Sunday, June 15, 2008

Rootbound in the Hills #135:
24 April 1990

by Rocky Macy

The Melungeons were a bronze-skinned people living in the hills and ridges of southern Appalachia at least two centuries before the first white settlers arrived. While their origin oddly remains a mystery, some scholars have speculated that the race was descended from an early party of Portugese or Spanish explorers to the Americas. The word "melungo," in fact, means "shipmate" in Portugese. This year the GOWEN Research Foundation, a family organization with a Melungeon heritage, will undertake an intensive probe of all existing Spanish and Portugese records to try to determine the origin of the Melungeons. Persons with an interest in this historical and genealogical project are asked to contact its chairman, Evelyn L. ORR, at 8310 Emmet Street, Omaha, NE 68134.

Mary Ellen LEDFORD (702 Fouts Drive, Irving, TX 75061) needs help with the lineage of Curtis LEDFORD (born 1860, Marion County, AR; died after 1900, possibly in OK) and his wife, Celesta KEITH (born 1861, TX; died after 1900). Celesta was the daughter of Jesse Bean KEITH and Mary CHAMBERS. The children of Curtis and Celesta were: Rosetta (born 1879, Mt. Pleasant, TX), Emma (1882, AR), Laracenna (1884, AR), Rachel (1886, AR), Mary E. (1888, AR), Beonetta E. (1889-1891), and Pearl (1895, possibly Indian Territory). Mary Ellen will exchange information on any of the above individuals.

Dora BETHEL (188 Longmeadow Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889) is searching for information on the following individuals who might have resided around Columbus, KS, during the early years of this century: Eliza REDD, Rachel REDD, Soloman REDD, Francis Marion DAVIS, James Bertley DAVIS, Matthew DAVIS, and John Calhoun DAVIS. Any takers?

Hazel MILLS (P.O. Box 84, Orting, WA 98360) is the great-granddaughter of Many Ann JONES. Mary Ann was born 23 Feb 1849 in Ruddell Township, Independence County, AR, to Joseph and Elizabeth (Simmons) JONES. She married Henry EATON somewhere in the state of Arkansas. Their sixth child, Emma EATON, married Amos McINTYRE in northwest Arkansas circa 1892. Emma and Amos had a daughter, our correspondent's mother, in Rogers, Benton County, AR, on 14 July 1895. Hazel would like to contact any of our readers who have a knowledge of her Arkansas roots.

Mary Ann CREASON RHODE (5797 Sycamore, Rialto, CA 92376) is seeking information on James CREASON (circa 1756-1836), and his wife, Rachel. She would like to get in touch with anyone researching any CREASON, CRESON, or CREESON line. Rootbound knows a CREASON in Bella Vista. Are there others reading this?

Andrew McGEHEE (Rt. 1, Box 235, Stoutland, MO 65567) has a strong Ozark heritage with trails across Greene and Lawrence Counties in Missouri. The surnames on his four-generation chart include: CANTRELL, EDGAR, HANDY, HELMS, HENSON, KERR, LANEY, McGEHEE, RICKMAN, and WATERSON. Those researching any of the above surnames might do well to write to Andrew at his home in Stoutland.

Helen McKINNEY (Rt. 1, Box 117, Brookville, PA 15825) is collecting information on the surnames MOREY and MOWRY. Some of her kin were possibly in southeast Kansas at the turn of the century. Are their descendants still in the four-state area?

It's everywhere! It's everywhere! Carl A. PATIN (P.O. Box 180993, Casselberry, FL 32718). the editor of a family publication entitled COOK's Crier, reports that he recently received a subscription to his newsletter from a lady in Tecumseh, NE. She had read about it in Rootbound in the Hills. This old column sure gets around!

And it should get around. Rootbound is for reading, clipping, saving, and sharing. Get the Rootbound habit and keep it...and share it!

Happy hunting!

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