Re: A. J. Jarnagin or Alex Jarnagin

I am trying to trace the lineage of my Great-Great Grandmother Tommie Jane Johankin who was the daughter of Ancil and Ellen Johnakin of Marlboro County south Carolina.I am trying to determine Tommie Jane's racial background.The picture I saw of her in 1997 revealed her to be a very tall, skinny , with a fair Complexion and very long hair .She married a black gentleman by the name of Benjamin MCrae in 1898.Some in the family say she was African and Native American.Others say she was of African and Irish descent.There is another line in the family that says she was of some East Indian descent.I have consulted with other persons researching this last nameand it seems to have really been "Jernigan", "Journigan", or Jarnigan.Apparently,generations of children who could not spell to well thought "JOHNAKIN" spelled what sound like "JERNIGAN".I see from your message that this same sort of misprounciation has taken place with the spelling of Alex's name as well.Is there any oral history in your Jarnigan family which suggests Alex Jarnigan was descended from Native Americans or from a group of mixed raced persons found throughout the South (especially Virginia, Carolinas and Tennessee) called Mulungeons?Some of the Johankin/Johnakin males listed on the 1910-1920 Marlboro county South Carolina census are named Alex.The names Evander and Anson also reappeared in these families. You mail email directly at [email protected]

Sincerely,
Geneen N. Johnson