Sarah

Other Events:

• 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.

Sarah married Ensign Thomas (Bunch) BUNCE in 1633 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. Thomas (son of James BUNCE and Elizabeth RAYNOR) was born on 1 Jan 1612 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England; was christened on 20 Dec 1614 in Westhorpe, Suffolk, England; died on 8 Aug 1683 in Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America; was buried in Aug 1683 in Ancient Cemetery, Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 828081FD387D425BBAA2C228C95C6C6D165C

Sarah married about 1660 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Sarah married about 1669 in Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _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]

John married on 23 Apr 1685 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 6638FE4132DE40E6B9E046B7CCA99F9A5773

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

Mary married about 1665 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married on 20 Jul 1675 in Of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: E8449BAA4EAE4DBB8E69A85C5FB54634FEB5

Elizabeth married WHITE in 1683 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 4C381E41271B40398AE59F86914F3D398846

Notes:

Often confused with his father.

Barbour, Lucius Barnes. Families of Early Hartford, CT. 1982, p.
109-10. Townsman 1679-80-84-89-93-98-1703. Owned a large estate in land
in Hartford, in Rocky Hill, Wethersfield, etc. Owned cov 2nd Ch 22 Feb
1670. Thomas Bunce, Jr & wife rec'd 2nd Church March 24, 1677-8.

Manwaring, II, p. 168-9 Will of Thomas Bunce of Hartford date 25 Apr
1709.
"I, Thomas Bunce, do ordain this to be my last will and
testament: Imprimis: I give to my eldest son Thomas these following
parcels of land, vizt: My homelot in Hartford on which I now dwell, with
all the houseing and outhousing thereon, with all the privileges and
appurtenances thereto belonging. It. My whole lot on Rocky Hill lying
etween the lands of Mr. Joseph Bull and Mr. Samuel Howard. It. An
upland lot lying in Wethersfield bounds, about fifteen acres, near unto
Joseph Skinner's land. It. Half my lot lying in Willcock's lots. It.
The free use of a drift highway to the said land, already laid out,
between the land lately belong to Mr. Bidwell and Samuel Benton. It. My
mowing pasture commonly called Graves's lot, lying between Mr.
Buckingham's land and Mr. Bull's. It. Those parcels of land on the east
side of the Great River in Hartford, viz,. the whole of my upland lot.
It. Half my meadow lot, viz., that half on the north side, it being
divided from the west to the east.
It. My whole right in the five-mile purchase. It. Those several
parcels of land lying in the sourth meadow in Hartford, viz., my lot I
bought of Mr. Samuel Whiting. It. One acre and half lot lying in the
swamp, given me by my father. It. A two-acre lot I bought of Goodman
Cadwell. It. One acre and a half lying in the middle swamp, bought of
Thomas Andrews. It. My property lot in the West Division uplands, with
all my interest in the mills, I give to my son Joseph, to him and his
heirs forever. It. I give to my son Jonathan my home lot in Wethersfield
with all the houseing and out housing thereon. It. All my uplands and
meadow land within th the Township of Wethersfield (excepting only that
lot lying by Joseph Skinner's lands, already given to my son Thomas),
these I give to my son Jonathan and his heirs forever. It. I give to my
son Jospeh and his heirs forever the home lot in Hartford that was my
father's and on which he now dwells, with all the houseing and outhousing
thereon. It. I give to him the southern half of my meadow lot ont he
east side of the great River in Hartford. It. To my daughter Susannah,
besides what I have already given her, I give her 10 shillings. It. To
my daughter Sarah, L9. It. I give to my duaghter Abigail L10. I do
appoint my son Thomas sole executor." Witness: Timothy Woodbridge, John
Bunce. Pvd 3 Sept 1711.

Thomas married Susannah BULL in 1669 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. Susannah (daughter of Capt. Thomas BULL and Susannah WORTHINGTON) was born after 1646 in England; died in Jan 1693 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• 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:

?
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]

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

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

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: GJ6J-FMY
• _UID: BE1777FBECAE4DCCB36729B7634B32C69ABB
• Alt. Birth: Between 1662 and 1667, Henrico, New Kent County, Virginia; Alt. Birth

Notes:

From Isle of Wight Co, VA?

