REDBONE REDBONE

# 74 -- MELUNGEON 12TH UNION

2008-07-01T21:03:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart,

The following were talking points at the MHA 12th Union Meeting in Harogate, Tennessee.

MHA
TWELFTH UNION:
A MELUNGEON GATHERING
LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
JUNE 27TH & 28TH, 2008

Title: Drakes, Goins and Others. The reality of then and now -- Mulatto, Free People of Color, Redbones and Melungeons. Words for we really don't know!

1893 letter of Albert Rigmaiden to Furman reviewed.

Presented By Gary J. Gabehart[1]

If you are tracking your family history and swearing by census reports and observations of enumerators, scribe’s and poorly paid government workers who may have had a bias, you may find yourself in the wrong racial or ethnic hallway. Not everything in print is the truth.

In recent history, last twenty years or so, it has become fashionable to be of North American Indian Blood, African Blood and of late, even Turkish Blood.

Who’s who when it comes to racial makeup is on everyone’s mind. For ones ancestors to have been Redbone, Free Black, Melungeon, Mulatto, Free Person of Color, African or Colored Person can be a plus for some and of negative connotations for others.

The terms mentioned are generally meant to be “of mixed blood,” with of course; the exception of African, yet being African has its problems. Would you be West African, East African or South African or other African? See, without DNA testing, it is difficult.

The question I ask is, if “Free People of Color” were really African or mixed African, why were they not called mixed African?

If Redbone was another term for African Blood, why were they not called Black bone? Melungeon seems the same, why were they called Melungeon and not mixed African? Of course, the term Melungeon may have come from the French word Melange or the now archaic word Malengin [2], but I would not agree to argue the point.

The fact of the matter is (call it an opinion if you must) Redbones, Melungeons, and Free People of color were not tri-racial peoples (European, African and Indian) as a whole. If anything, they were Multi-ethnic people, and some were and some were not. In other words, not all held African Blood or Indian Blood, but I expect all carried European or Middle Eastern genes.

In Louisiana, where the Redbone issue is confronted, census records indicate three basic colors - White, African (slaves) and people of color or “free people of Color.[3]” Indians, as in other areas of the country, at the that time were not classified, but often were included in the FPC class.

I maintain that “people of color,” in general, contained other than Freed Slaves, Creoles and actually contained “other” classifications. Some of these folks were not White, not Black or never slaved, and it became “we just cannot tell, so we will put them in the “other” coffee can of racial classification or colorization,” which happened to be FPC.

Most of the Louisiana Redbone families were listed at one time or the other as Free People of Color (FPC), and obviously, you could be viewed as Redbone by marriage or association bringing this to a Social, Economic Level, as well as, a colorization issue.

Same thing happened to Free People of Color. FPC sought out people of their own color upon arriving in town. They certainly were not going to be accepted by the White people in power and of status – that’s what I mean about Social, Economic Levels. FPC sought out like people and perhaps became clannish. Redbones sought out like peoples and ended up forming enclaves of what was called clannish peoples.

You get my point so I’m going to move on to my 5th and 4th great grandfathers, John Aaron Drake, Sr., and John Aaron Drake, Jr. First, to give you some background on this family, John Aaron Drake, Sr., was born about 1750 in Elizabeth Virginia and died about 1813 in St. Martinsville, Louisiana. Drake, Sr. was married to an Indian lady by the name of Elizabeth Charity Smith Chrieves. She was born about 1752 in Elizabeth, Virginia and died 10 Apr 1815. It is believed they had three children including John Aaron Drake, Jr.

Here is where it becomes interesting. Drake, Jr., along with his siblings, were known as “Free Mulatto’s” while their father was known as a White man. Now back in Virginia, a clarification of the laws and the definition of a Mulatto had been passed in October of 1705.[4] This statue said the following: “And for clearing all manner of doubts which hereafter may happen to arise upon the construction of this act, or any other act, who shall be accounted a mulatto, Be it enacted and declared, and it is hereby enacted and declared, That the child of an Indian and the child, grandchild, or great grandchild, of a negro shall be deemed, accounted, held and taken to be a mulatto." The term Mulatto, with respect to an Indian child, pretty much remained the same until it was modified again in 1866.[5]

On 18 May of 1800, John Aaron Drake, Jr. B. abt 1776, d. abt. 1828, marries Rosalie Abshire b. 15 Jan 1762 d, abt.1871, at Attakapas Post, Louisiana. Since John Jr. is known to be a free Mulatto, the church has to do an investigation to prove he is the child of an Indian and a White Man. This was necessary to marry within the Church.

Now I had some family members who when they saw the word "Mulatto" decided that we “had Black Blood” in the family. Why did they think that? They had not realized that the word had morphed over the ages and had meant something else back in the 18th & 19th century. They were headed down the Black hallway in search of their roots.

Redbone? At best a Multi-ethnic group, not of a tri-racial isolate. Not everyone in this group – Redbones – were the same when it came to National Origin. There were some mixed Indian, Asian Indians, Sub-Saharan, Middle Eastern, English, Scots, French – you name it.

One prominent name among the Redbone was Goin[g]s, another Ashworth. Ever heard of the Ashworth Act in Texas?[6] Let me tell ya! When the Ashworth’s left Louisiana they were called “Free People of Color” or Redbones. When they arrived in Texas they were called “Free Blacks.” After fighting in the Texas revolution, they were told that all Free Blacks had to leave Texas. To make a long story short, friends in government had an Act passed that allowed the Ashworth’s and others to stay in Texas.

Now for the rest of the story. Very recently I received an email from an Ashworth family member who had encouraged a male Ashworth to have his DNA tested. This is the text from that email:

“Our DNA was strongly from Armenia and Romania – Minimal amount of African and maybe a little more Native – it’s as if I don’t know who I am anymore. Maybe my DNA results answer the question about the ‘dark’ Ashworth’s with the straight hair. But they are also the Ashworth’s who lost their land in Texas along with their Nelson relatives for being ‘free black.’”

Need I say more? DNA is unraveling everything that we have thought in the past. Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana, parents were immigrants from the State of Punjab, North India. According to the US Census, there are about 10,000 South Asians or Asian Indians living in Louisiana.

I am not going to get into the Melungeon issues as there are far more experts on Melungeons here today, and having focused mainly on my Indian heritage and my Redbone relations, I am not the Melungeon expert.

So I’m going to close by taking a look at the Albert Rigmaiden[7] letter to Furman written in 1892-93. By the way, Albert Rigmaiden is my 2nd cousin, 5 times removed.

[1] Formerly with American Airlines, Commercial Airline pilot - Sundance Airways, President of Sundance Airways, Charter Pilot and Flight instructor, Certifications AMSEL-CFI-II, 9,500 hours or so.

Former Field Coordinator, Grant funded Study “Au Su Salud,” (Eagle Pass & Del Rio, Texas) University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, San Antonio, Texas.

Former Field Coordinator, Grant funded Study “Hispanic Women’s Health,”
University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, San Antonio, Texas.

Former Field Coordinator, Texas legislature funded Study “Population living near Uranium mining areas,” Pana Maria, Hobson, Falls City and Kenedy, Texas, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Department of Community Health & Preventative Medicine, Division of Environmental Toxicology, Dr. Wm. Au.

Indian Activist, shut down streets in front of the Alamo out of respect of Alamo Graveyard; Former President San Antonio Council Native Americans; Former Board Member Save Texas Cemeteries; Current President Inter-Tribal Council American Indians; Board Member Redbone Heritage Foundation.

Writes for various Blogs. 2nd cousin of Albert Rigmaiden, Great Grandson of Jeremiah Goins and the John Aaron Drakes of Virginia and Louisiana. Certified Chickasaw Indian with relations in Choctaw, Cherokee (Chief John Ross), Kiowa Nations and an unknown tribe of the Powhatan Confederacy.

[2] The word Malengin as used by Edmund Spensor in his poem The Faerie Queenie to indicate an evil person or trickster.

[3] http://backintyme.com/essays/?p=9 Frank Sweet, Two Color Lines, Three Endogamous Groups

[4] Hening, ed., The Statutes at Large, vol. 3, pp. 229-235. October 1705-CHAP. IV.

[5] From 1705 until 1866 the only legal definition applying to mixed Native Americans (excepting those having one-fourth or more African ancestry) was that of 1705.

[6] Ashworth Act # 13, BY Gary J. Gabehart, http://redbone-red-bone.blogspot.com/

[7] Albert Rigmaiden, Treasurer of Calcasieu Parish

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@Aol.com

# 73 -- FURMAN & RIGMAIDEN LETTERS REVIEWED

2008-06-19T12:17:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart,

The very important issue with the Furman/ Rigmaiden letter is that the people known as Redbone were considered, even in those days, to be separate people from White's or Blacks.
Newspaper articles of the day referred to rioting Redbones -- not rioting Indians, Blacks or Whites -- it was Redbones!

Redbones lived apart from White and Black society in Louisiana within a number of small to medium enclaves -- Starks, Sulphur, Pitkin, Oakdale, Bearhead Creek and other Redbone communities. Census data indicated that they were "Free People of Color," another class for certainly not White, but not exactly Black either.

http://www.sc.edu/library/socar/uscs/1997/furman97.html

Among these folks were the Ashworths. The Ashworths were known as "Free People of Color" and Redbones in Louisiana. When they migrated across the border into Texas, they were known as "Free Blacks," another term for not exactly White nor Black. They were dark in color and to many people, they were Black -- maybe African, but it was just too complicated to worry with.

After the Texas Revolution, laws were passed to put all these folks out of Texas which included William Goyens (Goings, Goins, Gohens), Perkins and others. However, the Ashworths had strong friends in the Texas Legislature and the Ashworth Act was passed which allowed all these FPC, Free Blacks to remain in Texas.

It would seem that we are straying far from the Furman / Rigmaiden letters, but 171 years later in 2008, a Ashworth male descendant does a DNA test that indicates far less than 1% (.016) of African Genes and not much more for North American Indian blood. The results were Armenian, Romanian, Asian Indian (India) and other mixes. The Ashworths, at least this line, had been unfairly labeled Black for over 171 years or more.

From this DNA report, it would appear that the Rigmaiden and Furman letters were right on when it came to at least the Ashworth Redbones. They were neither White nor Black!

How many Blacks today have grown up being Black for generation after generation when they were really something else?

The Redbone community was never Tri-Racial, that's more of a racist term coined by old Southern Racists. The term for Redbones today is Multi-Ethnic, and I quote:

"In 1950, the UNESCO statement The Race Question, signed by some of the internationally renowned scholars of the time (including Ashley Montagu, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Gunnar Myrdal, Julian Huxley, etc.), suggested that: "National, religious, geographic, linguistic and cultural groups do not necessarily coincide with racial groups: and the cultural traits of such groups have no demonstrated genetic connection with racial traits. Because serious errors of this kind are habitually committed when the term 'race' is used in popular parlance, it would be better when speaking of human races to drop the term 'race' altogether and speak of 'ethnic groups'."

So, where do we go from here? Smart thing to do when researching these Redbone families is to understand that "some were and some were not, or some may have been and may not have been." Ask yourself where all these Asian Indians who entered the United States went? Where did the Turks, Armenians, Romanians and others go? Obviously, they were shoved into the FPC can.

Best,

Gary J, Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)

Mishiho@aol,com

# 72 - ALBERT RIGMAIDEN LETTER 1893

2008-06-02T16:09:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

In a letter from Albert Rigmaiden, Calcasieu Parish Treasurer, written May 6, 1893, to McDonald Furman in the Carolinas. Rigmaiden writes the following:

Lake Charles, La., May 6, 1893

Mr. McDonald Furman

Ramsey

Dear Sir,

In reply to yours of April 22nd. I will state I am unable to tell you how the name Redbone originated for the people called Redbones, but I think the Negroes were the first to give them that name as they (the Negroes) has no use or love for them & they do not like the Negroes any better. I suppose you know the kind of people called Redbones, they are neither white nor black & as well as I can find out, the oldest ones came from S.C. many years ago. There are a great many of them in this Parish & in Rappides & Vernan Parish & some in other Parishes in this State & a good many in Texas too. Some of these people are as good citizens as any body & some are rascally & treacherous but you will find that among any People, but I think these are the most treacherous when they take a dislike to any one. I will give you the names of some of the principal & oldest families that I know of. They are -- Ashworth -- Goins -- Perkins -- Drake -- Hoozer -- Sweat -- Buxton -- Doil or Dial -- Johnson -- Esclavant -- these people keep pretty well together & Marry amongst themselves mostly, but occasionally a White man or Woman Marries among them, but if they do it is generally a low class of White people. It is a very unpleasant (situation?) to live about these people for this reason, they are not looked on as being -- Negroes -- Indian nor White people & as this is a White Peoples Country, they (the White People) don't put themselves on equality, socially, with any other people except White People. Although some of these People are perfect gentlemen & ladies & well educated. I think they get along exceedingly well and peaceably, considering all these of these drawbacks. I have given you as near the facts as I am trusting it will give you the desired information.

Yours Truly

Signed : A Rigmaiden

Do these two letters, Rigmaiden and Furman put a new slant on The Redbones of Louisiana, by Don Marler? You make the decision on that -- read the book.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 71 -- McDONALD FURMAN - GOINS

2008-05-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

The following is a transcript of a letter written by Researcher McDonald Furman in 1897. The letter mentioned as being received by him in 1893 was from the Treasurer of Calcasieu Parish, Albert Rigmaiden. This transcribed letter was provided by Stacy Webb.

Ramsey, Privateer Township, April 29,1897

A Family Name Found about in the United States and Borne by Mixed Race People.

To the editor of the News and Courier:

Among that isolated and mixed breed people of Privateer Township who are classed as colored but who should properly be known as "Redbones" is found the name Goins. The founder of this family, so I have been told, was a "yellow man" whose wife was a mixed breed Indian.

Vicey Goins, the daughter-in-law of this couple lived to a great age, and died in 1887. Her son, Wade Goins is one of the people among the Privateer Redbones, and his features are copper-colored skin show the presence of Indian blood in his veins.

Another descendant of the Goins couple is Tom Gibbes, pastor of the little church in Southeastern Privateer, which is attended by the Redbone people, and which, I might remark, is a member of the Colored Wateree Baptist Association. lower division. I think Gibbes, shows his Indian blood. He and "Uncle Wade" are both honest, and worthy men. While it would greatly puzzle an ethnologist to determine what per cent of white, negro and Indian blood flows through in their veins I think they are at least a sixth part Indian, if not more.

It is interesting to see over what a large area the name Goins is found. This name is (or was) found among that peculiar people, the Croatans of North Carolins, which unique race is believed by historical investigators to be the descendants of Sir Walter Raleigh's famous "lost colony." Henry Berry Lowrie, so celebrated in the post bellum annals of North Carolina as a bold and daring outlaw, was of the Croatan race. It is evident the the "old issues" or, properly speaking, "Redbones" who are found in South Carolina, are in part a branch of the Croatans.

"Redbones" are found in Louisiana. In the spring of 1893 I wrote to one of the parish officials inquiring about them, and I received an interesting letter in reply. Among the Redbone family names mentioned it was that of Goins.

In a short magazine article last summer Mr James Mooney, one of the leading ethnological writers in the United States, gave an account of two Goins brothers he formerly knew in Indiana, "who, although associating by necessity with Negroes, always insisted that they were not of that race or of slave ancestry. They had the physical appearance of half-blood Indians." There are Goins in Georgia, who are a branch of the Privateer Stock.

McDonald Furman

The reference to Goins may or my not refer to the Goins of Louisiana as they referred to themseves as Goings in the mid to late 1700's. However, my family seems to be mostly copper colored. Not all Smith's and Jones' are related.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 70 -- MHA & MHS -- MELUNGEON ORGANIZATIONS

2008-05-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Might be a little confusing, but there are two Melungeon organizations with similar sounding names. Melungeon Heritage Association (MHA) and Melungeon Heritage Society (MHS). Both organization are from the same area of nearby Newman's ridge.

This writer wishes both organizations well in their future endeavors and future research projects.

Best Wishes,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

Melungeon Historical Society

2008-04-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

By Wayne Winkler

On Saturday, April 19, 2008, the Melungeon Historical Society held its first meeting in Rogersville, Tennessee. The organization was formed by a group of Melungeon researchers and descendents to collect and preserve historical records that pertain to the Melungeons and/or their kinfolks and descendents. MHS will use documented family genealogy, documented historical research and documented DNA research conforming to recognized professional and scholarly standards to compile and prepare records, to establish and maintain a website and/or blog to keep members informed, and to sponsor and encourage educational meetings, gatherings, lectures, and activities in genealogy and history. The Melungeon Historical Society will be a membership organization, and those interested in joining should contact Becky Nelson at:

BeckyNelsontn@aol.com.

We look forward to a new era in Melungeon research and welcome all who share our desire to preserve our Melungeon heritage.

Wayne Winkler, President
Jack Goins, Vice-president, Heritage
Penny Ferguson, Vice-president, Research
Becky Nelson – Secretary/Treasurer

Board of Directors:

Tari Adams
Don Collins
Janet Crain
Roberta Estes
Dr. Harold B. Houser
Kathy James
Joy King
Dr. Kathy Lyday-Lee
Dennis Maggard
Kevin Mullins
Evelyn Orr
Joanne Pezzullo
Cleland Thorpe
Beverly Walker

Best,

Wayne Winkler

# 69 -- THE BLACK CARD, THE REDBONE CARD?

2008-04-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

I have a cousin, at least she claims to be (she's never been able to present the genealogy), who insists she is actually Black and not Redbone. She also insists that I, and the rest of my family, is Black as well. She of course does not have any genealogy or any other proof that there is any Black blood in the family other than she wants to be "Black." In fact, DNA studies do not indicate, in any of the lines so far, that there is any recent "Black" blood. (Yes, Ray Bridges, who claims to be Redbone and is a 4 th cousin of mine, says I am a Mexican -- that the Goins were Mexican, and I do look brown, but there is no truth to it -- except, the Goins were Mexicans after being Americans and before becoming Texicans -- Ray is really not very bright).

Yes, you can say "so what, what's the big deal?" There is of course, no big deal, I say everyone needs to be somewhere, but being Black might not be that easy. What do you do to be Black? What does Black look like? If I want to be Indian, I just braid my hair, speak in halting English, eat fry bread and spend my time at Pow Wows. See how easy it is to be an Indian? I gave you the Hollywood image and you bought into it right away. But what do you do to appear Black? Eat ethnic food? Stand in the sun all day?

Now it would seem to me if I was a Black Man or Woman, I might find it some what insulting to have an obviously "White" Woman insist that she is Black, then, on the other hand, I might just blow it off as a crazy White Woman. Personally, I do not care what she wants to be because it does not really affect me directly. But what do you do with a relation who accuses you of being a racist because you refuse to go along with her "Black" plan? What if the Rev. Wright was really White; can he prove he is Black and not a wannabe?

I think there is a need for a "Black" card. Call it a "Certificate of Degree of Black Blood," (CDBB). This card would be proof that you had "Black" blood even if you had no Black features -- this card of course is long overdue. In fact, they need to issue one in this country for Jewish people as well. It would be the "Certificate of Degree of Jewish Blood," (CDJB). This would do away with the wannabe factor and protect various cultures from unknowing contamination...hmmmmm, seems like a 1930-40 German leader had the same idea.

Why a card? North American Indian people carry the card, "Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood," (CDIB) -- I carry one. If it's good enough for Indians, it should be good enough for Blacks, and -- it would protect them from my goofy wannabe cousin and certify all the reverands. It would also create new jobs, the Bureau of Black Affairs, (BBA), and the Bureau of Jewish Affairs, (BJA), or the Bureau of Chinese or Turkish Affairs, (BCA or BTA) and Congress would have new money streams for raises. Finally, everyone in the country would know who they "really were." But, could they prove their blood?

What if the Rev. Jesse Jackson's, Rev. Al Sharpton's and others - Barrack Obama and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright could not prove being Black? What would you have to "prove to be Black?" How many people would be left out because they could not prove it? You know, there are plenty of folks out there who look Indian, and want to be Indian, but they are not -- and there are plenty of real Indians who just can't prove it either. The same applies to Black's, but we could classify them as Wannabe's, Mulatto's, "free people of Color" or others, if they could not prove their blood. That way, they would have some place in the new world order.

These cards would also put the race baiters out of business (well, I'm just saying that because it sounds good), what if the race baiters could not prove their race? Does this all sound bizarre? Is it bizarre that North American Indians carry a card to prove they are Indians?

