Re: Melungeons are part Black

I was not aware of the name of the Saponi until the last year or so, and I know there is no proof on Indians being in Virginia because they were classified as Mulattos, when they weren't being classified as either black or white, According to Paul Heinegg most were already mixed with black Americans. Nevertheless there was some reason my greatgrandmother born circa 1874 would know that there were in "Indians" in Virginia and North Carolina originated in South Carolina as the Saponi are believed to be.

I have seen on line of many many people within this area of Virginia and the Carolina's saying such and such a person was a "Blackfoot".From what I have seen of the early Catawba the photos look very much like what my dad and his ancestors looked like. They have a very unique look to them.Over a decade ago I was working with the author of Touch the Earth a book on Native Americans and I mistook a dark skinned man visiting New York for my Uncle and started to ask him what he was doing there when someone told me that he was called a Lumbee Indian.I had never heard of these people beforeand this is before I had heard the Saponi/Lumbee/Catawba had once lived in South Carolina. I'm actually about to take a dna test to find out the connection.