There were several people named Micajer Bunch. The Micager I
follow in this research is also listed on several records with the
nickname “Cage” He is associated with my seventh generation grandfather
William “The Tory” Riddle. I don’t know if this association was from
their neighborhood 1750’s in the community of the Flat River, Orange
County, NC, or a possible relationship by blood, or marriage.
The first record I have found
on Micager was this 1749 tax list of Lunenburg County, Virginia (from
Sunlight on the Southside) William Howard’s list; Gedion Bunch and
tithe Cage Bunch. Note; Obviously, Cage is the son of Gedion Bunch. I
am convinced this is the same Micajer “Caiger” Bunch who has such a
close association with the Riddles, Collins and Gibsons. Who later
moved 1790’s into Hawkins County, Tennessee.
Gedion Bunch moves into
Granville County, NC (Orange County formed from Granville County in
1753) Granville Tax List 1750.*A tithe is a male 16, or over) William
Bolling 1 tithe; James Bowling 1 tithe; *Gideon Bunch 2 tithes.;
Thomas Collins Sr. 1 tithe; Samuel Collins 1 tithe; John Collins 1
tithe; Thomas Gibson with tithes Charles Gibson and George Gibson.
Gedion Bunch born about 1715
was son of John Bunch born about 1695 because he sold the land his
father John Bunch inherited. John was the son of Paul Bunch who
was born about 1670. Paul Bunch received a land patent for 265
acres on the south side of the Roanoke River adjoining Gideon Gibson on
Jan 1, 1725. His Will was probated March 10, 1727 in Chowan County, NC
leaving his land and 8 slaves to son John Bunch, and to Fortune Holdbee
and her daughters Keziah and Jemima. Elizabeth Bunch and another
daughter Russell received one shilling each.
John Bunch SR born ca 1630
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 1670’s John Bunch Sr had at least two sons:
John Bunch Jr. (had large
family in Louisa County, Virginia.
Paul Bunch listed above (died
1726 in Chowan County, NC
There is a legend among
descendants of the above named Bunches that they are related to
Pocahontas, the Pohattan Indian princes who married John Rolf (Park
Bunch families by Alice Crandall Park and Mrs. Garland King, Tennessee
State library.)
Micajer Bunch son of Gedion
is listed in 1754 Orange County, NC tax list of Gedion Macon in the
household of John Stoud who paid a tax for Micager Bunch and Lydia
Bunch possibly his daughter and son in-law?
The 1755 Orange County, North
Carolina, tax list several families who either they are their
forefather once lived on the Pamunkey River in Louisa County,
Virginia and who eventually migrated to Hawkins County, TN and
became know as the Melungeons.
Gidean Bunch 1 tithe (mulatto)
Micajer Bunch 1 tithe
(mulatto)
Moses Ridley (Riddle)
1 tithe and wife Mary (mulattoes)
Thomas Collins 3
tithes (mulatto)
Samuel Collins 3
tithes (mulattoes)
John Collins 1 tithe
(mulatto)
Thomas Gibson 3 tithes
(mulatto)
Charles Gibson 1 tithe
(mulatto)
George Gibson 1 tithe
(mulatto)
Mager Gibson 1 tithe
(mulatto)
Most of these families moved
from the flat River to the New River area of Virginia and North
Carolina. The follow tax lists are from Kegley’s early adventures on
the Western Waters) 1771 New River area Botetourt County, Virginia
Charles Collins 1 tithe
John Collins 4 tithes
Samuel Collins two
tithes
Charles Sexton 1 tithe
McKegar Bunch 1 tithe
William Sexton 1 tithe
Some of these including
Micager Bunch were living on Indian Lands.
Fincastle County was formed
from Botetourt in 1772; this 1773 tax list shows the ones living on
Indian land. Which means they had crossed the survey line agreed upon
in the treaty of Lochaber as the western boundary.
David Collins (Indian Lands)
Charles Collins
(Indian Lands)
Samuel Collins (Indian
Lands)
George Collins (Indian
lands)
*Micajer Bunch (Indian
lands)
John Collins SR
John Collins Jr.
Ambrose Collins
Elisha Collins
Lewis Collins
Micajer Bunch was in the
battle at Point Plesant against the Shawnee Indians (1774 Lord Dunsmore
War, Montgomery County Soldiers by Kegley) William Riddle this authors
seventh generation grandfather also fought in this war and their
commanding officer Captain William Herbert plaintiff, Cajer Bunch and
Wm Ridley defendants. 2- William Scott and Micajer Bunch, debt
(Fincastle County, Virginia Court Record)
Wilkes County NC land records
Micajer Bunch land on Elk Creek and it was at the mouth of Elk Creek
where Capt William Riddle camped when he took Col. Benjamin Cleveland
hostage. Was taking him to the British Command post in SC for ransom
money from the British to. William Riddle camp was near the mouth of
Elk Creek on Riddle Knob and a knob nearby was called Bunches Knob.
William Riddle was hung in the spring of 1781 at Wilkesboro NC. His
Widow and children migrated to Hawkins County and some of his children
eventually migrated from Hawkins County, Tennessee, Lee County,
Virginia. Then to Cumberland County, KY. And it’s possible they left
the New River area at the same time.
The exact date of Micajer
Bunch land purchase is not found, but on a grant March 3, 1792, to John
Rice 140 acres on the waters of Joseph Wallings Mill Creek a
branch of the Clinch River and beginning at a popular and Dogwood being
a corner of Micajer Bunch claim then running along Bunch line. This
land was located near Present day Kyles Ford, Hancock County, TN and
very new the border of Virginia. This land location explains why Cager
(Micajer) Bunch signed the 1792 petition to form Lee County, Virginia.
At this time Virginia claimed most of the land on the North side Of
Clinch River. (Tax list form Virginia State Library. At Richmond)
Lee County, Virginia tax list.
17th March 1795.
Drury Bunch (1 horse)
Micajah Bunch (1 horse)
Torel Bunch (1 horse)
Clem Bunch (no horses)
The 1796 tax list of
Lee County, VA also included the same list but adds Isyreal Bunch,
1797 Lee County, VA tax
list Micajer Bunch, Isreal Bunch, Solomon Bunch, Claiborn Bunch,
Jesee Bowlin, Zachariah Goins, he was son of John and Elizabeth
Goins, of Henry County, Virginia
Micajer Cage Bunch is listed
by Some historians as one of the first Melungeons in this Newman Ridge,
Blackwater area. Micajer along with several other families migrated to
Cumberland County, Kentucky in about 1798.
1799- (Cumberland County, KY
tax list courtesy Mary Hill, Family History Center, Salt Lake City,
Utah.) Jessee Robert, Cage Bunch, Elisha Blevins, Joseph
Bunch, Drury Bunch, James Roberts? Stephen Robinson, Moses Roberts,
George Rogers, John Rogers all of these believed from the Newman Ridge,
Blackwater area of Lee County, Virginia and Hawkins County, Tennessee.
Micajer Bunch is missing from the 1804 Cumberland County,
Kentucky tax list. He probably died between the 1793 and 1804 tax
collections.
What is weird is that on the
1805 Tax list of Cumberland County, Kentucky most of these on the 1799
list are gone. James and Joseph Riddle sons of Captain William
and happy Rogers Riddle also settled in Cumberland County, Kentucky
around 1804-5.