Paul BUNCH

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• FamilySearch ID: L835-WT3
• Residence: 1695, New Kent, Virginia, British Colonial America; 150 acres near Sweet Hall Road
• Residence: 1704, King William, King William, Virginia, British Colonial America; 150 acres near Cohoke Creek where it flows into the Pununkey River
• Residence: 1711, St. Paul's Parish, Hanover, Virginia, British Colonial America; Known as Paul Bunch's Quarter
• Residence: 1724, Hanover, Virginia, British Colonial America; 400 acres by Black Haw Swamp.
• Residence: 1725, Bertie, North Carolina, British Colonial America; 265 acres on south side of Morattock River

Notes:

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PAUL BUNCH born possibly about 1652? 58, married by 1679, and died shortly before 16 November 1727, when his will was proved. He spent his earliest years in Virginia, in counties where most of the records have been lost for the period he lived.58 The first surviving reference to Paul is in 1695, when he purchased 150 acres near Sweet Hall Road from John Claiborne on 29 July 1695.59 Paul Bunch was taxed on 150 acres in King William County in the 1704 quit rent. His land was near Cohoke Creek where it flows into the Pamunkey River and just east of the Pamunkey Indian Reservation.

Paul Bunch does not appear to have been literate, because he signed with a mark on every record we have where he would have signed,
including two in Virginia: as a witness to a deed by John Claiborne on 20 May 1704, and also when he purchased a mulatto named John Russell from John West, gentleman, on 27 January 1700/1 and immediately assigned him over to Elizabeth Russell.

The Virginia Assembly had made it difficult to manumit slaves in 1691 by requiring that freed slaves had to leave the colony shortly after obtaining their freedom. Rather than freeing John Russell outright, granting his custody to someone else avoided an additional fine of ?10.

Paul Bunch settled southward in Hanover County by 17 "9br" [November] 1711, when his land became part of a district in St. Paul's Parish to be processioned. His neighbors included Emanuel Richardson, Nathaniel Hodgkinson, Captain Roger Thompson, John Richardson, James Whitlock, Widow Clough, Thomas Graham, and Thomas Lacy.This represents a completely different group of neighbors than those listed four years later, apparently indicating that Paul Bunch moved from one location to another in Hanover County between 1711 and 15 "9br." [November] 1715.

On 8 March 1715/6 (when Paul Bunch's land was called "Paul Bunch's Quarter"), Francis Clark, John English, John Venable, John Corley, Samuel Sperring, William Webb, Paul Bunch, Thomas WetherfordGilbert Gibson, William Thacker, tephen Ragland, and John Hart (and all their male tithables) were ordered to help clear the road from Stony Run to Half Sink Road. This would normally represent the landowners who lived near that road. Paul Bunch was described as owning land adjacent to Gilbert Gibson on 11 July 1719 when Gibson patented 224 acres in New Kent
County (now Hanover County), Virginia. Gibson's patent was described as beginning on Sunter's corner patent line, bordering Captain Dangerfield's line, a branch, bordering on Paul Bunch's line, and following his line back to Stephen Sunter's line to the beginning. William Timothy Sullivant, and others.

Paul Bunch patented 400 acres in Hanover County on 9 July 1724, apparently some distance west of his residence. This tract was on both sides of Black Haw (Swamp) in Hanover County. This was a few miles west of Paul's residence next to Gilbert Gibson. He probably turned around and sold the land soon after in preparation for leaving Virginia to settle in North Carolina, but the deeds of Hanover County are missing for this period.

Paul was granted 265 acres on the south side of Morattock River in Bertie Precinct, North Carolina, on 1 January 1725/6 joining land owned by Simms, Gideon Gibson, Wilkins, and Quankey Pocoson (recall that Paul Bunch was Gilbert Gibson's immediate neighbor in Hanover County as well). The yDNA results of some living Gibson descendants also indicate they have the E1b1a haplotype.71 It would make sense that mixed-race
descendants of early African-Americans in Virginia who spoke the same language and had the same cultural background would stay together, move together, and probably intermarry.

