The ancestry website Ancestry.com revealed an interesting new wrinkle Monday into President Barack Obama’s roots, announcing that he is a descendant of the first African documented slave.
The connection comes from the lineage of his Caucasian mother from Kansas.
Obama’s ancestor, John Punch, came to Virginia sometime before 1640 as a slave. That year, he was captured in Maryland trying to escape, and brought back to Virginia where a court ordered him into permanent slavery. Punch had children with a white woman who passed her “free “status along to their offspring, who later became successful landowners.
The site points out that Punch and Bunch are the only ones with similar surnames out of fewer than 100 people in Virginia. Despite the difference in surname, researchers note that there was no standardized spelling of names during that period. The children of John Bunch III, who was born between 1680-1685, freely married into white families.
Elizabeth Shown Mills, a genealogist who reviewed the site’s findings, said tracing of the Y-chromosome to African origin is “indisputable.”
“Genealogical research on individuals who lived hundreds of years ago can never definitively prove that one man fathered another, but this research meets the highest standards and can be offered with confidence,” she said.
Obama’s mother, who was white, was born in Kansas and his father was from Kenya; Obama was also raised in part by his mother’s parents. He grew up in Hawaii and Indonesia.
“John Punch was more than likely the genesis of legalized slavery in America. But after centuries of suffering, the Civil War, and decades of civil rights efforts, his 11th great-grandson became the leader of the free world and the ultimate realization of the American Dream,” said Ancestry.com genealogist Joseph Shumway.
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Birth Certificate — “Born In The USA”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/27/obama-birth-certificate-r_n_854248.html” target=”_hplink”strong(April 27, 2011) –/strong/a The White House a href=”http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/04/27/president-obamas-long-form-birth-certificate” target=”_hplink”released/a President Barack Obama’s “long form” birth certificate, adding documentation to a longstanding discussion over his ability to serve as commander in chief. “We do not have time for this kind of silliness,” Obama said. “We have better stuff to do. I have got better stuff to do. We have got big problems to solve.” (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
Osama Bin Laden Killed — “Tonight, Tonight”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/01/osama-bin-laden-dead-killed_n_856091.html” target=”_hplink”strong(May 1, 2011)/strong/a — In a televised address to the nation, Obama announces that Osama bin Laden is dead. His death was the result of a U.S. operation launched today in Abbottabad, Pakistan, against a compound where bin Laden was believed to be hiding. “[T]oday’s achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people,” Obama proclaimed. (Photo by Pete Souza/The White House via Getty Images)
Debt Ceiling Deal — “Gold On The Ceiling”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/02/obama-debt-ceiling-deal-jobs_n_916285.html” target=”_hplink”strong(Aug. 2, 2011) –/strong/a After the Senate passed a bill to raise the debt limit, Obama pleaded with Congress to shift their attention to jobs. “I will urge them to immediately take some steps — bipartisan, common-sense steps — that will make a difference; that will create a climate where businesses can hire, where folks have more money in their pockets to spend, where people who are out of work can find good jobs,” he said. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell — “Don’t Stop Believin'”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/barack-obama-dont-ask-dont-tell-repeal-statement_n_971662.html” target=”_hplink”strong(Sept. 20, 2011) –/strong/a As the ban on gays serving in the military came to an end, Obama hailed the fresh start, celebrating the fact that “patriotic Americans in uniform will no longer have to lie about who they are in order to serve the country they love.” (Photo by Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images)
Iraq War To End — “Homeward Bound”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/21/obama-iraq-troop-withdrawal_n_1024108.html” target=”_hplink”strong(Oct. 21, 2011) –/strong/a Obama announced that all U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by 2011, fulfilling a promise that dated back to his campaign. “As a candidate for president, I pledged to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end,” Obama said. “So today I can report that, as promised, the rest of our troops in Iraq will come home by the end of the year.” (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Singing Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/20/obama-al-green-apollo-theater_n_1218070.html” target=”_hplink”strong(Jan. 20, 2012) –/strong/a During a fundraiser at Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater, Obama delivered a memorable musical message to his donors. With Rev. Al Green in attendance, Obama sang part of Green’s hit song “Let’s Stay Together,” drawing strong applause from the crowd.
Singing Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/21/obama-sings-sweet-home-chicago_n_1292576.html” target=”_hplink”strong(Feb. 21, 2012) –/strong/a Days after his Al Green rendition, Obama flexed his vocal chords again with a hometown favorite. The East Room of the White House had its blues fix filled when the president started swinging “Sweet Home Chicago.”
Gay Marriage — “Can’t Fight This Feeling”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/09/obama-gay-marriage_n_1503245.html” target=”_hplink”strong(May 9, 2012) –/strong/a In a sit-down interview with ABC’s Robin Roberts, Obama explained his evolution on the issue, affirming his support for gay marriage. “[A]t a certain point I’ve just concluded that for me personally it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married,” he said.
Immigration — “With Arms Wide Open”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/15/obama-immigration-order-deportation-dream-act_n_1599658.html
” target=”_hplink”strong(June 15, 2012) –/strong/a The Obama administration addressed America’s immigration issue, announcing that it will halt deportations and grant work permits to young individuals eligible for Dream-Act benefits. “They pledge allegiance to our flag,” Obama said. “They are Americans in their hearts, in their minds, in every single way but one: on paper.”(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Health Care Reform — “Beautiful Day”
a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/supreme-court-health-care-decision_n_1585131.html” target=”_hplink”strong(June 28, 2012) –/strong/a After weeks of speculation that Obama’s signature piece of legislation could be overturned, the Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is constitutional. “It should be pretty clear that I didn’t do this because it’s good politics,” a href=”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/28/obama-health-care-ruling_n_1632953.html” target=”_hplink”Obama said/a. “I did it because it’s good for the country.” (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
