Inbred Family of Appalachia: The Truth About Inbreeding

[@gregdelaney119]

It's telling how willingly and skillfully those with power and influence can literally fabricate stereotypes to further their own interests by preying on the human tendency to judge and condemn others. Creating deliberate falsehoods and presenting thinly veiled allegations and insinuations to pit groups against one another isn't new at all. These videos have helped me to better understand the region and its people in many diverse ways.

[@MountainRoots]

Control of a narrative has been near monopolistic by the well connected & those with prospects of great financial upsides. My hope is the truth finds a way via the kaleidoscopic efforts of bold and courageous people.

[@gregdelaney119]

@@MountainRoots I consider it an honor to be part of your support team, Josh.

[@johnnylingle9314]

Love West Virginians

[@joannebiddle8572]

Mountain people are just people who wish to live off the grid , same as Alaskan people etc ! Yes there are ones who circle around the same gene pool , but then look at the the rest of the world ! Habsburgs , for instance! I think the rumours , the stories and the scary tales of the Appalachian trail out there scare many !

[@roycecolvard4449]

Well stated

[@meglange3595]

Josh, this is a topic that needed to be flushed out and presented. You've done a very fine job of it. Those so called "ignorant hillbillies" have made giant contributions to society. Look at the music industry alone. Such beauty is not generated by stupidity and ignorance. They were extremely talented, innovative and hardworking people. A heritage to be proud of and esteemed, not ridiculed and shamed. Well done. Keep shedding light and truth on these subjects. You're doing it proud. 🥰

[@MountainRoots]

Really appreciate the feedback- this isn't a comfortable topic to discuss but the stereotypes arising from it are of the worst order and need redressing.

[@aidengalsky6150]

Thank you I swear we West Virginian are not all hillbillies and I’m not hillbilly and I’m form West Virginia

[@jessicabaker1274]

Well said 👏

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

@@aidengalsky6150 You have no reason to justify yourself. It’s their ignorance that causes them to judge others. Bless you and your beautiful state of West Virginia ❤️🕊

[@psingerman4778]

I'm a proud Appalachian (thus, a hillbilly) with two master's degrees, a great, hard-working, accomplished family, great kids and retired from two satisfying careers. Thank you for debunking some of the horrid stereotypes.

[@DiralAdkins]

I was a Middle School Principal of a beautiful, modern, school in Appalachia when a professor, and a couple of university students stopped by our school. They asked to speak with me in my office, and I was totally surprised to hear that they were doing research on the extreme poverty in Appalachia, and wanted me to recommend places they should visit in our district in order to get some pictures of dilapidated houses in remote areas that they could photograph. At that time the coal industry was booming in Appalachia, and money was abundant. I politely informed them that if they were looking for pictures of extreme poverty they would have more luck going to the slum neighborhoods in any relatively large city. Most large cities have more poverty, more crime, and more problems in general than what was present in Appalachia at that time.

[@mikemuenze5390]

Thank you for inlightning people with truth.

[@Nick-gq2iy]

Yes. Thank you. 🙏🏼

[@Outlawssermon79]

❤

[@sierrachoco5271]

I couldn't agree with you more!! I live in NY state and the rural more Isolated areas get the same bad reputation. Nothing could be further from the truth, incest happens everywhere - cities, suburbs, ....... I was in a car accident in WV and never met a nicer group of people who were normal looking and articulate. By the way, the southern part of NY state has 6 counties that are actually part of the Appalachian mountain range. Hats off to you for educating ignorant people!!

[@pamgreen3219]

Best comment 👌

[@Gillespiegrooms]

Such a misunderstood area. Glad someone out here is FINALLY shedding more positive and accurate light on it! ♥️

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

There was a time not too far back (in my lifetime) when lots of people married 1st cousins. It wasn't realized that negative health conditions could result. It wasn't considered incest "back when". Now we know better. Inbreeding certainly isn't confined to one group of people. You've handled this problem very sensitively and well. These misconceptions need to be cleared up. Good video.

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for watching & sharing!

[@suzybailey-koubti8342]

My husband’s family in Syria and Palestine in the early 1900’s through probably the 1960’s married their first and second cousins. Marriages were arranged at their churches. This also happened in Lebanon. This happens throughout the Christian, Islamic, and Judaiac communities in the world.

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

@@suzybailey-koubti8342 Yes. I think it happens in all cultures.