Paul died soon after he moved to North Carolina. He made his will on 16 November 1726. He stated that he was of sound mind and perfect
memory (the usual preamble, but hopefully accurate). First, after ordering that his debts and funeral charges be paid, he gave his son John Bunch "that part of this Land I now live on which he now lives on" up to a line of marked trees, with "one Negro fellow named Dick" and one iron pot. Paul gave the other part of his plantation to Fortune Holdbee for life, remaining after her death to Keziah Holdbee and Jemima Holdbee, to be equally divided between the two sisters, but "if these two Children die without Heirs lawfully begotten [of their bodies]" then it was to revert back to John Bunch.

The special favor Paul Bunch showed to Fortune and the two Holdbee children might indicate that Fortune was Paul's common-law wife. A late marriage for Paul to a woman of white race was forbidden in Virginia and outlawed in North Carolina in 1715. One might argue that a tenuous bequest to children illegitimate in the eyes of the law would require Paul to give something (even one shilling) to his other surviving children, so
they could not dispute his wishes.

In his will, Paul continued his bequests, giving Fortune Holdbee two feather beds and half the household goods (the other half to go to Joseph Meacham? a grandson?), and half of Paul's stock (the other half to Joseph Meacham), except two cows and calves that were to be given to Thomas Holdbee. Paul gave Fortune one Negro named Frank as long as she lived single (unmarried). Paul bequeathed "my Negro fellow named Daw" to Fortune Holdbee and Joseph Meacham to "help and assist [them] one as much as the other" and gave "one Mullatto Wench name Pegg" to Keziah Holdbee, to be kept in the care of her mother until Keziah reached age eighteen or got married. Paul gave Jemima Holdbee "one Negro Girl named Betty" on like terms, and gave Joseph Meacham "one Negro Wench named Moll and her child Fortune and one Negro Wench [named] Rose and all my Land that I have over Roanoke River" belonging to the plantation that Paul Bunch purchased from Thomas Wilkins. In addition, Paul gave "one Survey of Land only 100 Acres" to Thomas Holdbee. He gave his son John Bunch "one Buckaneer Gun." Paul Bunch appointed Joseph Meacham and Fortune Holdbee his executors, the residue of his estate to be equally divided between them. The last statement in his will reads, "I give Eliza Bunch one Shilling Sterling and my Daughter Russell I give one Shilling Sterling[,] this I appoint
my last Will and Testament as Witness my Hand and Seal this 16th Day of Novr 1726." Paul Bunch signed with a mark, as he did in the records we have of him in Virginia.77 Andrew Ireland and John Cotton witnessed the will, and the name Henry Irby is appended (he became Fortune's next husband).

Fortune Holdbee sold the plantation upon which she lived (and that was formerly Paul Bunch's plantation) to William Little for ?15 "silver money" on 5 July 1727. Fortune sought out better opportunities far away from Bertie and Chowan, moving to New Hanover County, North Carolina, the southernmost point in the colony on the Atlantic Ocean. Her petition to patent 640 acres there was recorded in 1735.

Fortune had already married again? or at least had taken another husband? and gave birth to two more children by 1733. Henry Irby, innholder, of Brunswick on Cape Fear, North Carolina, made his will on 30 January 1733/4. He declared that he was very sick and weak in body. He gave his son William Irby, a minor living in Virginia, ?40 when he reached age twenty-one. He gave his daughter Ann Irby the same amount at age 18. He gave his son Henry Irby [there was a second son of the same name] "born of the body of Fortune Holderby" ?40 at age twenty-one. He gave his daughter Elizabeth Irby, also his child by Fortune, the same amount at age eighteen. He gave Fortune, Henry, and Elizabeth, his house and lot at Cape Fear and made Fortune his executrix.

Henry Irby's first wife, Hannah Irby, who was still living, was none too pleased about his bequests, but there was not much she could do except sue for her dower rights, even though she declared that Henry had "deforced her" [sic, divorced her]. On 6 February 1733/4, Hannah Irby (by her attorney David Osheal) sued for the third part of one messuage and one tract of land that had been assigned to her as dower by Henry Irby ("in times past her husband"). Two days later, order was made to the Provost Marshall to command the officer of Edgecombe Precinct to render the widow her dower and appear before the General Court at Edenton. A note dated 15 March 1734/5 states that Henry refused to deliver the dower (if there had been a legal divorce she might not be entitled to dower).

