I can’t answer the OP question directly, but I can offer an anecdote that might be pertinent.
Most of my European ancestors arrived to Norht America in the 17th and 18th centuries. They lived exclusively in the north–New Netherland and Pennsylvania, later moving west into Ohio. There wasn’t much chance to mix with people of African origin. There were, however, chances to mix with Native Americans. Both my parents have at least one Indian ancestor in the lineages we’ve traced back that far.
I would not be surprised if a long lineage in the south also had one or two non-Europeans, either Indian or black. There were plenty of opportunities for mixed-raced couples to avoid scrutiny by moving west to the frontier.
Yeah, my all four lines of my immigrant ancestry came to America mostly in the 1880’s, with the exception of my Irish line in at least back to 1830 or so if not sooner. All lines since immigration are solidly white: Norwegian, Swedish, German, Irish, Greek. However, 1/8 of my immigrant ancestry is Greek, and I wonder if there was the possibility of African ancestry in that line in the old country because they appear to be a bit more cosmopolitan centuries back in the day. I’m going by biblical accounts (i.e. Canaanites). In fact, the first time I saw a photograph of my immigrant great-grandfather, I asked my mom, “Who’s that black man?” She said, “That’s not a black man. He’s your great grandpa Gekas.” Anyhow, no biggie on the possibility of having some African ancestry. I’m me regardless. I’m just always curious about the idea that I may indeed have some African blood from the B.C. years. It’s rather cool actually. I figure, if God really didn’t intend for the races to mix, reproduction wouldn’t have been possible. In fact, even more so, human mixed race progeny are able to reproduce…unlike mules, for example.
I have a mix of white ancestors that started arriving in the 1600’s as well as some ancestors who were processed through Ellis Island in the 1920’s, and I haven’t found any evidence of any African heritage, though I found an allegation of Native American ancestry that is, of course, not accompanied by any substantial proof
.
I am curious where the people producing the numbers in post #2 came from. I am wondering if Northern and rural populations have less African markers. Was care taken to avoid bias?
Most of my family traces back to Jefferson and Clearfield counties in Pennsylvania, areas with very few blacks. Of course, there is the underground railroad factor already mentioned. My great great grandfather was a conductor. Were the escaped slaves mostly male?
There’s an interesting alternative angle to this. I am a white american with no known African-American ancestry. However, there is some geneological evidence that I may have an AFRICAN ancestor. Being descended partially from Sicilian immigrants, it is quite possible I have an African ancestor from before that side of the family immigrated in the early 20th century. I believe it is fairly common among Sicilians, and many Italian-Americans have ancestry in Sicily. I wonder if this is also true for other European immigrant groups?
IIRC from historical novels, a fine source of history fact, the typical trick for light-skinned persons-of-color in the late 1800’s was to pass as Spanish or some other mediterranean ethnic extraction when they moved to northern cities. Until the massive northern migration during industrialization near the turn of the century, northern white inhabitants would be less familiar with the difference and less prejudiced to hispanics. I imagine the same trick was also much easier in places like California, where the hispanic population was high enough to “blend in”.
I would have said that the OP and his wife are both right – in absolute terms very few interracial “couples” (for lack of a better word in many cases) would have children who would themselves be considered white – the basic pre-requisite of the question. Yet over ten generations and 1000 or so ancestors, the overall percentage would be significant. And voila, 30%. Apparently my ass knows what it’s talking about.
I think most of my ancestors came from Ireland originally or the Scotch. They then settled in the mountains of central Pennsylvania. I doubt there were many blacks in Scotland, Ireland, and except for the underground railroad central Pennsylvania.