[@АлишерМакашев-ж1ш]

@@rosiemcnaughton9933 Turkic and Mongolic nomadic cultures beg to differ though. Where I’m from (Kazakhstan), incest has been always extremely frowned upon and was punished by death in the past. The criteria of incest are very stringent too, it is considered an incest up to 6th cousins. Because of that, we have very strong genealogical traditions and every Kazakh must know their clan and the names of their seven paternal ancestors. Mongolians are even stricter on that matter, IIRC they need to know ten or eleven paternal ancestors. Even though humanity have found about negative consequences of inbreeding fairly recently, I guess some cultures were already on their way to figure it out.

[@dan32113]

​@@suzybailey-koubti8342I live in London a large multiculturalCity of 8 million & there is a big problem with inbreeding in the Orthodox Jewish community. Birth defects etc. Also the Pakistani community in UK not to judge, but culturally they marry Cousins & people from same villages for decades.

[@lisaobrien4898]

Proof that it can happen anywhere: My husband's family is from the mid-western states. But when my husband's parents first got the internet in the mid 1990s, my mother-in-law got heavily into genealogy. At one point, she was stunned to find out that she and her husband were distant cousins. They had no idea! The entire family got a huge laugh out of that! We never thought of it as necessarily a bad thing. It was just an interesting thing, and amusing. So yeah, my husband's parents were related and had 6 children together and a wonderful, long marriage. ♥ We sure miss them. We lost her in 2006, then lost him in 2012. They really were the glue that held our huge family together. Many of us scattered in the winds after they were gone.

[@susiebilk9905]

Same thing happened after my in laws died

[@aspirecan4829]

Every human is related. I am on Family Search and found that my husband and I are 12 cousins, twice removed. I've got other ancestors that I'm related to on both sides of my family, so that means my parents would have to be related, too. The big issue is when you get much closer cousins and other family members inbreeding.

[@aspirecan4829]

Oh yes, I'm white, but I'm also related to Mohammed Ali. So, we humans are more closely related and have more in common than et don't.

[@insect6003]

Its totally fine

[@insect6003]

I married my cousin

[@sandydeel400]

So happy to see your videos are about researching and sharing the truths about the wonderful people of Appalachia. Great job. Keep them coming!

[@MountainRoots]

Glad you enjoy them!

[@cherriaydelotte8327]

@@MountainRoots I know I do🥰👍🕊

[@kendeel7474]

Glad to listen to your thoughts on a topic often ignored or disparagingly and unfairly applied to folks of Appalachia. Good to see your “ unedited” version for full perspective! 😉

[@MountainRoots]

It was a "full send" kind of episode. Appreciate you watching!

[@timothylocklear2961]

Thank you for this. Most of my kin come from southern and western North Carolina, as well as southwestern Virginia, and southern West Virginia. I’ve heard this ridiculous stereotype perpetuated in all three states, and it’s sad that the vast majority of people who seem to believe it have never been south of New York…

[@lesterwatson8519]

The coal field regions of Appalachia are very diversified, if you recall coal companies imported people from Italy, Germany, Hungary, Africa, Scotland Wales just to mention a few. Initially theses people were separated by community but as the language barrier broke down they intermarried , so if you think about it based on the sparsity of the overall population as compared to NY Chicago and other metropolitan areas there is probably much more genetic diversity in the Appalachian area than in those areas as a whole.

[@MountainRoots]

Excellent point(s)!

[@mapmanlxii1715]

Indeed my wife’s families from the coal patches of SW Pennsylvania originated in France and Slovenia bringing fresh mixes to the gene pool!

[@patriciag857]

Looking forward to watching you as you travel across the area!!!

[@jessicabaker1274]

Thank you sir, my family's from eastern Kentucky, and we hear that kissin cousins garbage all the time. What a kind way to shed light on this dark subject. God bless you. ❤🙏

[@chychy118]

Yes I am from South Eastern Kentucky and born a Baker. My parents weren't related. But both sides have many Cherokee grandmothers. It would be interesting to see my full tree. I have heard that you have to be careful in some cities that you could end up marrying your cousin and not even know they're your cousin due to so many men having children out of wedlock. In the core families do not know one another.

[@ronwinkles2601]

My ancestors have lived in Hancock Co., TN since 1794. This county is the most isolated in the state. It has no railroad, and it is surrounded by mountains and ridges. I am related to 75% of the county's inhabitants. I have a 4th great grandfather who is my 4th great grandfather 5 times ( 3 times on my father's side and 2 times on my mother's side). My DNA shows me to be 70% British. The average British citizen today is only 60% British. This makes me more British than the British. My earliest English ancestor came to Virginia in 1607, and my most recent British ancestor arrived from Ireland in 1772. I guess you would call me inbred. However, I consider myself Hillbilly Nobility with 16 ancestors who served in the Revolution, 12 in the War of 1812 and 8 in the Civil War with 6 serving in the Union and 2 in the Confederacy. As an inbred, I am thankful to have a 135 IQ and a PhD in Public Administration.

