C A V E

of

C L U E S

< C A V E of C L U E S >

This area is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

The Cave of Clues is a collection of archives allowing information in the project database to be filtered and explored in various ways. This feature is currently experimental, and you’ll continue to see it expand and evolve over the next few months. My original plan was to try to get this area into a more finished and presentable status before taking it live, but I hope making it available in its current state will encourage member feedback and ideas, which I very much appreciate. Please do not hesitate to share your input so I know which direction to take things in next! If something isn’t possible, I’ll tell you that, and if it is, I’ll try my best to make it happen (if it aligns with our mission, of course). I see this as a project we can co-create, so feedback is an integral part of the process.

I’m using Pods framework to create and connect content across the site and will refer to each of the below sections as “pods” for that reason. All the pods (ancestors, surnames, peoples, places, resources, etc.) are interconnected through relationships. The Cave of Clues was designed to highlight these connections and once filled in more, should allow us to thoroughly explore each aspect of our Melungeon heritage. The idea is to be able to query and use this data for storytelling, or “fillling in the dashes” of our ancestor’s lives. Right now, the main goal of this area is to gather and organize any valuable bits of information that could be useful in our research journey. For anyone interested in helping with this process, you’ll soon be able to submit data to be added to the site right from your new Member Portal! *

Members can click [ Explore > ] buttons to learn more about each pod and/or to filter relevant data within it. Click any of the results to visit its page, and be sure to favorite any page you’d like to see worked. I’ll be checking those once a week and will do my best to get you the info you’re looking for! Individual result pages have a [ Discuss in forum ] button, which Hill Folk + members can use to start or continue a conversation around a specific topic. 

* with source, must meet certain criteria

ANCESTORS

A N C E S T O R S

EXAMPLE PAGES

  • image/descriptors
  • given name
  • surname
  • nickname
  • name variations
  • about (bio)
  • birth date
  • birthplace
  • mother
  • father
  • siblings
  • social status
  • occupation
  • census race(s)
  • spouse
  • marriage date
  • marriage place
  • bondsman
  • children
  • death date
  • death place
  • informant
  • burial place
  • connections
  • FAN club
  • records
  • resources
  • mentions
  • notes

PAGE CONTENTS:

  • To discuss an ancestor in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on their page. If no forum exists for the ancestor, please request one using the form.
  • Ancestor pages containing a birth date and/or middle name are for a specific person. Ancestor pages without a birth date and/or middle name may contain combined data for multiple people and will eventually be separated.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific ancestor pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” ancestor pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice ancestors that need to be merged or separated, or if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • Members will soon be able to add ancestor data from the new Member Portal.*

* MEMBERS CAN NOW REQUEST CONTRIBUTOR PERMISSIONS TO SUBMIT DATA TO THE ANCESTORS POD. CLICK ‘EXPLORE’ BELOW FOR MORE INFO. TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

517

# of Ancestors:

  • daily – adding and updating ancestor pages and data
  • weekly – checking and working through member “favorites”

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  • documented/core Melungeons
  • core Melungeon family descendants (with line noted)
  • names of interest from Melungeon-specific resources
  • names from Melungeon and related group lists & rolls
  • individuals marked FPC, Mulatto, or Indian in core area census records
  • other historical people who may have had ties to the Melungeons *

Ancestors include:

SURNAMES

S U R N A M E S

EXAMPLE PAGES

  • variations
  • ancestors
  • places
  • connections
  • genetic studies
  • lists/rolls
  • tables/charts
  • records
  • resources
  • mentions
  • notes

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of surnames:

512

  • To discuss a surname in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on that page. If no forum exists for the surname, please request one using the form.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific surname pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” surname pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • Members will soon be able to add surname data from the new Member Portal.

