My great-grandmother hid her race. Two decades later I understand why.

[wnylib]

21. My guess on how this population originated is that

White indentured servants who lived and worked along side of African slaves formed pair bonds and had families. They probably were not married because interracial marriage was illegal. Also, indentured servants were not supposed to marry or have any opposite sex relationships (as if that could be enforced for 7 years). Native Americans captured in wars were also enslaved. They, too, had children with Black slaves and White indentured servants.

Native American slaves were often able to escape. They knew the land and had allies from their tribes to help them. Black slaves who escaped found refuge among some Native Americans. Both Black and Native escapees helped to free their partners and children who were still enslaved. That much is part of historical record.

So, escaped Black and Native slaves and their White indentured servant partners/relatives and families would have stayed hidden from bounty hunters in their own backhills communities or among Native tribes.