Henry Irby did not settle all his accounts before his demise. Fortune Holdbee "of Onslow Precinct," as executrix of Henry Irby, was sued by William Wadill on 1 February 1734/5 and 21 August 1735 (for ?30). Hugh Campbell, merchant, sued Fortune Holdbee (then of New Hanover) on 26 May 1735 for ?100. On 14 August 1738, the entry calling her Irby was crossed out ("Fortune Holderby alias Irby") and it was stated that
Fortune had since married Thomas Brown, so the court summoned him (once married, a woman and her goods were the right of her husband
during his lifetime). The suit continued on 13 November 1738.83 John Hodgson brought suit against her for ?50 as executrix of Henry Irby on 26 June 1736 when her residence was described as Bladen Precinct. Again, it was stated that she had since married Thomas Brown, who was duly summoned. This case was continued until at least 20 November 1739.84 Records of New Hanover, Bladen, and Onslow Counties, North Carolina, all suffered heavy losses from courthouse fires.

Thomas Brown, of Wilmington, North Carolina, made his will on 16 July 1748; it was proved 10 May 1749. Being "very Sick and weak in Body," he gave his wife Fortune 400 acres on the sound and two slaves ("Petter & Old Betty"), gave his daughter Isabella Brown the plantation where he formerly lived and part of the land he purchased from Richard Quince, gave his daughter Elizabeth Brown the plantation he purchased from William Salter (the plantations

Family/Spouse: Keziah Fortune HOLDEBEE. Keziah was born about 1700 in Chowan, North Carolina; died about 1755 in Bladen, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Elizabeth Naomi BUNCH was born in 1715 in Augusta, Virginia, British Colonial America; died in 1807 in Augusta County, Virginia; was buried in Hebron Cemetery, Hebron, Carroll, Virginia.
2. Keziah HOLDEBEE was born about 1723 in Augusta, Virginia; and died.
3. Jemimah HOLDEBEE was born about 1725 in Bertie, North Carolina; and died.

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

Notes:

Married:
REFN19862

Paul married Amy WINIGUM in 1689 in North Carolina. Amy was born about 1668 in North Carolina; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Shadrack BUNCH and died.
2. Henry BUNCH was born about 1690 in Bertie County, North Carolina; and died.

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• _UID: 1B114CB1DE8044F1A45E25207EF555F8C386
• Residence: 1656, Virginia

Notes:

John Bunch came to Virginia before 3 Mar 1656. He arrived in a party of twelve brought by Gervase Dodson. John was assigned 450 acres in New Kent Co, VA on 18 Mar 1662 by Phillip Freeman. Phillip had bought it from the original grantee, Thos. Merriday.

John was given a court order dated June 6, 1654, requiring him to show evidence of a Mr. Toby Horton loaning guns to Indians. He failed to appear and was fined 200 pounds of tobacco. New Kent Co. VA deed book 5 shows that John was assigned 450 acres on both sides of the Rickahock Path.
Name: Source: Shawn Ann Griffith webpage, shawnann.com

From Tami Bunch:
Bunch family first found in Flanders. The family then moved from there to Scotland during a religious uprising. 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. The farm referred to in the will was owned by Miss Audrey Hughson, a spinster in her sixties. She says that she is a descendent of the Bunches; therefore, the ownership of the farm is still in the family, this written in 1966. She states that the last Bunch to own the farm was a Burl Bunch, who died sometime prior to 1873. one does not find the name 'Burl' in the lineage; however, there is a Burwell Bunch, who was born 12/6/1798. There is evidence that he did own the farm that was previously owned by David Bunch, 1722-1776, and this gives credence to her statement. The story has been handed down through the family that Burwell, 1798, came in possession of the port of the farm that had previously belonged to his father, Paul Bunch, 1772-1802. And that Burwell then rode horseback out to Missouri, looked up his father's brothers, and purchased from them their interest in the Bunch farm. It is also to be observed that Burwell's sister, Dorcas, 1801, married Ellis G. Hughson, and that their daughter married David L. Bunch. Miss Hughson believes that she is related to Ellis G. Hughson, but doesn't know the connection. She has an old Hughson family Bible in which is recorded the birth, 1/12/1850, and death, 5/28/1850, of Sarah Ellis Hughson, which apparently is some descendent of Ellis. While Miss Hughson feels sure that she is related to this person, again, she does not know how. she tells how she came in possession of the farm, her mother was Bettie Lewis Sanders, and was reared in Palmyra, Virginia, and when she was a very small girl, she went to visit her relative, Burl Bunch; and while there one of his dogs bit her on the cheek, and it left a bad scar that remained with her the rest of her life. Burl regretted this very much, and in an effort to rectify the matter, he gave her the farm. Miss Hughson and her brother inherited the farm from their mother, and now that the brother is dead, Miss Hughson is the sole owner. She knows very little about their ancestors, and she is unable to explain what the relationship was between her mother and the Bunch family.
There is a Bunch family that originated when five brothers came over named Paul, Jeremiah, Malachi, David, and Henry, and that they landed at Alexandria, Virginia in 1732. However records seem to indicate that our Bunch family were in America for a considerable period of time before the arrival of the five brothers. We do not seem to be related to these five brothers.