So what do you say to a cousin who insists you are Black and calls you a racist because you question her comments? Of course, she can always change back to White or Indian in the blink of an eye -- thus the wannabe. Any ideas? Some people's kids!

Best,

GARY J. GABEHART, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)

Mishiho@aol.com

# 68 -- RAY BLOWING KISSES, AND MORE RHF!

2008-03-25T14:31:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

The evil little wussy, the faux Redbone Ray Bridges, loves me. He has sent me a nasty gram through his blog, guess that says it all. Why he would want to dress up as a Grandmotherly person to make his point beats me -- he does have a gender conflict. http://redbones-rhf.blogspot.com/

I interviewed Stacy Webb this week over at the Redbone Heritage Foundation. These were the questions that were posed.

Question One. "What was the outcome of the special election this past year?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "For one, the voting membership of RHF, without one negative vote, voted to remove Ray Bridges as Vice President of RHF."

Question Two. "But wasn't Ray due for replacement in 2007 anyway?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "Yes, Ray Bridges, served as VP but was slated for removal in 2007. A vote by the membership made it official. I don't think many people had much confidence in Ray to begin with when he seemed to go off on folks in an abusive manner resorting to using repulsive language. Based on his limited research and lack of knowledge in regard to the ethnic history of the people known as Redbone he was unable to contribute toward the efforts of RHF. Ray also seemed to have issues with his personal SSA DNA results. His gay agenda blog and his offensive language and statements drew RHF supporters and members away."

Question Three. "What was the DNA testing all about, was that the Sub Saharan African percentage results and an immediate relation came up with a high percentage -- 16-17% I think?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "Yes, that was what was given to the RHF DNA database."

Question Four. "You know, LV Hayes is a close cousin to Ray, or so he claims. Do you think that DNA report includes LV Hayes as well?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "I don't know, it might be but I do not know much about where LV connects into Ray's Redbone families. I am likely related to LV if I am related to Ray."

Question Five. "I understand that "J" is making disparaging comments on the Redbone site about RHF "being Kaput," what is that all about?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "J" is simply doing her own thing however she has been supportive in the past to RHF. Perhaps she thought the recent negative factional hate related groups that have sprung up in the last few years with their nasty reviews of RHF had caused it to falter? I do not know why she would make such a statement at all as she herself participated in the conference last year."

Question Six. "What do you mean by factional hate groups?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "RHF is very much aware that many faction groups have become common and rampant throughout the Redbone society of genealogist. However RHF has taken the opinion that mostly the ideologies and hostile attacks toward RHF's efforts are sadly based on a lack of understand and acceptance of the Redbone's racially diverse heritage. We believe these feelings and rebuke of ones ancestry a direct result of the historical societal and in some cases self/familia imposed oppression toward the acceptance of mixed ethnic heritage. RHF is dedicated and designed only to addressing the real time responsibility of further research into the ethnic origins and documentation of the culture of those people known as Redbone. RHF is not an organization designed to address the emotional dynamics involved in ones personal acceptance of a racially mixed heritage. However, RHF has implemented new policies and procedures with regard to those groups who express negative feelings/hyper-sensitivity toward their/our historical ethnic heritage by concentrating our efforts on further education and understanding.

Redbone Heritage Foundation's goals have been firmly established within our mission statement. The purpose of The Redbone Heritage Foundation is to foster research into the origins, the history, the culture, and the ethnicity of those people known as Redbones. Members will be encouraged to conduct such research in a scientific manner without prejudice or predetermined conclusions. Material pertaining to these people will be preserved, published, and made available to other researchers further research and study.

On another vein, you know, we are turning over rocks on the Redbones and reporting what we find -- what's under the rock is what you get -- if you can't accept the reality of this research, you probably should stay out of it. No fairy tales -- no pun intended!

Certainly, acceptance of our mixed racial heritage including the amounts of Sub Saharan African, East Asian, Native American and any other racial influence will and have been recorded within the reporting DNA results. If you are queasy about accepting the likely hood of the facts, then I suggest that you should not test. But, Yes, there are percentages reported from testings that show the Redbones have a diverse and mixed ethnic heritage, on these shores (America). If you do not want to accept these results then you should not do DNA testing or contribute them to the RHF DNA database."

Question Six. "What do you think about the current Melungeon problem?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "I really don't understand what the issue is all about. Mostly what I have read has been based on hearsay! Could this be another example of factional opinions stemming from the racial mixtures among the Melungeon People..certainly, however at the moment I really don't have an opinion that I would say in this blog.

The Melungeon Heritage Association has announced their annual union in June. RHF looks forward to continued support and promotion of the Melungeon and Redbone people by attendance and scheduled presentations by officers."

Question Seven. "So the RHF is alive and well? No problems over there?"

Stacy Webb's reply. "RHF continues to thrive, grow and share with others each day. It's officers, board members & member supporters continue to express a strong desire and courage to share and contribute to the goals and efforts of RHF. The Redbone Chronicles (you may visit the RHF bookstore for subscription information) an affordable, bi-yearly publication, has emerged as a powerful researcher tool for many genealogists, academia, museums and libraries alike. The publication is full of articles, essays and genealogies contributed by scholars, educators, researchers, genealogists and descendants.

Despite what "J" or others might think RHF continues to grow in our research. People come and go. We wish them much success in their quest."

Question Eight. "So where does RHF go from here?"

Stacy Webb's Reply. "We have identified several new candidates to fill officer positions and board member positions, and we will have the membership vote on those persons soon. The proposed candidates are: Alvie Walts, Vice President, Cyndie Goins Hoelsher, Secretary and we have a new registered agent in Louisiana named Diane Melchior. All of the RHF board and membership look forward to a bright and enlightened future."

Best Wishes

Gary J, Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)

Mishiho@aol.com<

# 67 -- MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO -- OR -- SEE NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL, WRITE NO EVIL?

2008-02-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

I think the majority of the Redbone world can see right through the smoke screen of L.V. Hayes and his gay mentor Ray Bridges and the evil of their idiotic writings. LV Hayes' whine (not a lament, a whine), about the role he played as Ray Bridges attack dog in a poor, poor attempt to write largely dribble about his "theories" (or fantasies) on Redbones for KPLC-TV in Lake Charles, La. (and the request by Jim Serra, General manager of that station for a rewrite sans personal attacks) is laughable. Did LV not understand the article was to be about Redbone history and not about his personal silliness -- must have been too much Metamucil. http://laredbones.blogspot.com/

The evil Ray Bridges is another piece of work. In his blogs he writes: "The Main Reason We Don't Believe We Have African Ancestry Is ...Because our ancestors told us we didn't. It's like that ol' time religion, if it was good enough for grandma, it's good enough for me." Ray Bridges. http://ashworths.blogspot.com/ Don't forget his gay blog, if you like that sort of thing: http://rlbtzero.typepad.com/dancing_with_myself/ (and tap, tap tapping as fast as he can).

Of course Ray doesn't tell you that twice, he has taken DNA tests that indicate he has an E3A gene which is West Africa. It frightens him! Ray, the so called Crystal Redbone, with a Black African Gene? Now, he denies his true heritage and scrubs his face three times a day. What's the deal? You can't really change history Ray, even if you "DO try to rewrite it" -- just like "you are" what you eat, "you are" who you are! It's history!

I guess Grandma, in this situation, was hiding something, but Ray proved her wrong and opened up the big secret to all his close cousins? LV maybe? He gave all that DNA data to RHF, myself and others -- now he denies it for reasons unknown?

Was it the boys down at the Starks, La. VFW who changed Ray's mind about being African? Who knows? But the point here is that Numero Uno, the Red-Bone, Redbone Blog is not operated by the RHF, it's operated by a Chickasaw Indian (and proud of it) who has Redbone roots -- that would be me http://itcai.blogspot.com/; Point two, the Redbone Heritage Foundation (RHF), is a private corporation dedicated to researching Redbones -- anyone willing to research redbones, and who will let the cards fall where they may, are welcome; Point Three, Stacy Webb's site, RanDs, is a serious research site and not interested in the nonsense of LV Hayes and Ray Bridges; Point four, Don Marler just laughs about them, and Jim Serra says he's flattered that they write about him. So much for the sour grapes of LV and Ray.

As for all the crying, by Ray Bridges and LV Hayes, about the Redbone Heritage Foundation, I can only scratch my head. Is it Monkey See by LV Hayes or the other way around by Ray Bridges, Monkey Do -- One thing for sure is "Evil is Evil!

Best Wishes,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 66 -- INDIANS AMONG THE REDBONES

2007-12-26T14:47:00.000-08:00
By Gary J. Gabehart,

Indians hung out with Indians -- Redbone people hung out with Redbone peoplke. Did Indians and Redbones hang out together? Seems so! "I am convinced that the Glue for the Redbone enclaves in Louisiana, opposed to the Redbones of the Carolina's, was more 'social, economic status' than it was Ethnic.' They simply sought out people of their own ilk, they were the advance party, the Redbone pioneers of Nation builders."

The Indian families I was exposed to, my families, were the Goins (Choctaw); Thomas (Pushshukke), (Chickasaw); and Gabehart's likely (Cherokee) -- these were all family surnames. My family members were not wild Indians in the likeness of Hollywood imaging, they were all assimilated Indians and although they often wore outlander clothing, they dressed like everyone else of the day.

My families worked in Law-enforcement, Civil Service, Farming, Ranching, Oil Fields, Ship building, Automotive, yet many of their families had been divested of their homes and forced West by society-- with of course, the exception of the ones who took off on their own to Mississippi and Louisiana (we are talking early 1800's). Even though they were Indians and were often looked down on by some societies, they were able to avoid the stigma of Redbone, Free People of Color or that of an Indian and make a life for themselves and their families.

Some of my family members were known slavers [Goins and Drakes] in Louisiana and contrary to Frank Sweet, A Legal History of the Color Line, they were not Creole slaveholders (1). Also, the Goins, more so than the Drakes, were of another seldom mentioned race, and I take the liberty of using the term race -- they were North American Indians. Could they have had other blood in their veins as well? It was likely they did.

It is these North American Indians in Louisiana, who mingled with "Redbones," and who were ignored by society of the day that Frank Sweet and just about everyone else seems to miss. We know they were there, we know they were not Black nor White or Creole -- shades of gray, we just don't have an answer even today of who they were.

Albert Rigmaiden, with his 1892 letter to Donald Furman, is the fly in the ointment, as he states that the family names of Redbones were Drake and Goins among many others and they were neither White or Black and were from the Carolina's. Some of the Drakes lived up on Bearhead Creek (not a Creole enclave, but a Redbone redoubt), and the Goins appeared to have migrated to around St. Martin Parish before migrating further West and North.

The Drakes were known to have Indian blood from Virginia and the Goins were known Choctaw and they were living around or with Redbones. Were Redbones Indians? I think Redbones were every race of people who did not fit into society very well, and -- they were ignored then, as they are today.

My close family line, left Mississippi and migrated into Louisiana and later Texas [Stephen, Philip, Jeremiah Goins line]. Another line left Mississippi and migrated to Louisiana and later Oklahoma [James Goins, Martha Patsy Goins]. Still another group [Black River Band] containing more Goins left Mississippi/ Louisiana area and migrated to Oklahoma. All these folks were Choctaw Indians without a doubt, and related. All these folks were migrating Redbones.

Let me tell you how Indians were mixed up between tribes and tell you from a first hand perspective -- about my own family. Remember, Indians hung out with Indians.

Beginning with Jeremiah Goins, Sr. and Sharafina Drake [my third grandparents], we find Jeremiah the Choctaw marrying into a family with Eastern Indian ties. The tribal affiliation of the Drakes are unknown or uncertain, but we can say they were from Virginia stock and according to family lore, there seems to be a Powhatan connection.

Adaline Goins [my second great Aunt], Choctaw daughter of Jemeriah M. Goins, Sr. and Sharafina Drake Goins, married Lewis Mulkey, nephew of Cherokee Chief John Ross. Her children were enrolled in the Cherokee Nation.

Rueben Calvin Goins [my second great Uncle], Choctaw son of Jeremiah M. Goins, Sr. and Sharafina Drake Goins, married Susan "Sookie" Thomas, neice of Cyrus Harris, first Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and also the niece of Nelson Chigley, Chickasaw Senator. Her children were enrolled in the Chickasaw Nation.

Ransom Goins' [son of Jeremiah Goins] daughter Nancy Azenia Goins [my Great Grandmother], a Choctaw, married Charley Thomas a Chickasaw Indian. Their children were all registered as Chickasaw Indians and Nancy became Chickasaw by marriage.

These family Indian connections in Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma lead me to believe that there is more Indian blood among Redbones than might be thought. Certainly the view of the white guy in Louisiana was Indians and Africans were classed as being alike [during the 1800's]. In fact, Indians were often purchased at Natchitoches as slave labor as a cheaper alternative to African slaves.

Of course, if you were living West of the Mississippi in the 1800's -- Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, New Mexico, it would be quite logical to find "mixed Indian blood" families as well as an Anglo mix, but more importantly, Indians sought out people of their own likeness -- Indians hung out with Indians.

Gary J Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 65 -- CALL ME REDBONE!

2007-11-25T14:52:00.000-08:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Depending on your thought processes, you can view Redbones as Redbones or Melungeons as Melungeons -- no matter what you call them, they were still a group of mysterious people in any ones book. It did not matter then, and it does not matter now whether the words were derogatory or not. It was a label that stuck!

Reclusive, clannish, standoffish, not friendly, minded their own business and just did not associate with other societies yet took offense to anyone sticking their noses into their business. Sounds like the neighborhood I lived in opposing the nearby hoods of similar folks yet those who were just a little bit apart.

With the Redbones, it was those folks down the road who lived in the Piney Woods next to the swamps. For the Melungeon's, it was the folks up there on the ridge, or over the ridge, who we know nothing about. In either case, society was left wondering what was happening and rumors likely flew hot and heavy.

It was a clash of developing cultures aside under-developing cultures as perceived by usually the White guy in control. Of course, it did take a good many years of "whose mo better." This attitude likely began before Jamestown and was ingrained in every White generation there after. The White guy had guns, big boats with sails, gadgets and some technology, why shouldn't he have all the control? He likely had the best land, more wealth and the grand house.

None of this is new, it's always been the folks on the other side of the tracks, the ones living in the shanties surrounded by dead and dying grass who took the cultural beating -- the have not's against those who had the most.

So why wouldn't these concepts apply to the Redbone or the Melungeon cultures, isolates or groups. It did not matter what you called them, they were still those people.

The question now is just who were those people? And that is for the folks who study and do the genealogy work in the trenches to discover. Where did they come from, what was their ethnicity's, what was in the apparent mix if anything -- what were their roots?

In the course of those investigations come the question of who (the people) were the real Redbones or the Melungeons? They have to be sorted from the half- Redbone or the half-Melungeon from marriage or association, and sorted again from the wannabe Redbone/ Melungeon who just wants a place to fit in.

Same things happen with the wannabe Indians. They pick a fashionable tribe, give themselves an Indian sounding name like "little wren" or some such "little" something and run around with a feather in their hair while mixing Indian cultures, regalia and hang out at Pow Wows -- usually picking up women. But that's how it goes!

So aside from doing real research on who was a real Redbone or a real Melungeon, you have to deal with the kooks and nut cases who want to be. And then there are the Trolls who create counter sites to dispel valid research, but those folks, you have to ask the question why? There is never an answer to why -- they never have a good reason.

The work done by the RHF and the MHA are leaps and bounds ahead of the lazy bunch who would constantly dispute these findings by whining about the definition of a Redbone or Melungeon and where they came from. Ask to see "their research" relevant to what they are talking about, and don't accept quotes from other people whose research is suspect.

Redbones and Melungeons were mixed race people. They were mixed race Indians. They were likely mixed race Europeans and other mixed races -- as a whole, you'll never put a pedigree on all of them.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 64 -- PINHEADS?

2007-11-14T17:58:00.000-08:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Funny, there are some folks out there who have expounded on Redbones only living on Bearhead Creek, and have claimed that Bearhead Creek only contains Redbones, but probe further, and you find that's not exactly the way it happened!

These comments are a bad thing to run into by a new researcher intent on quickly discovering their family history only to be given directions down the wrong hallway or incorrect highway. Be aware and be on your guard for the nutty stuff.

The same bunch says that Redbones lived at Starks! When pushed, or when it has suited their purpose, they will tell you that Redbones lived at Pitkin, DeQuincy, Singer, Westlake, Oakdale and Sulphur -- and, maybe all of Calcasieu Parish, except Lake Charles. Except Lake Charles?

Now, Ray Bridges, the California absentee Redbone, says there was no such thing as a Redbone -- at least I think that is what he is saying. Kind of like saying there was no such thing as a possum. Really, makes about as much sense.

But wait, Redbones are referenced in all those place names, and it is in print that Ashworth ranchers were known in early Texas, prior to 1835, as Redbones. Redbones could be found at Orange Texas in fact, in the form of the Ashworth's, Droddy's, Hayes and others. Orange, Texas? Now, we are out of Louisiana to the West.

Now I know there are possums, I had one on my front porch last night, I saw it with my own eyes. When confronted, he/she curled up in a ball, grinned at me and died -- no possum. Then, when I turned my back, he/she rose from the dead and split. Some times, things are not exactly what they appear to be.

Since the Redbone Heritage Foundation began their research, the term Redbone is rising from the dead all over the country. Does it not make sense that if there were Redbones in the Carolina's, where all these Louisiana Redbone's originated, that the name originated in the Carolina's as well?

What about Black Lake and Black River Redbones in Mississippi and Louisiana? Oh, that's right, those folks are brushed off as "just being Indians." Now we're in Mississippi?

Then what about the Redbones at Jackson, Mississippi? The ones they also call the VanCleave Choctaw? Some of these folks were Bass' from the Carolina's.

Hmmm .... Redbones popping up everywhere and mostly on the migration trail from the Carolina's to Louisiana and beyond into Texas and Oklahoma. Plot it out, get off this clix exclaiming Redbones were swamp Indians who crawled out of the soft Louisiana soil around Bearhead Creek.

Now I'm not saying that Redbones were Choctaw alone or wholly mixed blood Indians. I think this was only part of their makeup. In the majority, there were other mixes in the pot; in addition, not all had the same mix. But, if you did not know what these people were, you likely threw up your hands and brushed them off as Indians, Redbones, Free People of Color, them or others.

Redbones were a lot like Indians in the pecking order, you knew what they were called, but you just ignored them. They both lived off in their own enclaves, so they really didn't count to many people living in or near 1800 society.

Those FPC folks started showing up in the 1810 Louisiana census' as FPC. But of course, besides Louisiana Census', some of them, my family, were showing up in other earlier records in Texas, Virginia, Carolina's and Mississippi.

Defies logic to try and state the radical version by excluding all these other place names where the word Redbones were used. What is the definition you say? I don't think there is one, at the moment that is. But I do suspect strongly that it had something to do with Indians. That still does not erase other ethnicity's as I also think there were many. Indians, as well as other ethnicity's, were not liked any better than African classes when it came to dominant White Society.

When I say African classes, it must be understood that there were Africans in Spain, and Portugal also had many colonies in Western Africa, so being a Spaniard or Portuguese gave you no pass from an African admixture. The closer you lived to the African Continent, the easier it was to have a recent admixture of African.

What did that possum have to do with anything? Nothing, Nada, unless you want to look for the hidden meaning. It may have been just an interesting story, like the snake last year that kept invading my four season room. Threw that mother out four times before he/she finally left.
Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 63 -- 2007 RESEARCH PRESENTATION ON JOHN DRAKE

2007-11-12T22:13:00.000-08:00
Oct. 2007
RHF RERSEARCH CONFERENCE,
CALCASIEU PARISH, LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA

By Gary J Gabehart

Discussed here is my Drake family and what I know to be accurate and known concerning their Virginia Mulatto/ Indian connection. There also is a final note on Free People of Color in Louisiana; however, it is not about Black or White, Colored People or groups of persons “in transition.” It has nothing to do with the official, legal aspects of the colorline. It is about the people known as Redbone’s and the many ethnicities involved, the same people who were ignored by the legal description of the colorline.

