The article mentions 200 such communities in the eastern US. One of the larger ones, the “melange” is from southern WV was not mentioned. Scots/Irish, freed slave, and some Native American is the mix I have been told (family lore as it pops up in one branch of my family tree). Alot from WV came north to PA to work in the mills and surmanes were “Italianized” to “pass” and gain employment. It really is a fascinating story.
Now...i mentioned Family lore!?! Maybe I can now run for the Senate...OR get a sweet job at Harvard:)
My father told me about a similar group in the north west hills of New Jersey called “Jackson Whites”. These are supposed to be a blend of run away slaves, Hessian deserters from the British army in the 1770s, and white settlers.