James Burt, although not an original proprietor of Taunton, was there quite early, and was appointed surveyor of roads in March, 1645 as well as in 1654.
In 1638 we find a Richard and James Burt among the 758 persons in Barbados, West Indies, owning ten acres or more of land. Although many settlers in the Taunton area had initially left England for the West Indies and stayed but for a few years before moving up to Massachusetts, it is unlikely that these are the same two Burt's.
James took the oath of fidelity in 1657, but does not appear to have been admitted as a freeman.
He probably was not wholly in accord with the prevailing religious opinions here, for we find that in 1648 or '49 he received a power of attorney from Francis Doughty, the minister, who was compelled to go away from Taunton for opposing the formation of the first church here, and for other misdemeanors.
Mr. Doughty probably regarded James Burt as being more friendly to him than some others, and therefore authorized him to convey the land he owned here.
It is also significant that several generations of James Burt's descendants were staunch adherents of the church of England.
His home lands were on the westerly side of the Taunton river, and appear to have been the premises he purchased of Thomas Brayman, which were the occasion of a singular lawsuit recorded in Plymouth Court Records, vol. 7, p. 74; October 4, 1655: "James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite, which comes to James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite.
The premises of James were at "Sandy Hill," and were described in 1681 as being "down below Mr. Brown's brook, on the southwest side of the cartway going to Thomas Lincoln's house, called Thomas Lincoln's cartway," now known as Highland street, and doubtless could be located at the present time.
In the division of land in 1659, James Burt claimed upon his own rights, and under the peculiar rule of "two acres to the lot, two acres to the head, and two acres to the shilling," he was entitled to and doubtless received thirty-eight acres, he having six heads in his family and paying twelve shillings rates or taxes. In 1668, he was one of the proprietors of the Taunton North Purchase, comprising the present towns of Easton, Mansfield and the larger part of Norton; and of the South Purchase in 1672, consisting of the present town of Dighton.
Of James Burt's domestic relations, our information is quite limited. From the Plymouth records we learn that Anna, wife of James Burt, died August 17, 1665.
The place of his burial is probably like that of many others of the first settlers, an unmarked grave in the old "Neck o'Land" burying ground.
In 1638 we find a Richard and James Burt among the 758 persons in Barbados, West Indies, owning ten acres or more of land. Although many settlers in the Taunton area had initially left England for the West Indies and stayed but for a few years before moving up to Massachusetts, it is unlikely that these are the same two Burt's.
James took the oath of fidelity in 1657, but does not appear to have been admitted as a freeman.
He probably was not wholly in accord with the prevailing religious opinions here, for we find that in 1648 or '49 he received a power of attorney from Francis Doughty, the minister, who was compelled to go away from Taunton for opposing the formation of the first church here, and for other misdemeanors.
Mr. Doughty probably regarded James Burt as being more friendly to him than some others, and therefore authorized him to convey the land he owned here.
It is also significant that several generations of James Burt's descendants were staunch adherents of the church of England.
His home lands were on the westerly side of the Taunton river, and appear to have been the premises he purchased of Thomas Brayman, which were the occasion of a singular lawsuit recorded in Plymouth Court Records, vol. 7, p. 74; October 4, 1655: "James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite, which comes to James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite.
The premises of James were at "Sandy Hill," and were described in 1681 as being "down below Mr. Brown's brook, on the southwest side of the cartway going to Thomas Lincoln's house, called Thomas Lincoln's cartway," now known as Highland street, and doubtless could be located at the present time.
In the division of land in 1659, James Burt claimed upon his own rights, and under the peculiar rule of "two acres to the lot, two acres to the head, and two acres to the shilling," he was entitled to and doubtless received thirty-eight acres, he having six heads in his family and paying twelve shillings rates or taxes. In 1668, he was one of the proprietors of the Taunton North Purchase, comprising the present towns of Easton, Mansfield and the larger part of Norton; and of the South Purchase in 1672, consisting of the present town of Dighton.
Of James Burt's domestic relations, our information is quite limited. From the Plymouth records we learn that Anna, wife of James Burt, died August 17, 1665.
The place of his burial is probably like that of many others of the first settlers, an unmarked grave in the old "Neck o'Land" burying ground.
James Burt, although not an original proprietor of Taunton, was there quite early, and was appointed surveyor of roads in March, 1645 as well as in 1654.
