Ishmael Bunch was born in Chowan County, North Carolina in about 1757. Bunch was probably raised by his stepfather, Josiah Small. In October 1782 Bunch's uncle and grandmother stole Sal, an enslaved man, from Josiah Small. In response, in December 1782 Bunch stole Sal from Elizabeth Jones, his grandmother. Bunch later resided in Indiana, where he died sometime after 1830.