Remains, NAGPRA, & Santa Rosa Update: "Playa Vista Dig & Remains, NAGPRA, & Santa Rosa

Update

Sam Dunlap is a Council member of the Gabrielino-Tongva tribe. The Tongva people use to occupy the Los Angeles area. Sam has been a monitor at the famous and controversial site known as the Playa Vista Development. The Site has tragically yielded over 375 human remains and the count is still climbing. This site has drawn the attention and debate of Indian people, archaeologist, anthropologist and others.

You Host Marty Hiles will visit the site with Sam Dunlap to get a first hand view of this sensitive situation. Then we will interview Sam and get his perspective on the controversial surrounding his peoples land and buried ancestors.

NAGPRA-We will discuss the implications and results that the Native American Graves Protection & Repatriation Act has had on not only museums, repositories and anthropologist, but on Indian Country.

We will discuss the Playa Vista site in L.A. where they have dug up 375 Indian remains and still counting.

Also the famous Barona Museum an Indian Living museum. Also Tribal Cultural Resource Management."

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Age of Exploration - On-line Curriculum Guide - The Mariners' Museum - Newport News, Virginia

Age of Exploration - On-line Curriculum Guide - The Mariners' Museum - Newport News, Virginia: "Portugal led the European world in sea exploration during the fifteenth century. The golden age of discovery for Portugal lasted almost a century until the Dutch eventually seized trade routes from them. During the height of their years of exploration, the Portuguese were attempting to find a route around Africa into the Indian Ocean and eventually trade with India and the Far East.
In the fourteenth century, Portugal managed to drive the Moors out. Muslims (Moors) had controlled the better part of Portugal and Spain for centuries. In 1415, the Portuguese captured the Moorish city of Ceuta in the northern coast of Africa. From this time forward, Portugal continued to expand its influence on the western coast of Africa in order to outflank the Moors and spread Christianity.
During this timeframe, stories about a Christian king named Prestor John were circulating throughout Europe. Portuguese leaders hoped to find this legendary king to gain his support; but he did not exist. "

World Book | Features features/explorers/html/newworld_portug_ope.html

World Book | Features features/explorers/html/newworld_portug_ope.html: "Other Portuguese explorers

Click on the links below to read about other Portuguese explorers from the great age of European exploration.
Pedro Alvares Cabral
Bartolomeu Dias
Henry the Navigator
Pedro Fernandes de Queiros"

World Book | Features features/explorers/html/newworld_portug_ope.html

World Book | Features features/explorers/html/newworld_portug_ope.html: "Other Portuguese explorers

Click on the links below to read about other Portuguese explorers from the great age of European exploration.
Pedro Alvares Cabral
Bartolomeu Dias
Henry the Navigator
Pedro Fernandes de Queiros"

World Book | Features features/explorers/html/newworld_portug.html

World Book | Features features/explorers/html/newworld_portug.html: "Portuguese explorers

Click on the links below to read about important Portuguese explorers of the great age of European exploration.

Vasco da Gama
Ferdinand Magellan
Other Portuguese explorers "

Friday, November 18, 2005

History of TRADE

History of TRADE: "

To the 1st century BC
To the 15th century AD
16th - 18th century
Portugal's eastern trade
Rivals in the overseas trade
Trade winds
Spanish silver
The Atlantic cod trade
Dutch trade in the east
English trade in the east
The triangular trade
To be completed

Portugal's eastern trade: AD 1508-1595


The profitable trade in eastern spices is cornered by the Portuguese in the 16th century to the detriment of Venice, which has previously had a virtual monopoly of these valuable commodities - until now brought overland through India and Arabia, and then across the Mediterranean by the Venetians for distribution in western Europe.

By establishing the sea route round the Cape, Portugal can undercut the Venetian trade with its profusion of middlemen. The new route is firmly secured for Portugal by the activities of Afonso de Albuquerque, who takes up his duties as the Portuguese viceroy of India in 1508.



The early explorers up the east Africa coast have left Portugal with bases in Mozambique and Zanzibar. Albuquerque extends this secure route eastwards by capturing and fortifying Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf in 1514, Goa on the west coast of India in 1510 (where he massacres the entire Muslim population for the effrontery of resisting him) and Malacca, guarding the narrowest channel of the route east, in 1511.

