An article that was taken from my local newpapaper thought this might be of=  some help to some of you.
Maxine

Daily Oklahoman August 1994 
Expression Explained - We The People 
By Sharon Burns 
Bob and Verna Fuller, write seeking information about the term "Black=  Dutch." The Publication, "What Did They Mean By That?: a dictionary of=
 Historical Terms for Genealogists,' by Paul Drake, defines "Black Dutch" as=  Sephardic Jews from Spain wh married Dutch Protestants to escape an=
 Inquisition during the Middle Ages. "Black" referred to their dark hair and=  complexions. While attending the National Genealogical Society Conference=
 in the States last June, I visited with Mary Lynn Spijkerman Parker,=  president of the Dutch Family Heritage Society. Parker provided an article,=
 "Were The Black Dutch" in America Really Jews?" by Raymond G. Matthews, in=  the "Dutch Family Heritage Society Newsletter," Vol. 3, No. 1, 1989.
According to Mathews, one theory speculates the term referred to Spanish=
 soldiers interbreeding with fair-skinned Dutch during the 1500s when the=  Netherlands were controlled by Spain. Another theory discussed by Matthews=
 agrees with Drake's definition. To avoid persecution, the Jews living in=  Spain and Portugal moved into countries such as Belgium, The Netherlands=
 and England. They attempted to blend into society and intermarried with=  natives of the region. Descendants became Catholic in terms of religion,=
 later becoming members of the Reformed Dutch Church. Later generations=  immigrated to America and other colonies after 1740.  Matthews indicates=
 this definition may not be accurate, stating he has never encountered the=  term while researching colonial records of New York an New Jersey. Jewish=
 historians and genealogists have also indicated they are unfamiliar with=  the term. A third theory proposed by Jared Suess of the Family History=
 Library, Salt Lake City, indicates the term may be derived from the=  Schwarzwald or Black Forest of Germany. The Schwarzwald is in=
 Badem-Wurttemberg and along Switzerland's northern border. The term "Black=  Dutch" may be a corruption of the word "Deutsch," referring to persons from=
 the Black Forest region. During this period, mercenaries from this region=  were hired by the Dutch, thus a migration to America via the Netherlands=
 could have occurred. Other genealogists refer to the term as a regional=  expression without historical roots. Until family traditions indicating=
 ancestors of "Black Dutch" heritage can be documented by research, these=  theories are just that, theories.


0000,0000,ffffMaxine Reggio 
ffff,0000,00007205 N.W. 46th St. 
0000,0000,8080Bethany, OK 73008-2317 
405-789-3337 
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