I recently began to compile a kinship report of my family to get a better view as to who and how I was related to in Redbone Country. This record is 35-40 pages long and reads like an alphabet soup of Redbones and related families – Abshire (Abcher), Ashworth, Bass, Braneff, Buxton, Doyle, Dial, Goins, Gwaltney, Hargrave, Jackson, Johnson, Morris, Nash, O’Jetty, Ozenne, Padier, Perkins, Rigmaiden, Ryan, Vincent and others. I think you will agree that I am well related in this part of the world. Ryan Street (Isaac Ryan died in the battle for the Alamo in 1836) crosses downtown Lake Charles, and Albert Rigmaiden operated a well known hotel there. I hope this puts a face on who I am with regard to the people listed.

Rather than to just say you are related to someone, you need to be able to know just what they are to you, and it will help you to track out these lines. It puts a face on everything when it comes to comprehensive genealogy reports. I urge everyone to print these reports on the data you might have in an electronic genealogy program. If you do not have a program, get one.

I also want to impress upon you that all genealogy is under construction at all times. For me to say that these reports and those trees are the final word would be absurd. I once attempted to involve some of my family in putting these records down on paper, and they looked at my work and said “oh wow, can I have a copy of this, and can I have a copy of that and when you get finished writing all this information into a book, can we have a copy.” However, as you can expect, that was the end of it, you are really on your own and your work will forever be a work in progress.

When I began my research into the Goins/Drake family, I had two families to research, and I had never heard the name Redbones. That was about 1990.

I found out quickly that the Drakes were from Louisiana and that Sharofina Drake b. abt 1804, d. 31 May 1881 (daughter of John Aaron Drake, Jr., b. abt. 1776, d. 1828 and Rosalie Abshire, b. 15 Jan 1782, d. abt. 1871), had married Jeremiah Goins in Louisiana. You will hear that they were married in this City and that City, but she was married in Louisiana – quite possibly Attakapas Post.

Jeremiah Goins father was Philip Goings – note the one “L” in Philip and the difference in the Goin[g]s spelling. It is known that Philip came out of Mississippi to Louisiana but not when or where he was born or died, I use 1750 for an about date of birth. Philip married Thomas Nash’s daughter Keziah in 1816 at Natchitoches.

About the time I began genealogy research, I involved myself in Indian Heritage groups. If you think things are tough over here, try running two Inter-Tribal groups at the same time where it is “my tribe is better than your tribe” or “I am a big Indian and you are but a minor Indian.” I guess that is common in many families, even in Redbone families.

I had dinner one night with an Indian from Louisiana who spoke of the Choctaw, and the “Redbones.” I had never heard the word Redbone except for a Black Blues or Jazz Singer, and now I was hearing it in conjunction with Indians. His take was that it had something to do with Choctaw Indians and White folks in Louisiana. I was interested in the term, but I put it in the back of my mind.

I continued my search into the migration of the Drake family into Louisiana and discovered that John Aaron Drake, Jr. was considered a Mulatto. At the time, I guess I was like everyone else with the big “M” word. Later, I began to realize that John Aaron Drake, Sr. kept African Slaves as did the son John Aaron Jr. If John Aaron Drake, Sr. was not considered to be Black, but White and his wife Charity Chrieves an Indian, then how was John Aaron Jr. a Mulatto. Apparently I thought, Mulatto did not mean what I thought it did in 1800.

A piece of family lore here and a piece there led me to understand that there was an Indian connection with John Aaron Drake, Jr. and his mother Elizabeth Charity Smith (son of John Aaron Drake, Sr. b. abt 1750 Elizabeth, Va., d. 1813 La. – Elizabeth Charity Smith (Chevis/Chavis) Chrieves b. abt 1750 Elizabeth, Va., d. 10 Apr 1815. La.). The original story as it was told, was John Aaron, Jr. was a descendent of a male relative of Pocahontas. However, the story now appears to be that his mother was a member of a Powhatan Confederacy tribe, which made more sense. Whether there is a connection there with Pocahontas is unknown, but doubtful. At least not a direct connection but the relationship could be indirect from a sibling of Pocahontas.

I thought that I knew that a Black or Mulatto could not marry a White in Louisiana in 1800 and certainly not in a Catholic Church of the French/Spanish culture and yet, this marriage was performed at St. Martins de Tours Church in St. Martinsville, La. However, I was to discover that a Mulatto could marry in the church under certain circumstances.

Further research was to bring me to the transcription records of Father Don Her’bert and his Church Records of Southwestern Louisiana that stated there had been an investigation by the Church prior to the marriage. Additional research of James Johnson and his book Drake Cousins led me to find that John Aaron Drake, Jr. was not a Catholic prior to his marriage to Rosalie Abshire/Abcher. In fact, James Johnson had obtained a Baptismal Certificate from St. Martins Church for John Aaron Drake, Jr. dated 1800.

James Johnson states; “Nothing was found in the records to indicate that the Drake family was Catholic prior to this time. It is believed that this event was precipitated by Drake’s desire to marry a Catholic lady whom he had met in the area.”

Although there are some folk’s who will tell you otherwise, with some convoluted reason why the marriage was handled in one way or another, the mystery of why Rosalie Abshire had filed for a marriage Certificate is quite simple. Rosalie Abshire was Catholic and a member of St Martins Church -- John Aaron Drake, Jr. was not even Catholic. I would expect it was understood that the application was conditioned on John Aaron Drake, Jr. completing certain requirements.

In the Catholic Church, a non-Catholic, in order to marry a Catholic in the Church must submit to certain agreements such as Catholic Baptism, agreeing to raise any children born from that union in the Catholic Church, etc. Prior to and after the formal Baptism, Aaron was likely given some instruction in the religion and the rest was a part of the verbal vows at the wedding.

The business of John Aaron Drake, Jr. being a “Mulatto Libre” was mentioned in the marriage documents and the decision as to whether John Aaron was a Black Mulatto or an Indian Mulatto was up to the Church to decide. Apparently, he was determined to be a North American Indian Mulatto.

Now, if we look back in time to a Virginia Law of 1705 (Remember that John Aaron Drake, Jr. was born either in Virginia or North Carolina) that clarifies the definition of a Mulatto, we will find that this law change stated “the offspring of an Indian was also to be considered a Mulatto.”

These Virginia Laws rubbed off on other forming Southern States and began to create a basis for their laws as well, and in time, were adopted by those States or Territories.

The other thing I want to draw your attention to is the term “Free People of Color” (FPC). In the 1800’s, many of our people were accounted for not as White, not as Black, not as Indian, not as Mulatto's and not as Redbones – they were called Free People of Color. I do not believe that Free People of Color were one Ethnicity, they could not have been – they had to be many Ethnicities -- they were grouped, and the possibilities were staggering. You can answer that question by asking what other Ethnicities other than White or Black were present and how would they be viewed in a “Black or White” world?

Let us start with Middle Eastern people of all types (we are not talking Chinese), where did they list those? Ask yourself about Turks, Afghans, East Indians, Russians, Greeks, Italians, Persians, where did they list those? Where did all the American Indians go? What I want to bring forth is, if you think there were either Whites or Blacks in Louisiana or the South and you only fit one category or the other, you are mistaken. Even today, the ratio of American-Europeans, with an African Admixture in their genes, is only about 30%. Ask what other ethnicities might be involved? I am only talking in general, and then in only the last 800 to 1,000 years. It would be up to you to hunt out those connections -- family by family. Keep in mind, Redbone core families really only amounted to a hand full of people by today’s measure, I do not believe they were imported by White Society into Louisiana to fill a void and were not considered even “colored people.”

Of course, some of these FPC families may have been knowingly in transition and crossing the color line but with a twist when confronted by some modern day thinking – any ethnicity could have qualified – not just Africans alone. Some families simply wanted to be left alone and never gave it a thought.

Some Ashworth family members report that their DNA tests for the Ashworth/Droddy’s were coming back with a recent percentage of Haplogroup E3a, but that does not mean all Ashworth lines will carry those same genes. Some of these members reporting Western African also carry a high percentage of DNA material common to the area around Guam on the Pacific Rim.

Finally, the dates and deaths I have given you are, in some cases, an “about” date. If you have further information about the Drakes, feel free to speak with me about it.

References: James Johnson, Drake Cousins; Rev. Don Her’bert, SWLR; Laws of Virginia; Various 1810 Louisiana Census’; Drake Marriage records, LSU; Drake Records, Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Library.

# 62 -- AHHH, TERRY JACKSON.........AMAZING.

2007-11-12T18:59:00.000-08:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

I've found that there can be two faced people everywhere, even among your relatives. Having some integrity in this day and time speaks volumes about who you might trust and who you might not.

Now just bear with me to the end, the point of this commentary will become apparent.

Terry Jackson has climbed out from where ever he hides to rail and rant with made up and unfounded accusations about nothing, yet without a single fact or proof of anything to hang his hat on. Terry is the guy doing the name calling. Terry is the one attacking RHF. I give you an example:

November 6, 2007 -- Terry's blog

"Yes folks, The silence was broken today by the RHF, [?gr] or yet one of its spokesperson, Gary J. Gabehart. As usual, with his method of operating, it consist [pl] of just three things. Lies, name calling and what great progress the RHF has made lately with [?gr] leaps and bounds.A cousin and friend on [sp] mine, L.V. Hayes has a fitting name for that group. The RHF by there [sp] thinking, claim [pl] it stands for Redbone Heritage Foundation. L.V. refers to them as the Rage and Hate Foundation. Which is a very descriptive name for them."

Well "Hee Haw Terry." Now I ask you, has Terry had anything to really say here at all? What usual way of operating is he speaking of? What lies? What name calling? And then he goes on to "Hee Haw" (can you see him slapping his leg?) what "cousin LV Hayes" told him. What has caused Terry Jackson's fit of Jealousy -- you tell me. He pledged to LV on LV's site that he was going after RHF. For what is still unknown. Did he need attention from LV Hayes that badly? A role model? Good that he didn't choose Larry Keels for a role model. At least LV has some substance to his writing.

But get this straight Terry, I am not a spokesman for RHF. RHF has it's own voice. Are you not comfortable with ragging the RHF President? Do you have a problem dealing with women? Like Ray Bridges has a problem dealing with women? Write RHF a letter, but use a grammer and spell check program.

Terry is a guy who has never been connected to RHF except for scheduled presentations at RHF Conferences that he never completed (I wonder what and whether he ever had anything to present?), yet Terry Jackson seems to have gone out of his way, in a "feeble attempt," to overturn those RHF Conferences. I don't get it, what is his real problem?

His blog goes on:

"After their last show that [redun] was put on in Lake Charles, La. A new name may be emerging and taking shape for them. It seems to fit them well. It is the {Repeat, Hide and Fabricate}."

Oh wow Terry, another "Hee Haw." What a dumb little wussy you are. Show in Lake Charles? New name emerging? "Repeat, Hide and Fabricate?" Now Terry is just going to have to explain that last one to us -- I have no idea, do you?

Still more:

"In his usual way of writing, old gabe will pick out one to attack, one to call names and then he does his own version of what he saw through his diabetic eyes."

Here, Terry shows what kind of man he really is -- the type who would make fun of another persons medical condition, but he is only repeating what he heard from Ray Bridges -- I have no problem with "diabetic eyes," no busted veins, no cataracts, nada -- nothing. Terry is not a man, but he is a wuss -- my opinion. Of course, Terry is a 2nd cousin of Ray Bridges, they be close, close buds -- they played with each other while they were growing up -- down on Bearhead Creek. What can I say? Have you told your wife about those days?

As for all the garbage he pumped out trying to interfere with Don Marler and the Research meeting at Lake Charles, Terry did not need to worry himself about the RHF agreement with the library at all. Don Marler, who is known personally to the library, had already signed an agreement months ago, and it had already been discussed as to who would do the whining, security, etc. -- Terry's name was on the list to whine. In the end, I guess the library's question would be the same as mine -- why would you, Terry Jackson, stick your nose into something that did not concern you? Again, you have made an ass out of yourself!

From another Blog, Terry says:

"Most of the lies and misinformation from this group is put out by Stacy Webb, President, Gary J. Gabehart and Alvie Walts.To list just what unstable messages, taken out of context comments, half truths and misleading suggestions they have written, posted, adding to the list rumors started with no proof or foundation of any support for them, in just the last five months would take hours if not a couple of days of any ones precious time to prove them wrong with mountains of evidence to support ever dam [sp] lie or vicious rumor they have started [run on sentence that makes no sense]."

Terry, you better get started; however, the only mountain of evidence you have about anything is that mountain of jelousy that is eating you up -- why is that? I have no idea except it is said you are "LV Hayes' dog," maybe that has something to do with it. But I point out again, what lies is he speaking of? What half-truths? What lies did Stacy Webb write? What half-truths did Alvie Walts write? Come on big mouth, don't let the cat get your tongue! Afterall Terry, you are the one who is attacking RHF, and it is you who is doing the name calling after RHF declined yours and Ray's invitation to hold the conference at the Starks VFW. Just goes to show you what a dog and "Hee Haw" pony show that would have been. Did you forget about all that Terry? It was you and Ray who screwed that up.

You can go read his garbage -- it is nutty stuff, and I expect he somehow gets off over this nonsense as any weak minded person might. But read his work, and then tell me if he sounds right.

And finally, the little mouse, who wasn't man enough to voice his comments at Lake Charles "personally" to me (in fact I hear he left town), allows this:

"Gabe, tell Peggy hello and I am so sorry for missing her birthday Sept 17Th this yr. Just busy I guess."

Now you tell me, how does this little wuss, Terry Jackson, less than a man, have the gaul to threaten my wife and I? He has put this in print and thinks I may not come after him at some point, when he least expects it -- I will! If you have an association with Terry Jackson, you can bet he is going to attempt to "spy" on you (paranoid perhaps?). He will attempt to check out your bank accounts, credit and so forth -- you see, Terry is just a nosey person. Would you want to associate yourself with Terry Jackson? Does his wife Erlene know of his activities? Does she approve? What is he fearful of? I bet he bugs his own wifes's phone to check on her as well.

What is amusing though is whether Terry has the right Gabehart's, you see there are three of us up here. We are all related -- 3rd cousins, all different lines. We all live within thirty miles of each other, and we all have wives named Peggy. Now I don't have a clue what their wives Birthday's are and unless they tell me, I wouldn't go snooping around (that's the correct way a cousin would act and even with non-relatives), but Terry has, and he blew it. Wonder if he peeps at his neighbors with spy glasses? Have you noted any of that strange behavior Erlene? Shades of the Bates Motel.

So what was the real point Terry -- showing your ass some more? Is this what you do with everyone you associate with? Pry into their life?

Now, here is the final rub. In an email message where he includes his fan club -- sort of a look at me thing, Terry states, amidst his usual spelling errors:

Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 19:39:15 -0700 (PDT)From: T Jackson Subject: Re: Indian blood To: ">tj8558@yahoo.com>Subject: Re: Indian blood To: Brenda Bass ,Houston Bridges ,Linda Clark , LV Hayes ,Bev Ann Jackson , Elaine Metcalf dici63@hotmail.com

You may find this hard to believe, when it comes to just what race is or isn't in my DNA make up, or from what people I may descend from. Does not matter one way or the other to me. First, there isn't anything I can do about it. Second no matter what it may be, I am very dam [sp] pround [sp] of it and the folks who passed it on to me.

This I know beyond a doubt, my mothers people were German, my fathers Redbones. I was raised on Bearhead and have know [sp] since I was about seven yrs old that I had multitudes of cousins in and all over Texas. With the invention of the PC and educating myself to achive [sp] a descent level of operation of this machine. I have since met, visitied [sp] with and discovered many hundreds if not thousands of more cousins. Which as usual I have accepted as my ever growing family.

"I cut off no cousins. No matter how much I may disagree with and argue with any of them. People that know me, know one thing beyond a doubt about me when it comes to family and cousins It does not matter if you are my 1st cousin or my 2001 st cousin. You are my family no matter what and no matter how big our differences are. Period"

Following all this? "Terry is a liar!" I am a 5th cousin to his father -- that makes Terry a 5th cousin, once removed. You see, Mary Heard (if he knows who that is) wife of Amos Owen Ashworth, was my second cousin. Now Mary Heard is Terry's 2nd Great Grandmother, also his 4th cousin and his half 3rd cousin. He is also related several ways to Mary's husband.

"I cut off no cousins?" Sick puppy. Will he respond to this blog? I expect he will -- with stuttering excuses -- not reasons, as he knows I will soon confront him in the flesh when he least expects it.

What can I say, you can't choose your family. I certainly didn't choose Terry the wuss. Now that is the last thing I will have to say about my cousin Terry Jackson. Terry is a dishonest person, but perhaps he's right about his eye problem, as I understand it, his eyes are sort of close together, but I was told that by Ray!

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
mailto:Mishiho@aol.com

# 61 -- WEB BUFFOON LARRY KEELS AND OTHERS, RHF UPDATE, AND OUT OF THE FOG!

2007-11-05T07:57:00.000-08:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

In the age of the Internet and instant publishing, we still have to deal with the age old Snert -- you know the ones -- the bed wetting Snert Monkey types. Today they call them Trolls. But I'm not talking about the "it's all about me types" who live to start an argument to gain a sense of self-esteem, I'm talking about the full blown out of control persona of evil itself.

Genealogy.Com is currently infected with one of the evil ones who, while Gen.Forum is trying to be politically correct, is destroying a family genealogy board. As I hear it, people are leaving in droves due to Gen.Forums inaction. What happened to Gen.Com TOS Statement?

"In consideration of your use of the Sites and the Services, you agree, where information is requested, to provide true, accurate, current, and complete information about yourself, and to maintain and update it promptly. You agree that if any information you provide is false, inaccurate, not current, or incomplete, we may terminate your use of the Sites and/or the Services."
It is of course, Larry Keels who has raised his head on the Gen.Forum sites and others. Currently, the pro White Racism proponent (as it appears), is making his attacks on the following Boards; Assembly of God Board, Church of God Board, American Indian Board, African-American Board, Senior Citizen Board, Redbone Board, Melungeon Board, Tuscarora Board and others.
This is but one -- others have been deleted.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AOGDialog/message/4781

Larry Keels uses other email handles such as "Dean Keels (ID ******1523), Les Cummings, Lester Knough Cummings, Lucy Suder (who he claims at times to be his sister), LaRee E (Not to be confused with Laree Lee), Les (ID ******9902), Les Knough, Lulu Sweet, cruzjohnnypass (who he may impersonate at times or may even be him) and others." In some cases, he even talks to himself using these alias names. Of course, his objective is to create the appearance of debate while he lays in wait to belittle and harass the unwary. As I hear it, in a request to his hate site, johnnycruzpass asks to be removed, but Larry only puts him on "no mail." Would this allow Larry to impersonate him on the Melungeon Board? I think he could -- just by changing a letter in the post name! Meanwhile, Larry keeps johnny on his site as a member. Weird things going on, on that site.

Larry Keels uses the same old tired approach he has used now for years, "he babbles!" Those of you on the MelungeonRedboneRenegade site know what I mean. Some how, he thinks he is saying something coherent with his convoluted use of Verbs and archaic nouns. In some cases, people are impressed (the slow ones) with his word smithing. Most people pickup on it right away and finger him immediately. But, nothing he has to say pertains to Genealogy -- it's all crap! Wake up Gen.Com! Wake up slow ones!

At the moment, there is a move on to remove him from the Internet period. After his veiled threats to KPLC-TV and the Louisiana Parish of Calcasieu, who by the way shadowed the RHF with visible law-enforcement during the RHF Research Meeting, I am urging Homeland Security to investigate him and his activities. Terroristic threats in this day and time are taken seriously, especially when coming from a person of this ilk. I have his address and even his phone number in Huntsville Texas.

