John BUNCH, I

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• FamilySearch ID: GZWJ-97X
• Residence: 1662, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America; 450 acres. Land purchased in New Kent County, Virginia Colony near Blisland Church and Wahrani Creek

Notes:

John Bunch I was a mulatto. His wife is unknown. John Bunch I was the son of John Punch an African slave brought to York County, Virginia from either Cameroon or the Ivory coast. John Bunch's mother (John Punch's wife) was an unnamed white woman. He had three sons, John II, Henry and Paul.
When John Bunch was born in 1632 in Virginia, his father, John Punch was an indentured servant, later enslaved as punishment. John Bunch I had a son in 1632. He died in 1704 in his hometown at the age of 72.
John Bunch I was a mulatto. His wife is unknown. His father was brought to York County, Virginia from either Cameroon or the Ivory coast. John Bunch's mother (John Punch's wife) was an unnamed white woman. He had three sons, John II, Henry and Paul.
The researchers continued, then finding the father of Samuel Bunch being John Bunch III who lived about 1680 to 1742 in Virginia, to the grandfather of Samuel being John Bunch II who lived about 1655 to 1704 in Virginia, then the great grandfather to Samuel Bunch was John Bunch I who lived prior to 1637 to 1670s in Virginia. This John Bunch I was the tenth great grandfather to Obama.That alone is quite a lineage, taking the family back to Colonial Virginia in the mid-1600s. The researchers working for Ancestry.com using the vast resources in the archives of Virginia located who they believe would be the eleventh great grandfather, a man named John Punch of York County, Virginia. His surname is a bit different in spelling, but that is a common occurrence, where a family name will be spelled or changed for a number of reasons.Investigating into the story of John Punch became extremely interesting for the researchers. John Punch first came to Colonial Virginia from Africa as an indentured servant. In the beginnings of the English colonies, additional laborers were needed. However, they were not taken as slaves, but rather worked as indentured servants for a specific period of time then gaining their freedom.When you look at the African population in Virginia around 1620, the numbers were small, approximately 25. John Punch appears to have been an early indentured servant to Hugh Gwynn of York Co, Virginia. Slavery as a legal practice did not come into law until 1670.

John Bunch I was considered a free man (because his mother was free) in the 1660s and owned 450 acres in New Kent County, VA. Yet, it appears that John Bunch's mother was white and his father, John Punch, an African, resulting in an interracial marriage which was more acceptable in the 1630s.It was not just the few court records, deeds, wills or other records that survived which helped prove the results, but also DNA testing showed the link, especially with origins from sub-Saharan Africa, possibly the west coast region of Cameroon, in the Bunch lineage.

Added by K.van Wormer:

I am a descendant of John Bunch. My DNA results show I am 1% Bantu-Cameroon as do some others of my relatives from the Bunch line. This is proof of African heritage here.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Sarah Mary BARNARD. Sarah (daughter of Bartholomew BARNARD and Sarah BIRCHARD) was born on 3 Dec 1648 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America; died on 16 Mar 1730 in Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Mary SPEAR between 1661 and 1667 in Virginia. Mary was born on 3 Dec 1640 in New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia; died after 1669 in New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: G88Q-P1Y

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• FamilySearch ID: L8SY-C4S

Notes:

John Bunch (1) was transported to the Virginia colony in about 1656 as documented in CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS . In 1657/59 there was a court order in York County involving a John Bunch with a favorable outcome. Then in 1662 a John Bunch (1) patents 450ac of land in New Kent County (neighboring York County and New Kent was a very large county extending to the mountains). If he came to America at 17 (as is the family history in one of the Bunch lines) John (1) would have been born about 1635. This appears to be one individual who came to America BEARING the name John Bunch and settled in New Kent County.

There is another possibility. There was an indentured African American immigrant living in Virginia by the name of John Punch (born abt 1609) who researchers of Barack Obama's ancestry believe changed his last name to Bunch or his son's name to the John Bunch(1). Because of trying to escape his indenture before it was finished, John Punch was penalized to be indentured for his natural life and is considered the "first slave". Would his children have been free, as with indentures, or slaves as with slavery. If his son John was free then he could possibly be the John who patented 450 ac of land in New Kent County, VA in 1662. If truly a slave, neither he nor his son would have had legal rights to patent land.

