John M. Green

John M. Green

1910 US Census:

• Age: 26
• Years married: 2
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Father's birthplace: Virginia
• Mother's birthplace: Virginia
• Occupation: Farmer
• Industry: General Farm
• Can read: yes
• Can write: no
• Own or rent? Rent
• Farm or house? House

1920 US Census:

• Age: 40
• Able to read? No
• Able to write? No
• Place of birth: Virginia
• Mother's place of birth: Virginia
• Father's place of birth: Virginia
• Trade/profession: Farmer
• Industry/business: general farm

1930 US Census:

• Age: 49
• Live on a farm? yes
• Attended school since 1929? No
• Read and write? No
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Father's birthplace: Virginia
• Mother's birthplace: Virginia
• Ocuppation: Farming
• Industry: Farm
• Actually at work yesterday (or last regular working day)? yes
• Veteran? No

1940 US Census:

• Age: 64
• Attended school? No
• Grade? 4
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Occupation: Farming
• Industry: Farm
• Home owned? yes
• Home value: $400
• Live on farm? Yes
• Income: blank
• Income other: yes

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Mary A. Green

Mary Ann Branham Green (19 May 1886-31 May 1982)

1900 Census: ***??

• Montgomery

1910 US Census:

• "Marian" 
• Age: 22
• Children born: 2 / children living: 2
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Father's birthplace: Virginia
• Mother's birthplace: Virginia
• Occupation: Farm laborer
• Can read: Yes
• Can write: yes

1920 US Census:

• "Marry A"
• Age: 36
• Attended School any since 1919? blank
• Read? yes
• Write? Yes
• Place of birth? Kentucky
• Mother's place of birth? Kentucky
• Father's place of birth? Kentucky

1930 US Census:

• "Mary A."
• Age: 43
• Age at first marriage: 17
• Attended school since Sept 1929? No
• Able to read or write? yes
• Birthplace: Kentucky
• Father's birthplace: Virginia
• Mother's birthplace: Kentucky
• Occupation: None

1940 US Census:

• "Mary"
• Age: 55
• Attended School? No
• Grade: 5
• Birthplace: Kentucky
• Hours worked: 5—scratched out
• Occupation: Midwife—Scratched out
• Weeks worked: 4
• Income: 30
• Income other: yes, scratched out with no

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Tina "Tiny" Honaker Green

1930 US Census:

• Age: 19
• Marriage age: 16
• Home Value: $2
• Attend School? No
• Read/write? yes
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Occupation: none
• Father's birthplace: Virginia
• Mother's birthplace: Virginia

1940 US Census:

• Age: 30
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Work: Other work "H" (housekeeper?)

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Alfred Green

Afred Green

1920 US Census:

• Age: 11
• Attended School any time since 1910? Yes
• Read? Yes
• Write? Yes
• Place of birth: Virginia
• Father's place of birth: Virginia
• Mother's place of birth: Virginia?** (The rest of children have mother's birthplace marked as "KY")

1930 US Census:

• Age: 21
• Marriage age: 18
• Home Value: $2
• Attend School? No
• Read/write? yes
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Occupation: Laborer
• Father's birthplace: Virginia
• Mother's birthplace: Kentucky 

1940 Census:

• Age: 32
• Birthplace: Virginia
• Occupation: Section Hand—Railroad
• Income: 600

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What's a "Melungeon"?

Melungeon is a term that refers to a tri-racial people that live in the Appalachian area. Melungeon was originally a racial slur that the Melungeon descendants have recently reclaimed. 

Melungeons considered themselves white but had such a dark skin tone that their neighbors wondered their origins. The Melungeons often claimed to have Indian and Portuguese ancestors who had intermingled with the white settlers. More than likely, the Melungeons had some African ancestors that they had wanted to cover up and claimed Portuguese roots instead. 

One particularly romantic story is that the settlers of the lost colony of Roanoke intermingled with the Croatans and settled into Appalachia. It is more likely that some of the white settlers intermingled with free blacks and potentially some Native Americans, which resulted in the tan-skinned people with fine European features.  

The study of the Melungeon is relatively new and thus has not been explored too terribly much. We do not have any definitive proof of where the Melungeons came from because it seems that all of the studies regarding Melungeons conflict. It is also difficult to confirm whether or not one has Melungeon ancestors since no one is quite sure what a Melungeon is—there is no DNA test to confirm Melungeon ancestors because no one has agreed upon the genetic makeup of a Melungeon. 

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