On The Basis Of Historic And Genealogical Research
I have a great interest in this subject of John Punch being the
progenitor of my Bunch Clan. For obvious reasons. My reaction at
first glance was "WOW!" We have had a giant step in furthering the
Bunch Line! But then, upon reading how they obtained the "Step", I
soon realized that assumptions were more than allowed in the craft of
Genealogy. I read "Source", and "more than one Source". And
especially "Written Documentation" records that are most
authoritative. Turns out, any old "Sherlock Holmes" mental
gymnastics" will do! So something like this below is acceptable.
"In as much as there are now very few records that go back three
hundred years, it is difficult to trace relationship that far back;
however, it is felt reasonably safe to assume that..."
Acceptable by persons well respected below...
"Anastasia Harman, Paul C. Reed, Natalie D. Cottrill, Joseph
Shumway, "Documenting President Barack Obama’s maternal
African-American ancestry: tracing his mother’s Bunch ancestry to the
first slave in America," (Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 16 July 2012) Read
at Internet Archive."
So now that I finally see all the rules, I could play this game forever!
And now after; "it is difficult to trace relationship that far back;
however, it is felt reasonably safe to assume that..." I have discovered
that a Lady named on a transported to Virginia list, one "Eliza: Bunch"
(Elizabeth Bunch) Age 20, was a passenger aboard the Ship Alice
from London England to Virginia, imbarqued 1635. Richard Orchard,
Mr. (Master).
The Govenor of Virginia, Argall, was so smitten by her beauty that he
managed to entice her aboard his personal yacht without a
chaperone, took a short trip up the James River (Pamunkey River), to
a friends Plantation, and on the way raped her! Ms. Bunch was left at
the home of the Govenor's friend, Hugh Gwynn, as Govenor Argall
sailed to return to James City and his delayed ruling of Virginia, for his
impromptu diversions are far and few in this young and hostile land.
Luckily a indentured servant by the name of John Punch had mercy
upon the lady. He contrived to steal a boat, return the Lady Elizabeth
Bunch to her friends at James City. She was so grateful that she
married this heroic African Servant.
Of course, he could not return to Hugh Gwynn's Plantation, so with
another two Servants, he tried to escape out of Virginia, but was soon
captured in Maryland. And his fate is now well known. He was made a
slave for life. I have not made a decision about their life together
after I found out that she and an Indian by the name of Thomas Rolfe
were seen together several times. Alternative History says He,
Thomas Rolfe, had other children by several different women.
Well, how am I doing so far? Records from Virginia are all but totally
lost, due to wars and fires. There are no real "Identifiers", after all,
they weren't issued Social Security Numbers, nor draft numbers. No
horse registration, riders license, no home address to paint on the
curb out front, hell, no curb! So one has to trace relationships, make
assumptions; even become aware of closeness in proximity to one
another.
All these people were in Virginia at the same time. In fact in James
city at the same time. Spoke the same language. Are real people, in
real place, in real time, and in their stated Social circumstances, for
real! That's as close in each category as the above "hysterical" and
amazingly accipitral hypothesis reached by historical real learned
genealogists that, as far as I can read, is much accepted as "Gospel."
today. In fact "alternative" history says Mayatoka was also raped by
her abductor! So my "Assumptions" are just as "In Play" as any other.
So is it, the announced line, real? Or is it mostly for a bow to Power,
or Prestige? After all, it's not everyone that can nail down a "First
Slave" and a "Noble Prize Winner" every day, at the same time!
Besides, I'll take all of that in my family tree! I always claimed to be
kin to all the men that were ever elected to the office of President.
As well the "Perhaps" of the Nobel Prize Winner Bunch. And being the
poor branch of the Bunch Family Tree, I'm beginning to wonder
about the amount of the "Reparations", and should I be in the front
of the line? Judging by the looks I get when I remark to the Nurses
pulling my Bood at the VA; "Be careful, that's Obama Blood in them
veins! Me and President Obama is kinfolk. No, really...." Judging by
the look on their faces, I'm gonna need lots of documentation!
