Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILIES. 131
originally a larger and better building. As late as 1690,
dwelling bouses were built in a very similar style, and tbere
was a general resemblance. Both had heavy cornices, the
front roof was shorter and sharper than the rear. The more
ancient houses were lower in thg walls, especially the chambers,
and the sleepers of the lower floors were laid on the
ground, leaving the large sills used in those days, projecting
into the rooms.
The style of the old Bursley house indicated its early
origin, and there seems to be no good reason to doubt that
it was built by the first John Bursley, before the year 1660.
If it was a matter of any importance, it could be shown by
other facts that the house was built before 1660. I have
pursued the inquiry thus far mainly to show how uncertain
and unreliable is tradition, especially in regard to time.
The Bursley farm at West l^arnstable is thus described
on the town records :
Forty-five acres of upland, more or less, bounded partly
by two rivers that run into Boat Cove, and partly by the
Commons, as it is marked out.
Feb. 1655. Eighty acres of upland, more or less,
bounded easterly by Boat Cove, westerly by a runlet, adjoining
Goodman Fitz Eandle's, southerly partly by Mr.
Linnell's and partly by ye Commons, northerly to the
marsh.
Fifteen acres of marsh, more or less, bounded eastei'ly
by Boat Cove, westerly by Goodman Fitz Handle's, northerly
to a creek, southerly to his upland.
The eighty acres on the north side of the road, is
bounded on three sides by water ; a very desirable location
because the water courses saved much labor and expense in
building fences. The soil is generally a strong loam, free
of rocks, and good grass land. From the first it has been
carefully cultivated, and is now one of the most fertile and
productive farms in Barnstable. Forty acres of the upland
on the north side of the road are now owned by a lineal descendant,
Mr. Charles H. Bursley, and thirty by Frederick
Parker, Esq.
The first John Bursley died in 1660. The inventory of
his estate, taken Aug. 21, of that year by John Smith and
John Chipman, amounted to only £115.5. I do not know
whether this sum covered both the real and personal estate.