On The Basis Of Historic And Genealogical Research

 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

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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

--------------------------------------------