Later,
Dan Bunch
TEXAS
------------------------DAN NOTES and Sources Below
In July 2012, Ancestry.com published a paper suggesting that John
Punch was a twelfth-generation grandfather of President Barack
Obama on his mother's side, on the basis of historic and genealogical
research and Y-DNA analysis. Punch's descendants were known by
the Bunch or Bunche surname. Punch is believed to be one of the
paternal ancestors of the 20th-century American diplomat Ralph
Bunche, the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
------------------------------------
John Bunch (Punch), I
Also Known As: "Punch", "Bunch"
Birth date: before circa 1637
Birth place: of, York County, Virginia Colony
Death: after circa 1704
New Kent, Virginia, United States (Body lost or destroyed)
Immediate Family:
Son of John Punch and N.N.
Husband of wife of John Bunch l
Father of Paul Bunch, Sr; John Bunch, Il / “Sr.” and Henry Bunch, Sr.
--------------------------------------
John Punch
Also Known As: "“First slave in America", "” João", "Bunch",
"Bunche"
Birthdate: before circa 1605
Birthplace: Ivory Coast, or, Cameroon
Death: after circa 1640
New Kent County, Virginia Colony, Colonial America
Immediate Family:
Partner of N.N.
Father of John Bunch, I
History: John Punch was an African slave brought to Virginia in
1640. He was owned by Hugh Gwyn. Married a white woman. His
name became Bunch.
Immediate Family
---------------------------CONT.---------
N.N.
partner
John Bunch, I
son
About John Punch
Biography
retrieved 19 September 2019 from Wikipedia article (link below)
John Punch (fl. 1630s, living 1640) was an enslaved African who lived
in the Colony of Virginia. Thought to have been an indentured
servant, Punch attempted to escape to Maryland and was sentenced
in July 1640 by the Virginia Governor's Council to serve as a slave for
the remainder of his life.
indentured servant (later slave) of Hugh Gwynn/Gwyn
1st documented African slave in colonial America
Genealogy notes
The National Park Service, in a history of Jamestown, notes that while
it was a "customary practice to hold some Negroes in a form of life
service," Punch was the "first documented slave for life."
(Dan Note: That means that they got the newly freed person (of all
colors) to sign a contract they couldn't read for hand tools, seed, etc.,
which returned them to servanthood upon default for a period of
seven or more years. That and other such schemes were used also to
lease Indian Tribal land, 250 acres for 99 years, and writing in 25,000
acres in the mets and bounds into contracts that the Indians could
not read, let alone visualize acreage; of any size.)
In July 2012, Ancestry.com published a paper suggesting that John
Punch was a twelfth-generation grandfather of President Barack
Obama on his mother's side, on the basis of historic and genealogical
research and Y-DNA analysis. Punch's descendants were known by
the Bunch or Bunche surname. Punch is believed to be one of the
paternal ancestors of the 20th-century American diplomat Ralph
Bunche, the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
(Dan Note: " Punch's descendants were known by the Bunch or
Bunche surname." This is because they found no records of any
"Punch" descendants! So it musta been BUNCH? I got some Jordan's
living near me. That makes my children Jordan's?)
Biography
From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176878786
--------------------------------------
John Punch was an African slave brought to Virginia in 1640. John
Punch (fl. 1630s, living 1640) Married a white woman.
"Father of Paul Bunch, Sr; John Bunch, Il / “Sr.” and Henry Bunch,
Sr."
John Bunch came to Lancaster County, Virginia in 1651 as an
indentured servant. He later moved to New Kent County, Virginia and
owned land on the Pamunkey River by the 1670?s. He received a
patent for 450 acres in New Kent County, Virignia on the 18 March
1662 (Patents 5:152). John Bunch immigrated to Lancaster County,
Virginia about 1651/1652. His son, John, married Rebecca and died
before 1742. Descendants lived in Virginia, Missouri and elsewhere.
