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Dear Laura,
Thanks for your response.
A portion of the information our family has obtained as been from the extensive research by Jack Goins whose family is listed with several of the Bunch family. As you may be aware, the Goins, Collins, Gibsons, and Bunch families, as well as some other families were originally thought to be Melungeons, a cultural group of unproven origin but suspected to be a combination of Islanders, Native American Indians, Portuguese, African Americans, etc., a dark skinned race, not a specific race but mixed and by early whites, called "free people of color". These Melungeons originally migrated from VA and NC to TN and KY; these families are listed in early tax records and census in these states. Micager Bunch, George Bunch, brother James Bunch, Israel Bunch and our Solomon for at least a few years lived near each other in Knox County, KY part of which in 1819 became Whitley County. Micager Bunch and Israel Bunch later settled in nearby counties but Solomon, George and James remained in Knox and Whitley Counties.
Yes, we believe that the Bunch Families of TN and KY are connected but until we learn the parentage of Solomon Bunch we can not be positive if his parents and ancestors were actually originally from Virginia or from North Carolina. Also, another factor to consider is that KY and TN were once part of VA and NC respectively. All records we have found state Solomon was born in VA and his wife, Nancy in NC. We believe it possible that she was a Native American Indian since early Native American Indians had no last names and as we have never been able to locate Nancy's last name. Some records indicate that Micager and Solomon were brothers, sons of Jeremiah but there was a marked difference in their ages which makes me doubtful of that parentage. A record of a will I found indicates a Julius Bunch is the father of a Solomon which also fits the age of our Solomon.
We think it is possible that our line descended from Henry Bunch born about 1690, NC. Our Solomon was listed on Lee County Va tax lists in 1797 with Micajer Bunch, Israel Bunch and Clayborn Bunch along with a Goins and a Bowlin. There was more than one Solomon Bunch listed in records in NC, one of which fit the correct age for our Solomon (1883-1885 range of birth); and we know there were early Bunch families in TN which leads us to believe that our Solomon, along with George Bunch, James Bunch and Micager Bunch were in that state at least for a short time. Today there are Bunch families in TN counties nearby KY such as Scott, Clayborne, Campbell,etc. which have been there for many generations. The 1810 census records indicate Solomon, George, James, Israel and Micager Bunch were in Knox County, KY in that year and some early tax records before 1810 in the earlier 1800s also place them in our area. Also at least one Bowlin family was in the same area as our Solomon during the raising of their families and some married into Solomon's family.
Placing all the pieces into the puzzle, especially an old puzzle is difficult; the repeat of names can be extremely confusing in attempting to discover which person was one and the same. If you have any pieces to aid us in completing our puzzle for Solomon Bunch of Whitley County (formerly part of Knox County), KY, we would appreciate any help you can and will give us.
Brenda Jody
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