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • daily – adding and updating ancestor pages and data
  • weekly – checking and working through member “favorites”

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  • well-known/common Melungeon surnames
  • surnames of related mixed-ancestry peoples and Indigenous groups
  • surnames from the contents/indexes of Melungeon-specific resources
  • other important Appalachian surnames, such as those of early pioneers

Surnames include:

GIVEN NAMES

G I V E N _ N A M E S

Many Melungeon first names were the same as those of other families in the region. There are a few that seem unique to the area, however, such as Valentine, Vardeman, Mahala, and Ambrose. Also common were:

  • Hebrew names (e.g. Elijah, Solomon, Shadrach, Hezekiah, Abraham, Levi, Gabriel, Zachariah, Mary, Naomi, Elizabeth, Judith) – There is a strong connection between Melungeons and Sephardic Jews!
  • virtue names (e.g. Obedience, Comfort, Charity, Patience)
  • names starting with “L” (e.g. Ludicia, Lucinda, Lavinia, Letha, Louisa, Lula, Lorenzo, Leroy, Louemma)
  • surnames as given names (e.g. Shepherd, Martin, Thomas, Green, Russell, Carter).

PEOPLES

P E O P L E S

EXAMPLE PAGES

  • image (people, flag, or emblem)
  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

  • To discuss a people in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on their page. If no forum exists for the people, please request one using the form.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific people pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” people pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice peoples that need to be merged or separated, or if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • If possible, we will find and ask experts on specific groups (ideally current members of those groups) to manage and submit data to those pages.
  • Members will soon be able to add people data from the new Member Portal.*

ADDITIONAL INFO:

258

# of Peoples:

  • daily – adding and updating people pages and data
  • weekly – checking and working through member “favorites”

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  • Melungeons and subgroups (e.g., Carmel Indians, Guineas, etc.)
  • Indigenous tribes connected to the Melungeons
  • mixed ancestry groups connected to the Melungeons
  • mixed-ethnic groups with similar ancestry and admixture
  • Free People of Color who could be connected to the Melungeons
  • other groups with overlapping history and regional presence

Peoples include:

PLACES

P L A C E S

EXAMPLE PAGES

  • image (map, photo)
  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

  • To discuss a place in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on their page. If no forum exists for the place, please request one using the form.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific place pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” place pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice places that need to be merged or separated, or if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • If possible, we will find and ask experts on specific places to manage and submit data to those pages.
  • Members will soon be able to add place data from the new Member Portal.*

ADDITIONAL INFO:

540

# of places:

  • daily – adding and updating place pages and data
  • weekly – checking and working through member “favorites”

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  •  

Places include:

EVENTS

E V E N T S

  • image
  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

  • To discuss an event in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on their page. If no forum exists for the event, please request one using the form.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific event pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” event pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice events that need to be merged or separated, or if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • If possible, we will find and ask experts on specific events to manage and submit data to those pages.
  • Members will soon be able to add event data from the new Member Portal.*

ADDITIONAL INFO:

32

# of events:

  • daily – adding and updating event pages and data
  • weekly – checking and working through member “favorites”

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  •  

Events include:

MIGRATIONS

M I G R A T I O N S

  •  
  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

  • To discuss a migration in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on its page. If no forum exists for the migration, please request one using the form.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific migration pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” migration pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice migrations that need to be merged or separated, or if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • If possible, we’ll invite experts on specific migrations to manage and submit data to those pages.
  • Members will soon be able to add migration data from the new Member Portal.*

ADDITIONAL INFO:

5

# of Migrations:

  • weekly – reviewing and adding migration submissions

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  •  

Migrations include:

OCCUPATIONS

O C C U P A T I O N S

  •  
  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

  • To discuss an occupation in the forum, click the [ Discuss in forum ] button on its page. If no forum exists for the occupation, please request one using the form.
  • Mountain Legend members and Founding Members can submit priority requests for specific occupation pages to be worked right away.
  • All members can “favorite” occupation pages for easier navigation (mark them now and view them soon in the new Member Portal).
  • Once a week, we’ll review member “favorites” and work as many as we can get through. The higher the favorite count, the higher the priority.
  • Reach out if you notice occupations that need to be merged or separated, or if you notice any incorrect data (please provide source).
  • If possible, we’ll invite experts on specific occupations to manage and submit data to those pages.
  • Members will soon be able to add occupation data from the new Member Portal.*