In 1638 we find a Richard and James Burt among the 758 persons in Barbados, West Indies, owning ten acres or more of land. Although many settlers in the Taunton area had initially left England for the West Indies and stayed but for a few years before moving up to Massachusetts, it is unlikely that these are the same two Burt's.
James took the oath of fidelity in 1657, but does not appear to have been admitted as a freeman.
He probably was not wholly in accord with the prevailing religious opinions here, for we find that in 1648 or '49 he received a power of attorney from Francis Doughty, the minister, who was compelled to go away from Taunton for opposing the formation of the first church here, and for other misdemeanors.
Mr. Doughty probably regarded James Burt as being more friendly to him than some others, and therefore authorized him to convey the land he owned here.
It is also significant that several generations of James Burt's descendants were staunch adherents of the church of England.
His home lands were on the westerly side of the Taunton river, and appear to have been the premises he purchased of Thomas Brayman, which were the occasion of a singular lawsuit recorded in Plymouth Court Records, vol. 7, p. 74; October 4, 1655: "James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite, which comes to James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite.
The premises of James were at "Sandy Hill," and were described in 1681 as being "down below Mr. Brown's brook, on the southwest side of the cartway going to Thomas Lincoln's house, called Thomas Lincoln's cartway," now known as Highland street, and doubtless could be located at the present time.
In the division of land in 1659, James Burt claimed upon his own rights, and under the peculiar rule of "two acres to the lot, two acres to the head, and two acres to the shilling," he was entitled to and doubtless received thirty-eight acres, he having six heads in his family and paying twelve shillings rates or taxes. In 1668, he was one of the proprietors of the Taunton North Purchase, comprising the present towns of Easton, Mansfield and the larger part of Norton; and of the South Purchase in 1672, consisting of the present town of Dighton.
Of James Burt's domestic relations, our information is quite limited. From the Plymouth records we learn that Anna, wife of James Burt, died August 17, 1665.
The place of his burial is probably like that of many others of the first settlers, an unmarked grave in the old "Neck o'Land" burying ground.
In 1638 we find a Richard and James Burt among the 758 persons in Barbados, West Indies, owning ten acres or more of land. Although many settlers in the Taunton area had initially left England for the West Indies and stayed but for a few years before moving up to Massachusetts, it is unlikely that these are the same two Burt's.
James took the oath of fidelity in 1657, but does not appear to have been admitted as a freeman.
He probably was not wholly in accord with the prevailing religious opinions here, for we find that in 1648 or '49 he received a power of attorney from Francis Doughty, the minister, who was compelled to go away from Taunton for opposing the formation of the first church here, and for other misdemeanors.
Mr. Doughty probably regarded James Burt as being more friendly to him than some others, and therefore authorized him to convey the land he owned here.
It is also significant that several generations of James Burt's descendants were staunch adherents of the church of England.
His home lands were on the westerly side of the Taunton river, and appear to have been the premises he purchased of Thomas Brayman, which were the occasion of a singular lawsuit recorded in Plymouth Court Records, vol. 7, p. 74; October 4, 1655: "James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite, which comes to James Burt complained against Thomas Brayman in an action of treaspas on the case, to the damage of fifty pound, for molesting and hindering him from imploying of an house and land bought of said Brayman. The jury find for the plaintife, and give him his bargaine, and thirty shillings dammage, and the cost of the suite.
The premises of James were at "Sandy Hill," and were described in 1681 as being "down below Mr. Brown's brook, on the southwest side of the cartway going to Thomas Lincoln's house, called Thomas Lincoln's cartway," now known as Highland street, and doubtless could be located at the present time.
In the division of land in 1659, James Burt claimed upon his own rights, and under the peculiar rule of "two acres to the lot, two acres to the head, and two acres to the shilling," he was entitled to and doubtless received thirty-eight acres, he having six heads in his family and paying twelve shillings rates or taxes. In 1668, he was one of the proprietors of the Taunton North Purchase, comprising the present towns of Easton, Mansfield and the larger part of Norton; and of the South Purchase in 1672, consisting of the present town of Dighton.
Of James Burt's domestic relations, our information is quite limited. From the Plymouth records we learn that Anna, wife of James Burt, died August 17, 1665.
The place of his burial is probably like that of many others of the first settlers, an unmarked grave in the old "Neck o'Land" burying ground.
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