John, married Mary Temperance, (Bates) on 16 Nov 1691 in Henrico County, Virginia. Mary was born about 1668 in Henrico County, Virginia; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: A4ABEC186B4D43AA8B2A07D0CA5AC3A6116A

Family/Spouse: George OLCOTT. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 636EA9727506427585C62E783A28620DE048

Sarah married Capt William WADSORTH on 13 Jan 1709 in Farmington, Hartford County, Connecticut. Capt was born in 1671; died on 26 Oct 1751. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 35F72D625D324A6687EB95C29AEB4FFA91E3

Susannah married Samuel HOWARD on 18 Feb 1697 in Hartford County, Connecticut. Samuel and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: EEE2931893654DB589A2DA174FC2C32D9274

Thomas married Elizabeth EASTON on 2 Jun 1709 in Hartford County, Connecticut. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 592E7DEA32AE40059A65A1CCAF06CA403E70

Notes:

[ludden1.FTW]

Barbour, Lucius Barnes. Families of Early Hartford, CT. 1982, p. 110.

Manwaring, II, p. 365 Inventory of Jonathan Bunce of Hartford L385-19-02,
taken 6 Jan. 1718 by Nathaniel Stanly and John Auston. Invt. of lands in
Wethersfield. prised at L426-03-00 taken 1st Jan, 1718 by Benjamin
Churchill and Josiah Churchill.
Court Rec. page 47 -11 Dec 1717; Adms. granted to Sarah Bunce, the
widow, relict of sd. decd. and Robert Sandford.
Page 50-25 Jan 1717/18; Zachariah Bunce, a minor, age 15 years, chose
his mother Sarah Bunce to be his guardian. She was also appointed
guardian to the rest of her children, viz. Susannah, age 13 years, Sarah
11, Abigail 9 and Jonathan Bunce about 8 years, all children of Jonathan
Bunce decd. Recog. L200.
7 Oct 1718 Per act of the General Assembly in May last, this Court
direct Robert Sandford and Sarah Bunce, Adms. to sell land lying in
Wethersfield to procure the sum of L100 for payment of debts.
5 Mar 1722/3: In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, May 1718,
impowering the Adms. to sell so much of the lands of the sd. decd. that
may be sufficient for the payment of debts due from sd. estate, with the
allowance of this Court, Lt. Robert Sandford and Sarah Bunce, Adms., are
hereby directed and allowed to sell a parcell of land lying at the west
division of lotts in Hartford to pay debts yet due from sd estate.
27 Mary 1724: The Adms. may now sell land lying on the east side of the
Connecticut River in Hartford, containing 5 acres more or less.

Jonathan married Sarah SANFORD on 7 Jun 1732 in Hartford County, Connecticut. Sarah was born on 15 Nov 1681 in Hartford County, Connecticut; was christened in in Desc Of Jeremy Adams, Anc Of Janice Stich Touse;; died on 26 Jun 1761 in Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B32FB81A880F47828E02DF0FAAECB32D08B2

Other Events:

• _UID: 209342A808EE4223B9322C1925A8091C1A8F

Joseph married Ann SANFORD in Apr 1708 in Hartford County, Connecticut. Ann was born on 27 Aug 1689 in Hartford County, Connecticut; died on 18 Oct 1710 in Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B49ED2BCB3714C938E62BDFE3846CF835E41

Abigail married Caleb STANLEY, Jr. on 15 Feb 1705 in Hartford County, Connecticut. Caleb (son of Capt. Caleb STANLEY and Hannah COWLES) was born on 6 May 1674 in Hartford County, Connecticut; died on 4 Jan 1711 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut; was buried in Center Church Cem. Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: G33B-HZW
• Name: Lizzie BUNCH

Notes:

Miss Lizzie you will find she was a descendant of an African slave and not Cherokee. This is extremely common in the Southeastern U.S. and should be embraced and not rejected. I know most of our g-g-great grandparents told stories they believed to be true, but DNA evidence has shown a different more accurate picture of our ancestor's past.

addition: Elizabeth is NOT mentioned in Henry's will. We know the history of this Henry Bunch from 1727 in North Carolina onward. It is possible that Henry started a family in Virginia before moving to NC and left this daughter out of his will. But that is unusual. Do you have a document connecting this Elizabeth to the Henry Bunch that has a will probated in 1775 in Bertie NC?