Larry Keels stated to KPLC-TV (Jim Serra Blog) the following with respect to the RHF Conference in Lake Charles:

"I don't even think anyone should expect a visit from [']Rev. River Scott, the Imperial Wizard of the Louisiana White Knights.['] I think even he realizes "redbone" was merely a racist epithet common among that sector of the population in which Don Marler was raised and is otherwise meaningless." By Larry Keels.
Larry Keels did that exact same thing in 2006 to the Conference in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He used the same KKK master and made the same veiled threats. The effect was to keep people away from the meeting. Where does Larry Keels of Huntsville, Texas get off with invoking the KKK? Does he speak for them? Do they know he is representing them?
If you encounter Mr. Keels on a Board and if he is in violation of the Boards TOS rules, contact the administrator immediately. At the moment, he is being removed throughout the Internet, and your participation is essential to put this abomination out of commission.
Redbone Heritage Foundation
In a short interview with with RHF officials, they state that their first Research Meeting was a success, and I expect that they may plan several a year throughout the country. Aside from the yearly Conference, which appears to have gone electronic, the Research Meetings are designed to encourage Redbone Research at various Centers for Genealogy Research around the country. Some examples might include Natchez Mississippi, Richmond Virginia, Atlanta Georgia, Charleston South Carolina, Orange Texas and so forth.
This of course is in keeping with the fact that the Redbone people originated on the East Coast -- the Carolina's -- and marched Westward across Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana into Texas.
Additionally, I was told that a number of folks joined RHF at the Research Meeting after being drawn to Lake Charles just to see what all the whining was about.
One new member was said to have expressed surprise at the meeting after hearing a great deal of negative tripe from the declared King of faux Redbones near Lake Charles. This was the same guy who gleefully provided false information to the Calcasieu Library System -- I hope they remember his name, but if they don't, the name was "Jackson," perhaps that will help.
LV Hayes?
Don't believe what he has to say about Redbones in the Carolina's, on the Gen.Forum, of not being related to the Louisiana Redbones or the Mississippi Redbones -- he simply is WRONG!
OUT OF THE FOG
On Sunday/Monday morning, on the way out of Louisiana after a non-stop drive to Kentucky, I hit a deer six miles from my destination -- damage, $4,000.00 including a new Westin Deer Guard. A day later, I became ill with the intestinal flu and was bed bound until Thursday. After being driven from Kentucky to Illinois, I was hospitalized for lack of blood pressure, dehydration and the ravages of the flu. Saturday I was released, and Monday I underwent an all night study for sleep apnea which ended at One AM Tuesday morning in the emergency room.
It's been a rough two weeks. Advice? This flu is making the rounds, and if you contract it, it's best to let it run its course with plenty of rest if you can. It is dangerous though, so don't rule out your doctor or the ER. For those of you steadfast in riding this out at home, do stock up on "Pedi-lite," especially if you are salt or sugar sensitive.
Best,
Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@Aol.com

# 60 -- AND THE SKY DIDN'T FALL!

2007-10-21T07:51:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Well, RHF had a great research meeting. The Sky didn't fall. I think that with the new [RHF] Starks, Pitkin, Leesville and Lake Charles area members the word that the West Coast Gay Fellow, Raymond Alexander Bridges, had been pumping out, just did not fly. He was a faux Redbone to begin with, and that, coupled with the West Coast Gay Guy "act up" Stigma (according to Ray) and the recent San Francisco Church incident (not that Ray was the one in the clown suit), may have been the reason for the cancellation of his Starks event. I don't really know, but good for Starks if that was the reason!

Well, let me show you his tone -- sour grapes -- but then, what can you expect from a wild and crazy guy like Ray:

The last time a bunch of know-it-all assholes called a bunch of us Redbones it ended in a gunfight. That was in 1892. KPLC's general manager, Jim Serra, thought he would focus attention on our people, so in a blog posting entitled Mysterious People, or some such nonsense, he glossed over our 200 year history and set the stage for the outlaws of the Redbone Heritage Foundation to spout their crap as if they were experts on our people, the Redbones of southwest Louisiana.

He presented Don Marler as an expert because of Marler's self-published book on Louisiana Redbones. You know the book. The one where Marler suggests that Redbones have African in their genetic admixture, never mind that we have steadfastly denied that possibility for over 200 years.

Marler's book is so laden with mistakes and phony conclusions that it doesn't even deserve mention.

The other "expert" Serra gave credence to was Gary Gabeheart who still presents himself out to be some sort of Amerindian. He's got The Card. I have known Indians all my life, and Gabeheart is the first one I've ever known to go around bragging about having "the card." Of course, no one ever saw his card. That's why I made him one. Now the next time someone asks him about it, he can show them this: (Ray's Goofy Card)

Yes, I was asked about the card and yes, I passed it around the room and yes, it is the same Sovereign Nation Card that Ray asked to see in Richmond and was shown -- dumb "tu tybo."

So was it the threats by Larry or the threats by Ray Bridges, a high profile California Supreme Court Employee (according to Ray Bridges) that prompted the Calcasieu Parish to post armed law-enforcement at the Library? We still don't know for sure, as these professional lawmen were closed mouthed -- but when, "not if," the man comes knocking on some doors West of Calcasieu, I would like to be the fly on the wall to listen to the stuttering explanations. Terroristic threats are not taken lightly in this day and age, especially to local government law and order.

Ray Bridges and his fellow travelers owe Jim Serra, Sheriff and law-enforcement an apology. I'm outraged and you should be as well.

Our Research conference/meeting was small and limited to 50 people. It was not a Membership Meeting to which formal notification must be given. But of course, the meeting was open to anyone who was civil and respectful to the library. Registration, membership dues, book sales had all been handled in advance and a hospitality room was provided at the Isle of Capri for the three days. So Terry Jackson should not have worried about anything.

Lake Charles is the center of a very historic area, and it was good to be home as this was the area where my Drakes, Goin[g]s, Nash, Ashworth, Bass, Clark, Dial, Doyle, Abshire, Ryan, Rigmaiden, Hargrave and others originated in their Westward trek.

The RHF votes for the removal of Ray Bridges as Vice President and Catherine Davidson as a board member and acceptance of new by-laws for the organization should be in soon, tallied, certified by an independent auditor and presented maybe next week.

It is not for sure where the Membership meeting for this year will be held as that could happen anywhere in the country, even by mail I understand. As soon as their Board [RHF] releases that information, I'll pass it along.

It will be interesting to see what LV Hayes has to write for KPLC. Stay tuned.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 59 -- THREATS BY LARRY KEELS? BLATHER BY TERRY JACKSON?

2007-10-16T22:13:00.001-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

See what classy people we have out there from the Rage and Hate Society of LV Hayes, Larry Bridges and Raymond Keels. Ugh, nasty!

Larry says:

I suppose the truth does hurt. It certainly seems something Bev and I stated has pricked Gabehart's pretentions [sp.].

No one attending the scheduled event in Lake Charles need be expecting an appearance by me. I have clearly stated my belief that RHF is a failed experiment which was usurped for a misquided [sp] book promotion/public relations agenda rather than family history research as initially intended.

I don't even think anyone should expect a visit from Rev. River Scott, the Imperial Wizard of the Louisiana White Knights. I think even he realizes "redbone" was merely a racist epithet common among that sector of the population in which Don Marler was raised and is otherwise meaningless.

The minimal research which has proceeded clearly indicates this archaic term was seldom used in polite company until recently ressurrected {sp} by naive genealogy hobbyists on the internet [sp] at Don Marler's urging.

Larry

Posted by: Larry Keels October 16, 2007 at 05:18 PM KPLC-TV

Reply to Larry:

Larry? Still no response about [your] credentials, but we have been patient and you have finally shown your true self. White Knights and Rev. River Scott? Do you now claim to speak for Rev. Scott? You and Beverly who have so many close Black friends?

By Terry Jackson:

Exposing the lies put out by just a few members of the RHF, reminds me of having to put out the wood fires that are set here in SW Louisiana ever spring and fall. You put out the truth to stop the lies and low and behold another one pops up in a different place. Then it is off we go again to put that one out,The latest set of lies set by ole gabe on 10-13-07 is just another example of how he is so blatantly ignorant of something or maybe at his age he just doesn't realize what he is talking about. First, Ray never appointed a committie [sp] of non RHF members and moved the conference from Lake Charles to Starks. {Fact}, there was such a great responce [sp] from the local folks about getting together,visiting and eating. We all agreeded [sp] that would be a good thing and as far as the RHF, you could go and do what ever you do any where you wanted to. But our families would have a get together at Starks, as we say here in SW La.Second, gabe stated, from then own Bev and Terry decided to hold the conference without the RHF at the local VFW hall complete with alcohol and cigaretts [sp]. {Fact} While I know Bev, I have not seen or visited with her in person or on the phone in about FIVE years. Only spoke through e-mail with her for the first time in the past two weeks. Once again, we all decidied [sp] it would be a family gathering for our families here in SW La. Not a conference with, without or for the RHF. What part of that last sentence do you not understand gabe? Need a picture or drawing to explain it to you? Oh and the alcohol and cigaretts [sp] in Starks, you mean the very same type and ones they had in Alexandia [sp] and Nacogdoches at those conferences??Next lie, same as above. Bev and I taking over and moving the RHF conference to Starks. {Explanation} See the one above. That means look up gabe.The last one I wish to address is this. He states that Bev and I were both booked at the 2006 confeence [sp] and was a no show, without as much as a phone call. Then blathered something about childish activity. {FACT] I have no idea what happen with Beverly not being there in 2006. Again I haven't seen her in five years. But gabe, not only was I booked in 2006, I was also booked in 2005. In speaking with Don Marler, I asked what was expected of us during our session. He stated there were three of us scheduled to give a presentation. Lasting one hour. When my wife and I arrivied [sp], the two others didn't show up. Don said I could go on if I could carry the whole hour. I wasn't prepraied [sp] for that. I was prepared just for my alloted [sp[ 20 minutes. SO [cap] I option [gr] out until the next year. {By the way, ask Don how he liked the Cow Hide chair I made him and gave to him in Alexandria, you know, At another of the conferences where I didn't show up}. As far as 2006, I was again scheduled, the evening before the conference we had an unexpted [sp] death we had to deal with. I made the call myself to the hotel where everone [sp] was staying, I had them page Don Marler and Ray Bridges, neither answered the page. The manager took the message I confirmed with the manager that I could call back to confirm the message were delivered to both parties. Two hours later, it was confirmed.One more bit of advise gabe about your statement of the sugar and special diets needed by folks like you. Ever heard of putting a few Equal, Splenda or Sweet and Low in your pocket just in case. It works. One more bit of advice about your special diet. You made the statement on your blog, bragging about how good the food was at The Boiling Point in Sulphur, La and how much you loved it. While it is great food, If your eating that food, keep it up and you won't need special diets much longer.gabe, as you have been asked to do numerours [sp] times, get your story straight, lies in order or what ever it is you do, before you post such obviousmade [sp] up junk.Terry Jackson

Posted by: Terry Jackson October 16, 2007 at 04:35 PM
KPLC BLOG

Well, at least we know Terry Jackson was not an English Major. Rather a paranoid rant, don't you think -- by a fellow who can't spell and knows nothing about what he is talking about.

Gabe replies:
READ MY LIPS TERRY! I do not care what you folks do down at Starks! Get my drift? I do care about you involving yourself in the RHF Conference that you claim not to want to get involved in. Wakeup! Dingbat!
By Beverly Jackson
As I said, that is Sandra's story, and I don't know all the details... And since I had posted a comment on another blog before I did yours, and it showed up, I don't know why you would suppose that I cannot follow directions. It did tell me that the comment had been sent but that the owner would have the decision of whether to post it or not. Maybe it is YOU that cannot follow simple directions. What do I stand to lose by lying about it?
bev
Posted by: Beverly Jackson aka bevAnnie
October 16, 2007 at 09:50 PM KPLC-TV
Gabe Reply:
What does a left coaster in San Francisco, who was born West of the Sabine and hasn't been back in 50 years by his own admission know about "his people?" Of course, you do have LV Hayes beat, he has not been back, so I've heard, in 60 years.
Ray Bridges is a phony who is jealous and can only throw rocks on the roof and then scurry into the darkness when the porch light comes on.
Why don't you put some proof on the table of what you say rather than to blather (if I can borrow the word from Terry Jackson) about things you cannot support. That does appear to be what all you guys are doing is to trying to knock RHF every year and at every meeting.
I did hear that the membership votes are back, wonder what they have to say?
Brenda, I can only say "darling you should attempt to post again," this is the only post I have found over there:
"Wow, that rage and hate society needs to be shut down. And who cares who's blacker or whiter than who, and who lives where? Some of those twats claiming you're an outsider and that kids from somewhere are not smart and all that crap - well, it's obvious who really doesn't fit into society and who is not smart - and that would be these dimwit racists! They need to seriously get some kind of a life and grow up. Oh, and smart people don't start chain letters, and it's very common for haters like them to start and pass on propaganda forwards."
October 11, 2007 8:04 AM
So see, there are posts getting through -- I suggest you try again.
Best,
Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho
Well Terry, what can I say -- I don't care what you do over at Starks, wear panty hose on your heads with spinning propellers -- I really do not care. Take it up with your cousin Ray Bridges.
And I think that if you arrive at the Lake Charles Library to start a commotion at a research meeting, I expect they will remove you pronto. As for the convoluted verbiage (I like that word, I'll exchange it for the use of your word Blather but I'm burned out on the use of epithet by Larry) I don't know what you are getting at -- no idea. Just spit it out.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho
Holy Cow Society
Posted by: Gary J. Gabehart October 17, 2007 at 12:56 AM
KPLC BLOG
Lots of "stuff" to do in the morning. I'm headed for Lake Charles but I have to make some stops along the way before I get out of town. It should be an interesting research meeting even if LV, Terry, Larry and Bev. claim to want to spoil it. That seemed to be the only reasons for their posts on KPLC that I can see -- and believe me, others do as well.
Check out the blogs of Jim Serra on KPLC-TV. We pulled no punches on the Rage and Hate Society. More from Lake Charles this week.
Best,

Gary J Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@Aol.com

# 58 -- RAGE BY REDBONE PETTIFOGGERS

2007-10-12T22:53:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

As Bill O'Reilly might opine, do not be a Pettifogger.

Past few weeks, the minions of malcontents Ray Bridges and LV Hay have begun a campaign to up turn the RHF. Ray of course knows the end is in sight for his officership as Vice President of RHF, and since RHF has gone to electronic meetings and ballot voting, it has been a trying time for Ray. (Ray's position is up this year if he is not voted out prior to that time)

A number of months ago, Ray Bridges, as Vice President, was asked by Stacy Webb if he would check out Lake Charles, Louisiana for a Research Conference site (I had resigned as the Chair of the planning Committee and felt that position should change hands yearly). Ray, as Vice President, accepted Stacy's request and told everyone he would get back to the Board.

Next thing you know, Ray had appointed a committee of non RHF members, against the very By-Laws he had recently approved, and moved the Research Conference from Lake Charles to Starks, Louisiana.

At first, he was indulged by individual Board Members but seemed to fly into a fit with every question as to what he was doing. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I pointed out the food service would have to accommodate salt and sugar sensitive folks and persons on special diets, and -- cigarette smoking was out for many people. Ray did not want to accommodate the RHF membership in any way and flew into a rage. I advised him that he had to build his consensus with the Board, --not non-members.

From Ray. 5/31/2007

May be a good way of weeding out some of the chaff.

"Without being terribly indifferent to the sufferings of S.J., I'm terribly indifferent to the sufferings of S.J. and others incapable of flexibility. We're not running a restaurant, we're offering food. I'm sure some people will prefer to furnish their own, as would I if I even attempted to accommodate half of the list you just offered."

"Those are details that are not on my radar yet, and probably won't be until a few weeks before any gathering now contemplated."

Mishiho@aol.com wrote:

We have a number of serious salt free members
Diabetics, sugar -- substitute Splenda in cakes, pies, etc.
Serious Cigarette smoke issues
Members who will walk if alcohol is present
Members who will not go near gaming

GGabe A Texas Chickasaw Indian at War

Now tell me, what does it take to put Sweet & Low on the Table and just not salt up the food?

From this point on it was his cousins (Beverly Jackson and Terry Jackson) who had decided to hold the Conference without RHF in the local VFW hall complete with alcohol and cigarettes.

From Ray Bridges, 6/13/2007

"I'm pulling out of the RHF. I don't have time for that kind of bullshit. "My cousins don't want the RHF to have anything to do with their meeting." They don't need someone they don't know and who isn't one of them, talk shit and feel they have to defend or explain it."

The rest is history!

This week, after listening to the Raves and Rants of Larry, Ray, and LV Hay, I returned some questions to Larry and Beverly Jackson -- below is the following.

LARRY BRIDGES, you said:

“Clark Ashworth, a nineteenth century resident of Jefferson County, TX is the descendant of James Ashworth and Keziah Dial and is on public record as self identifying as ‘Portaghee’.”

"Need I remind you that many mixed blood peoples came out of the Portuguese colonies of western Africa and although identifying as 'Portaghee,' were in fact E3B Western African. I do not doubt what you say about Clark Ashworth being on record but how can one verify that record."

Next Larry, you write:

“Gabehart, I thought you were a qualified researcher. Maybe Cyndie, the cultural historian, can assist if you can discover nothing on this archaic racist epithet.” (racist epithet is Larry's favorite word)

"Amazing that you cannot answer the simple question of your take on 'ebo shine.' You brought the word in here, yet you cannot answer the question -- any question for that matter! What does that word have to do with Redbones in your mind?"

"You are not getting out of this easily Larry by not being able to answer the question – tell us what YOU mean by the use of that word."

BEVERLY, you said:

“My biggest gripe is not necessarily what's being done to research them, but how some of this is being presented. If you want to win a dog over to your side, you don't force him to be your friend, you first win his trust.”

"WHY WOULD I WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYONE THAT IS BEHAVING IN THAT MANNER???"

"The whine of this tone begs the answer, -- before being wanted or invited, the invitation has to be extended. If it is not offered, perhaps there never was intent to be inclusive in the first place. Maybe it just never made a difference to any one other than you. If you do not want to be included, that has been amply conveyed, over the years by you, and in ALL your posts, and it is time to move on."

Beverly said:

“Maybe I'm just a little on the defensive here because of some of the other comments that have been made lately.”

"Surely, you will recall, you did not pay your $10.00 DUES to RHF in 2005 or the $10.00 DUES in 2006, a mere pittance, yet you wished to chair the RHF planning committee."

"The reason why the conference was not held in Lake Charles in 2006 is because you failed to put it together, and when asked about your membership dues, 'by me,' of $10.00 in 2006 you resigned and dumped the planning on me – that is the venom of vipers you speak of, but it was really an affront by you -- to {members who did} supporting RHF members."

"In 2007, according to your cousin Ray Bridges, it was your decision and Terry Jackson to take over the RHF Conference in Lake Charles, exclude RHF (?) and move it to Starks. Why would you think that RHF would entertain that?"

"For the 2005 Conference, you booked out as a presenter and then was a no show without so much as a phone call. In 2006, both YOU and TERRY JACKSON booked out as speakers and failed to show, again without so much as a thank you. Childish activity don’t cha think? Now you wish again for the world to revolve around you, yet you have contributed no research, and none to the RHF archives that I am aware of. I mention this as you speak a great deal of innuendo toward RHF and me as having put upon you when the complete story has not yet been told of your activity."

"It has never been 'your side, our side of things' by RHF. We simply are not interested in a side-playing thing that you speak of. We are a research organization, and we do not do our research hanging over the back fence."

I suppose that the Cajuns went through this same stuff. In some respects, the Redbones in terms of a timeline are but a half a day behind the Cajuns and catching up fast. The major problems now are the jealousy of some and the fear of others that they will turn up something in their family history they do not want to hear.

Those words are Colored, African, Slave, Negro and a few back pocket words that Larry Keels carries around, such as, his flaunted "ebo shine," any idea what it means?

In the early 1800's, officially, we only had two types of people in country (Louisiana) Africans (Blacks, Slaves) and Whites, but we did have off to the side, "Free People of Color," and in 1810 they also were counted. Now before I go any further, let me state that Indians were Indians, and they were just ignored.

The Free People of Color were anything and everything that was not Black, White and often not pure Indian. FPC likely included darker ethnicity's from perhaps, Germany, India, China, Middle East, Portuguese, Moors, Turks and you name it -- even mixed blood Indians.

Legal terms included the term Mulatto, and FPC was shortened to Colored over the years. Now we are only talking 200-300 years, a very short time for many folks who remember days when they could not walk where the White folks walked because they might be taken for Black rather than Indian, Colored, Italian or any mix in between.

Once you cross the color line, it's tough for many to look back -- doesn't mean anything to be just colored, it is "what if we have a Black gene" and someone finds out. Yet, 70% of White folks in this country do not carry any Black genes, yet the old fears of being classed in a so called lower group of people lives on.

If it bothers you that much, either track your genealogy and match it up with a DNA test or put it down and walk away. You cannot have it both ways, yet history is history -- you are who you are.

Do I have a Black component? At this time, our family has only found the Indian component in my bloodline. However, we have had family members with Black components, and I suggest that every family has them -- they just may not be in your bloodline. Do I think I will find that Black gene someday -- I don't know, anything is possible.