John married Mary BARNARD about 1661 in Virginia. Mary (daughter of Bartholomew BARNARD and Sarah BIRCHARD) was born on 3 Dec 1640 in New Kent, New Kent County, Virginia; died after 1669 in New Kent, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 3C7A6CC202714A1EA4E6984510B6D5B2739E

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• FamilySearch ID: LYVM-2LD
• FindAGrave.com: ; Memorial ID#104994923
• _UID: 95C1753BF9B44DF8B8AEF540546AD4446920

Notes:

Note: Thomas' wife is mistakenly referred to by researchers as Sarah Bull from published accounts of a "Prob" probable marriage mentioned in A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, James Savage, a confusion with their son Thomas. However, age differences cannot be ignored and the lineage of Sarah Bull and her children are proved in Thomas Bull's will. Sarah, wife of THIS Thomas will remain unkown as to her maiden name, and Thomas' son Thomas b: 1648 will remain as the proven husband of Sarah Bull.

As one of an army of about 90 men raised from Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield, he served as an ensign in the Pequot Indian war of May, 1637...Thomas Bunce was granted 60 acres in 1671 and an additional 50 acres in 1672 by the General Court "for his Good service therein." His land was located near the present site of the state Capitol.

From The Connecticut Nutmegger, September 1991, page 238:
Thomas, the original immigrant who came from England around 1635, probably marched with Hooker from Cambridge to Hartford in 1636. He was there early enough to be considered a "founder", and his name is on the proprietor's list of 1639. He and his wife were members of the Second or South Church.
Thomas accepted civic responsibilities. He was a constable in 1648,
juror in 1649, townsman (selectman) in 1655, 61, and 65, rate setter and list maker
1668-71 and 1672-73. He served as an ensign in the Pequot War, and "for
his Good service therein" was later granted 110 acres of land. His home was
near the site of the present Capitol. He was evidently involved with
construction work, since records show he helped build a new mill, and he worked to repair the bridge across Little River in 1648.
His descendants were many in Connecticut, as evidenced by their numbers in
Barbour's 'Families of Early Hartford'.
Genealogical Guide to the Early Settlers of America, Henry Whittemore,
1967:
He had Thomas, John, Sarah, Mary 1645, Elizabeth.
References - Hinman's Conn. Settlers, 403; Tuttle Gen. 658; Savage's Gen.
Dict. vol. 1, 298.
Boston Transcript, July 2, 1930, #9800: The list of names on the Hartford
Monument is copied from the account of the Hartford, Ct., old burying
ground, by the Ruth Wyllys Chapter, D. A. R.
"In the center of the cemetery is a venerable monument erected in 1835 in
1835 to the memory of 'The Founders of Hartford.' One hundred and two names
including Thomas Bunce.
Boston Transcript, 22 July 1908, #9961: The inventory of Thomas Bunce was
taken August 3, 1683. Will not dated. To his son John Bunce he gave "my Lott
Lyeing over against Mr. Webster," etc. The two last parcels of land John Bunce
was "to possess immediately after the decease of me & my wife Sarah Bunce."
Founders of Early American Families, Emigrants from Europe 1607-1657,
1975:
Documentation of Son Thomas - attributed to father:
Bunce, Thomas. Hartford (Mass.) 1636 d there 1683. Ensign. Member of committee
of safety. Stiles, Wethersfield; Savage.
!A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, James Savage,
1965: Bunce, Thomas, Hartford 1636, serv. next yr. in the Pequot war,
had, prob. by a d. of capt. Thomas Bull, under wh. he had act. in that was, ch.
Thomas; John; Sarah, wh. m. John White of Hatfield, and, next Nicholas
Worthington; Mary, b 17 sept. 1645, wh. m. Thomas Meakins of Hatfield,
and, next, John Downing; and Eliz. wh. m. Jacob White of Hartford, br. of John
bef. nam.