Elizabeth married William Samuel DOUGHERTY in 1732 in Pennsylvania, British Colonial America. William (son of Michael Mor DAUGHERTY and Catherine RODGERS) was born in 1712 in Muff, Inishowen, County Donegal, Ireland; died on 6 Jul 1773 in Montgomery, Virginia, British Colonial America; was buried on 16 Nov 1763 in Hebron Cemetery, Hebron, Augusta, Virginia, British Colonial America. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: 9KB9-H57

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: L2P1-X65

Other Events:

• _UID: 97CBCF8132594AC4B2AF8A9788BA3970B8DF

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: G8DW-QX4
• _UID: 1519B11722304AE3B430DD753BF374D52210

Other Events:

• _UID: D6FC0B11913847C795CE316CB2F2929B967D

Paul married in 1748 in Orangeburg, SC. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: 8D8CD9A22AE64FBAAA79EC0CF09AD837616E

Notes:

Other Info:
Birth: WFT Est. 1668 - 1691
Birth: 1688, Cohansey, Salem Co., NJ
Death: WFT Est. 1713 - 1779
Marriage: WFT Est. 1685 - 1728

The name "Bunch" is associated with a South Carolina Indian tribe knownas the Brass Ankles. Bunches can also be found in Ashe, Bertie, Chowanand Wilks Counties, NC. There is a definite tie to Grayson Co., VA andpossible ties to Henry, Botetourt and Orange, VA. Hancock Co., TN isconsidered the "home" of the Melungeons as that is where the most famousones lived. We have ties there through Benjamin and Rachel Bunch. Hancockwas split off of Hawkins County where Paul, Lambert, Joseph and JohnBunch lived.

Who are the Melungeons?
The Melungeons are a multi-ethnic people who were first documented in theAppalachian Mountains at the end of the 18th century. Since that time, they have become a part of Appalachian folklore - "sons and daughters of the legend."

Recent research has suggested a possible Mediterranean or Middle Eastern link in the Melungeons' ancestry in addition to their Indian and / orblack ancestry. They often faced discrimination, both legal and social, and tended to settle in isolated communities such as Newman's Ridge inHancock Co., TN. The Vardy Community is at the foot of Newman's Ridge.The community was named after Vardemon Collins, one of the first recordedMelungeon inhabitants, and was first settled around 1780.

We are related to Vardy Collins, through his son, Simeon, who marriedFrankie Bunch, daughter of Benjamin. Although dark skinned for the mostpart, Melungeons have also been fair skinned with red or blonde hair.This difference in coloration could appear in one family with some siblings dark and others light. This caused all sorts of problems when the census takers came around. Many did not know how to record the race of the Melungeons. In one census, a person could be listed as "mulatto"and in the next as "white."

Where are they from?
Depending on the family surname, their roots can be in South or NorthCarolina, Virginia and Tennessee. Since this site deals with the Bunchline, I will only list the places associated with the Bunch surname. Thename "Bunch" is associated with a South Carolina Indian tribe known asthe Brass Ankles. Bunches can also be found in Ashe, Bertie, Chowan andWilks Counties, NC. There is a definite tie to Grayson Co., VA andpossible ties to Henry, Botetourt and Orange, VA. Hancock Co., TN isconsidered the "home" of the Melungeons as that is where the most famousones lived. We have ties there through Benjamin and Rachel Bunch. Hancockwas split off of Hawkins County where Paul, Lambert, Joseph and JohnBunch lived.

Documentation / Sources
There are some extremely interesting references to our Bunches in thewritings of early Tennesseans. In a Plecker letter, an extract from thewritings of Capt. Jarvis states that he personally knew both Paul andBenjamin Bunch and refers to them as early Melungeon settlers in HawkinsCounty. He adds that the Bunches came with early white settlers fromVirginia which is what I find through the early tax records for GraysonCo., VA. They are listed there with several other Bunch families untilabout 1825. Then they are listed in the 1830 census for Hawkins Countywhich suggests they all moved together. Jarvis expanded on thisinformation in an article he wrote in 1903.

Micager Bunch, a mulatto, shows up on the 1771 tax record for BotecourtCo., VA from which Grayson County was later formed. A later noteindicates that he went on to Indian lands (probably Kentucky). He wasalso listed on the 1790 voter's list for Hawkins Co., TN. It is verylikely that he is the same Micager Bunch, mulatto, who was on the 1755tax lists in Orange Co., NC. This shows a definite western migrationmatching that of the other Melungeon families of Hancock Co., TN.

Taken from the Hancock County Times, Sneedville, TN, 4/17/1903
"Much has been said and written about the inhabitants of Newman's Ridgeand Blackwater in Hancock Co., TN. They have been derisively dubbed withthe name "Melungeon" by the local white people who have lived here withthem. It is not a traditional name or tribe of Indians. Some have saidthese people were here when this country was first explored by the whitepeople, and others that they are a lost tribe of the Indians and have nodate of their existence here, traditionally or otherwise. All thishowever, is erroneous and cannot be sustained.