Title Bunch pedigree chart, 1651/1652-1971 Authors Bunch, John A,
1910- (Main Author) Alice Crandall Park with Co-compiler Avis Park
Voss for the Park/e/s portion. Park/e/s and Bunch on the Trail West
With Allied Families: Benton, Duvall, Foster, Greenwell, Jones,
Loveless and Tally. 1982 edition. Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press,Inc.,
1982.(There is a legend among descendants of the Bunches, John Sr.,
John Jr. and Paul, that they are related to Pocahontas, the Powhattan
Indian princess who married John Rolf (Park Bunch families by Alice
Crandall Park and Mrs. Garland King, Tennessee State library.) 'List of
Burials, Center Church Burying Ground, Hartford, CT'. In the
comments section for a grave is the comment that the interred, James
Bunce, was the son of John Bunce and Mary Barnard.
BUNCH
It is known that the family lived in Scotland for 400 years. According
to Nugent's 'Pioneers and Cavaliers of Virginia,' John Bunch came to
Virginia in 1651-1652. He purchased 450 acres of land in 1662, which
land was located in New Kent County. From New Kent County, in
1720 Hanover County was formed. Then from Hanover County, in
1742 Louisa County was formed. In as much as there are now very
few records that go back three hundred years, it is difficult to trace
relationship that far back; however, it is felt reasonably safe to
assume that this John Bunch referred to above is the grandfather of
the John Bunch who died in 1742. It is felt reasonably certain that the
farm that was purchased by John in 1662 is the same farm that was
owned by David Bunch,1722-1776, and passed on to his heirs in his
will.
------------------------------------------------------------
Wahunsonacock Powhatan (b. 17 Jun 1545, d. Apr 1618)
Wahunsonacock Powhatan (son of Ensenore Algonkian and Scent
Flower)84, 84 was born 17 Jun 1545 in New River, VA, USA84, 84,
and died Apr 1618 in VA, USA84, 84.He married (1) Ponnoiske.He
married (2) Ottermiske.He married (3) Appomosiscut.He married (4)
Appimmonoiske.He married (5) Ashetoiske.He married (6)
Attossomiske.He married (7) Oweroughwough.He married (8)
Nonoma Powhatan.He married (9) Amopotuskee Bear Cherokee.He
married (10) Ottopomtacke.He married (11) Ortoughnoiske.He
married (12) Nonoma Powhatan.He married (13) Uttopomtacke.He
married (14) Powhatten.He married (15) Artoughnoiske.He married
(16) Wahunsonacoch Wa Hun Sea A Cawh.He married (17)
Nanoma.He married (18) Opirhapan Itoyath Sasawpen.He married
(19) Opechancanough Mangopeesomon.He married (21) Queen
Winganuske on 159084.He married (22) Nonoma on 159584.He
married (23) Winganuske Matatiske on 159484.He married (24)
Nonoma Winanuske on 1588 in VA, USA84.
----------------------------------------------------
Children of Wahunsonacock Powhatan are:
Cleopatra Powhatan, b. 1600, VA, USA84, d. 1641, VA, USA84.
Matachannu Powhatan, b. 1589, VA, USA84.
Tahacoope Quiqoughcohannock Powhatan, b. 1595, Orapaks, VA,
USA84.
Tahacoope Quiqoughcohannock Powhatan, b. 1570, VA, USA84.
Parahunt Powhattan, b. 1581, Tseacomoca, VA, USA84.
Pamouic, b. 158784.
Secotin, b. 158784.
Cleopatra, b. 1594, VA, USA84, d. 1680, VA, USA84.
Tatacoope The Algonquian.
Taux The Algonquian.
Pochins The Algonquian.
Nantaquas The Algonquian.
Parahunt The Algonquian.
Nantahoack.
Mehta.
Tomoco.
Mantequos.
Taux.
Matachanna.
Parahunt.
Namontack.
Pochins.
Powcanoe.
Quimca.
Opechancanough Powhatan, b. 1574, Gloucester, VA, USA84.
Apachamo Kekataugh Powhatan, b. 1557, Powhatan Tribe, VA,
USA84,d., Tseacomoca, VA, USA84.
Matoaka Wahunsunacock, b. 1595, West Point, VA, USA84, d. 21 Mar
1617, Gravesend, Kent, England84.
