Lest We Forget: The Melungeon Colony of Newman’s Ridge

Lest We Forget is a history of a much maligned group of dark, Mediterranean like peoples called Melungeons. They are investigated in detail from their many surprising sources of origin to their eventual colony in the Newman's Ridge area of Hancock County, Tennessee. The author has unique insights into their true story as he is a direct descendant of most of the core group. He has the skill and background to be on the outside looking in, as well as the personal relationships to extract direct and personal knowledge from relatives and associates of the group.

Jim Callahan is a great-great-grandson of Mahala Mullins through his maternal lineage. His mother, Ollie, a direct descendant of the original Mullins, Collins, Goings core group of Newman's Ridge was influenced by the missionaries of Vardy to relocate to a new beginning in Indiana. Subsequently, Callahan was born out of the Melungeon area as the only child of a dark Melungeon mother and a fair Hoosier father. As all knowledge of his Melungeon heritage was concealed by his mother, the author stumbled onto this unique facet of his ancestry well into adulthood.