John Punch would have had to see the name change as advantageous to himself or his son. Perhaps the name "Punch" suggested aggression which he would want to avoid in his circumstance. Immigrants altering their names for various reasons was not unusual. Punch to Bunch would preserve much of the name. It was certainly possible for him to patent land if free, as there is documentation of some other free blacks who acquired land and some African American slaves themselves in the 1600s.

My understanding is that free black land holders were expected to socialize with other free land owners and not with any slaves.
My understanding is also that there was increasing prejudice towards the latter 1600s which escalated during the 1700's as slavery escalated as a practice. Nevertheless, there were a minority of free blacks that retained their freedom and property ownership in the 1700s and the 1800s before and after the Civil War. One example is Henry Bunch of Orange County. He and his family were designated negro, or mulatto and were free property owners in the 1700 and 1800s.

But for most blacks slavery was awful and terribly wrong. Every human being wants to be free and own their own property...not BE someone else's property. Why and how slavery has existed around the world through out history is a sad blight upon much of mankind. Those who abduct (usually their own) and sell, those who transport and sell, and those who purchase and use, all share the guilt and shame. We have no information if this John Bunch gave into the easier, more lucrative lifestyle growing in popularity and had slaves himself.

Two other Bunches appear in the land records in the 1703/04 quit rent rolls: A John Bunch (2) with 100 ac in New Kent County, VA (the first John Bunch (1) had 450 ac to pay on) and a Paul Bunch with 150 ac in King William County, VA. These counties were close, just across the river from one another. This is very suggestive of John (2) and Paul being sons of John Bunch (1) (the new immigrant, or son of John Punch) They both named, what seems to be their first son, John. They would have both been at least
21 to own property in their own names in 1703 and thus probably were born about 1665 to 1682. In 1722 a John Bunch (2-son, or 3-grandson)uses the title "Jun" in a deed indicating his father was a John Bunch.

Both John (2) and Paul Bunch were active and mentioned a number of times in various ways in the land records. Both end up with land in Hanover County VA (Hanover was carved out of New Kent County). Then Paul moved to North Carolina where he died in 1726 in Chowan County leaving a will. John (2)dies in Louisa County, VA (Louisa was carved out of Hanover County) where he died BEFORE 1742. In 1742 two of this John's (2) sons, William and Henry, sell the land they inherited from their father to their older brother John (3). All 5 son's are listed in the deed (John, William, Henry, David and James).

In the 1720's there was Henry Bunch, son of John Bunch (2) that owned land Va. There is also a Henry Bunch "a planter" of Chowan NC who subsequently bought land in Bertie County NC and then lived and died in Bertie NC. They could be the same person, especially if Henry Bunch moved to Chowan County NC when his uncle Paul Bunch moved there and then found better land in Bertie County and eventually went back to Virginia to sell his land in Louisa to his older brother as he would have no use for it.

The history is complicated by another John Bunch immigrating to acquire more land. There is also a Henry Bunch "a planter" of Chowan NC who subsequently bought land in Bertie County NC and then lived and died in Bertie NC. They could be the same person, especially if Henry Bunch moved to Chowan County NC when his uncle Paul Bunch moved there and then found better land in Bertie County and eventually went back to Virginia to sell his land in Louisa to his older brother as he would have no use for it.

The history is complicated by another John Bunch immigrating to America in 1683 and another in 1716 with no current information on where they settled. My understanding is that sometimes there was some dishonesty and names were reused to acquire more land. Perhaps these are mistakes.