At this time, Black components have been found in the Ashworth/Droddy line by Ray Bridges as well as some Nash lines. Does that mean that all Ashworth, Droddy and Nash have a Black ethnicity like Ray Bridges is trying to push on everyone -- No, it does not.

In a recent friendly note from Ray:

"Dear A-- Wipes,

I did hear that there was a bunch of good ol' boys in Starks that wanted to talk to you creeps about just how Black you think the Redbones around Starks are. I told them that y'all be happy to meet them at the VFW Hall in Starks the evening of October 19. No, seriously, they're looking forward to you explaining to them why you think they're Black.

S--t, you mother f--kers, if you thought they hated Gays, wait till you see how they react to being told you think they're part Black. That is what you said, isn't it?"

That Ray, he is such a kidder.

Best,

GARY J. GABEHART, MISHIHO (Mish-eh-ho)
MISHIHO@AOL.COM

# 57 -- REPLY TO BRIDGET ROY OF LV HAYES SITE

2007-10-09T17:53:00.001-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Last week, I was showered with email forwards from the LV Hayes Rage & Hate Society. LV, all I can say is you should fire everyone and start over. I'm getting stuff from at least five or maybe six people on your site and not knowing (or carrying to know) how many people are on your site, I can only say I have no idea of the negative impact. Is there anyone over there who loves you?

Here is some of the chatter from the Rage & Hate Society. The following was inserted by Ray Bridges: "I spoke with a teacher from Sulphur just this past May. She claims to never have heard the term Redbone, but she had heard that the kids in Starks weren't very bright. There's nothing as harmful as the soft bigotry of lowered expectations. Because I consider Redbones to be a real, physical group of people with an interesting history and complex social needs born out of generations of poverty and ignorance, I think any decision concerning those people needs to have their participation. I do not limit the definition of Redbones to my cousins in Louisiana. I will point out that there is only one group of people outside of Louisiana who have ever been called Redbones by themselves or by others. There is no documentation of the word ever being used anywhere else.

Now Ray did not really clarify just what he meant by "the kids in Starks weren't very bright," maybe that is what he thinks? I would ask just what do you mean Ray by "I think any decision concerning 'those people' needs to have their participation." What decisions? Does Ray now think, like BevAnnie Jackson that they now speak for all Redbones?

From Larry Keels site, Larry writes the following that Ray Bridges and BevAnnie wrote (see the evil intent, word for word?) and tries to attribute the first part to Mr. Gabehart. The following has been altered by Terry Jackson.

"In a final insult from Mr. Gabehart, states, {I spoke with a teacher from Sulphur just this past May. She claims to never have heard the term Redbone, but she had heard that the kids in Starks weren't very bright. There's nothing as harmful as the soft bigotry of lowered expectations} Please realize this is just another lie promoted by him and these other people.

What a shame in this day and age, a grown man insulting innocent kids who know nothing of him and his group intentions of destroying our families and our history. Please forward! this to everone you know or care about. This is a attempt to destory or families and our history. Please contact KPLC, Lake Charles American Press and let them know just what you think of them promoting such people and events. Contact Sandy Treme and ask her to look into this and see if there is anything she can do to stop these folks from using our library to hold such a conference. {A Redbone Cousin}"

His library? Larry lives in Huntsville Texas and drives a butane truck. Does he deliver across State lines to the Lake Charles Library? Or was this all Terry Jackson's doing? If you read back to the beginning, you will see that this was Ray Bridges comment and Terry and Larry changed it and attributed it to yours truly. I don't know about Larry or maybe I do, but Terry is suppose to be this saintly church going guy.

RHF is a RESEARCH ORGANIZATION, come on, how many times do I have to repeat it Rage & Hate Fooba's? Do you think that anyone but the weak minded would believe the above dribble?

Well, looks like I was wrong. From Bridget Roy, cajunindian63@yahoo.com comes the following to Stacy Webb:

Received: from [209.12.34.8] by web55708.mail.re3.yahoo.com via HTTP; Tue, 09 Oct 2007 14:22:31 PDTDate: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 14:22:31 -0700 (PDT)From: Bridget Roy Subject: Redbones To: Parrotsgrl@aol.comMIME-Version: 1.0Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="0-1968137025-1191964951=:11707"Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bitMessage-ID: <644607.11707.qm@web55708.mail.re3.yahoo.com>X-AOL-IP: 216.252.110.39X-Mailer: Unknown (No Version)

Who are you and what are you trying to do to the louisiana redbones. Sister let me tell you right now I come from the Ashworth and Perkins' and there is NO BLACK BLOOD IN MY PEOPLE now if you outsiders want to claim to be part black that's your business. where is your proof that we are part black show me THE PROOF OR SHUT YOUR MOUTH!!!!! No Black blood?

Now that is a real classy lady, don't ya think?

I replied as I had been sent the data by Ray Bridges:

Hey Roy,

I think you have been hoodwinked by Ray Bridges, he is the one claiming black blood. Ray is not going to like me sending this, but here is an email he sent me after getting the results of his mother's DNA report. As you know, we get half our blood from our mother and half from our father.

Ray is the one claiming to be Black from three different DNA reports. Here are the results of just one/two -- the others were given to Stacy Webb of the RHF -- guess Ray did not have the balls to do it himself publicly.

From Ray Bridges 7/8/2006:

"My mother got her test results. You will recall my DNA test suggested that I was 86% European, 11% native American, and 3% sub-Saharan African.

Mother's test, by the same people, Ancestry by DNA, said she was 83% European, 17% sub-Saharan African, and 0% native American.

I asked her if there was anything about our relationship that she needed to clarify, like for instance, Who is my real mother? She assures me that I'm hers. I'm going to call the good folks at Ancestry DNA on Monday and talk to them about the results. I don't know enough about DNA to do anything except argue the obvious."

At this point, Ray was going to contact them and he wrote me this and you can see my reply:

"Thanks for your interest and the additional information you've forwarded to me. My first exchange with Ancestry by DNA was completely unsatisfactory, so I wrote an email to someone within the company with whom I had a prior exchange. When she responds, I'll let you know the fuller explanation."

"Meanwhile, I've ordered two test kits from the National Geographic DNA Project to test mitacondrial DNA specifically."

Now Bridget, are you upset about being related to Ray Bridges a self-acclaimed Ashworth and cross dresser, or are you upset by possibly being part Black?

Some people's kids. I'm telling ya, some of these people are goofy but Bridget Roy appears to be the goofyest I've seen in a long time.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 56 -- THE INTERNET STALKERS OUT THERE -- LARRY?

2007-10-05T16:51:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Oh no Mr. Bill, Larry again? Ole Lester? The below letter is not new to me, once you sign off to Larry’s list, he will use you, and he will not release you. Thing to do is contact Yahoo about his dirty deeds – they will pull you off quick time.

If Larry had a brain, he would know that using someone else’s identity is against the law and likely against Yahoo policy.

I had decided last week that I was not going to reply to the antics of these folks like Larry, but – as a public service and as a favor to this young woman, I felt compelled to publish her commentary to me on this Blog. You decide.
RE: Larry Keels
Hello:

I believe you were very kind to me when I requested to be removed from Larry's melungeon group, and he put me on the spot with some ridiculous question. Anyway, he did not release me from the group.

Yesterday, I made a second request to be removed, which he did not publish. Today, I find he has made a posting under my name (NNNNNNNNN) regarding the upcoming meeting on Oct 27. I did not write this post.

I am wondering how many posts Larry writes for his own group site and attributes them to other people. He also made a remark re Clara Belle. The only Clara Belle I know is Clara Belle the clown from the old Howdy Doody show.

Do you have any suggestions how I can get off this group? I would also like to alert people that Larry stoops so low to try and humiliate people. Someone suggested to me that this is bordering on identity theft, but I really don't think so. I've been trying to think of what it is exactly, but I can't put my finger on it.

If you want to put this on you blog it's OK with me.

Chris

If this does not show you what type of person he is, I do not know what would. If you have encountered this type of behavior anywhere, even if it is not Larry, let me know, and I will publish it.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# -- A GOINS-- REDBONE MIGRATION

2007-10-03T14:27:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Recently, Harvey Morris, descendent of Spencer Morris ca. 1830's (husband of Caroline Goins), sent me an interesting interview by one of Henry Goins (son of Jeremiah Goins) daughters -- Callie Goins Edwards.

Her interview evolves around her "rearing" in Texas prior to the Civil War and her subsequent migration to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1878 to visit with her mother Sarah Simmons Goins. Callie, also known as Catherine, born 1856 would have been about 22 years of age at the time of this trip.

Henry died in 1870 in Plesanton, Texas and it would appear that Callie remained in Texas after his death.

There are a number of points in this interview that are extremely important to the family and others that should be noted. First, the interview was taken in Oklahoma in 1937. Callie lived around Henryetta and was listed as a Choctaw Indian. The investigator lists her Grandfather as Jerry Goien. You will remember that in the Bevil Census, in Texas, Jeremiah was listed as Jerry.

Two things here, put them in the back of your mind, first Jeremiah seems to use the name Jerry quite often and second, his surname was recorded as GOIEN.

In her interview, Callie speaks of having a conversation with Patsy Hall of Mississippi where she was told that her Great Great Uncle, Jeremiah's uncle, "was with one of the first loads of Indians to come to this country (Oklahoma Indian Territory). She also mentions that they were driven like stock by the soldiers and when one of the old folks fell out, they left them where they fell.

Further, Callie states that, "My grandfather, was a Choctaw Indian but he didn't come with the soldiers. He came to Texas on his own accord so didn't suffer the hardships that the others who waited did."

Here, it is very plain that two groups of Goins came from Mississippi. One via Louisiana (Jerry Goins) and one from Mississippi to Indian Territory -- both families were directly related.

Callie stayed a year in Indian Territory and talked her mother into moving back to Texas, but after a year, abt. 1880-81, Callie, her mother Sarah Simmons Goins, and other family members left Texas again for Indian Territory.

Best,

Gary J Gabehart, Mishiho
Mishiho@aol.com

# 55 SERIES # 1 -- FIRST IN A SERIES -- RUEBEN CALVIN GOINS -- TEXAS RANGER, CONFEDERATE CAVALRYMAN, CHOCTAW INDIAN COWBOY -- REDBONE!

2007-10-02T23:50:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart
First in a series on Ruben Goins.

Rueben Calvin Goins b. 08 Aug 1837 Newton, Texas, d. 17 Jul 1930 Ardmore Oklahoma. Rueben/Ruben was the seventh son of Jeremiah M. Goins of Lawrence Mississippi and Sharafina Drake (Goins) of St. Martinsville, Louisiana.
I sometimes find it amazing the amount of mis-information on the web concerning whether the Texas Goins family were or were not Indians, and if they were Indians, what kind? And, why were they deleted from the Choctaw Rolls?

Unfortunately, there is a lot of bum information out there on the Goins family for the unwary to stumble upon. The Gowen Manuscript itself is rife with supposition without citation and much of it proven, ancient mis-information (my opinion). However, the following commentary on Rueben/Ruben Calvin Goins will be the first on various Goins family members and should provide a more comprehensive insight to this Texas Pioneer -- Choctaw family.

The father of Ruben Goins was Jeremiah Goins/Goings who was born the son of Philip Goings & Ooti Montro, Grandson of Stephen Goings, in Lawrence Mississippi. It is believed that the family originated in Tennessee prior to Mississippi, but those references are vague as to just where.
I wouldn't make too much out of the surname spellings as they bounce back and forth throughout history. The elder Goins/Goings/Gowen/Goen/Goien/Gohens/Goyens and others likely could not read or write and were at the mercy of the scribe making the record -- had nothing to do with anyone being ashamed of the name -- just an urban legend.
So the story goes, Jeremiah Goins migrated to Louisiana from Mississippi where he met and married Sharafina Drake about 1820. But keep in mind, that migration is a big word, and it is likely, considering the distance, Jeremiah, I expect, was making the trip back and forth between the two areas routinely. Territory or later State lines, meant little to these folks, and it's not like there was a barrier here.
The Jeremiah Goins family left the Calcasieu, Louisiana area in the early 1830's, apparently bound for Texas. We know for instance, that Caroline Goins was born in Louisiana about 1830. Caroline again shows up on the Jasper, Texas or what is referred to as the Bevil District census in 1835 as a five year old child. Jeremiah is listed as 35 years and Sharafina age 28 years in this 1835 census. These ages agree pretty much with other estimated ages based on previous records of Sharafina Drake.
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/census/1835/1835jasp.txtJohn
Droddy age 45 and his wife Elizabeth Hays 53, along with four children were also listed on this census. These were Redbone relations of Raymond Alexander "Houston" Bridges who were moving West into Texas. Other members of Raymond's Ashworth Family (quasi-Redbones by some accounts, as they had left Louisiana) previously moved into Texas (1820's and 1830's) from Louisiana.

(Fact of the matter is, Ray Bridges is a Texas Redbone by his own admission and had not returned to Louisiana for nearly 50 years. Prior to that, it was short summer visits, I'm just saying, you know).

These Ashworth's were the basis for the Texas Ashworth Act; however, some of this family was later driven out of Texas during the Orange County, Texas War of 1856, as being Murderers and Thieves, but -- some of it may have been political. This is another story for a later blog.
The next time we find the Goins family is in the 1850 Limestone, Texas census.
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/limestone/census/1850/1850cen1.txt
163 25 Goins Jeremiah 58 M I Farmer MS
163 26 Goins Charity 58 F I LA
163 27 Goins Ransom 24 M I LA
163 28 Goins Sebern 22 M I LA
163 29 Goins Caroline 20 F I LA
163 30 Goins Robert 19 M I LA
163 31 Goins James 16 M I TX
163 32 Goins Robert 14 M I TX
163 33 Goins Reuben 13 M I TX
163 34 Goins Adaline 15 F I TX
163 35 Goins Emaly 9 F I TX
163 36 Goins Jerimiah 5 M I TX
163 37 Goins Mary 2 F I TX

* person # 30 was incorrectly listed as Robert Goins in this census and should have been listed as Rayborn Goins b. 1829 in Louisiana. During the enumeration process, it is unlikely that all members of the family were present and information was taken from any member who would give it -- correct or incorrect. As an enumeration supervisor, I've seen this first hand.
You will also note that Jeremiah has gained 8 years between the 1835 Bevil Census and the Limestone Census. Sharafina has gained 15 years in listed age since the Bevil Census. The squiggle marks in the race column mean only that the enumerator was confused.
Sebern/Seaborn/CB Goins was killed at San Saba in May of 1861 in a nighttime Indian attack. Henry Goins was listed in his own household in this 1850 census.
I had made a comment to a translator about the race thing as what appeared in that column prior to transcription was what resembled a small cursive "z." Some folks call it a small "y," but the truth of the matter is, in that year, neither was used. The transcriptionist changed it to Indian "I" and made a note at the top of the page.
First in a series on Ruben Calvin Goins -- More to follow.
Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@Aol.com

# 54 -- THE SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH CONTINUES!

2007-10-01T22:42:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

The search for the truth about "Free People of Color" (FPC) continues.

I refuse to be distracted by those annoying little gnats buzzing around on these bogus Redbone lists. Certainly, things are slowing down on the LV list; LV is being hard hit money wise on his attached advertising -- I might do it someday, but I'm more interested in research -- likely, it's chump change. As a side note, I have no aspirations of running for any office, so rave on LV, rave on!

Beverly Jackson? Well everyone knows Bev's home problems by now. So Beverly started a Redbone list, I'll concede that much, but whoop-ty-doo. I'll also allow that she failed to make it work -- maybe that's why she hates the RHF sites -- who knows? BTW, I'm heart broken that I will not get an invitation to her Gumbo Saurez -- maybe I should crash this soriee?

By now, you have seen the goofy postings on KPLC-TV Blog attacking individuals and beating their own Tom-Toms. Of course, attacking ideas and even research is usually fair game if there is something truly wrong with the idea, but attacking a "given" is bizarre behavior in any camp -- referring to people as "White" social workers is racist.

If you have a problem with an idea and attack it, and if you are serious in your beliefs, you should have a legitimate answer to the problem -- a fix so to speak. But enough, back to the discussion.

I think we can agree from Blog #52, that there is way more to "Free People of Color;" they certainly were not Black, and they were treated differently than Whites. This separation accounts for the word colored -- many colors in the case of FPC.

Now throw out the thought of Louisiana/FPC and start looking at the term Redbone as having started in the Carolina's -- maybe, even in Virginia. What did "Redbone" mean on the East Coast? You tell me!

Folks who I have spoken with, among them Dr. James Nickens, are adamant that the term back East referred to an Indian connection by blood [or by association-writers note]. Certainly, if not a slur, the term Redbone would have at least been considered a slang term of that era to describe a group of people. It likely could have been used to describe an area as well.

Now I do not have a citation for what I have described, but does everything have to have an exotic or mysterious explanation? What about an uncomplicated and simple answer? You tell me!

The FPC coffee can was the coffee can where Blacks and Whites did not go. Indians, Redbones, Cajuns, you name it went in the FPC coffee can. So if you are looking for a Moor connection or a Black Dutch connection or a Middle East connection, you're going to find those folks in the FPC file.

Thought just crossed my mind, "why is Larry Keels being so nosey about the Inter-Tribal Council of American Indians?" Sounds to me like someone loaded the White boys wagon and blew smoke up his black & Whie robe. LOL Google on Larry, even Indians have Hispanic names, don't the racists know about that?

But even when given the opportunity to contribute to Redbone history, Raymond Bridges (the self-aclaimed high profile member of the California Supreme Court), Larry (self-aclaimed member of the ? word), LV Hay -- yeah, yeah, I'll mention what's her name (I don't mean Joyce either), and even T-bone (Terry) Jackson lack the civility of providing any new research other than half-vicious racial slurs.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 53 -- LARRY & BEVERLY JACKSON'S POST TO KPLC-TV THIS WEEKEND

2007-09-30T08:13:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

There were interesting posts to Jim Serra's Blog on KPLC-TV this weekend by Dr. Larry Keels (aka Lester) and Beverly Jackson. True to form, they showed their a-- and embarrassed Redbones everywhere with their silly comments. (I said interesting, not of interest).

Don Marler has posted his reply to Larry Keels and ignored Beverly Jackson; Of course, what would you reply to about Beverly's post anyway?

See for yourself @ http://www.kplctv.com/

I have posted my reply to the two pals (Larry and Beverly -- Beverly and Larry -- well, neither one is very catchy), here is the reply.

Amazing, two back-to-back previous posts [on KPLC-TV] do not appear to be interested in furthering Redbone Research at all (re: 9/28/2007 Keels, Jackson), but more like beating their own drums – after all, this is about Redbone People of Louisiana, is it not? I am disappointed. However, everyone should have fifteen minutes of fame at least once in his or her lives -- perhaps they were confused?

I've quoted this before, but certainly, Albert Rigmaiden who wrote the letter in 1893 as Treasurer of Calcasieu Parish and a 1890’s resident of Lake Charles “did not appear” to use the word "Redbone" in a derogatory manner in his correspondence to McDonald Furman (http://jgoins.com/rigmaiden_calcasieu_parish.htm).

Rigmaiden was the man on the ground 114 years before Mr. Keels made his comment in the KPLC Blog (Keels also claims Ashworth relations, by blood). Rigmaiden would have been far more knowledgeable as to who the "Redbones" of his day were. Of course, Rigmaiden did not mention the surname Keels, but he might have meant to include it.

Two other words that Keels claims, as racial slurs are the words “Turk” and “Mulatto.” I think the word Turk is nothing more than shorthand for Turkish and the other term, Mulatto -- originating from Hispanic languages meaning “mixed.” Of course, we could go further and include the term Negro -- Spanish and Portuguese for “Black.”

Of course any word can be made to be derogatory or an “appellation” (*archaic term). Just depends on who uses it and in what context. How about “East Texas Redneck?” What about “Racist,” or “Cajun,” or “Injun?” Guess those words could be used as slurs or “appellations” as well – don’t ya think?

In 1705, the Virginia legislature defined the word Mulatto as meaning one of two things, “Be it enacted and declared, and it is hereby enacted and declared, That the "child of an Indian" and "the child, grand child, or great grand child, of a negro" shall be deemed, accounted, held and taken to be a "mulatto" (http://www.vagenweb.org/hening/vol03-16.htm).” Racial slur? Perhaps it has been considered so, but here it was used as a legal definition.

