Hi, Frances and Courtney. Sorry for the very late response, but I wrote my initial query when I didn't know a lot about posting (still don't!), and didn't really know how to go back to find things--thus the request to contact me by email. But I found your responses when doing another search, quite by accident, and want to thank you for your kindness, Frances, in answering my question, and for your interest, Courtney. I still don't know any more about this question than I did three years ago, but if you're interested, here are two links: one an article on the reputed Sephardic/Looney connection, and another on the Melungeons in general:

http://www.melungeons.com/articles/march2003a.htm

http://www.melungeons.com/

When I last googled "Sephardic" and "Looney" there were over seven hundred hits, so I think there's more out there to be found. It's just a matter of me digging through the dross to find the truth. Thanks again, Frances and Courtney!

Nancy

P.S. I hope I spelled your name right, Courtney. I'm still very low-tech and don't dare go back to find the proper spelling, lest I lose this page, too, and they both disappear into cyber-space. Sigh...