Tahacoope Quiqoughcohannock.
Pochins Powhatan, b., VA, USA84.
Opitchapan Powhatan, b. 1550, VA, USA84.
Nataquous.
Mehtafe.
---------------------------------------------
Jeremiah Bunch, Sr. Bertie Co., NC died 1863
In the newspaper, Biblical Recorder, Raleigh, NC, June 10, 1863, is
found:
Died near Windsor, Bertie County, April 18, Jeremiah Bunch, Sr., aged
85 years, 2 months and 10 days. He joined Cashie Baptist Church 30
years ago, a member since 1851, dismissed and a member at
Republican.
------------------------------------------
Jeremiah Bunch
Birthdate: 1650
Birthplace: England (United Kingdom)
Death: November 16, 1727 (76-77)
Immediate Family:
Husband of Unknown Indian Saponi Bunch
Father of Paul Bunch; Henry Bunch; Jesse Bunch; Ephraim Bunch and
William Bunch
Managed by: Don Darrell Reid #MA447440C1
Last Updated: February 11, 2021
View Complete Profile
view all
Immediate Family
Unknown Indian Saponi Bunch (DN: See Below)
wife
Paul Bunch
son
Henry Bunch
son
Jesse Bunch
son
--------------------------------
Unknown Indian Saponi Bunch
Birthdate: estimated between 1618 and 1674
Death:
Immediate Family:
Wife of Jeremiah Bunch
Mother of Paul Bunch; Henry Bunch; Jesse Bunch; Ephraim Bunch and
William Bunch
---------------------------------------
http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/ships/tova_alice1635.shtml
Passengers on Ship Alice from London England to Virginia 1635
The under-written are to be transported to Virginia, imbarqued in the
Alice, Richard Orchard, Mr. The men have taken and oath of Allegianc
& Supreme.
First Name ; Surname ;Age
Edward Hughes 21
James Morfy 21
Robert Haggara 33
Tho: Askew 21
Richd Cooke 21
Miles Atkinson 22
Rowland Vaughan 19
Richard Natt 18
Fra: Jenkinson 28
Willm Kendridd 20
Jo: Wilson 29
Robt. Baxter 21
Jo: Bently 21
Jo: Holdsmorth 34
Jo: Wright 21
Charles Peacock 28
Chris Hudson 30
Jo: Smith 20
Jo: Cooper 20
Edward Waggett 20
Jo: Vicars 35
Tho: Atkinson 27
Rowland Sadgerner 21
Wm Massingbird 23
Jo: Hutton 18
Eliazbeth Dew 32
Ann Dew 9mo.
Rachelle Adams 16
Avis Deacon 19
Hanna Gifford 20
Eliza: Bunch 20 +++++++++++++++++++
Sophia Rottrie 16
-----------------------------------
WikiTree
-----------------------------------
From http://powhatan.org, Information from the Powhatan Nation
"And it is here the story gets really interesting. While the history
books have long insisted Thomas had but one New World wife, the
aforementioned Jane Poythress, recent scholarship has shown that
Wyndam Robertson, in his 1887 book, "Pocahontas and Her
Descendants," took it upon himself, ostensibly in the interest of
clearing up all the spousal confusion, to simply designate an 'official
wife' ["I adopt (the name) Jane Poythress"]. As a result of this sloppy
genealogy by a prominent historian and theologian, 'Jane Poythress,'
a clearly arbitrary name, has ever since been identified by nearly all
historians as the undisputed, lone American wife of Thomas Rolfe."
(DN) Yepper! The name, 'Jane Poythress,'IS FAKE! Steady there; If ya
ain't ready, there's more!
"[Our records start] with the Indian chief, Murmuring Ripple, who
died in 1495. According to the olden history, he was the father of
Dashing Stream, who was born May 6, 1474, on the banks of a
tributary of the Lancer river, which headed in the Blue Ridge
mountains. He died in 1540. Dashing Stream was the father of
Scented Flower, who was born June 3, 1517, at the junction of the
Dan and Staunton rivers in Virginia. Scented Flower was the father of
Powhatan [whose real name was Wahunsenacawh, a Pamunkey who
became king, or powhatan, of the confederation of coastal tribes],
born June 17, 1545, near New River, Va., and died in 1622, at the
age of 77 years. [He had] a daughter by the name of Pocahontas,
who was born in 1596, near Jamestown, Va."
