Indian Woods

https://archive.org/details/unclibraries?query=BUNCH+FAMILY&sin=TXT
In 1992 John Tyler, President Emeritus of the Historic Hope Foundation, discussed with Dr. Ray Spain, Assistant Superintendent of Bertie Schools, the need to offer an annual program that focus on the African American Experience at the Roanoke Chowan Heritage during Black History Month.

A paper written for a requested speech given at Hope Mansion. Hope was built by the Bunch carpenters. And is now rebuilt, and Gov Ball is held there each year to raise funds.

INDIAN WOODS:
https://ncgenweb.us/bertie/indianwoodslostreservation.html
A LOST RESERVATION
by
GERALD W. THOMAS
© 2017

“English colonists held a disdainful, prejudiced, and discriminatory attitude toward Indians, including mixed-blood persons. Indians were not given the same rights and privileges in colonial North Carolina as those available to citizens of English descent. The Native Americans were largely excluded from English society and were statutorily not allowed to vote. North Carolina law also stipulated that “Indians, Mulattoes, and all mixed Blood, descended from … Indian Ancestors to the Third Generation, Bond or Free, shall be deemed and taken to be incapable in Law to be Witnesses in any Cause whatsoever, except against each other.” In other words, Indians had virtually no legal rights in the eyes of the colony’s judicial system. Equally discriminatory were additional laws related to mixed-blood relationships and the children (mulattoes, quadroons, mustees (octoroons or, more generally, people of mixed ancestry), etc.) born therefrom. Colonial legislators had enacted laws “for Prevention of that abominable Mixture and spurious issue” of white persons intermarrying with “Indians, … Mustees, or Mulattoes.” Laws stipulated that any “white Man or Woman, being free,” who intermarried “with an Indian, … Mustee, or Mulatto . . . or any Person of Mixed Blood, to the Third Generation, bond or free,” was required to pay a sizeable fine to the county in which he or she resided. Personal relationships between whites and any minorities, including mixed-blood individuals, were strongly condemned from a societal point of view.28

While King Blount dealt with issues between his tribal members and white inhabitants, turmoil surfaced among his followers. About the fall of 1725 an undetermined number of Tuscarora became disorderly and disobedient toward Blount as their leader. As he had done on previous occasions during the past decade, Blount appealed to the English, his long-time “allies,” for assistance in keeping the peace and control on the Moratock reservation. The council desired that Gov. Sir Richard Everard grant a new commission to Blount reaffirming him as the chief of the North Carolina Tuscarora Indians. The council further wanted a proclamation issued commanding the Indians to render obedience to Blount or be considered enemies of the North Carolina government.29”