John Punch Case: Landmark Ruling in American Racial Law

In 1640 a Virginia court ruled that John Punch, a runaway African servant who was recaptured along with two white servants, would serve his master for life, while the white servants received only extended indentures. This is considered by many historians to be the first legal codification of racial slavery in the American colonies, and Punch is thus a pivotal figure in the history of American slavery. DNA research has suggested Punch may be an ancestor of Barack Obama through his mother's side.