"Please note: the names MURMURING RIPPLE, DASHING STREAM and
SCENTED FLOWER are FICTIONAL!"
(DN) FICTIONAL! Now, you may have known this, but no one ever
posted to tell Dan Bunch this!!
(I always suspected certain names were just too cool and "co-inky-
dinky" for me to digest.)
"New research over the past few decades [Slatten and Moore, John
Brayton, and others] has exposed this long-lived, self-serving
Robertson fabrication. It has also unearthed tantalizing fresh evidence
linking Thomas Rolfe to other females besides "Jane Poythress"
(whoever she was). They include: 1) a cousin of Pocahontas named
Oconoco, or Oi Poi. One of their children has been identified as
Thomas "Powhatan" Rolfe. Oral tradition says he insisted all his life
on being called "Powhatan" 2) a Dorothy Jennings of North Carolina
3) an Indian maid of Dorothy's named Mary Grimes."
"To summarize then, Thomas Rolfe must have had several children,
perhaps as many as twelve according to some reports, and they
almost certainly issued from more than one wife or mistress. The
following offspring have been named in several different accounts,
with varying degrees of evidence and conjecture in their support:
----------------------------------------------------
Scent Flower 1480-1525
Wife of Capt. John Thomas Rolfe
Scent Flower Powhatan Cornstalk Running Stream 1517-1600
Daughter of Scent Flower
Scent Flower 1517-1600
Daughter of Scent Flower Powhatan Cornstalk Running Stream
Wahunsonacock (Emperor Wahunsomacock Powhattan Powhatan
CHIEF HILL POWHATAN) Powhatan Wahunsonacock Kocoum
Powhatan (Patawomeck Tribe) 1545-1618
Son of Scent Flower
Chief Japasaw (1), aka Opechancanough Powhatan I Oppasus 1590-
1620
Son of Wahunsonacock (Emperor Wahunsomacock Powhattan
Powhatan CHIEF HILL POWHATAN) Powhatan Wahunsonacock
Kocoum Powhatan (Patawomeck Tribe)
Father (Chief of Cherokee Nation) Whipsewansson Wahanganoche of
Arroyha Winigum 1620-1664
Son of Chief Japasaw (1), aka Opechancanough Powhatan I Oppasus
Paul (Native American) Winigum 1650-1700
Son of Father (Chief of Cherokee Nation) Whipsewansson
Wahanganoche of Arroyha Winigum
Amy (Cherokee) Winigum Bunch 1668-1748 (Wife of my Paul Bunch
est 1652,(1673-1727)
Daughter of Paul (Native American) Winigum
John Henry Jeremiah Bunch (Cherokee) 1690-1775 (m Judith Hill 14
Feb 1765 Chowan Co., NC
Son of Amy (Cherokee) Winigum Bunch
Sarah Allison Bunch 1690-1740
Daughter of John Henry Jeremiah Bunch (Cherokee)
Maj. John Bunch Holder 1716-1816
Son of Sarah Allison Bunch
Lt. Jesse Elihu Holder Sr 1750-1802
Son of Maj. John Bunch Holder
John Harbard(Thomas? Ethridge) Holder 1783-1834
Son of Lt. Jesse Elihu Holder Sr
Ann Maria Holden(Holder) 1809-1858
Daughter of John Harbard(Thomas? Ethridge) Holder
Cornelia Angela Kimball 1834-1941
Daughter of Ann Maria Holden(Holder)
Howard Milton Boullemet 1870-1921
Son of Cornelia Angela Kimball
Mary Cornelia May Boullemet Bays 1882-1949
Daughter of Howard Milton Boullemet
Lillie May Mazie Wittman 1919-1997
Daughter of Mary Cornelia May Boullemet Bays
Raymond
You are the son of Lillie
--------------------------------------------