[@crc23457]

well said young man...well said

[@mariacompton1416]

I like that term ‘Hillbilly Nobility’…very nice comment you made..

[@adrianred236]

Very good. But saying your most recent "British" ancestor came from Ireland is fightin talk where I come from.

[@gailweikelcorrea]

West Virginians are the friendliest ppl you'll ever run across....just don't call us stupid ☺😍

[@MountainRoots]

Everyone should practice such courtesy. Thanks for watching!

[@ohioalphornmusicalsawman2474]

Very true. My Grandma was from the North Central part of the state, left as an adult to pursue a career. She and my Uncles were always quick to defend mountain folk when they were being mocked.

[@lmtt123]

Friendly or nosey?

[@wolf17238]

😂😂 Not friendly to minorities

[@kittiealdakkour7605]

@@wolf17238 and how do "minorities" treat these folks? It's a fair question.

[@michaelhale4209]

WV is my home state. I've never know an inbred family. I agree with your point at the end simply tracing your family trees back 40 generations (about 1000) years, would mean everyone had over 1 trillion ancestors alive 40 generations ago. I have thought about this. It has to be the case that there had to be inbreeding throughout the centuries.

[@suenesnidal2600]

The Whittakers, are not inbred?😮

[@connie5663]

I find this fascinating because West Virginia is a state that requires blood test and a waiting period of three days before marriage. Born there but haven’t lived there in 35 years. I think people just want to continue an old myth.

[@gloriaswims3478]

When I got married we had to too. Back in 73.

[@jag92949]

I wish Michigan had it.

[@Plugchick420]

I doubt these people even acknowledge the government so marriage licenses don't exist.

[@myrtlecombs2210]

They need to go back to that.

[@lmsutton52]

Tennessee is the same .Had to have blood test for marriage in 1970… all U.S. states should require certificate before marriage.

[@gertjanmul2052]

thank for this concise information. I'm gonna watch the rest of your videos. Keep up the good work :) John, Netherlands.

[@angelnsoftpink]

I’m from Massachusetts born and raised lived in West Virginia for over 3 months worked as a home care taker. I was pregnant but didn’t know when I moved out there with a friend who was from the area. I loved in the Huntington county but also worked in Wayne county. Defiantly was a different living as I was used too. Before test I lived in NYC for nearly a year. Everyone was so sweet and nice and helped me out with my pregnancy. One woman I worked with in Wayne county has a coal train run through her backyard, I never saw that before and asked her about it, she told me and I thought it was fascinating cause I didn’t know anything about it. I was blessed to be able to work with such wonderful people. I ended up moving back to mass to be near my family before my son was born. I lived out there 16yrs ago

[@nathanielwilson1899]

You can’t be from Massachusetts, you can’t write. Your sentence structure is poor.

[@DieselDF16]

Wow you are an extremely well spoken articulate individual.

[@brianzinner5955]

In most of it, he's just reading from his phone.

[@teokastelan2930]

People of Appalachia are the most resilient people in the US.

[@teokastelan2930]

@ You are absolutely right. I remember my grandparents.

[@MikeCaldwell-g7q]

I agree

[@BrendaMullinsLacy]

This video is perfect - I am from southeastern Kentucky, I wasn't inbred nor was anyone else in my immediate family. I do get upset over so many untruths that have been told about the families in this area. The "War on Poverty" that Johnson and Kennedy published, never happened - I didn't witness any help given to anyone. I could rattle on but I won't, just wanted to say - Thank you, Brenda.

[@wg4299]

I haven’t been able to watch much lately. But first off - Thank you. Thank you for saying what needed to be said. I hate those stereotypes of Southern Appalachian people and particularly Southern West Virginians - the whole region. As always great job!

[@bradlane3662]

Josh, I'm a little behind on these videos. This was excellent! There are KZbin channels that I probably shouldn't name and you already know about that are capitalizing on this very subject. Encouraging the stereotyping that unfortunately makes those viewers who buy into it prove their own ignorance. I'm very outspoken and too old to change. And I've let these channels know what I think of them, without filters. I actually got one response that stated " why hate?"lol Your talent and intelligence is literally the ammunition we need to break this tabu. Thanks so much!

[@brianpinion5844]

like Nick Johnson ? going to be a Deliverance remake If I get ahold of his A$$

[@bobbmarly4355]

A lot of times it is the accusers that are the ones who actually doing the deed.