There must be some reason for Mr. Keels referencing Dr. DeMarce’s name and that of Dr. Lipsey; however, neither have done research specific to Redbones or Redbone families of Louisiana and neither has “Dr. Keels” that I am aware of. If I happened to miss it and DeMarce or Lipsey have accomplished research on Redbone families, I would greatly appreciate the citations (Mishiho@aol.com).

BTW, Beverly Jackson has never had any ownership of the Blog http://redbone-red-bone.blogspot.com/ , I own it -- she must be confused; I have not encountered any vicious slurs or anything out of hand in the many fine professional posts on the KPLC Blog – perhaps she is confused here as well?

As far as the Starks VFW Barbecue on the 27 Th, I have heard nothing about this function being cancelled, and if my schedule allows, I will attend; I might even drop by Beverly’s Gumbo party if -- I get an invitation. I think Don Marler is/was a speaker at the Starks Conference on the 27 Th; Perhaps Beverly is confused and has failed to contact the author Don Marler.

*appellation, archaic: the act of calling by a name: appellation, commonly a geographical name (as of a region, village, or vineyard) under which a winegrower is authorized to identify and market wine (Concannon Vineyards, http://www.concannonvineyard.com/wineryVideo2.html ); also: the area designated by such a name.

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Inter-Tribal Council of American Indians (ITCAI)
Posted by: Gary J. Gabehart October 01, 2007 at 10:58 AM

According to the Ray Bridges Blog: Monday, June 25, 2007 "This next October 27, 2007, the people known as Redbones in Southwest Louisiana are having a townhall discussion about their understanding of things Redbone. We're going to meet at the VFW Hall in Starks, Louisiana and talk. Anyone who wants to say something gets to. Everybody's invited."

I think we can hang our hat on what Ray Bridges is saying here about his Barbecue and "everyone is invited." It doesn't say, but I wouldn't think that any of the guys at the VFW would be required to wear black dresses with red pumps.

As far as replying to anything that LV Hayes has to write, it's just dribble from a guy who really lives in the Carolina's and makes believe he lives in Louisiana, so why would anyone be interested in that babble? LV was offered a forum on this site and Jim Serra offered him the same thing on the KPLC Blog provided he act normal (I essentially offered to allow LV and Larry to act their nutty selves on this site).

LV apparently has sunk to pretty low times to write on the Ray Bridges site (Ray writes for the Gay Agenda), perhaps LV has now purchased a black dress and Red shoes for Halloween -- Gosh, that would be enough to scare anyone.

BTW LV, your knowledge of genealogy is not very great afterall. Isaac Ryan is my 1st cousin "6" generations back or 6 times removed and Rueben Calvin Goins is my Great Uncle, twice removed -- little confused LV?

Best,

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

TSK TSK LV Hayes

2007-09-27T01:00:00.000-07:00
By Stacy Webb, Staff writer

My goodness can you believe it, LV is ranting and raving about RHF, once again? Shame on LV. I have to give it to him though, he hangs himself every time he viciously attacks the effort of others. Not to mention his ill behavior, foul language and limited contribution to further study and research of the people known as Redbones. Database of names, yes he has that but knowledge of those people..NO! Heck, I can boast about my database also, over 10,000 names. This does not make me an expert of anything.

Every time I see that "Redbone elder" handle he goes by, and requires his members to call him, I am reminded of Jim Jones settlement in Guiana. Members should be weary of his paranoid postings and vicious attacks on "non- elder Hayes followers."

I am sorry to say, the reason LV was never mentioned or consulted for the article Jim Serra wrote was obvious. Mr. Hayes has a very limited knowledge of the people known as Redbone and has contributed nothing towards research, study or preservation of the history of these people. Sadly it would appear he is so desperate, he is willing to lie to his group about a major article he was invited to write. The invitation Jim put out to LV was likely for comments. Silly old fool attempted to deceive the members of his email group into thinking he was writing a major article for KPLC, well, it could happen. However, the thread is open to LV at Jim Serra's blog, and anyone else who would like to post comments on the article Mystery in our midst. But keep in mind, Jim Serra speaks to many people in his blog, and keep it clean will ya?

By the way Terry Jackson, you owe John Bridges of KPLC an apology, he has lived in SWLA all his life -- it is you who does not know the score.

I would advise anyone who would like to attend the Redbone Heritage Foundation 2007 Conference we will be holding in Lake Charles on Oct 18, 19 & 20, that you can find out more about the agenda and details at our website, here.

The Redbones may be lots of things, but boring....we are not! And, presenters are being added daily.

By the way LV, my surname is Webb not Wells, and this blog does not belong to RHF and never did. RHF does not have a blog of their own, but we are considering building one for officers, BM and members. We do have a great discussion board, and everyone is free to post to that forum, The Trading Post.

# 52 -- FPC, SO WHERE DID ALL THE INDIANS GO?

2007-09-25T21:55:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

So, after reading the last blog, tell me, where did all the Indians go? Were they indeed wiped off the face of the earth by the White guy? Did the White guy kick ass and ride on?

You really have to take a hard look at the color line within the entire United States, not just Louisiana. Louisiana, Mississippi and in general the entire South was just the fall guy in all this Black and White crap.

It broke down this way, if you were educated, had money, power and were light skinned, you could be White even if you were not White. But the latter was a given in most societies. If you were dark skinned and did not have African features, sans money, power etc. you were likely placed in the "Free People of Color" category -- "the I don't really know category, but we're being politically correct category." Most civilized and assimilated Indians were placed in this category, but -- there were others!

Ever notice how the "Other" is used even today when you just can't make a decision and need to move on?

So, if we look at the record (what, thought I was going to do all your research?) we can easily see Black and White, and if you look further, you'll see "Free People of Color," now there where three, but where are all the Indians? Not to change the subject, but back in the late 1900's, the King and Queen of Spain visited San Antonio and were a guest of then Mayor Henry Cisneros. They asked the same question, "where are all the Indians?" With a sweep of his hand, Henry responded, "why they are all around us." Were Indians included in "Free People of Color." What do you do with an Indian in bib coverall's, put a watermelon under his arm and call him Black? Outlaw bib overalls for "Free People of Color?" Strange that the words Slaves, Blacks and Negro is often used, but the African word in these old records seldom was.

So this Indian problem has been going on in some peoples minds right into the 20 Th century and beyond. Where......did all ....... the Indians go?

But wait, what about the others? Were Creoles and Cajuns Black.....or White,.......or just not mentioned, or -- "Free People of Color?" You see, there were not too many choices.

I can hear the curses from the past wafering on the breeze from the dank dark swamps; "Dammit, I told you I was from Turkey!" So where did the Turks, near East -- far East Indians, Moors, Portuguese, Brazilian Indians, Chinese and Afghan's go? "Dammit, I said Moor, not more!" And, the list goes on; it would be silly to list them all here, and besides, we don't have the space.

But, aside from LV Hayes, in his racist posts, he lives in Disney Land with his jar of Metamucil, the world has never just been Black and White and Moors lived other places besides Delaware.

At this point, I will speak to the so called clannish Redbone People? Clannish? Well, who wouldn't be clannish when they wouldn't call it like it was. Granted, as I said before, Redbones, when it came to national origin, and I bet there were some Aggies in there, were as diverse as they come -- like the strips on a Zebra -- they were "Free People of Color."

"So why wouldn't people of like color seek their own?" That was a question which Jim Serra of KPLC-TV posed even though he knew the answer, and it is a good question. Why did the Italians of St. Louis claim "the hill" (known Italian area of St Louis). They obviously wanted to be among like people and people of their social economic status (SES).

More Later

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@Aol.com

# 51 -- IT WASN'T JUST BLACK AND WHITE!

2007-09-19T00:15:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

If you think that Louisiana was without a doubt Black and White, you're missing everything in between and may be taking a racist attitude without realizing it. What I mean is this, if Black and White is all you see, then you are likely jumping to a final conclusion of African and White without accounting for the many other nationalities in Louisiana or anywhere else.

It's just as bad to skip off down the Turkish hallway as it would be to focus on an African relation when it comes to genealogy. So you can't jump to conclusions.

If you are basing your African conclusion on the fact that your relative was a slave, guess again, slaves came in all nationalities and the fact was, many Indian slaves were used in place of Africans -- so much so, that at one point, Indian slaves out numbered Africans.

Now we haven't even scratched the surface if you are including indentured servants in your Black assumptions, as -- indentured servants came from all over. It was only a media presentation that these folks were all Black. Anyone could sign on for something in return -- it was a contract. Some signed on for the trip to the Americas and a place to live and new cloths, some even received a parcel of land or maybe a horse and freeman papers when their service expired.

Perhaps this quote from Steven Pony Hill's "Patriot Chiefs and Loyal Braves" will add to what I am saying.

"As has been discussed by many scholars, the ‘Indian’ stereotype was already prevalent among eastern whites as early as the 1850’s. The typical understanding among southern whites was that all Indians had long hair, did not speak English, and, most importantly, all lived out west. Eastern Indian descendants were known to have varying hair colors and textures, varying eye colors, and a wide range of skin complexions, even as early as the 1700’s, most probably due to intermarriage with early Spanish, French, and English traders. Most officials were at a loss when trying to categorize these people into a social structure that allowed for only two races, black and white."

So how do we account for Eastern Indians? What about the so called Five Civilized Tribes?" What about the hundreds of lesser known "Civilized Tribes?" What about the Saponi, Nasamond, Powhatan Confederacy Tribes, and the list goes on.

When it comes to the word Mulatto, bear in mind that the Spanish influence in this country considered it a mix of anything including French and Indian. The French felt the same way and the Virginia Government defined, in 1705, that the definition of Mulatto would include the offspring of an Indian and included the offspring of a Negro as Mulatto.

Down through the years, after the 1900's, the word mulatto began to socially mean the offspring of a White and a Black, a Black and an Indian or any other color combination. Still, it was never a legal thing in that sense, it was more how you were perceived in the local society and what culture you practiced.

If you were a person of color and hung out with Africans, you likely picked up those cultural traits, but -- if you hung out with other groups, you likely picked up those cultural traits as well. So Mulatto, as well as, Free People of Color, Melungeon and Redbone could also be an association thing by hanging out together or by marriage.

So being called a Mulatto depended on the place, time and language. Even then, Mulatto might not have meant what you thought it was. After all, the word did not mean you were automatically colored Green with a wart on the end of your nose.

DNA testing can give up some answers, but if the question is in your mothers family line, you won't answer the question by following your Father's line.

More later.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 50 -- LATEST STUPID STUFF FROM LARRY KEELS AND MINIONS!!

2007-09-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

By GARY J. GABEHART

Thanks Joyce for the heads up!

I am often amazed at the commentary of the self appointed Redbone, Lester "Larry" Keels, who repeats over and over -- mostly quotes from over-the-hill "old saws" who never had a handle on Redbones much less Melungeons.

But wait, ask yourself why any member of his group would delight in publishing falsehoods about Redbones if it is not for the fact that they are not likely Redbones to start with. Besides not having a Redbone relation, are they really that dense that they know so little historically?

Has anyone ever seen Larry's pedigree? You won't because he has never had one, he's just a wannabe -- wannabe Redbone, wannabe Melungeon, wannabe Indian and it goes on and on. He talks about granny removing her kids from Redbone society, but what granny? He talks about being adopted at times and other times not -- Is he writing a fiction story? Ask him for his pedigree some time, you won't get an answer, just a convoluted story full of verbiage about nothing.

In the missive below, he talks about being booted from RHF, but the fact is he removed himself through non-participation and inability just like the other personage did, and I don't mean Bridges -- how the story changes. As far as Larry being a great researcher, he isn't -- I say this as he questioned what Don Marler has written while ignoring "Albert Rigmaiden's" letter of 1893, which speaks of the Redbones not as an epithet but as a people, and further lists the surnames of those he knew of. Seems Rigmaidens letter predated the birth of Don Marler (wish he would learn how to spell, Larry that is, as he spells Family with "two M's"). Don Marler did not invent Redbones

Now you tell me, see any research here? Lester "Larry" States:

"Linda,

From my perspective, I don't think you or I have made any more waves than anyone else. Considering that the group focus stems primarily from the history of what seems to be nothing other than a colloquial racist epithet, should any of us have ever expected anything other than controversy?

I now see my own naivette as the result of my grandmother' s complete success at removing her children from the affects of the prevalent racism while many of her cousins stayed in place and faced off their tormentors, possibily snatching opportunity only at the constant risk of social peril.

I still would be interested to know who knew what about the terms "redbone" and "melungeon" before Don Marler started researching his childhood memories of his "white" fammily's usage of the slur "redbone".

For some reason, aversion to disagreement seems to cause only incendiary retaliation from the individuals who hijacked RHF for whatever is their exclusionary agenda. I really think it boils down simply to a personality conflict thing which avails no solution.

Seemingly, the last gathering focused on ousting Sandra and myself. This year, we will likely take second billing to the ouster of Ray Bridges and the Bearhead Creek insurgency.

I'll be content depending on Joyce and Glinda to provide reports on what they experience. BTW, I'm glad you are here and hope you will share more. I'd like Ray and others to feel free to discuss as well. I don't think it will take that much effort to maintain a civil tone even when we will obviously sometimes disagree. None of us is more an authority than anyone else.

Larry"

Larry, of course, has always had the opportunity to reply to these Blogs right on the Blog itself, but he has always elected to ignore it. Of course when you preach heresy like he does, it's hard to defend yourself in any rational or historic manner.

If Larry is expecting "a show" this year at the "research conference," he is in for a major letdown for it is not an annual meeting, it is a "research conference." Get that?
R E S E A R C H C O N F E R E N C E -- Read my lips. And, anyone out of hand at the research conference will have to deal with local authority's, not RHF.

As for some sort of cloak and dagger scenario concocted by Larry, better send some Nodoz with one of them to stay awake or maybe suggest they not spend their time shopping or hanging out at the room. If, as they claim, they feel like having a little side meeting to gossip, who cares -- get with it little girls. They write about plagues -- pretty stupid stuff.

By the way, seating is extremely limited and once the seats are gone, there will be NO ENTRY enforced by the City, so you better pay your conference fee early.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 49 -- KPLC-TV BLOG WITH DON MARLER

2007-09-16T21:41:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Check out KPLC-TV (Lake Charles, Louisiana) blog page by Jim Serra, Vice President and General Manager, on Don Marler and The Redbones of Louisiana. Yep, we run with the Big Dogs -- rest of you get back on the porch.

Jim Serra is the Vice President and General Manager for KPLC-TV, the NBC affiliate serving Lake Charles and Lafayette, Louisiana. Jim Serra, even if I am accused of being somewhat biased, is far from an ordinary blog writer. I think you will agree when you read his very fine commentary. It flows gently from the fragrance of a small glass of Syrah into a torrent of cascading white water twisting and turning over the jagged rocks as it tumbles through the canyons leaving the reader breathless and gasping for more, or -- was it hurry up and get to the point! "Kick your ass huh? Paybacks are hell!"

But we have seemed to become close friends at a speed of at least warp factor five and with so much in common, I hesitate to enumerate them all, you just would not believe it.

Did you know Jim is an Aviator -- my kind of bud.
Jim tells a compelling story of his journey into the world of the Redbone, sprinkled with great graphics, photographs of local Redbone folk, and a very fine presentation of the author Don Marler and his book Redbones of Louisiana.
http://www.kplctv.com/

This is the beginning of conference coverage by Jim Serra, John Bridges and the team at Television Station KPLC-TV.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 48 -- SOME PEOPLE'S KIDS!!

2007-09-07T16:22:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Some People's Kids?

Latest discussion on the RanD site concerns something I said on the Redbone site (Blog #47), about the Drakes concerning a 1705 Virginia law or ruling on the definition of the term Mulatto (according to a 1705 Virginia Law). Remember to dot all "i" and cross every "T," or she will attempt to spin something.

Now it seems pretty clear to me, and others, what the law states. But to "one" individual it just can't be so, even -- when supplied with overwhelming data, laws and references, and -- don't forget the important time of the RanD group. Of course, you can be charitable and write it off to good will or some such. Some People's kids, jeez.

But, let's do this, go to Blog #47 and read it over -- make notes and then tippy toe back over to Blog #48 and we will continue. Seen enough?

Let me first explain that the thrust of the article was two-fold in concept, but I guess you could read more into it. First, I thought it might be helpful to get some stuff on the record about the John Aaron Drake, Sr. family, as well as, the John Aaron Drake, Jr. family and some of their children. Note, that in Blog # 47 I even stated that all this stuff was under construction, and if you didn't like it, "let's talk."

Secondly, I was attempting to explain my concept of the color line and how really complex it was with "People of Color," in this country in the 1700's and 1800's, and perhaps even today. It was not a Black, White issue -- it never was! Even Indians were monkeyed around with when it came to the terms FPC and Mulatto.

What was offensive to this person was the term "Mulatto," and perhaps as it was applied to John Aaron Drake, Jr. -- the latter was never clear to me. But, his marriage bond was clear, it stated he was a Mulatto. What could be clearer than that?

Now John Aaron Drake, Sr., and his wife Elizabeth Charity Smith Chrieves (Chavis or Chevis)(better get it all on here so I don't get jumped on again) were born about 1750 -- both in Elizabeth, Virginia.

John Aaron Drake, Jr. was born about 1776 in the Carolina's. It was here, that he was known as a Mulatto, the offspring of an Indian. The family was Catholic or they could have been converted Anglicans, hard to know. We do know that the family attended St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in Louisiana and their children were baptised there.

Since John Aaron Drake, Jr. was known as a Mulatto, he could not be married in the Catholic Church, to Rosalie Abshire, without the Church investigating his background -- it was Louisiana Law -- Negro's, Blacks could not marry a White. But, the offspring of an Indian or Indian Mulatto could.

So, the way it would break down would be White only were married in the Church. Indian/Black could not be, Black/White could not. White/Indian or Indian Mulatto could be. I expect that other cases were FPC and White "but a Church investigation had to be performed," and I expect there were many. As I said in Blog # 47, it's a complicated situation, but the one thing that "did not happen," by law, any where in Louisiana, was to officially allow a White/Black marriage.

Now, either Barbara Ellison is blind or she sees what she wants to see.

http://www.vagenweb.org/hening/vol03.htm

Here is the actual statue and citation from Virginia law:
ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- OCT. 1705 (Acts IV-XI) page 252

"And for clearing all manner of doubts which hereafter may happen to arise upon the construction of this act, or any other act, who shall be accounted a mulatto,

Be it enacted and declared, and it is hereby enacted and declared, That the child of >an Indian< and the child, grand child, or great grand child, >of a negro< shall be deemed, accounted, held and taken to be a mulatto."

Now you read the actual language -- child of >an Indian< ("and" the connector) and the child, grand child, or great grand child, >of a Negro<. Can you see the word White in that? Can you see the words "Offspring of an Indian and a Negro" in there? The law is written so the "Indian" could be Male or Female. Certainly another twist.

The problem with Barbara Ellison is she includes or excludes the term White -- hard to tell what she is doing, and -- she connects Negro with Indian.

Now this is what Barbara Ellison wrote:

The *new* law was to ***include*** offspring of an Indian and a Negro, an Indian and the child of a Negro, an Indian and the grandchild of a Negro, and an Indian and the great grandchild of a Negro. Is she rewritting the law? If she keeps putting it in print, some folks will begin to believe it.

Now is that what the law stated or is this what Barbara Ellison is trying to palm off on you? She does not even understand what she is writing. She is the corrupter of fact!

Pony hill writes: I could refer you to about 50 census pages from 1850 of Indian reservation areas here in the southeast where it lists the Indian people there as "Mulatto"...even the ones who had very famous Indian-White ancestors (absolutely no African ancestors at all)!!!

Or how about in the historic compilation "Woodward's Reminences" written in the 1830's by a military officer who took part in the Creek and Seminole Wars....Woodward made reference to Jack McGee (if I remember the name right)..as "McGee that old Mulatto" and then goes on to talk about McGee's Indian mother and white Polish trader father.
Another private email gave me this link.
http://web.archive.org/web/20070416123630/http://www.heite.org/Indians/invisibleindians.html

Barbara Ellison admitted in one of her emails:

In a message dated 9/7/2007 9:39:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, Falaya200@XXXXXX.XXXX.com writes:

As for our particular family, I can only go on circumstantial evidence and intuition that our Goins and Drakes do have African ancestry..everything I have seen thus far points heavily to that...(Not to mention my obviously African heritaged living Goins relatives) I DO care about the racial make-up of the family partly BECAUSE other people seem to want to negate part of the family...They want to double-talk any African ancestry into oblivion, and I SEE that...and it does bug me as well....