The island of Bombay is ceded to the Portuguese in 1534. An early Portuguese presence in Sri Lanka is steadily increased during the century. And in 1557 Portuguese merchants establish a colony on the island of Macao. Goa functions from the start as the capital of Portu"

Genetics - Lumbee Indians

Genetics - Lumbee Indians: "The Lumbee Tribe Regional DNA Project in conjunction with the extensive genealogical research resources of the Huxford Genealogical Society and other Lumbee researchers will help determine (and prove) whether a participant is a descendant of a Lumbee Tribe ancestor.

Surname genetic testing is the newest tool available to genealogists. The genetic genealogy tests verify a man�s direct paternal ancestry in a quick and easy way. These tests save time, prevent mistakes and provide invaluable data for genealogists that can not be otherwise obtained.

The Lumbee Tribe Regional DNA Project is open to anyone who believes they are (or could be) descendants of a Lumbee Tribe ancestor. This project is both a Y-Chromosome (direct paternal line) and a mitochondrial DNA (direct maternal line) study. "

Sunday, November 13, 2005

The Mombasa Wreck Excavation The Santo Antonio de Tanna

The Mombasa Wreck Excavation The Santo Antonio de Tanna: "At the time of the sinking of the frigate the 'Santo Antonio de Tanna' in 1697, the Portuguese were struggling to maintain control of their few remaining factories (settlements) in the Indian Ocean, and the vital sea routes linking them with each other and with Portugal. The glory of the Portuguese discoveries and conquests of the 16th century had given way to a situation in which the Portuguese presence in the Indian Ocean was threatened by the Dutch, Arabs and the English. Whilst the British and Dutch were successfully encroaching on the Portuguese trading monopoly, the Omani Arabs were rebelling against a century of Portuguese exploitation and oppression. In 1696 this rebellion came to a head when an Arab force sailed into the southern harbor at Mombasa and laid siege to Fort Jesus, an important Portuguese stronghold. "

Ancient Sailing Ships

Ancient Sailing Ships: "Galley
Galleys are large seagoing vessels propelled primarily by oars in battle and equipped with sails for cruising. The Egyptians, Cretans, Byzantines, Arabs, and other ancient peoples all used galleys for both war and trade. However, galleys came to be known as warships. The galley was the standard European battle vessel until the late 16th century, when the sail-powered and more heavily armed galleon began to replace it.

The earliest galleys about which much is known were Greek and Phoenician warships of early classical times. The largest of these were biremes, apparently first introduced by the Phoenicians around 700 BC, who improved upon an Egyptian design. The galley had a narrower underwater hull with a high length to beam ratio. This resulted in a slender and graceful vessel, increasing power and momentum, which was important for ramming.

The Greek galley possessed a single mast with a broad rectangular sail that could be furled. The mast was stowed or lowered when rowing into the wind or in battle. The Greek galley was a true seagoing warship. It typically possessed a bronze-shod ram.

The next evolution in ships was the uniremes. This ship had a single bank of oars, undecked or partially decked. It was fast and graceful, with a high curving stem and stern. In Homeric times the unireme sometimes carried an embolon (a beak or ram).

In the 8th century BC, the bireme was created. Descendant from the unireme, it was about 25m (80') long, with a maximum beam of about 10'. The bireme had 2 banks of oars - hence its name. The Phoenician bireme had a single pole mast with a square sail and steering oars to port and starboard, with two banks of oars staggered on either side of the vessel; the upper bank situated above the lower to permit the oars of the upper bank to clear the rowers below. The vess"

The Earliest Ships: The Evolution of Boats into Ships (Conway's History of the Ship Series)
The Earliest Ships: The Evolution of Boats into Ships (Conway's History of the Ship Series)

Geneaology and archaeology of Portuguese ships at the dawning of the modern world

Geneaology and archaeology of Portuguese ships at the dawning of the modern world: "Geneaology and Archaeology of Portuguese Ships at the Dawning of the Modern World
by Francisco Alves

To speak of 'Oceans, A Heritage for the Future' was the pretence for raising the corner of a veil that had been hiding a ship from India. Although originally hidden, in 1997 it began to gain a face and a name � crowning a project begun in 1996 under the auspices of the Commission of the Pavilion of Portugal for EXPO '98 and the Ministry of Culture.