[@paulapratley5904]

Thank you for this very informative video, I’m watching this from Oxfordshire England and know very little about The Appalachian people , it’s so interesting to have it explained properly Thank you Paula

[@dubosescustomcycles7422]

Awesome job as always brother! Appreciate you and everything you do!!!

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you very much!

[@elmercoblentz9432]

Great work and insight! Far too many find fault in others, which is to highlight differences, in attempts of hiding our glaring similarities.

[@suec3215]

This is a great video! Thanks for doing it!

[@CJP1012]

When I did my DNA a while back to find my bio parents, I discovered that 25% of my ancestry comes out of the White Sulphur Springs area. I also discovered that a lot of first cousins married each other…especially in one family line. So much so, that as each generation kept marrying first cousins, the shared DNA was much greater than what normal first cousins would have and that got passed down. And good to see I’m not the only one following Nathaniel Jeanson. If you’ve never done a DNA test, you should. Do it through Ancestry first because they have the biggest database and easiest way to discover your family tree. Just be prepared, you may find a surprise!

[@MountainRoots]

I've heard those tests are very limited, unfortunately. Still, makes a person curious. Thanks for watching!

[@aig9672]

@@MountainRoots limited in scope but not in accuracy placing dna groups together on a map, it isn’t comprehensive everywhere but it does catch some dna hotspots interestingly

[@gailweikelcorrea]

@AutoBuyingConsultant I'm from White Sulphur Springs West Virginia

[@lmtt123]

But that could only go back a few generations, maybe 1700s. You'd need to look at Europe for a real search

[@beverlybalius9303]

Im from Mississippi and old people when I was young said there was no marrying any cousins unless they were 3rd cousins or more. There was one family that married first cousins and I have to say they were all stupid,,,, everyone of them. Today they have dispersed and not doing that anymore. And I don’t live there anymore.

[@JohnMoore-fq6rx]

I live in a small part of West Virginia and my grandmother on my fathers side was originally a Varney and my grandmother on my mothers side was originally a Varney. Supposedly two different groups of Varneys but this is a small area. I’m here in Mingo County just outside of Williamson city limits.

[@sherryarmstrong4683]

Thank you for explaining the way it actually is! Love your content! Keep it comin' !

[@MountainRoots]

Absolutely, thanks for watching!

[@Jay-Leigh]

I’ve been fascinated by all things Appalachia now for a few months, mainly from things just popping up on my timeline. Anyway, personally I just dove in and haven’t looked back, from Popcorn Sutton showing us about moonshine to family’s showing me beautiful cooking, and how to play a merry time. The mountains and the people drew me in. I hope one day just like my ancestors I get to step onto some part of the country and the history, that would mean the world to me.

[@lrn_news9171]

Lol been obsessed about appalachia lately perhaps the most beautiful region of the entire united states

[@JeffinBville]

As a former resident at a time when some of my friends were first getting electricity wired to their homes, I can assure you, I've met my share of inbred families. Nothing like the Whittakers, but I've known families almost like them as well. The reasons were simple: you grew up and died in the same place so the only people you knew were your neighbors ~ and a lot of them were relatives. It's not uncommon.

[@1STGeneral]

I'm not from this area but my wife moved away with her family shortly after the depression looking for steady work. We initially bought a second home to be close to her parents that wanted to die on a mountain where they grew up. At first I was amazed at how everyone was related to everyone and my wife would warn me to be careful who I was being friendly to. Now some twenty years have passed and my wife is buried next to her parents on the mountain and I see what my wife tried to warn me about many years ago but was anxious to meet folks that were friendly and just as curious about me. To the point my wife worked at the elementary school cafeteria not for the money but to be around the children and try to be a friend as many the only food they had was the breakfast and lunch received at school and was known to put fruit and snacks in their pockets as they were leaving school since they weren't allowed to take anything from the cafeteria. She also was a substitute for the county before working locally so she knew kids from all over in one of the largest and most rural counties in WV. Three of such kids live just around the corner and after their mother died they the two boys and middle sister have lived together for some fifteen years staying to themselves and going to the store together. I have stopped a couple times when they were outside asking if they were ok and they were polite but curious as to why I'd stop so the last time I saw them at the walmart the oldest said they just like to themselves so I told him who my wife was and trying to be a good neighbor. That was a couple years ago I still wave but I can see how folks feel like they do. I'm an outsider but over the years talking to business owners about the high number of dysfunctional families hooked on drugs and their response is when they get to high school it's part of the culture and to fit in they do the drugs. I guess I'm trying to say is to someone that didn't grow up here everything looks normal hardly ever hear a siren some years back everyone was talking about federal agents and one person was arrested making and selling drugs and that was only known through word of mouth. Sadly my story is probably common through out the middle of nowhere Appalachian mountains. I look back at where I grew up on the east coast and my years living on the gulf coast then Colorado and this place seems pretty safe for an old timer to finish out my years. Guess my wife's parents knew best

[@Jules-bf2wu]

You said it best ❤❤❤

[@kippercat123]

Very well done video and lots of information shared..... just cant get some of those scenes from " Deliverance " out of my head.

