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Hugh Gwyn (c. 1590 - c. 1654) was a British colonist who owned the first legally-sanctioned slave in the Colony of Virginia, John Punch. Gwyn served several terms in the Virginia House of Burgesses and was a justice.
Sir Hugh Gwyn | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses | |
| In office 1646 | |
| In office 1639 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1590 |
| Died | c. 1654 (aged 63–64) |
| Known for | Gwynn's Island Slave owner of John Punch |
Sir Hugh Gwyn (sometimes spelled "Wynne",[1] "Wing",[2] or "Gwinne"[3]) either immigrated to Jamestown with the 1608 second supply, or arrived c. 1620 on the George as a servant to Captain William Peirce.[4][5]
Gwyn claimed to discover Gwynn's Island in c. 1611.[6] According to legend, Gwynn saved Pocahontas from a sinking canoe near the island.[7]
At a January 1624 muster, Hugh Wing [sic] was listed as aged 30 years.[2] In 1635, Gwyn petitioned King Charles I for ownership of the island and in 1640 was given 1,000 acres (4.0 km2).[8] Gwyn built a log cabin and named the area "Gwynnville" [sic].[4]
He was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses representing Charles River County in 1639 and York County in 1646. He also served as a judicial officer in 1641.[6] Gywn died around 1654.[9] Elizabeth Gwynn and Hugh Gwynn (likely a son) carried on the name in Virginia.[10] A relation, Hugh Gwynn, was the son of Sir Owen Wynn, 3rd Baronet and represented Gloucester in the House of Burgesses from 1652 to 1690.[11]
First slave in Virginia
In 1640, indentured servants John Punch ("a negro"), Victor ("a Dutchman"), and James Gregory ("a Scotchman") fled their master Gwyn. The three were captured and returned to Gwyn.[12] The General Court of Virginia ruled that all three be whipped, but Punch would be Gwyn's slave for life as punishment for escaping.[13]
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