These people, not any of them were here at the time the first whitehunting party came from Virginia and North Carolina in the year 1761 thenoted Daniel Boone was at the head of one of these hunting parties andwent through Cumberland Gap. Wallen was at the head of another party fromCumberland Co., VA, and named Cumberland Mountain for his home county andcalled the river beyond North Cumberland Wallen's Ridge and Wallen'sCreek for himself. In fact, these hunting parties gave all the historicnames to the mountain ridges and valleys and streams, and these names arenow historical names. Wallen pitched his first camp on Wallen's Creeknear Hunter's Gap in Powell's Mountain, now Lee Co., VA.

Here they found the name of Ambrose Powell carved in the bark of a beechtree, from this name they named the mountain, river and valley forPowell; Newman's Ridge was named for a man of the party called Newman;Clinch River and Clinch Valley these names came at the expense of anIrishman of the party n crossing the Clinch River, he fell off the raftthey were crossing on, and cried aloud for his companions to "clinch me,""clinch me," and from this incident the name has become a historic name.

About the time the first white settlement west of the Blue Ridge was madeat Watauga River in Carter Co., TN, another white party was then workingthe lead mines in part of Virginia west of the Blue Ridge. In the year1762 these hunters returned, coming through Elk Garden, now Russell Co.,VA. They then headed down a valley north of Clinch River and named itHunter's Valley, and it goes by this name today. These hunters pitchedtheir tent near Hunter's Gap in Powell's Mountain, 19 miles fromRogersville, TN on the Jonesville, VA road. Some of the party of hunterswent on down the country to where Sneedville, Hancock County, now standsand hunted there during that season. Bears were plentiful here and theykilled many, their clothing became greasy, and near the camp a projectingrock on which they would lie down and drink, and the rock became verygreasy, and they called it greasy rock, and named the creek Greasy RockCreek, a name by which it has been ever since, and here is the very placewhere these Melungeons settled, long after this, on Newman's Ridge andBlackwater. Vardy Collins, Shepherd Gipson, Benjamin Collins, SolomonCollins, Paul Bunch and the Goodmans, chiefs and the rest of them settledhere about the year 1804, possibly about the year 1795, but all these menabove named, who were called Melungeons, obtained land grants andmuniments of title to the land they settled on, and they were the veryfirst and came here simultaneous with the white people not earlier than1795. They then had lost their language and spoke the English very well.They originally were the friendly Indians who came with the whites asthey moved west. They came from the Cumberland County and New River, VAstopping at various points west of the Blue Ridge. Some of them stoppedon Stony Creek, Scott County, VA where Stony Creek runs into ClinchRiver.

The white emigrants with the friendly Indians erected a fort on the bankof the river and called it "Fort Blackmore," and here yet many of thesefriendly "Indians" lived in the mountains of Stony Creek, but they havemarried among the whites until the race has almost become extinct. A fewof the half-bloods may be found one darker but they still retain the nameof Collins, and Gibson, etc. From here they came on to Newman's Ridge andBlackwater, and many of them are here yet; but the amalgamations of thewhites and the Indians has about washed the red tawny from theirappearance, the white faces predominating, so now you scarcely find oneof the original Indians; a few half-bloods and quarter-bloods balancewhite or past the third generation. The old pure-bloods were finerfeatured straight and erect in form, more so than the whites, and whenmixed with whites, make beautiful women, and the men very fair lookingmen. These Indians came to Newman's Ridge and Blackwater. Some of themwent into the war of 1812-14 whose names are here given: James Collins,John Bolin and Mike Bolin, and some others not remembered; those whoquite full blooded. These were like the white people; there were good andbad among them, but the great majority were upright, good citizens, andaccumulated good property, and many of them are among our best propertyowners and as good citizens as Hancock Co., TN affords. Their word istheir bond and most of them are as true to their promise as the magneticneedle to the North pole. The first ones of them that ever came toHancock Co., TN, then to Hawkins County and Claiborne, are wellremembered by some of the present generation here now, and they have leftrecords to show these facts. They all came here simultaneously with thewhites from the State of Virginia between the years 1795 and 1812, andabout this there is no mistake, except in the dates these Indians camehere from Stony Creek. - - M. Jarvis

WHO ARE THE MELUNGEONS?
The Melungeons are most likely the descendants of the late 16th centuryPortuguese and Turks stranded on the Carolina shores when the settlementof Santa Elena, SC was abandoned by the Spanish. They later intermarriedwith the Powhatan, Pamunkey, Chickahominy and Catawba Indians.