[@MountainRoots]

And therein is the case in point...sensationalized and highly exaggerated images not even closely resembling reality.

[@willpatrick8706]

Well said my friend. Going to that area this because of your videos.

[@buckingalong]

Nice Job...Like your work.

[@gabe_2544]

Not about Appalachia, but the South. Back in the 90’s, a Southern governor spoke at the Democratic National Convention and I remember news reports where the journalists appeared astounded that he was so articulate.

[@Julia27201]

It’s very strange to me that they made Appalachia a stereotype for inbreeding when it’s going to be the same reality for any small, rural town

[@kristinarinne4009]

Hello new subscriber from Nebraska..ive enjoyed watching yourr videos today..

[@MD76MAC]

My family comes from Virginia. The Covington and Clifton Forge areas. Im proud to say that I came from Appalachian descent.

[@MichaelWilliams-vr9cx]

As a native West Virginian, I fell for these stereotypes when growing up. Thank you for this video; very thought provoking.

[@sloanchessman5783]

I am from southern West Virginia, born and raised until the age of 18 when I left and moved to Florida to attend college…that was almost 42 years ago, and I never went back. I feel like I can speak with some authority on this particular subject, because it was very prevalent in the particular area of West Virginia where I lived, and I knew a lot of people who were victims of incest, as well as products of incest. My two older brother’s two children married each other and had a child together. They’ve been married now for about 22 years. I knew several girls who had children by their own blood fathers…it may not be commonplace in West Virginia as a whole, but it certainly does happen. That being said, I do feel like West Virginia has gotten a bad rap for being a hotbed of incest….yes it does happen there, but I know for a fact that it happens all over the world as well.

[@rebeccaketner816]

I’m from the south but live in SoCal. It’s incredible how often, even in professional staff meetings, I’ve heard jokes & references to incest in Southern culture. This is the most PC, ‘Woke’ society in the U. S.! They are shocked when I point out they are perpetuating negative stereotypes.

[@maryefromky]

i'm from east-central KY, in the mountainous portion :) and boy, i had absolutely no idea about the government intentionally maligning Appalachians to dispossess us of our land. but it definitely makes sense. i'm assuming for the mineral and timber rights, and just to have the property and be able to sell it for a profit. people not from the area, they don't understand where this deeply rooted fear of outsiders, and mistrust of government, comes from and it comes from exactly that type of thing. it's part of our lived experience, maybe not each of us individually has had this happen. but we know someone who has, or we live close to a place where it's happening right now, to this very day. and the media stereotypes are so ingrained in the minds of people who ain't from here, ain't never been here, and probably ain't have no desire TO come here, lol. i love Appalachia very, very much, especially my little specific niche here in KY. it's so beautiful and peaceful here, and with all the wildlife and natural beauty, it soothes my soul in a way i can't rightly describe in words. in my experience, i might be able to come up with 2 or 3 people i've known of in my life, that were actually inbred to some degree. the vast, vast majority of people here in KY, i think, are not inbred. especially nowadays given that there's been a little improvement with our conditions, generally speaking, compared to the 18th and 19th centuries. thanks for these videos though, i love content that's Appalachia-centered.

[@alysonrdiaz]

Thank you for explaining all of this! Love all of the history that I’m learning from your channel. Keep up the great work!!

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful!

[@MountainRoots]

Thanks for watching! Let me know where I should explore next!! Help Me Preserve Appalachian History and its many amazing stories, people, & places by subscribing to this channel! JOIN: Support this channel and become an official member for Exclusive Member benefits FACEBOOK: facebook.com/mountainrootshomestead PATREON: Support my work by becoming a monthly Patron at www.patreon.com/MountainRootsProductions Business or Collaboration Inquiries: [e-mail]

[@sharyndoyle6362]

I think with the IVF treatment, there will be a lot of related siblings all around the world. God knows where that is going to end up !

[@waynebowen8872]

Yep it happens all over. My family comes from eastern NC and when doing my genealogy I found some instances of it.

[@MountainRoots]

I wouldn't say it "happens all the time" in fact the study I mentioned in this episode points to the contrary. However, it has happened globally- especially once we understand what has and hasn't been deemed "acceptable". Thanks for your comment, appreciate you watching!