Fig 1. View of the frame in the area of the stern from the wreckage of the 15th-century ship Ria de Aveiro A. Photo: Miguel Aleluia
A project that had as a backdrop, the problem of a nau that had presumably been wrecked at the very beginning of the 17th century. Its simple wreckage, 10 meters deep on the Lisbon sandbar, recalls a terrible maritime tragedy and documents one of the most significant parts of the largest Portuguese ships known and archaeologically documented of this era."

Amazon.com: 500 Years in the Jewish Caribbean: The Spanish & Portuguese Jews in the West Indies: Books

Amazon.com: 500 Years in the Jewish Caribbean: The Spanish & Portuguese Jews in the West Indies: Books: "Editorial Reviews

Rabbi Bernard M.Zlotowitz, NY Board of Rabbis Bulletin Book Reviews, November 26, 2001
'...makes history come alive. [The book] has made a special contribution to our understanding of the Jewish Caribbean.

Book Description
Long before the Jewish settlements in North America, Sephardic Jews came to the Caribbean, first as crew members on Columbus's ships. By the 1600s, they had commercialized the sugar, rum and tobacco industries and won civil liberties that became the standards aspired to by colonial North American Jewry.This is their story, island by island, in Volum I of the author's trilogy, 'The Jews in the New World.'"

Portuguese Article Index - Portuguese Genealogy and Heritage

Portuguese Article Index - Portuguese Genealogy and Heritage: "Portuguese Genealogy Article Index



Genealogy General Genealogy Indexes Quizzes Research Journals Family History Month




GENEALOGY ARTICLES

All I Want For Christmas (Added 12/19/04)

Arquivo Distritais (District Arquives) of Portugal, Compiled by Cheri Mello

Azores Islands Church List by Cheri Mello (Added 4/26/05)

Azores Resources on the Web

Brasilian Resources on the Web

Churches on Terceira

Cousin-in-Law, by Cheri Mello"

History of Portugal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

History of Portugal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "The History of Portugal is that of an ancient European nation, whose present origins go back to the Early Middle Ages, that ascended to a great world power in the Age of Discoveries with its vast Empire. Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the European Community (now the European Union) in 1986."

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Portugal: With Madeira and the Azores (Anniversary)
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Portugal: With Madeira and the Azores (Anniversary)

Other coins of India - frame

Other coins of India - frame: "Goa
Philip I - Philip II 1580-1621

Tutenag bazaruco
2,26 gr, 13,5-14 mm
Obv.: Crowned Portuguese shield: G-A (Goa).
Rev.: Cross of the Holy sepulchre with a star in each angle.
Mitchener 1979, 1396-97


Joseph, 1750-1777
AR 1/2 pardao 1775
2,67 gram, 15 mm
Obv.: Laurete bust of king right with long hair: 1775 MEIO PARDAO
Rev.: Crowned Portuguese shield
KM 158, Mitchener 1979, 1409


AR 1 rupie 1755
11,93 gr, d=21,5-22,2 mm
Obv.: Laureate bust of king right with long hair IOZE PH IRP - 1755.
Rev.: Crowned Portuguese shield.
KM 203


AE 30 Reis 1774
21,23 gr, d=29-30 mm
Obv.: Crowned Portuguese shield
Rev.: Within laurel wreath: 30R - * G * - 1774
KM 123 "

The Official Blackbook Price Guide to World Coins 2005
The Official Blackbook Price Guide to World Coins 2005

WHKMLA : History of Portuguese India, 1640-1755

WHKMLA : History of Portuguese India, 1640-1755: "Portuguese India 1640-1755



The dynastic union holding together Spain and Portugal since 1580 was dissolved in 1640, and Portuguese independence restored (formally recognized by Spain only in 1668). The Portuguese Colonial Empire had remained an entity separate from the Spanish Colonial Empire, and remained Portuguese.

In 1661 English King Charles II. married Portuguese princess Catherine de Bragan�a. The colonies of Bombay (hitherto part of Portuguese India) and of Tanger (also called Tangiers, Morocco) made up part of her dowry; Bombay was the first foothold the East India Company, founded in 1600, but hitherto insignificant, acquired in India.