After being abandoned in the outlying Spanish forts, they settled in theAppalachians and further intermarried with the Chreokees and much laterwith the northern European settlers; primarily the Scotch-Irish, becomingpart of the American Melting Pot. The word Melungeon is both Portuguese,meaning "white person" and Turkish, meaning "cursed soul."

The following surnames are considered to be of Melungeon descent
Adams, Adkins, Allen, Allmond, Ashworth, Barker, Barnes, Bass, Beckler,Bedgood, Bell, Bennett, Berry, Beverly, Biggs, Bolen / Bowlen / Bolling /Bowling, Boone, Bowman, Badby, Branham, Braveboy, Briger / Bridger,Brogan, Brooks, Brown, Bunch, Butler, Butters, Bullion, Burton, Buxton,Byrd, Campell, Carrico, Carter, Casteel, Caudill, Chapman, Chavis, Clark,Cloud, Coal / Cole / Coles, Coffey, Coleman, Colley, Collier / Colyer,Collins, Collinsworth, Cook(e), Cooper, Cotman, Counts, Cox / Coxe,Criel, Croston, Crow, Cumba / Cumbo / Cumbow, Curry, Custalow, Dalton,Dare, Davis, Denham, Dennis, Dial, Dorton, Doyle, Driggers, Dye, Dyess,Ely, Epps, Evans, Fields, Freeman, French, Gann, Garland, Gibbs, Gibson /Gipson, Goins / Goings, Gorvens, Gowan / Gowen, Graham, Green(e), Gwinn,Hall, Hammon, Harmon, Harris, Harvie / Harvey, Hawkes, Hendricks /Hendrix, Hill, Hillman, Hogge, Holmes, Hopkins, Howe, Hyatt, Jackson,James, Johnson, Jones, Keith, Kennedy, Kiser, Langston, Lasie, Lawson,Locklear, Lopes, Lowry, Lucas, Maddox, Maggard, Major, Male / Mayle,Maloney, Marsh, Martin, Miles, Minard, Miner / Minor, Mizer, Moore,Morley, Mullins, Mursh, Nash, Nelson, Newman, Niccans, Nichols, Noel,Norris, Orr, Osborn / Osborne, Oxendine, Page, Paine, Patterson, Perkins,Perry, Phelps, Phipps, Pinder, Polly, Powell, Powers, Pritchard, Pruitt,Ramey, Rasnick, Reaves / Reeves, Revels, Richardson, Roberson / Robertson/ Robinson, Russell, Sammons, Sampson, Sawyer, Scott, Sexton, Shavis,Shepherd / Shephard, Short, Sizemore, Smiling, Smith, Stallard, Stanley,Steel, Stevens, Stewart, Strother, Sweat / Swett, Swindall, Tally,Taylor, Thompson, Tolliver, Tuppance, Turner, Vanover, Vicars / Viccars /Vickers, Ware, Watts, Weaver, White, Whited, Wilkins, Williams,Williamson, Willis, Wisby, Wise, Wood, Wright, Wyatt, Wynn

Ann married about 1709 in Prince George's County, Maryland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: DF44127EE5984F2E8653BB4FA89F69296920

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• _UID: 406CEBC4186749A6808FC90D3D8CB1295162

Family/Spouse: Elizabeth GRISWOLD. Elizabeth and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Reference Number: 6569
• _UID: A8AD238F22164B15B1991FC1DA7EBB17F3AA

Family/Spouse: Lemuel DEMING. Lemuel was born in 1702; died in 1724. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Susannah married Freeman GROSS on 7 Jan 1731 in Hartford County, Connecticut. Freeman was born in 1710 in Eastham, Massachusetts; was christened in in Admin Of Est To Susannah 6Apr1742, 2 Married Dau, 3 Minor Sons;; died in 1742 in Hartford County, Connecticut; was buried in Had Purch Land From Thos Hooker; See Notes;. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 0923512B6EB64FEB991B52196453265759A7

Sarah married Samuel FLAGG on 24 Dec 1730 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut. Samuel died on 30 Apr 1757 in Hartford County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: BB966786DA61478F8FEDB3DC6CA07AC0A0CF

Family/Spouse: Caleb GRISWOLD. Caleb and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 2F3E1A9B59A340CC8655158A8B208E3D1A4E

Family/Spouse: ELIZABETH. and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 5174F5C974FF4426A9EB53F1DDEB9F9F3E48

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• _UID: 5F59633AA46F48B8B6725968D0704B7450C6

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• _UID: A692661E0D344DD2A29888A0BD042C74DF98

Family/Spouse: Ebenezer DEMING. Ebenezer was born on 17 Dec 1712 in Wethersfield, Hartford County, Connecticut; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]