ADDITIONAL INFO:

23

# of Occupations:

  • weekly – reviewing and adding occupation submissions

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  •  

Occupations include:

TRADITIONS

T R A D I T I O N S

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

MUSIC + CRAFT

M U S I C + C R A F T

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

FOOD + AGRICULTURE

F O O D + A G R I C U L T U R E

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

FOLK MEDICINE

F O L K _ M E D I C I N E

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

HOME + DWELLINGS

H O M E + D W E L L I N G S

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

FAITH + RELIGION

F A I T H + R E L I G I O N

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

LANGUAGE + DIALECT

L A N G U A G E + D I A L E C T

Pod Status:

coming soon

Melungeons as a group did not have their own language. They spoke English. While some Melungeon communities claimed Portuguese ancestry, there is no recorded evidence of them speaking Portuguese. Historical accounts describe their language as broken English, Elizabethan English, and various Native American dialects.

This pod will be used to collect additional historical information on Melungeon language use and dialect. It will also gather and share details for projects and causes aimed at preserving language within related tribal communities today.

ANCESTRY + ADMIXTURE

A N C E S T R Y + A D M I X T U R E

Pod Status:

coming soon

* * * Info will be added to this section soon! * * *

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

DNA STUDIES

D N A _ S T U D I E S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of DNA studies:

5

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – reviewing and adding DNA studies

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  •  

DNA studies include:

TRAITS + CONDITIONS

T R A I T S + C O N D I T I O N S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of traits/conditions:

5

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • daily – reviewing and adding trait/condition submissions

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  •  

Traits/conditons include:

RECORDS + DOCS

R E C O R D S + D O C S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of records/docs:

21

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – adding and updating record/doc data and filters

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  •  

Records/docs include:

LISTS + ROLLS

L I S T S + R O L L S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of lists/rolls:

38

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – adding and updating list/roll data and filters

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  •  

Lists/rolls include:

TABLES + CHARTS

T A B L E S + C H A R T S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of tables/charts:

21

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – adding and updating table/chart data and filters

Pod Status:

active, in progress

  • tables or charts found in Melungeon-specific resources
  • tables or charts found in resources discussing related groups
  • tables or charts found in resources discussing mixed ancestry peoples, especially those from the same region

Tables/Charts include:

TOOLS+SEARCHES

T O O L S + S E A R C H E S

Pod Status:

coming soon

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

MYTH + FOLKLORE

M Y T H + F O L K L O R E

Pod Status:

coming soon

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

ORIGIN THEORIES

O R I G I N _ T H E O R I E S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of origin theories:

4

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – reviewing and adding origin theory submissions

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  • origin theories proposed in Melungeon-specific resources (including newspaper articles)

Origin theories include:

EXPLORERS

E X P L O R E R S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of explorers:

5

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – reviewing and adding explorer submissions

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  •  

Explorers include:

VESSELS

V E S S E L S

  •  

PAGE CONTENTS:

# of vessels:

4

  •  

ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • weekly – reviewing and adding vessel submissions

Pod Status:

active, gathering data

  •  

Vessels include:

ARTIFACTS

A R T I F A C T S

Pod Status:

coming soon

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

MISC. CLUES

M I S C. _ C L U E S

Pod Status:

coming soon

The Cave of Clues is a work in progress. Thank you for your patience and support!

Ancestors

DNA Studies

Flora/Fauna

Food/Ag

Given Names

Historical Events

Lists/Rolls

Maps

Occupations

Origin Theories

Paths/Routes

Peoples

Places

Resources

RSS Feeds

Surnames

Tables/Charts

Traits/Conditions

Web Pages

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