[@aig9672]

@@MountainRoots Well with the number of people in the world you could say all the time if you’re looking at the whole population

[@oldbird-zm8qt]

Warm regards from deep in the woods of the Canadian tip of the Appalachian Ridge. Similar stories of inbreeding abound here too. From Nova Scotia's sea level fishing communities, to the Highlands of Cape Breton, and the South Mountain in mainland N.S., a few isolated cases have been used to build a stereotype.

[@bhager1945]

Another great job with an important topic. Being from McDowell County I was aware of the stereotype, though I realized it was total bullshit..Long live the Appalachian people!

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you so much! It's important to address these issues with fact and uncover the truth. Appreciate you watching!

[@timothylocklear2961]

It is bullshit. I work with/ am friends with a lot of folks from the county. I even lived down there myself for a few months. The ones that aren’t cracked out are some of the nicest, hard-working people you’ll ever meet. They may be somewhat impoverished, but they certainly aren’t inbred.

[@laurabrooks7655]

I recently found out my hubby and I are seventh cousins once or twice removed. His family came from New England, and one of his ancestors had a descendent that left Massachusetts and moved to Appalachia. My father's eastern KY family had a Perry who was married a Brooks (husband's surname). I knew we were related because everyone is, I just didn't expect to find out how.

[@deborahfuller3888]

I live in Montgomery County MD and I know a couple of families that have done this . I was told by the eldest of one family . They didn't have transportation to find other women . It is what it is . Yes our global family tree is closer than we think .

[@ronwinkles2601]

Early Montgomery County families often married into each other for hundreds of years Bell, Carroll, Dorsey and Moxley famlies to mention a few.

[@markadams8041]

Theo Von and Tim Dillon had a show where they joked about incest. Theo Von brought up bicycles. The first bicycle revolution occurred (hype) in 1890s and it allowed normal people to travel to big city 60 miles away. They no longer had to kiss their cousins

[@mmart1312]

Leave it to the government to destroy perfectly good places

[@lindanorris2455]

YEAH, JUST LIKE COLORADO!

[@daniellelynn.1996]

Well said.

[@kimmartin5352]

I am a West Virginian. We are not inbred hillbillies. This is totally insulting. 🤬🤬🤬

[@jeanbaker2087]

My daughter checked her family tree thru 23 and me and she found that me and her dad are 6th cousins! We had no idea of how that could be and we still don't know.

[@ToddBonn-k8v]

When the rich do something it’s okay but when the poor do the same thing it’s not accepted. Go figure. 🤔

[@karencahill4798]

I watched a video about the inbred family, the Whittakers, in West Virginia? Very Sad and unfortunate. All three boys / men have been severely affected.

[@ringoramjet]

And in Appalachia, poor health care and access to a regular decent diet .In the army in the early 70s,the ones from those regions told me it was the only time in their life they ever had 3 meals a day. And alot was biscuits and gravy back home

[@MountainRoots]

Be sure to check out my recent 2 part episode on "Who Are the Appalachian People"...covers a lot of that in detail!

[@robertbaldwin298]

I tell people the story of how my dad was first cousins with a man through his mother and my maternal grandfather was also first cousins with the man through the man's father. People freak out thinking were inbred. Somehow

[@sbalsamo410]

You’d be surprised to know how many people have come here only one or two generations ago whose lineage includes first cousin marriages - and arranged ones at that. 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@Fatboy.25]

I’m from eastern Kentucky and labeled as an inbreed by lots of people I don’t even know. Thanks for the video and keep making them.

[@chrismullin8304]

When you share your DNA with a genealogy company, you are giving away your relatives genetic info, without their consent.

[@dannysgirl1549]

My husband was born and raised in southern West Virginia. He never knew anyone that was married to a relative. As a matter of fact, the only people I ever knew that married their first cousin was my sister’s in-laws and they were Greek. So much for stereotypes.

[@bekind5738]

Not only did Charles Darwin marry his first cousin, so did Albert Einstein. There is an interesting study out of Ohio State University on Darwin genealogy. Good Video.

[@Rockstar97321]

The direct descendants of Devil Hatfield moved to Oregon in the 1960s. Lester and Billy Joyce were married siblings. Two of their children were romantically involved (James and Melody). When Billy Joyce died, Lester married her (his) sister. I grew up with the family because we all went to the same church. If anyone is interested, I can add a lot of details.

[@KateCalifornia-r2q]

I'm watching your videos from Kenya i love them ❤

[@sundancer7381]

I recommend reading Cormac McCarthy's book "Outer Dark" - mind blowing. Also, the book "White Trash" by Isenberg (a historian) - and look at the photos of the "dirt eaters" in one southern state. I'm from the south - and never knew that people actually had to eat dirt! The South deserves sympathy and compassion - because the truth is worse than you think.