So now you can see what kind of researcher she is, "circumstantial?"
"Intuition?" "Shall we play let's suppose or make believe?"

The problem with this kind of research is that it leads the unwary down false genealogy paths. It takes time to research the phony stuff and separate it from the real deal.

Hopefully we have opened some eyes to the other people, the ones who did not exist, the "Free People of Color," the "Hombre Mulatto Libre de Carolinas," my fourth Great Grandfather.

http://www.tarver-genealogy.net/aids/spanish/sp_racial_terms.html

I told her I was offended by her personal attacks. If you think I'm too hard on her, wake up and ask yourself if you want someone misrepresenting your family?

Ask her to put her pedigree in print.

Jeez, some people's kid's! There is more to come to clear the air!

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 47 -- JOHN AARON DRAKE, SR., JOHN AARON DRAKE, JR. & ROSALIE ABSHIRE

2007-08-30T19:33:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Get well soon Nick!

One Redbone Family.

From a recent discussion, with William Gomez, aka "Fruitloop" I began to realize issues I had slaved over years ago were now the issues of other folks, who now slaved over the same documents and family members.

With that said, it is often critical to others that we again address some of the interesting members of our families for the benefit of the masses who come behind us -- get it on the record!

For example, the older father and son Drake's, were referenced in records as John Drake, Aaron Drake, John Aaron Drake, John Aaron Drake, Sr. (abt.1750 - 1813) and John Aaron Drake, Jr. (abt. 1776 -- 1828). Confusing to say the least when you are dealing with just two people. But, if you are concerned as to whether there was a junior or senior, I direct your attention to the Camp Orcoquisac census of 1807 that indicate both a junior and senior with wives and children although they are listed (both) as Juan Erondraque by the Spanish Officer Geronimo (Her-ron-nimo) Herrera.

Also, to compound the problem of whose on first, John Aaron Drake, Jr. and his wife [1] Rosalie Abshire (15 Jan 1872) name two of their sons, Aaron Drake (abt. 1802 -- 25, Aug 1857) and John Drake (abt. 1805). The only thing that saves you from further confusion are the birth date's, Camp Orcoquisac [2] records and Father Don Her'bert's record translations, both Church and Civil, for Southwest Louisiana (the work is attributed to him, but he had help doing it). However, with these three records, the four Drakes can easily be accounted for.

Still later, Aaron Drake, Sr., son of John Aaron Drake, Jr., names a child Aaron Drake, Jr. (3 mar 1847--23 Oct 1939). There is confusion in this generation however, as Aaron Drake was married to Caroline Bass (1811-1860) and Sarah Ashworth. And, Caroline Bass was also married to Elisha Jacobs (b.1790) who was married twice as well (Martha Calvit).

It is this Aaron Drake, Sr., who seems to be associated with Bearhead Creek, Louisiana (Singer) near Lake Charles (Redbone Country).

Of course, this is always information that is constantly under construction, so if you see something curious, let's talk.

Another bone of contention concerns the term "Mulatto." In present day, the term Mulatto, in many peoples mind, means "Negro or African White mixture," but that is far from being a true statement.

The fact is, it meant then, and now, a number of things but "primarily the mix." Here it becomes complex. I've said before the term essentially meant White/Indian, Indian/Black or Black/White, according to various laws of the land, but it does not. You have to dig deeper. It is far more complex.

If you are thinking White, Black and American Indian in Louisiana or anywhere (the entire US), I ask you, what happened to the other ethnicity's other than White, African? Did those other groups only come in through Ellis Island in the late 1800's? Wrong!

The answer is that Mulatto meant White/Free People of Color (including American Indians), FPC (including American Indians)/Blacks or White/Black (Negro or African). The trick is, American Indians were included in Free People of Color by White Society. Some American Indians were light in color and others were quite Black.

John Aaron Drake, Jr. was known as a Mulatto. The simplest way to explain the following is to say if you were the wrong kind of Mulatto, you could not be married in the Church. When it came time for John Aaron and Rosalie Abshire to marry, the Church performed an investigation of his status and concluded he was the right kind of Mulatto. I might add, those original marriage documents are held by LSU in Louisiana, and I expect a copy at McNeese University in Lake Charles as well.

So what kind of Mulatto? He could have been a FPC or FPC/White mix, but -- not African or Negro. We know, from Don Her'bert records, that John Aaron, Sr. stated in marriage records he was from Virginia, right in the middle of the Powhatan Confederacy. Family lore of the John Aaron, Jr. family indicates a connection to the Powhatan Confederation. Also, it is speculated the Drakes could have been either English Drakes or Irish Drakes; however, very few Irish Drakes were known to be in New England prior to 1775. Beyond this, we can only speculate for now, but I expect there was an American Indian heritage from the Virginia Drakes [3].

I'm not knocking Africans or Negro's here, I'm just stating that Mulatto meant much more than Black/White. If you are tracking your family, it is important to know this -- your FPC family could have been any ethnicity other than White/African -- Turk, Asian, Pakistan, India, Middle East, Portuguese, American Indian and it goes on. If you want to be tri-racial, bi-racial, multi-racial or what ever you might believe, so be it, but -- it would be a good idea to shake out these other groups if in any doubt. I might add that "some" of these so-called Black/White Mulatto issues are now turning out to be, White and "other than Black" -- through DNA research.

One argument we hear is the Drake's at Bearhead were only Redbone by virtue of a marriage into the Ashworth family, and that could certainly be so. This is a good case for Redbone by marriage or guilt by association.

(1) Rosalie Abshire was First Cousin to Isaac Ryan (Alamo) and Elisha Ryan Rigmaiden of Lake Charles, Louisiana; and, Grandmother to Jeremiah Goins and Sharafina Drake's children. Rosalie Abshire was also the 4th Great-Grandmother of this writer, Gary J. Gabehart.

(2) November 1, 1807 Elizabeth Shown Mills, transcription. - Lost Spanish Towns, Jean L. Epperson, p.38; http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/la/calcasieu/history/pioneers/settlers.txt; Bexar County Archives, Reel 37, frames

(3) In 1705 the Virginia Legislature passed into law that “the offspring of an Indian is a Mulatto.” Ponyhill.

Bless LVH and WAG for their latest temper tantrums.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 46 -- REDBONE CONFERENCE IN LAKE CHARLES!

2007-08-22T10:18:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

I'm told by some folks that they do not know how to book for the Conference in Lake Charles, or how to get there. Sooooooo, here are some answers to the questions provided by RHF.

To pre-register: Stacy R. Webb, President, Treasurer/Webmaster 1341 Grapevine Rd. Crofton, Ky 42217 270. 985-8568

email: Parrotsgrl@aol.com or Register at the door or on Thursday the 18th October.

To register by Pay/Pal: http://www.redboneheritagefoundation.com/

Lake Charles Airport: Continental Airlines or Houston Inter-Continental Airport and car rental -- Lake Charles is about a two hour drive on IH 10.

Conference location downtown Lake Charles: Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library, 411 Pujo Street at Bilbo, Lake Charles Louisiana. Conference entrance on Bilbo.

Times:

Thursday: Noon -- 5pm, Registration
Friday: 10am-- 5pm -- nightly meal location to be announced
Saturday: 10am-- 5pm -- nightly meal location to be announced

Accommodations: Accommodations are open and there are a number of motels and BB's located in the Downtown Area. At the moment, RHF is working on casino motel discount rooms for those who wish them.

Golfing: Golfing is available at several Casino Hotels.

Cemeteries: A list of family and Historic Cemeteries will be provided in the Conference package.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 45 -- OLD LESTER K. CUMMINGS DOWN AND COUNTING -- TSK, TSK!!

2007-08-20T12:41:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

"Buyer Beware!"

I wonder if a day goes by that the Melungeon, Redbone antagonist Larry Keels wonders who he is today -- what aka should he use, what bit of misinformation should he present? Who should he attack personally? If you are a member of his site, and you are attacked, and Larry does not step in, you can bet you were attacked by one of his alter ego's -- Lynda or Lucy Suder today, Lester tomorrow or his Indian alter ego cruzjohnnypass -- in short, it's all Larry and it's not even healthy.

It's not a serious site in any fashion. They do not discuss genealogy, it's a -- bogus Melungeon/Redbone site. How Campbell and Waters can support this tripe is beyond me, as they are frequent writers on Larry's Renegade site.

The information put forth by these folks, such as Larry, is always behind a smoke screen, layered in "he said, she said, they said" and put forth by an aka, a surrogate, an alter ego. Ever notice how he is quick to quote someone else as if it is the truth? Check out these quotes sometime, and see if the quote is indeed correct -- with no missing or added verbiage.

The sad part is the total lack of integrity for these folks, who, in a perverse way, consider their activities as just playing around. They are quick to say "who me?" Their defenders are just as lame, and some of them even lurk on valid research sites to pass on new and interesting research to the purveyors of hate and phony information. Larry has even posted on Wikipedia some nonsense about Redbones and Melungeons without citation -- fairytales from a warp five mind.

Those folks who are lurking, I might add, surround themselves in the guise of the elderly, who never have any opinions and never present any research at all, but who will jump on you in a heartbeat if they think you are poking fun at "their leader." Being elderly however, like me, does not mean you are stupid and can get away with anything.

One such site, Melungeon and Redbone Renegade Research, or some such moniker, continues to attract a replacement following which often lasts a few days before fading away in disgust. The ones who stay are mainly his alter ego's or the weak minded in his likeness. If you cannot attract a following, invent one!

This is a warning for all -- you can't believe everything you read, especially when it is prefaced with he, she, it, they, them. And, never trust anyone who is hung up on naked savages or conflicting verbiage inappropriate to the commentary or place published.

A good example is a piece written on the Ancestry.com site for Goins Researchers by the Larry Keels, aka Lester K. Cummings (now removed by Ancestry), presenting an article negative to DNA Research and written (supposedly) by a third party. Smoke screen (because he has been booted by his real name), surrogate presented (which also appears to be booted), and written (maybe), by a third party.

Now, if you find negative comments out there in Cyber-space, about who or what Melungeons or Redbones were, the first thing you must ask yourself is do they know what they are talking about? The answer is always no! They have likely not done any meaningful research, have a hidden agenda, or devious and insane motives.

BTW, there is no definition for either people. The two groups, Melungeon and Redbone, are as diverse as the strips on a Zebra's back. They were and were not even multiracial people.

"Buyer beware," is a valid warning!

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@Aol.Com

# 44 -- SON OF A .....WHO?

2007-08-15T07:46:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

I'm asked to give an example of Redbone folks originating in the Carolina's, and it would seem to some folks that if they were born in Louisiana and their parents were born there, then the Carolina's don't count. Carolina's don't count?
Let me give you an example of a number of migration patterns by family names. It goes along with what I said in my last blog; "born in the Carolina's, children in Mississippi, died in Louisiana." Couldn't be simpler than that.
Now Albert Rigmaiden, 1890's Calcasieu Parish Treasurer, in a letter to McDonald Furman, dated May 6, 1893 states that the Redbone people were neither White nor Black and not well liked by the Negro's.
In his letter, he mentions the names of "some of the principal and oldest families that I know of, they are -- Ashworth -- Goins -- Perkins -- Drake -- Hoozer -- Sweat -- Buxton -- Doil or Dial -- Johnson -- Esclavant."
http://jgoins.com/rigmaiden_calcasieu_parish.htm
Albert Rigmaiden is as close as anyone to being the guy on the ground in 1893 -- this was his perception at the time, and his perception would hold far more validity than a modern day supposition.
Note that his commentary stated that the names he gave, were "some of the principal and oldest that he knew of." There are other names claimed of course. I'm not sure of on what basis, so I won't speculate.
Let's take the Bass family that I have information on.
Moses Bass b. 1778 and Elizabeth Terrell b. 1778 -- both in North Carolina. Moses married Elizabeth in Amite, Mississippi in 1804. Moses died in 1845 and Elizabeth in 1860. Both died in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana.
Now I know that some folks will argue that the Bass' were not Redbone, and they may not have been, but their children grew up in Redbone Country and lived around Redbones. In fact, their kids likely married into Redbone families, such as, the Drakes.
Now we have two Redbone names, were they Redbones?
Aaron Dial b. 1765 North Carolina & Leith Drake b. abt 1775 in North Carolina. Aaron died 1831, Leith in 1819, both around St. Landry, Louisiana.
Another Redbone name.
John Aaron Drake, Sr. b. 1750, Virginia & Elizabeth Chavis/Chevis b. 1750 in Virginia. Drake, Sr. d. 1813 and Elizabeth, 1815, both in St Martinsville, Louisiana.
Of course, none of these folks jumped on Southwest Airlines on the East Coast and deplaned in Louisiana. Most came by land and they did not drive down the Interstate. Some may have walked a good portion of the way, if not all the way.
We can do the same comparisons with Joshua Perkins and Mary Mixon, out of South Carolina and into Louisiana, and there are others too numerous to mention here.
So there are some examples. There are more, but these are some I'm related to.
The above picture is of Ruben Goins, his sister Mary Goins Southward and her husband William C. Southward.
Gary. J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 43 -- HISTORIC REDBONE MIGRATIONS

2007-08-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Yeah, Redbones migrated to Southwestern Louisiana, and they did not all come at the same time, and -- they certainly did not crawl out of the Louisiana swamps as some idiots would have it.

More and more, my genealogy research on my Redbone family, the Ashworth, Bass, Goins, Drakes, Buxton, Doyle's (Dial), Nash, Clark, Gibson dating in the late 1700's all indicate leaving the Carolina's (Virginia, Etc.) and making the trek over time into Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana to continue Westward. For the most part, it reads like this; born in Virginia or the Carolina's, kids born in Tennessee or Mississippi, died in Louisiana or Texas.

Most all of these Redbone folks were the mixed bloods of the day. They started out from English, Gaelic, French, Portuguese, Turkish stock and more, and some, along the way married Indians and -- some even Africans. I ask you, who else were here in large numbers to marry but Indians? Chances were high that somewhere in your family from Father to Son, and to Grandson, an Indian wife would appear.

The old thought of a Tri-racial background of Anglo, Negro or Indian have gone out the window with DNA testing -- it has always been just too complicated all along to cast the tri-racial moniker on these diverse Redbone people -- they were like strips on a zebra.

And, along with being Redbone and mixed blood, they sought out members of similar classes if they were not able to find a place in the privileged class by guile or money.

My thoughts on the term REDBONE is that it was the same as saying Westsider in the case of nearby Lake Charles, they were the folks living in the Neutral Zone, some of who worked at Westlake. From Lake Charles to Westlake to Sulphur, on IH 10 today, is ten to fifteen minutes in a straight line. Check out a map for Sulphur, Starks, DeQuincy and Lake Charles, it's a small area by our standards today, yet it is some of those folks, within these communities, who claim to be the real Redbones -- it's hard not to look at your immediate family and feel we're the only one's.

But what about Pitkin, Oakdale and points North? Fact is it was Southwest Louisiana and not just the Parish of Calcasieu where some Redbones stopped. Redbones settled all over Southwest Louisiana with pockets here and pockets there, and they were mostly all related to Redbones in other settlements.

Why did they migrate in the first place? As much as I would like to say it was to the "Boiling Point Restaurant," in Sulphur, it was for the same reason that everyone else migrates -- they wanted a new deal and a new life with opportunity, and -- the setting sun beckoned them Westward.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 42 -- REDBONE WARS? BALONEY!

2007-08-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Redbone War, naw! Just some neighborhood kids rocking the roof -- not a problem!

Ray Bridges, in his "My Mother's People blog," now publishes some absolute insane stuff that reeks of the fumes from a bottle of MD 40/40 or a mason jar of bootleg whiskey. What's wrong with that guy? Go see for yourself, and makeup your own mind.
.
http://ashworths.blogspot.com/
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To see the Ray Bridges in a dress, check out his "dancing with myself" blog. Click on the category "The Gay Agenda," read about his army career and scroll down to see the in drag picture.
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http://rlbtzero.typepad.com/dancing_with_myself/
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I didn't take his picture, and I did not publish it to his blog -- he did! I did not send this picture to everyone I know, I sent it to RHF Board members, and -- Larry Keels. I expect Larry forwarded to whoever he wished, including Ray Bridges. Got that?

Now, as for that story that Ray circulated about Stacy Webb, and which LV Hayes was stupid enough to repeat, and then make the statement last week that RHF was being run by a felon -- let me tell you how it came about. Seems that a friend of Ray's, a female, who borrowed $200.00 cash from Stacy Webb, in order to go to Richmond, and wrote Stacy a check for $200.00, which bounced -- made that story up, and Ray took every spoon full, bite by bite. Why did she make that story up? Beats me, and beats Stacy. Seems she does not want to make her check good either. You can't control who you are related to!

If I was LV Hayes, I would find a way to retract those statements ASAP or find himself being added to a libel suit. Fool! Enough said? I hope so.

Now once and for all, RHF is holding a research conference in Lake Charles, Louisiana on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of October -- contrary to what Larry Keels (Larry writes that the conference is off) and LV Hayes has to say about anything. It's just stupid, negative commentary directed at RHF to try and confuse folks and screw up RHF conference plans. Tell me, what kind of research has Larry keels "ever" provided anyone? Tell me!

What's behind this constant crap from the brothers three -- Larry, Ray and LV? It's simply jealousy by three little controlling kids who know nothing about RHF, are not privy to RHF business and never will be; moreover, Larry, will readily accept research that RHF produces and brag how great it is. Unlike LV's data, RHF research is out there for everyone.

So why don't you guys get off the Drama Train, and do something constructive, and leave RHF alone? I challenge all three of you to make your research available to everyone. We all know that LV has a ton of information -- but what does Larry and Ray have?

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 41 -- BLESS THEIR LITTLE HEART'S, SEPERATE RHF MEETING FROM BEARHEAD CREEK MEETING!!!

2007-08-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

By Gary J. Gabehart

Bless their little heart's, Lester and the old, old one are confused again -- ya gotta take your medicine on time!

Just to set the story straight, The Redbone Heritage Foundation (RHF) is holding a research Conference October 18, 19, 20 in Lake Charles, Louisiana -- some of the Conference will be held at the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library -- some of the Conference will be held at other nearby locations yet to be announced.

Got that!
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For early registration, check out the following link:

http://redboneheritagefoundation.com/2007%20RHF%20Conference%20Lake%20Charles.htm
.
Or Call Direct, Stacy R. Webb, President, 1341 Grapevine Rd., Crofton, Ky 42217 (270)-985-8568 email: Parrotsgrl@aol.com

Now the Ray Bridges, Bearhead Creek Redbone meeting, "last I heard," was to be held at the VFW Hall in Starks, Louisiana. That's the last I heard, and you can get that information from Ray Bridges. It's printed on his web site, and he has all but dared members of the RHF to show up, so RHF would not be connected with that meeting. Get It? Two different meetings, by two different groups!
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Ray Bridges Bearhead Creek Blog, http://redbones-rhf.blogspot.com/
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Now that is the real deal! Can't tell you anything else except, (although we are cousins through the Drakes which according to LV Hays he also connects), Ray Bridges has not informed anyone to the contrary that I am aware of -- not that it would affect my schedule anyway.

I truly do wish Ray Bridges well with the Bearhead Creek Redbone Meeting on October 27th at the Starks VFW. Seems he has many issues to work out at Starks involving him personally. Maybe he will send this blog some pictures of the event.
.
Call or write Ray Bridges at, Ray "Houston" Bridges, 195 Santa Clara Ave, Oakland, Ca 94610 email calcasieu@sbcglobal.net

As I understand it from RHF planners, they will be giving away DNA kits, providing dinning discount packets and Hotel/Motel packets. Do it yourself cemetery tours will also be planned.

There will not be a formal Conference Dinner, which I thought was great, as I hate Conference food. There will be some dinner gatherings at classic Cajun restaurants where you can roll your own taco's and eat your own poisons, so to speak.

So, ya'll come down to Lake Charles in October and have a great time on the beach, clubbing, and the Historical District, and --spend some time at the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library -- they have what you're looking for!

The above picture is my Great-Grandfather, Charley Thomas. This is the 1880, full blood, Chickasaw Indian in his everyday Indian regalia. What, no spear or loin cloth?

