Just to see what might show up, I Googled ‘famous melungeons’. Anyone who has studied these people who were called 'Melungeons' might think that names like Vardy Collins, Shepard ‘Buck’ Gibson, Charles Gibson, Solomon Collins, Zachariah Minor, Micajer Bunch, or Mahala Mullins nee Collins would show up in such a search.
Most of what is shown in this search is a list of non-melungins, counterfeit melungins, if you will, photos and all.
One of the first sites to show this, is a Facebook site 'Melungeons Community'. Stated is: "Famous Melungeons, Famous politicians, musicians, actors, and celebrities of Melungeon descent." With the following 5 photos shown:
Maybe this Facebook site should change it's name to 'Phoney Melungeons'. Others add Steve Martin and Heather Locklear to this list of "Famous Melungeons".
Maybe this Facebook site should change it's name to 'Phoney Melungeons'. Others add Steve Martin and Heather Locklear to this list of "Famous Melungeons".
All this is a perfect example of the misinformation spread in the "PBKN" [Post Brent Kennedy Nonsense] era by the 'Melungeon Movement'. These people are no more descendants of the historical people who were called melungins than a piss-ant. Where are the citations ? Can't be posted, as there are none.
UPDATE : I was informed by a blog reader, that this Facebook account is using a Copywrited photo, with out the owners permission. The photo in question can be seen here. It's the small photo of Mahala Mullins' cabin. From the email I received from the Copyright owner: "
"This group is using my picture of Mahala cabin without permission 'Melungeons Unite' I personally took the picture with my camera after walking 2 miles through the woods to get there. It's on the front cover of my book "Melungeons and other Pioneer Families" copyright 2000."
"Looks like some one has 'sticky fingers' or in this case a sticky cursor. Shame, shame.........
In fact, I'll give a $100 bill to the first person who can show documented facts connecting any of these people in a direct line to the people who were historically called Melungins.
Before anymore rumors are started, I can guarantee that Newman Ridge was not named after the following person:
"History is being made with each new distortion. It behooves all those who respect history and their heritage to make every effort to control efforts of those who purposely or inadvertently exploit a proud people for their own self aggrandizement."
Jim Callahan, descendant of Mahala Mullins nee Collins, Author :
'Lest We Forget: The Melungeon Colony of Newman's Ridge'