[@danielking2944]

Because of adultery the father of a child might not be the one listed on his birth certificate. In a small community one might marry a half sibling without knowing it . We shouldn’t worry too much about accidental inbreeding as long as the genetic pool is relatively large. I have noticed that the children of different ethnicities (I that is a legitimate term) tend to be very attractive. There were only three families that survived the flood of Noah’s day and all the offspring were first cousins. Other than the ones of which John Prine said “Some humans ain’t human,some people ain’t kind.You open up their heart,this what you find. Some old frozen pizza, some ice cubes with hair,a broken popsicle.You don’t wanna go there” human beings are beautiful. He’s from Kentucky and I miss him.

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

Good video and interesting subject. A lot of people don't realize that inbreeding as we think of it today, was not just relegated to the Appalachian region. It was a social norm in most of the cultures. Look at the royal family for example. And most of the aristocracy that settled the colonies kept things pretty close to their chest so to speak. A lot of it was physical access to other people, yes, but it was also a social moré thing. I think a lot of people would be shocked if they actually looked at what the marriage laws are in their states, or at least up until about 40 or 50 years ago. Even ages were different - I know in many states, into the 1970's, as long as the groom was at least 14, and the bride was 12, it was ok as long as the parents approved (that one stands out because it sort of shock to me to see it, but there were actually a handful of states with that). Others were a little bit older, but not by much, and heaven forbid if you married outside your race, that was illegal. And the idea of marrying your cousin is taboo now, but in many places it's still perfectly legal, and second cousins is still so in most places. So it was normal back then and socially acceptable. Times and people have just changed. Keep the vids coming!

[@MountainRoots]

Appreciate the comment! Yes, latest info I could find shows some 20 states still legally permit marriage between first cousins...side note, West Virginia isn't among them. No, WV has strict laws against intermarriage between relatives.

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

@@MountainRoots I just saw a map about that, how crazy. What surprised me even more, is that there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of rhyme or reason to it, no cultural patterns that I can really pick out.

[@frankmains5698]

I kinda thought it started in Boone's ville. When Daniel was off gallivanting, for an extended period of time he came home to a new baby son sired by his brother

[@THEGIGLITE]

You’re a real gentlemen for making sure we don’t let the kids watch this one before a parental preview

[@THEGIGLITE]

Also… even though its a serious video, the bigger picture is that its kind of a hilarious topic for Vday..

[@MountainRoots]

According to my standards, it's a mature topic. Thanks for watching!

[@kittiealdakkour7605]

In researching using DNA, I have discovered a couple of what I call "nests" coming out of Kentucky. Problems which once solved will surely unravel my brick walls and give meaningful explanations to the cousin matches I have. The first one involves Edmonson, Kentucky and the names Meredith, Skaggs, Sanders, and Wells - those are the main ones. It seems there is no end of the cousins I have at the 4th-6th and 5th- 8th level coming from Joseph Meredith (1761-1840) and Nancy Skaggs (1763-1840). I feel like this will be the line of my 3rd great grandmother but I can't figure out how. My brick wall ancestor is Pleasant Wright (1824-1899) it is his parents for whom I am looking. The marriage patterns are certainly overlapping but these people seemed to have a way to keep it straight... and while they married first cousins - the families were so large and spread out time-wise - it must have not seemed li The next nest comes out of Pike County, Kentucky and involves the George Hatfield/Anna McKinney line. It seems that Rutherfords or Osbornes marry into the Mays, Lowes, Maynards, Hatfields, McCoys of the area. i don't feel that I am a direct descendant of anyone here, but certainly could be. I have yet to untangle the cousin matches here as well and they come from several lines.. But again I have a large number of DNA cousin matches whose trees head right back to Eastern Kentucky. Through this search, I have seen many large loving and connected families. Supporting and in touch with each other - even through second cousins. I have to respect that as I never even knew many of my first cousins... and my sister has never even met my son. Thanks for tackling this subject.

[@ronwinkles2601]

You need to look further into East Tennessee for your Hatfield, Mays, Maynards and McCoys. These families moved to Eastern Kentucky in the early 1800s.

[@maryc6189]

Franklin D Roosevelt married his cousin.

[@durplehaze6484]

Good stuff 👍

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!

