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Archiver > RHEA > 1998-08 > 0902735899


From: "Johnita P. Malone" <>
Subject: [RHEA-L] Melungeons in the SE States
Date: Mon, 10 Aug 1998 00:58:19 -0700


I have also had an interest in this group of people of late and even
purchased a book about them. I found the possibilities very interesting.

I do think that there is some possibility that my Perkins, Rhea,
Thompson, Gantt, Wood, or some other one of these lines could be
connected in some way to the group called Melungeons. I have not been
able as yet to determine exactly which of these surnames it is, however.

My grandmother told that as a child her grandfather, Reuben Perkins,
taught her how to count in Indian. Well, this isn't very informative
because she didn't say which tribe, etc. I suppose that she did not
know. Her grandfather then lived in Missouri, however, he had been born
in White Co., TN. The Perkins line has been fairly well traced but other
connecting lines still have some work to be done.

Now Reuben Perkins was married to Mariah Rhea, daughter of Sebird SMITH
Rhea and Nancy Cooke. My Rhea line has much more work to be done but
they seem to have come from VA to KY and then to White Co., TN.

The evidence for this possible Melungeon descent lies more heavily on the
Perkins side even though this line seems to have been well traced.
Reuben Perkins was the son of Levi Perkins and Lucy Rhea. Lucy could
have been and probably was the daughter of John Rae and Polly Bolon (was
this Bolling at some time and is now mispelled?) of VA and Warren Co.,
TN. But again, it doesn't seem to be this line either.

Levi is described in his War of 1812 record as having black hair, dark
complexion and black eyes. Levi was the son of Ute Perkins and Sarah
Gantt. Sarah Gantt was described by a descendant some years ago in a
document written by one of her Mormon descendants as "a Holland Dutch
woman, very tall, dark complexion, black hair and black eyes." She came
from NC to White Co., TN. Her parents were William Gantt and Anna Wood.

My grandmother claimed to be part "Black Irish" whatever that means.
Anyway, you can see my problem. Was this descent from the Perkins,
Rheas, Gantts, Woods, or a combination of all of them. Behind the Rhea
line lies the surnames Pryor and Thompson.

Even more interesting to think about is why did my ancestor, Sebird Smith
Rhea, leave Tennessee at such an early time (about 1838) to go to
Missouri when he apparently had a reasonably successful life in White
Co., TN., that is, he owned property to include slaves, etc.? He was no
longer young when he left TN, that is, he had grown married children,
etc. I have yet to figure out why he needed to move on.

Anyway, it's interesting to think about.

--
Johnita P. Malone

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