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 40 -- REDBONE HERITAGE RELEASES CONFERENCE DATES

2007-08-06T21:00:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

2007 Conference dates for Lake Charles, Louisiana were released today by Redbone Heritage Foundation President, Stacey Webb. The dates selected are 18th October, registration and book sales -- (place and times to be announced), and the 19th & 20th of October at the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library at 411 Pujo Street at Bilbo, in the Lake Charles Historic District.

Conference hours at SWLGH Library will be 10 am sharp on Friday until 5 pm and on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. Refreshments will be served, and a conference package of discounts and maps will be provided to participants.

DNA kits will be furnished to qualified RHF member attendees (first come basis, but others can be ordered) at the conference, with a presentation on how best to use them. Have at least four generations of Grand parents in your back pocket.

It's going to be a bang up conference this year with lots of surprises there and more surprises to be announced in the next few weeks.

Ya'll attend, ya'll hear?

For Conference booking and information, Contact:

Stacy R. Webb, President/Treasurer
1341 Grapevine Rd., Crofton, Ky. 42217
270-985-8568

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 39 FAMILY GROUP SHEETS Vs. COMPUTER RECORDS

2007-08-03T11:01:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

When it comes to collecting genealogy data, there is nothing like hard data records -- raw data records, you have to write it down when you collect it.

Now that it is a written record, it can be retained for posterity. But wait, as it grows it becomes unwieldy and hard to sort. Binders grow and become thick with data. How do you solve the problem of looking up certain data? How do you find it at a moments notice and how is it related to other pieces of data.

Years ago, I was a Data Management Specialist with a major University System. We collected data -- human subject data, enumerations and personal data. These records were numbered and were placed in a file cabinet to be reviewed or edited by hand. Later, this data was placed, one by one, into a computer for electronic sorting. Although these systems, by today's standards, were archaic, without these systems we would still be sorting this data today.

The point I'm making is that we still need the family group sheets to back up our research, but without a computerised record -- a sorting program to put this data in, it is flat. Without electronic storage for sorting, it is tough to have ready access to connected material. With electronic storage, your data is no longer flat, but comes alive.

These programs have been difficult to find until the past three or four years, but can now be found most anywhere. One of the most popular programs is Family Tree Maker (FTM is only used here as an example) that can be found at every Sam's, Wal-Mart, Office Max or Office Depot for as little as $50.00 or less.

As data is entered into these genealogy programs, a family group sheet is created and connected to other family group sheets which can easily be printed, updated and added to. Now, you have a way to sort data, and -- a way to print reports.

One real and slow process of sharing data on genealogy sites is not knowing what kind of data the other folks need and who and how they are related -- to you.

Recently, with the help of Family Tree Maker, I was able to connect my self as a cousin to Ray Bridges and Terry Jackson -- Bearhead Creek Redbones. Also, I have now connected my self as a blood kin, cousin, to Stacy Webb (connecting an East Texas Redbone family with my own Goins family out of Southwest Louisiana). What is amazing is that the Stacy Webb connection was all done in a matter of :20 minutes of data provided over the phone by her and determined in a Kinship Report in less than :60 seconds.

It was a matter of connecting dots. Now she knows exactly how she is connected to everyone in my database, and I know how I am connected to the East Texas Redbones, and the folks around Starks, Pitkin and Oakdale.

This lack of being unable to connect the dots electronically is a problem that has plagued research e-sites for years. In addition, another person, who will remain unknown here, also found exact blood relationships she had only guessed at before and found Ray Bridges to be a blood relative cousin.

Moreover, I have found a blood relationship from myself to Bill Farris of the RB Board, and I expect to see a blood relationship soon to the Buxton's, Gibson's, Bass', Doyle's and Clark's. It's all a matter of entering data, connecting the dots and printing a kinship report.

The point here is being able to know the exact relationships to you of everyone in your database and who "their kinship reports" connect to others in your database. With that information, everyone's family tree grows.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 38 BOGUS REDBONE SITES -- MIS-INFORMATION!

2007-07-29T11:28:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

If you Google the Internet, you will find a crush of Melungeon and Redbone sites all professing to have the true definitions of these mixed race peoples. The telling fact is that if they have a definition other than mixed race peoples, they are wholly bogus sites.

There is no definitive definition by individual ethnicity.

Having said that, I expect there will be a rush by these bogus sites to mend their heresy in some way. But remember, there is no definition for either group other than mixed race people.

True, you will find a Turkish influence as well as Portuguese, but you will find many more Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Native American, European Ancestries and more. A melting pot of, as the Louisiana French called, "Lagniappe" (look it up, it will be fun).

And, there are counter sites like the Larry Keels bogus site that has no relationship to Melungeon and Redbone culture other than to make fun of both cultures and post inaccurate information. Larry is not a serious genealogist; further, the postings on his email site are certainly demented. Many, if not most of his postings, are his own many personalities, self made alias', that he has created in order to debate with or talk with. Need I say that Larry is now in the middle of a major meltdown and should seek guidance. Talking to himself to create mis-information?

A member of his site (June 27, 2007) is Raymond Alexander Bridges who claims to be a high official of the California Supreme Court in high profile, but who in reality is likely a clerical type. Ray is also the self proclaimed leader of the Bearhead Creek Redbones; but, I've been told straight out, by Bearhead Creek Redbones that it is not so.

melungeonsorredbonesorrenegades@yahoogroups.com

The Helen Campbell site is best known as borderline at the moment by some folks, but could be somewhat authoritative on the Melungeon issues. What is lacking is whether she is, or is not, blessed by official Melungeon Research sites. She did capture the blog site name known as:

http://melungeons.blogspot.com/

There is however, two well known Melungeon factions in the Vardy Tennessee area (maybe more), Ridgers (Newman's Ridge) and the low land folks of Brent Kennedy. It is sometimes difficult to tell where everyone stands, but I would not discount Helen's work.

The Redbone Heritage Foundation site contains the unvarnished work and archives of many researchers. It is pure energy and total research in it's rawest and pristine form. Check it out, but it is slow to load!

http://www.redboneheritagefoundation.com/

I mentioned Raymond Alexander Bridges of the California Supreme Court (according to Ray), in reference to the antagonist Larry Keels. Raymond, or Houston as he calls himself, is the self proclaimed leader of the Bearhead Creek Redbones, but is also a self-proclaimed homosexual who operates a site known as my "Mothers People and Dancing with myself." Now I'm not knocking Homosexuals, but I just don't care to associate with them when they get cranky and perverted.

There are Homosexuals and then there are stark raving mad perverts -- "lock up your kids, uncle what's his name is coming to visit" types! When you advertise the fact and dress up, Halloween or not, black dresses with red high heels and lipstick for gay events is going a bit far -- especially when posing in a lewd manner. Oh well, you decide and tell me what this has to do with Redbone research? If he takes it down, which he likely will, let me know and I'll send you a copy.

http://rlbtzero.typepad.com/dancing_with_myself/the_gay_agenda/index.html

Notice that Ray states he has been diagnosed as being "a bit unstable," thank God he was not assigned (while in the Army), to the Nuclear trigger. Also take note of his link to Redbones and a "Redbone speaks," tell us O'cousins of Ray, what does this gay agenda have to do with Redbones around Starks?

Is he going to have his hands in the food at the gathering in Starks on the 27 th at the VFW Hall? Watch out for Witches herbs, he is now professing to cast spells.

His other Blog at, "My Mothers People," is equally telling. Just plain trash. But, Redbones had their trash as well.

http://ashworths.blogspot.com/

It is a shame that he includes the name Ashworth in this Blog. But, it is thought that his Negro heritage (his published DNA report) along with Larry Keels heritage, may come from E3b factions (West Africa) within these families -- a fact that neither can tolerate. But, get over it, it's history and you're not living in the old South of the 1800's -- it's time to quit hiding it.

Finally, the Ray "Houston" Alexander Bridges (of California Supreme Court fame -- according to him) saga would not be complete without mentioning the Redbone Heritage Foundation Blog site (RHF) that he pirated from RHF as the soon to be ex-Vice President. Make up your own mind from his rambling commentary. He does not represent the RHF any longer. I think I might run for that office.

http://redbones-rhf.blogspot.com/

Note the names of his Louisiana cousins and pictures. Are they accurate? Unfortunately, he is a 5 th cousin of mine, but you can't pick your relatives.

Nothing would be complete here without mentioning LV Hayes. Hayes gets a tiny bit off track on his e-site at times, but although some of his posting could be strongly debated in his attacks on others, he is fair and usually accurate with what he posts in the way of research, and unlike Larry Keels, has made a successful e-site, and ....... he does not talk to himself. Just two important factors.

To the Larry Keels e-site folks, I say contact LV.

lvhayes@worldnet.att.net

The RanDs site is a Goins think tank and well worth joining. They began with Goins and now research all the related families and more. If you like in depth research and archives, it is one of the best on the web with a little bit more -- Lagniappe! This site is operated by Stacy Webb.

http://rands.parrottfarms.com/

The point of this Blog is, for the newbies and honest researchers out there, you are going to run into a lot of bed-wetting, snert monkeys on the web, and nothing is sacred even in Redbone Country. But, there are decent research sites.

By the way Ray, why are you worrying about my package? I did notice he seemed to be following me around at Richmond. But really, you should not have (as you claim), my sexual life on your mind -- you'll never be privy to it. And, I don't think you look good in a dress with your Jackson pose either!

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 37 -- REDBONE SOCIAL CLUB TO FORM AT STARKS?

2007-07-28T09:16:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Homosexuality is a fact of life. But, I don't have to join, neither do you. We hear from Ray "Houston" Bridges "sources" that he appears to be establishing a social club at Starks. Their first meeting will be held at the Starks VFW Hall on Oct 27th. All you loving folks should make plans to attend.

But for the record Ray, "Stacy lives in her own house, on her own property, sans a live in." You really should stop these lies and this absurd misuse of your position with the California Supreme Court before you lose your job. But, it is likely too late!

Ray rails about putting a death curse on me (Ray works for the California Supreme Court (did I mention that already?) -- listening to this Arnold? I have visions of this guy, down on his knees behind the Judges pulpit casting chicken bones, feathers and crayfish heads in a pile in order to place a spell on the litigants), but you know what Ray, everyone has to die, and I'm not afraid to do so -- been there, done that. But you (according to you being HIV positive), will likely die of AIDS, I won't! Now who has a curse on them?

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 36 CLASS AND CULTURE -- REDBONES ARE CREOLE'S?

2007-07-26T15:16:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

I spent two days in Redbone Country this week -- Starks, DeQuincy, Sulphur and Lake Charles. Met a lot of nice people over at the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library and had a great time talking with them. If you get the chance, this is the place to research.

http://www.calcasieu.lib.la.us/

The starks community does have a library and if you are looking for the VFW on LA 12, don't blink. If you see the handmade sign that says "Forget Amnesty, enforce laws," you've gone too far. But they do have a Dollar General and there may be somewhere to eat. It is a peaceful, quiet Community.

DeQuincy, other than Sulphur, is the place to eat and of course, Sulphur has the motels, but Lake Charles is just around the corner with lots of facilities. There does seem to be a problem finding no smoking rooms, and Don Marler and I searched a little before we found them. There is a quaint bed and breakfast over on Pujo that looked interesting, but the Blue Duck Cafe on Bilbo is only open till noon. Of course, there is La Luna and a Chinese Restaurant over on Ryan street and the Pujo Restaurant on Pujo and Ryan. All that is downtown.

In a discussion with some local Lake Charles businessmen, I discovered that folks West of the River (Calcasieu) were considered clannish and hard to deal with, while folks on the West side of the Sabine felt the same about the Cajuns on the East side of the river. What stood out at Starks was reference to Cajun music, Cajun activities and Cajun this and Cajun that. Did I dare speak the dreaded word "Redbones?"

Our businessmen in Lake Charles had heard the word but only in the last few months. They had always viewed the area West as Creoles and Cajun. Of course, could it be that Redbones had morphed from Cajuns into a sub-culture? Interesting thought. But I heard somewhere that the Bass people were really Cajun and were bent on joining the Four Winds Choctaw group? Difficult to understand, either you are or your not, but -- I think it is always possible to be a part of both and since we are talking about mixed blood people, ADD SOME MORE TO THE MIX.

Class is like allotting everyone to a single coffee can of a particular group. You don't have to look alike, and you don't have to have the same bloodlines, you just have to be of that class or group. BUT, you can always buy your way out of an unfavorable class with money and power.

Whether that Class or Group forms a Culture remains to be seen. I discussed the cultural aspect with Don Marler, but not deeply, and I should get him over here to focus more on it. But to me, if you are going to have mixed blood people in a class, you have the seeds of mixed cultures as well. Cultural foods, cultural music, names, dress and work ethnics and it does go on to many other things such as religion. I'm not totally sold on Redbone single cultures.

I'll be back in country this weekend and wander the Starks, DeQuincy and Sulphur areas, maybe Alligator park to read a good book.

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 35 REDBONE MIGRATION, AN AMERICAN THING!

2007-07-22T10:56:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

"Migration is just a part of the human experience. Like canines, the urge to travel is over powering for most of us."

Although some family members stayed put, the younger ones often picked up and moved West to find free land and make their fortune. Nothing hard to understand about that exercise. They were married before they left, or some were, and -- others married along the way.

Those migration trails began on the Eastern Seaboard -- Virginia, Carolina's and snaked West and South across the land to Spanish Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi Territory and Louisiana and Texas. Some went to Kentucky and Illinois before turning South or North.

So in a sense, Redbones came from all over -- not just Louisiana, Mississippi or the Carolina's. Some folks would have the Redbones springing out of the ground in Bearhead Creek, others recognize that the Redbone families originated elsewhere. It was more of a class thing, and for those out there claiming "my family was more Redbone than yours," (think about it) they were just talking about their own narrow little family -- especially from a modern day perspective.

Being a class thing, you could climb out of it with time and money. Move down the road, start your own business and build a big house. If you wanted to remain in the Redbone class designation, you surely could do that as well.

Redbones were not bi-racial, tri-racial or any other racial. There were simply too many races or ethnicity's involved. They were at best, multi-racial and that included Scots and Irishmen alike. You name the ethnicity, and it was there.

Some folks are hung up on names they know. As kids they visited and played with cousins on Bearhead Creek so that is all they know. They ignore their cousins up in Pitkin, Natchitoches or Alexandria which to me is absurd in the light that these same folks have not lived on Bearhead in fifty years and now live in those West Coast funny communities.

But, perhaps they were just continuing to migrate Westward. As one Redbone near Singer put it to me, " relatives and their kids -- you know, you can't pick your relatives." So, if you don't like your relatives, too bad, it's history and you're stuck with them -- even the strange ones -- it's an American thing!

Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishihi@aol.com

# 34 REDBONE DEFINITION -- BAH, HUMBUG!

2007-07-21T15:58:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Okay, let's get this straight, (Read my lips) "there is no definition of the Redbone or Melungeon people." They were mixed blood people. Get it? AND, IT WAS A CLASS THING!

As close as you will ever get is they were mixed blood people, and not all had the same blood mix, and most of them never gave a rat's ass anyhow! This of course is likely contrary to the Grand Wizard and know it all, LV Hayes who constantly changes his definition as much as he changes his insulin.

Today, in modern times we can begin to seperate families and even lines, via DNA, to discover that uncle Joe's wife, whose last name was never known, came from a family that originated from an area of what once was Persia. Of course, uncle Joe came from elsewhere. Things like this make a greater case to have your DNA done just to put a face on your family.

And we've all heard the Indian Grandmother story which may or may not have been entirely true in the first place. Of course, there likely was some bloodline or relation which was long forgotten in Granny's day even.

But why would you think was the reason that all these mix blood people ended up together? I've said it for years, Indians hung out with Indians -- class hung out with like classes. There really is no surprise to any of this.

If, you were of the privileged class, you likely could import a wife from England or elsewhere, but if you were not, you had to look at what was available. Sounds pretty hokey but that was the way it was, and there were very few women who had to do any of the leg work and besides, many thought it was not politically correct anyhow -- and it wasn't.

The Drake family, from where I descend, had some mixed blood in it (LV Hayes is a cousin) and some of that family ended up on Bearhead Creek, Louisiana. They were of course mentioned in the 1893 Rigmaiden letter, from Calcasieu Parish, as being Redbone. But, Albert Rigmaidens mother was a Ryan who was related to the Drakes, yet it would appear that Albert Rigmaiden did not consider himself Redbone (DNA wise, the male Rigmaiden line would not likely show up with Drake mixed blood and would follow back to England anyway, so who knows). So there you go, what buys yourself into other classes of people is success, money or power. Certainly the Rigmaiden's had much success which likely brought the other two. Guilt by association was likely forgotten as was distant cousins and lost generations.

Was LV Hayes a direct Drake descendant? Obviously not -- since his surname is Hayes. Neither am I a direct male descendant of the Drakes as my surname is Gabehart.
As for LV Hayes' recent statements about RHF, Stacy Webb and Gabe Gabehart, I have to laugh as what would LV Hayes know about anything? He wasn't there, never has been a member of RHF, never made a presentation before them and never will, and he should mind his own business.
As for his nonsense about non-Redbones on the RHF Board, RHF researches Redbone history, they are not a social recreation club for Redbones (see Ray Bridges new group). If you want to research or learn new stuff, welcome aboard -- LV Hayes has missed the point entirely in his attack on RHF.
Racist, Fruit loop, Drama Queen? You decide.
Bah Humbug, I'm too busy to care.
Gary J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com

# 33 PLANES, TRAINS, AND .....RACISTS, FRUITLOOPS AND OTHER DRAMA QUEENS!

2007-07-20T11:43:00.000-07:00
By Gary J. Gabehart

Researching Melungeons, Redbones, Mestee and other historic people can be a daunting endeavor when faced with the many Racist and Renegade sites bent on destroying and mangling true research to fit their agenda's.

Many among the racist protagonists may be Melungeon or Redbone or Mestee or African American or Indian and if not directly, but with an indirect connection, seek to impinge, disparage or in some manner claim it is all a myth. The reason behind all this is that they just cannot stand being one of these people or connected to one of these people. But guess what? It's historic, and it isn't going to change not one iota.

Of course, there are the Fruit loops who make a game out of it by printing convoluted commentary that no one but the writers pea brain can understand, supplemented by article's of other Racists -- Male and Female alike. Some of these physcotic people even invent imaginary friends and relatives in the hope of stimulating their web site or for the purpose of chastising members who fail to kiss the Grand Fuby's rear end.

And then you have the Drama Queens who make up imagined slights to get their name in lights or who will threaten publicly that they will quit Genealogy -- well, who really cares.

In the search for our Redbone heritage, you will, with out a doubt, encounter these malcontents who will waste your research time with just plain dribble -- you need to recognize these fruit loops for who and what they are and avoid them as much as possible.

Pay attention to the sites who constantly quote commentary from other folks and who seem to have nothing much to say themselves or if they do, their verbiage makes no clear sense. Avoid the whiners who claim slights from this person or another or the ones who are always quiting for unforeseen circumstances -- they are not worthy of your time.

In short, RACISTS, FRUIT LOOPS and OTHER DRAMA QUEENS! PLANES and TRAINS? Beats me?

Gaty J. Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)

Mishiho@aol.com

# 32 MEMBERSHIP MEETING TO CHANGE

2007-07-16T13:13:00.000-07:00
Although the Redbone "Study" Conference may be held in Lake Charles, Louisiana, the actual "Members meeting" may be held elsewhere -- even electronically or by mail.

You have to remember that RHF is a research organization, and although they will accept anyone who wishes to research, they are primarily interested in researching, not social club activities.

RHF is not a social recreation club, and they don't need to be saved from themselves by the likes of Ray, Brenda, Terry or the rest, but the Starks Historical Society, SHS, had better watch out -- Ray and his brother in arms, Sandra, have plans for you.

We have nothing in common with Bearhead Creek email site and certainly nothing in common to the weird Larry Keels site (if you could even call it a site), where Larry has had to resort to making up members like Lester (he used that to get back on Genweb when they booted him) and his mythical sister Lucy or the phony Indian name he uses on Indian hobbyist sites, just to have someone to debate. I bet LV Hayes is laughing his socks off at Larry.

Of course, some may not get along with LV, but you have to agree he does real research!

I'm still continuing to travel the Southwest and did have an enjoyable conversation with Diane last night. We plan to get together, and I'll see John while I'm down there as well.

So for Ray Bridges, plan on another place to do your crazy "Gay act up" routine in drag. Wear your kilts.

More later.

Gary J Gabehart, Mishiho (Mish-eh-ho)
Mishiho@aol.com