[@angelawhitfield7498]

Due to my college level studies in humanities, I learned that close relation marraiges was linked to sparsely populated areas with very large distance between families. They had very large farms and their reunions were a great way to meet prosoective mates. To us this is dusgusting, but to them it was normal life. Many were poor and uneducated. They came from large families with sparse luxuries. They raked and scraped to get by. Life was hard and all about survival of the fittest!

[@imahappy420]

Both sets of my parents are from wva, one north, one south. Neither of the family trees share incest. Darn shame that the government also labeled them as such. We were sharecroppers and miners.

[@MountainRoots]

It is a horrible injustice.

[@thejamesasher]

being an Austin resident (unfortunately) i wonder if when someone says "hey it's not that bad out there, it's a nice place", it's because they're a realtor fishing for customers

[@monicac.495]

In Denmark it is legal to marry your parents siblings. It rarely happens but it’s legal Italy and Spain you can have a sexual relation with your own siblings, as long as it does not cause a scandal 🤦‍♀️ Absolutely disgusting if you ask me 🤢

[@siggybenedict-shields3883]

Very informative.

[@nancyerie9666]

Im from Chicago and I always knew that was BS. About the Appalachian area.

[@godlikesnake8909]

I went to middle/high school in highland county va, the kids who went to school also perpetuated a stereotype of inbredding in WV lol

[@SaraDungo]

Well done. Thank you for all your work! 📼

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you, appreciate you watching!

[@johnhasse3995]

A more persuasive argument is that the sharper children mostly moved away to more prosperous places, and the slower children mostly stayed on the farm.

[@MountainRoots]

@@johnhasse3995 that only perpetuates the yellow journalism narrative of the 20th century that is based in prejudice, ignorance and a total lack of objectivity or scientific analysis.

[@johnhasse3995]

@@MountainRoots Not exactly. There HAVE been studies on national tests which support a lack of the WV educational system, (for example)

[@AngelEyes-xm7el]

House had small river running under the house. You could see it in the slats in the boards. There was in breeding in Hazard Kentucky. I know cousins first cousins getting married.

[@bramlintrent1145]

When most of us begin our genealogy research -- unless our great-grandparents lived in some BIG CITY -- we're likely to find, four or five generations up, many cases where second or third cousins married right back into the same family tree. It happened frequently in rural areas, because people didn't have cars and they dated & married within the community in which they grew up.

[@BarbaraLogsdon-h4z]

My ancestors were from the eastern costal colonies and fought in the American Revolution when they married Cherokee women and migrated to Eastern Ky. I found absolutely no inbreeding in my family tree which was thoroughly vetted and most families had to know who their relatives and ancestors were going back 6 generations. They married their spouses from other counties or went tribe to tribe in the early years of the commonwealth. The only inbreeding I found goes way back to the Royal European ancestors who have had many descendants who were the early settlers of South Eastern Ky. We are all not genetically related to anyone who was born in the 17th century.

[@terriodom4266]

❤🙏🙏🙏 may God bless you and the work you do and the people that you’re able to explain. Thank you.

[@Johnboy-j4m]

I've come across some unfriendly people from there. But when they go to Louisiana then folks shuts them up pretty quick.

[@dalegooch4616]

Well done Josh thoughtful and thorough.

[@MountainRoots]

Thank you!

[@beverlybalius9303]

It has happened everywhere but even so it was very rare and not condoned by the rest of the population,,,,

[@51502]

This is how the federal government still thinks of the people of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Not much help from the feds for the flood victims

[@slidegirl9166]

Eugenics was once wildly popular among intellectual elites, and the idea that poorer people were genetically “inferior”

[@MountainRoots]

😔

[@Nick-gq2iy]

I never knew this was a campaign! I’m from the north. My biological parents from VA. I’ve only heard from a lady who works for me her first-hand accounts of such things...not often & not this state of which you speak, though. Amazing what people will do to get land!

[@margaretthompson1743]

I just want to add correct me if I am wrong but during the depression there was incest going on across the United States.

[@AmberWavesOfSane]

When I think of inbreeding, I think of the royal Hapsburg family (Austria, I think?). They had a young king with such mouth deformities he could never chew food properly, and malformed bones and serious mental deficiencies.

[@auntb9527]

“Valentine’s Special” 😂😂😂😂Lol 😂

[@MountainRoots]

@@auntb9527 😉

[@jeepsthetimebandit]

Yeah, but then you have families like The Whittakers living up there.

[@beckyshell4649]

Incest has happen in every region ,every timeframe often in the same household. I live in Appalachia and have know one instance of second cousins marrying and that is all. I don’t think incest is any more common here than anywhere else. I would say there are some surprises in some family trees like if a man had affairs with multiple women and those kids don’t know that they are related. That kind of thing happens out side of Appalachia also.