Mary (Wells) Fugate

I have read that Mary inherited a medical condition that passed on to her descendants and provides some basis for speculation as to her identity. A number of descendants of Martin and Mary Fugate and of Martin and Elizabeth (Smith) Fugate (and in several other Breathitt Co families) have been determined to have a rare inherited blood disorder called methemoglobinemia in which some of hte hemoglobin of the red blood cells exists in an abnormal form called methemoglobin which imparts a ble color to the skin, particularly afer a period of exertion. The condition begins a a mutation in one individual whose children have 50:50 chance of inheriting the new mutated gene. Individuals receiving one gene from a parent do now show the skin coloration, but individuals receiving two genes, one from ech parent, do appear "blue". Because of the rarity of the mutation the most likely appearance is found in those descended from the marriage of cousins. Although it is possible that the mutated gene originated w/the common ancesto of the two Martins, it is much more likely that it occured in the common ancestry of the wives of the two Martins in KY. Sudy of the ancestry of individuals in a number of families with methemoglobinemia show recuring common ancestry in the Ritchie family. For that reason it is likely that Mary, wife of Martin Fugate, was a member of that family.

Mary WELLS married Martin FUGATE and had the following children

• Hannah FUGATE married James RITCHIE
• son FUGATE
• Zachariah FUGATE married Mary SMITH

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Wm O’ Connor Files at Breathitt Co Public Library lists Mary’s name as: “Mary Wells was of Indian Ancestry”

NVX1-5C ANCESTRAL FILE......The parents of Mary, wife of Martin Fugate, have not been identified. The understanding of an inherited medical condition in her descendants provides some basis for speculation as to her identity. A number of descendants of Martin & Mary Fugate and of Martin & Elizabeth (Smith) Fugate (and in a number of other Breathitt Co. families) have been determined to have a rare inherited blood disorder called methemoglobinemia in which some of the hemoglobin of the red blood cells exists in an abnormal form called methemoglobin which imparts a blue color to the skin, particularly after a period of exertion. The condition begins as a mutation in one individual whose children have a 50:50 chance of inheriting the new mutated gene. Individuals receiving tow genes, one from each parent, do appear 'blue'. Because of the rarity of the mutation the most likely appearance is found in those decended from the marriages of cousins. Although it is possible that the mutated gene originated with the common ancestor of the two Martins, it is much more likely that it occurred in the common ancestry of the wives of the two Martins in Kentucky. Study of the ancestry of individuals in a number of families with methemoglobinemia show recurring common ancestry in the Ritchie family. For that reason it is likely that Mary, wife of Martin Fugate was a member of that family.