************************************

This John Bunch Jr is "NOT" the same man as John Bunch II.
John Bunch II is son of John Bunch I and is a Mulatto man is is the ancesor of Barak Obama


***John Bunch Jr. is the son of John Bunch Sr. who was born in 1640 in England. He arrived in America from England in Richmond in 1656. https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/26347140/person/402128923753/facts

John Bunch Jr was born about 1664/1665 in Henrico, New Kent, Virginia and was not a Mulatto. He was registered as a Colonial Soldier. https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/48434/VAColonialSoldiers-007224-217/342882?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/26347140/person/402128719029/facts/citation/1102182170341/edit/record

He is also listed in https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/48412/DuplicatesVARecs-004065-164/335512?backurl=https://www.ancestry.com/family

John married Mary ASHER on 16 Nov 1691 in Henrico, Virginia, British Colonial America. Mary and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L5BW-J78
• _UID: 1D04E70FA19F46C68BD8FCAFDFE2B7C5AE6C
• Residence: 1705, Blissland Parish, James City, Virginia, British Colonial America
• Residence: 1722, Hanover, Virginia, British Colonial America; Taylor's Creek
• Residence: 1728, Louisa, Virginia, British Colonial America; 400 acres in wester part of Louisa County
• Property: 1742, Grantee In A Deed Dated March 14, 1742, And That He Had Patented 400 Acres Of Land In Fredricksville Parish, Louisa County.
• Will: 8 Jun 1774, Records Also State That John Bunch, Deceased, Made A Will Bequething His Property To Five Sons.

Notes:

Park/e/s and Bunch on The Trail West, compiled by Alice Crandall Park(Baltimore: 1975), pages 201-42.

John Bunch III married Rebecca Harrison between 1713 / 1714 in New KentCo., VA. She was born between 1690 - 1694 in Louisa Co., VA and diedMarch 16 1770 in Louisa Co., VA.

He was a property owner and patented 400 acres of land in FredricksvilleParish, Louisa County. They had at least eight children

This family is very well documented. A team of accredited genealogists researched this family when Barack Obama became president. This is Obama's ancestor.
John Bunch III was the son of John Bunch II. He was a mulatto. Y-DNA studies on his male descendants show that he was of African ancestry (Cameroon or Ivory Coast.) DO NOT COMBINE HIM TO THE FAMILY OF JOHN BUNCH AND MARY TEMPERANCE BATES THEY ARE NOT THE SAME! John Bunch III and Sarah Slayden petitioned the courts for permission to marry in 1705 as they were a mixed race couple. John Bunch III later married Rebecca. They were the parents of Nancy, John, Lucretia, William, Henry, David, James, Samuel and Rebecca.

John married Rebecca HARRISON between 1713 and 1714 in New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia. Rebecca (daughter of Anthony HARRISON and Rebecca BERNARD) was born in 1699 in Louisa County, Virginia; died on 16 Mar 1770 in Louisa County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: GJ6J-N21

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• FamilySearch ID: GJ6N-PC5

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• FamilySearch ID: LVF4-KC1
• _UID: 83C56468EE2E447C804E87D22FC06B2A9B03

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• FamilySearch ID: LY59-VD5
• _UID: CA7F2DB058CB4AF6B75CC500BE044E3EAF92
• Alt. Birth: 1715, Hanover County, Virginia; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Birth: 1716, Louisa County, Virginia; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: 1777, Louisa County, Virginia; Alt. Death
• Alt. Death: 1777, Louisa County, Virginia; Alt. Death

Notes:

Inherited 100 acres of land in Louisa County and the home plantation. On March 14, 1742, he bought 120 acres of land from his brothers - William and Henry. John died unmarried. In his will he left 15 lbs. to his sister Lucrecia Meredith, 10lbs. to Nannie, the daughter of William Bunch, and the remainder to be divided among his brothers, Samuel, David and James.

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• FamilySearch ID: MP8M-QW1
• _UID: 4874290F01AF41CBB72C9AF417EE982BE958
• Alt. Birth: 1718, Hanover County, Virginia; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: 1794; Alt. Death

Notes:

On March 14, 1742, sold to his brother, John, 60 acres of land in Fredricksville Parish, Louisa County for 7 lbs., 10 shillings.
William is not mentioned in his brother John's will dated June 8, 1774, although his daughter Anne is left 10 pounds.

