"I have lived here at the base of
Newman's Ridge, Blackwater, being on the opposite side, for the last 71
years and well know the history of these people on Newman's Ridge and
Blackwater enquired about as Melungeons. These people were friendly to
the Cherokees who came west with the white imigration from New River
and Cumberland, Virginia, about the year 1790...The name Melungeon was
given them on account of their color. I have seen the oldest and first
settlers of this tribe who first occupied Newman's Ridge and Blackwater
and I have owned much of the lands on which they settled.. They
obtained their land grants from North Carolina. I personally knew Vardy
Collins, Solomon D. Collins, Shepard Gibson, Paul Bunch and Benjamin
Bunch and many of the Goodmans, Moores, Williams and Sullivans, all of
the very first settlers and noted men of these friendly Indians. They
took their names from white people of that name with whom they came
here. They were reliable, truthful and faithful to anything they
promised. In the Civil War most of the Melungeons went into the Union
army and made good soldiers. Their Indian blood has about run out. They
are growing white... They have been misrepresented by many writers. In
former writings I have given their stations and stops on their
way as they emigrated to this country with white people, one of which
places was at the mouth of Stony Creek on Clinch river in Scott County,
Virginia, where they built fort and called it Ft. Blackamore after Col.
Blackamore who was with them... When Daniel Boone was here hunting
1763-1767, these Melungeons were not here."