SOURCES: Austin's Gen. Dict. Vol. 1 pg. 294
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury, Mass.
Conn. Gen. Vol. 1 pg. 535
Abridged Comp. of American Gen. Vol. 1

Thomas, the original immigrant who came from England around 1635, probably marched with Hooker from Cambridge to Hartford in 1636. He was there early enough to be considered a "founder", and his name is on the proprietor's list of 1639. He and his wife were members of the Second or South Church.

Thomas accepted civic responsibilities. He was a constable in 1648, juror in 1649, townsman (selectman) in 1655, 61, and 65, rate setter and list maker 1668-71 and 1672-73. He served as an ensign in the Pequot War, and "for his Good service therein" was later granted 110 acres of land. His home was near the site of the present Capitol. He was evidently involved with construction work, since records show he helped build a new mill, and he worked to repair the bridge across Little River in 1648.

His descendants were many in Connecticut, as evidenced by their numbers in
Barbour's 'Families of Early Hartford'.

The Genealogical and Family History of the State of Connecticut, p. 535, and other sources state that Thomas Bunce was born in 1612 in England, said to have been from "Saybrooke, England," of English or Scottish ancestry. He was a "sturdy Puritan, who was at Hartford in 1639, a landed proprietor."
He was considered a wealthy man, as he owned land in Hartford and Wethersfield at the time of his death. His wife survived him by ten years, dying in January, 1693/94, leaving a will dated 1689, which mentioned their grandchildren, Sarah, Thomas and Mehitabel Meekins, and the two oldest children of her son, John Bunce, leaving the remainder of her property to her sons John and Thomas Bunce, executors of her will. A copy of her will also appears in A Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records, in Vol. 1, p. 283,

Thomas married Sarah in 1633 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. Sarah was born about 1612 in Connecticut; died in Jan 1693 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: G6N8-X3D
• _UID: C4EB8757E16142579B49C54FD68C0DEAB92C

Notes:

Note: Thomas' wife is mistakenly referred to by researchers as Sarah Bull from published accounts of a "Prob" probable marriage mentioned in A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, James Savage, a confusion with their son Thomas. However, age differences cannot be ignored and the lineage of Sarah Bull and her children are proved in Thomas Bull's will. Sarah, wife of THIS Thomas will remain unkown as to her maiden name, and Thomas' son Thomas b: 1648 will remain as the proven husband of Sarah Bull.

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• _UID: 753FC4B186DA4962A2FD08A76BE8A1DA5096

Notes:

1691, 9 Mar: Bartholomew BARNARD of Hartford wrote his will. Gives to daughters Elizabeth WADSWORTH, Sarah STEELE and Mary BUNCE 20 pounds each.

Bartholomew married Sarah BIRCHARD. Sarah was born on 22 Aug 1624; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 81656198B6F342DF852F3C9A7342192E2F32

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• AFN: 11H2-SH5
• FamilySearch ID: LCVJ-D5W
• Name: James (John) D BUNCE*
• Name: Peter James BUNCE
• Residence: Burwash, Sussex, England
• _UID: A83B03C9BF6A49F1B88BE6DE779FA1DEAE49

James married Elizabeth RAYNOR about 1604 in Kent, Jefferson County, Indiana. Elizabeth (daughter of Matthew RAYNOR and Mary Margaret RAYNER) was born on 1 Nov 1589 in Kent, England; died on 11 Aug 1638 in Goudhurst, Kent, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LDJ8-8J5
• _UID: CBB46C1F187A423783521EF1558706A27DEE