William married in 1754. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LR41-49R
• _UID: 3261CA3B63FF41E1BA488B9D8242FC7B8142
• Alt. Birth: Between 1716 and 1720, Virginia; Alt. Birth

Notes:

In 1742 he sold the 60 acres received from his father to his brother John. He apparently moved to Bedford Co. prior to 1742, and his name is found in court and land records there beginning in 1754. His date and place of death have not been discovered, but many of his children moved to Mercer Co., KY beginning about 1789. Perhaps Henry died about this date. In addition to the seven sons shown, Henry was perhaps the father of Charles (b. about 1761), Betsy (b. about 1773), and Simeon (b. 1775) who married Celia 'Lula' Boone in 1799, residents of Warren Co., KY in 1800. Married about 1745, Bedford Co., VA.
Ann - A Bedford Co., VA deed of 1764 names "Henry BUNCH and wife Ann CALLOWAY

Henry married in 1745 in Bedford County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Henry married Mary Ann CALLOWAY about 1745 in Louisa County, Virginia. Mary (daughter of Joseph CALLAWAY and Catherine Anne BROWNING) was born about 1720 in Louisa County, Virginia; died in 1778 in Boones Station, Kentucky. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LYRQ-5YM
• _UID: 5D7D269ECF5B459BB7BC8CBC92450B91D68D
• Will: 14 Oct 1776, Will Was Proved In Louisa County On This Date. Will Is Recorded On Page 272 Of Book 2 In The Office Of The Registrar Of Deeds.

Notes:

REFN: 26503
[John Bunch 10.ged]
His will is shown in the book "Early Quaker Families in Louisa."
Inherited 60 acres from his father, John Bunch, Sr. in Louisa County.
David Bunch - His Will In the name of God, Amen! I, David Bunch, of
Trinity Parish in the county of Louisa being diseased of bady, yet of
sound mind, thanks to God for it, do make and ordain this my last will
and testament in manner as follows, viz: Namely, first I give my soul
to Gad, my maker, beseeching his most gracious reception of same.
Secondly, I commit my body to the earth from which it was taken, in full
assurance of its resurrection at the last day. As for my burial, I
desire to be decent, without pomp. As for my worldly estate it has
pleased God to lend me, I do give and divise it as follows: IMPERITIVE.
After all my just debts are paid and funeral expenses discharged I do
give to my beloved wife, Mary O. Bunch, our side saddle to dispose of as
she thinks fit. I also lend her, her natural life and widowhood, the
tract of land wheron I now live with all my household furniture. Then I
give unto my daughter, Jean Bunch, ten pounds, to beraised after the
death of my wife. I give to my daughter, Lucreshia Bunch,ten pounds, to
be raised after the death of my wife. I give my daughter, Winnie Bunch,
ten pounds, to be raised as above. Then I give to my son, Joseph Bunch,
60 acres of land, being the tract where I formerly lived, lying on both
sides of Hudson's Creek and adjoining the lands of Charles Moorman,
James Bunch, James Watson, and Pouncey Bunch. Then I give to my son,
David Bunch, one horse branded on the near buttocks - B - also 55 acres
of land lying on the north side of the creek called Sycamore Fork, to
the same, more orless and bounded as follows, viz: beginning at a
Hickory and Poplar on thesaid creek, running thence north 4 1/2
degrees, west across the Franklin (?) Road to aWhite Oak, then south 87
degrees, west 27 poles to a Pine and little Hickory, thence south 10
degrees, west 142 poles to a Sycamore on said creek, then down same
creek and by meander to the beginning, to him and his heirs forever.
Then I give to my son, Anthony Bunch, the colt that shall be brought by a
mare now with foal, also 55 acres of land beginning on north side of
Sycamore Fork to that same more or less, and bounded as follows, viz:
beginning at a Sycamore on Sycamore Creek, running thence north 10
degrees,east 142 poles to a Pine and little Hickory, then south 80
degrees, west 55poles to several little Pines, thence south 21 degrees,
west 103 poles to aSycamore on creek, thence same by meander to the
beginning, to him and his heirs forever. Then I give unto my son, Thomas
Bunch, 71 acres of land beginning at the little Dogwood on Camp Creek,
running thence north 16 degrees, west 186 poles to a Pine and Hickory,
then south 45 degrees, then west 44 poles to a White Oak and two little
Willows, then south 16 degrees, east 173 poles to a Poplar on the creek,
then down Sycamore by meander to the beginning. To him and his heirs
forever, provided nonetheless that he shall pay his brother, David
Bunch, 80 pounds current money when my youngest son comes of age. Then
I give to my son, Nathan, 71 acres of land lying on the south sideof
Sycamore Fork, be the same more or less and bounded as follows, viz:
beginning at Hickory and Poplar on said creek, running then south 70
degrees,west 143 poles to a Hickory and Oak Sapling, thence north 16
degrees, west 90 poles to a Pine and Hickory, thence 44 degrees, west 58
poles to a Sycamore on same creek, then down the same and meander to the
beginning. To him and his heirs forever, providing nevertheless that he
shall pay to his brother, Anthony Bunch, 8 pounds current money when my
youngest son comes of age. Then I give to my son, Paul Bunch, 74 acres
of l

