There were groups here with European features and coloration to an extent, and some reportedly even had rudimentary understanding of English, when the earliest acknowledged English exploration and settlement occurred. Most notably the Lumbee tribe claim descent from the “lost” colony on Roanoke Island, but other old triracial isolate groups have as well, on up into the Blue Ridge. The history of this continent is more complicated than generally acknowledged, as far as migration, settlement and eventual intermarriage between Europeans and so-called native tribes. It was going on before John White ever sketched a map of the NC barrier islands, before Juan Pardo ever built a short-lived garrison, before Hernando de Soto ever wandered about looking for gold. Ocean currents were and are conducive, throw a message in a bottle into the ocean at Hatteras Island and it turns up in County Cork.
Most notably the Lumbee tribe claim descent from the “lost” colony on Roanoke Island, but other old triracial isolate groups have as well, on up into the Blue Ridge.
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The tri-racials are commonly referred to as Melungeons. They are descendants of a mix of Anglo, Amerind and Negro. They spread over the years to various areas of the South and Mid-South. In LA, I believe they were referred to as Brass Ankles. ....There are many mentions of the Lumbees in writings about the Melungeons.