THE BLACK AND WHITE OF JOHN PUNCH

" Of the fewer than one hundred African men who resided in Virginia 

before 1640, John Punch is the only man who bears a surname similar to 

Bunch."

"The March 1620 Census Of Virginia ("....892 Europeans,.32 Africans (17 

of whom were male) and four Indians")"

The first questions to my mind are; 

1) Why does he have a surname?

2) Where is the list of the surnames/names of the other 32 Africans?

3) Do you know how many other surnames that "Punch" is similar to? 

Now listen, I am only asking questions here. you know, just to learn and 

think about the things assumed about the geno and the past things of 

family. I wonder if you know about this feller, Bunch Row?

Souece: Washington and his Neighbors; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 4, No. 

1, 1895

Washington and his Neighbors

Lyon G. Tyler

"Until 1630 the settlements of the English in Virginia were confined to

the Accomac Peninsula and the valley of the James.  In 1630 the first

settlements were planted on the south side of the York River at Chiskiack

and York. " 

No! I ain't got that back'ards. It is correctly, Bunch Row. And his name 

come to mind as I thought of the many ways slaves, and truely, any man 

or woman could, and did change their names, fast as they changed...shoes. 

(They didn't wear underwear, or for that matter, shoes very often back 

then!)

"14.  Andrew1 Monroe had grants in Virginia from 1650 to 1662.  He is

referred to in the Maryland Archives in one place as "mariner".  He died

about 1668, when his widow married secondly George Horner.  He had 

issue,

1, Susannah; 2, Elizabeth, married Bunch Roe; 3, Andrew2; 4, George; 5,

William."

Memory plays tricks on me now-a-days. But I read about this feller years 

ago. Heres what I remember.

Bunch Row, son of Bunch Row, son of Bunch Row, a Dutchman, was living 

in New Amsterdam back in about 1664, when the English fleet attacked! 

Having gotten the word in advance, the Dutch had already skedat'led! The 

English sailed in, without firing a shot in anger, and claimed all the city and 

lands about.

That act made Bunch Row an English citizen. He was glad I reckon, 

because he went across country, to Virginia. How he crossed overland 

through some of the wildest Indian and rogue infested territory I'll never 

understand, but according to the story, he did that!

Soon in Virgina, he bought land, was lucky enough to garner, by auction or 

trade, some slaves. And then he planted tobacco. And of course, enter into 

marrage within one of the finest Old Pioneer Planter families on the river. 

(soon to be s Presidential family.)

You know, the place wherefrom all the Presidential Ancestors that have 

ever been elected to "lead" this great country have mysteriously come

from. That's why they are all kin to one-another! And of course, to me.

So...how many "servants", and then slaves, have taken a word they liked 

or chose; or the name or parts thereof of their master for their own name, 

in history?

By the way. when you pull off the very top of each plant of tobacco in 

order to make it branch out into many leaves, as you would for a "mary 

jane" plant, it's called, "bunching", or "to bunch the plant".

Later,

Dan Bunch

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