David married on 11 Dec 1745 in Louisa County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: 93NR-PZH
• _UID: 9F6E0DAAA899439BBD0A71F1AA050A3D02CF
• Alt. Birth: 1724; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Birth: Abt 1725, Louisa County, Virginia; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: 1790, Louisa County, Virginia; Alt. Death

Notes:

REFN: 3674

James married on 11 Jan 1746 in Louisa County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LC5Z-DNZ
• Name: Lucresea
• _UID: BF2AFBF57DE344BEB77FFB53034A7C1EA636

Lucretia married on 8 Jun 1774. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LK9R-82W
• _UID: 16EAAD5DB5FC47548054364C2B2A2C8DBA6A
• Alt. Birth: 1726, Hanover County, Virginia; Alt. Birth
• Alt. Death: 1783, Louisa County, Virginia; Alt. Death

Notes:

Alias: the Quaker

[Captain John Bunch]
Mr. Bunch's name was probably SAMUEL BUNCH, SR.
Samuel left a will dated 1782, proved 9 Jan 1783. He was named as one of the brothers of John in his will. Samuel and his family were received
in membership by the Cedar Creek Monthly Meting Quakers, Hanover Co., VA. He was known as Samuel the Quaker and some of his children were disowned by the faith including Charles, Samuel, George, Mary, Rebecca, James and Molley. On 11 Jan 1773 he deeded Pouncy Bunch 60 acres. In 1777 he paid two tithes therefore ha had only one son at home. His will was unusual in that he left land to two of his daughters. From the Book "Early Quaker Families In Louisa, the will is referenced. It reads:
This will was dated 30 Jan 1782 and was proved at a court held at Louisa on 9 Jan 1783. He named his wife, Mary Bunch, and gave her his estate for life. He devised to his son, Samuel Bunch, 125 acres of land with the plantation whereon Benjiman Phares formerly lived. And to his son, Charles Bunch, he gave 125 acres with the plantation I now live on. To his daughter, Judith, he gave 100 acres of land in North Garden,
Albemarle County. He mentions his sons James and John, and daughters Rebecca and Ann. He named his executors his wife, Mary, son Samuel and Samuel Richardson. Witnesses were Samuel Richardson, William Payne and Richard Morris.[John Bunch 11.ged]

Samuel married Mary HUDSON between 1746 and 1747. Mary (daughter of John William HUDSON and Elizabeth L. HARRIS) was born in 1726 in Louisa County, Virginia; died in 1792. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: L8ST-TL5
• _UID: B3850E39C5984B66B7D703CAB84A5FD31CD8
• Alt. Birth: Between 1728 and 1730, Virginia; Alt. Birth

Notes:

REFN: 4754

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: GHD9-6GS
• _UID: B4DC42882DF443BBB3AF583450FA706F9063

Notes:

REFN: 5276