Goa suffered blockades from the V.O.C. (the Dutch) in 1638-1644 and 1656-1663; while Goa withstood the pressure (in itself an accomplishment, as Portugal did do little to assist the Goanese, her resources were mainly used to fight the Dutch in Brazil), the Dutch took Malacca in 1641 and established their dominance in the Indonesian archipelago, reducing Portugal's share in the spice trade to a minimum. The V.O.C. also expelled the Portuguese from Ceylon in 1659; the Portuguese possessions in India proper, after the loss of Malabar (the Portuguese garrison of Cochin surrendered to the Dutch in 1663) and the cession of Bombay, were reduced to Goa, Diu, Daman, Bassein and Chaul, and a number of outposts in Bengal.
The defense of Goa against the Dutch had been costly, both in fatalities and in expenses, while the profits from the India (Asia) trade had fallen rapidly. The Portuguese Empire in India entered a long period of economic decline, a phenomenon to which an administration discriminating against the non-christian (Hindu) population, and granting ethnic Portuguese privileged "

Portuguese History in India

Portuguese History in India: "PORTUGUESE HISTORY IN INDIA



The Portuguese were in power in India from 1498 and onwards. Before this time the Jews from the South of India called the Cochini Jews were highly respected and were advisers to the Maharajas They also controlled the pepper trade.

The Portuguese systematically eliminated several of the Jews and tried to take over the spice trade with the the help of the Moors. They also attacked the synagogues. A beautiful synagogue built in1568 called the Pardesi synagogue was also partially destroyed by the Portuguese in 1661. Fortunately the Dutch came into power after 1663 and the dignity and authority of the South Indian Jews was restored. The synagogue was restored and is today one of the finest memories of the Jews in India.
The Indian Jews otherwise have never been discriminated against in their more than 2000 year history in India except during the Portuguese domination in India."

Guardian of the Dawn
Guardian of the Dawn

Monday, November 07, 2005

RootsWeb: Melungeon-L Announcement From Wayne Winkler

RootsWeb: Melungeon-L Announcement From Wayne Winkler: "Sixth Union, the next Melungeon gathering, will be held Thursday - Saturday, April 20 - 22, at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium in Kingsport, Tennessee. Details will be posted here and on the MHA website (www.melungeon.org) as they become available. For more information, and for suggestions on speakers and programs, contact Wayne Winkler at winklerw@etsu.edu."

RootsWeb: Melungeon-L Fw: Weather

RootsWeb: Melungeon-L Fw: Weather: "Some of you will remember Suze who use to be on this list. When I heard a tornado had hit Evansville, IN, I wrote to see if she was alright. She sent this back this morning.

Cindy


tornado hit just a few blocks south of me. race track 75% destroyed here and 18 people died to the east of me. My daughter and I followed it's path south of here -- it was heading straight for my house when it veered to the east. That saved me. Just had things rearranged in the yard, but I have a house and life. I'm lucky. My daughter, who is 3 months pregnant, is also fine. They took cover in their bathroom. Sustained no damage -- but things were rearranged there too.

Total 23 people lost their lives last night. It hit three counties before dying out. Hit at 2 am. My dog woke me up. Thought she wanted out....got to door and realized what was happening. Sirens went off as tornado went through. The world went slate grey -- and I suspected we had a tornado.

After a wild night, the sun came out and it was weird to know so many died - like the tornado was a bad dream. But we had images all day on tv to remind us."

Saturday, November 05, 2005

Melungeons, history, genealogy, research, articles - 1st Arena article

Melungeons, history, genealogy, research, articles - 1st Arena article: "'The Malungeons'

The Arena, March 1891
Were you ever when a child half playfully told �The Malungeons will get you?� If not, you were never a Tennessee child, as some of our fathers were; they tell all who may be told of that strange, almost forgotten race, concerning whom history is strangely silent. Only upon the records of the state of Tennessee does the name appear. The records show that by act of the Constitutional Convention of 1834, when the �Race Question� played such a conspicuous part in the deliberations of that body, the Malungeons, as a �free person of color,� was denied the right of suffrage. Right there he dropped from the public mind and interest. Of no value as a slave, with no voice as a citizen, what use could the public make of the Malungeon? When John Sevier attempted to organize the State of Franklin, there was living in the mountains of Eastern Tenessee a colony of dark-skinned, reddish-brown complexioned people, supposed to be of Moorish descent, who affiliated with neither whites nor blacks, and who called themselves Malungeons, and claimed to be of Poruguese descent. They lived to themselves exclusively, and were looked on as neither negroes nor Indians."