The history of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts, By a committee of the Dorchester antiquarian and historical society ...

HISTORY OF DORCHESTER. 41
gers in the Mary and John; was made freeman in
1631; had land granted him in 1632, and was here
as late as 1638.
John Bursley was among the first settlers; Dr.
Harris says, 1630. He was in the country two years
before, and also in 1634, but was one of the early
settlers of Weymouth, and representative in 1636.
Farmer says one of that name was of Exeter in 1643
and 1645.
John Brancker appears with Mr. attached to his
name. He was one of the early settlers, and made
freeman in 1632. He removed to Windsor, was a
school-master there, and a man of some distinction.
He lived not far from the burying-ground in Dorchester, probably near the corner of Stoughton and
Pleasant streets.
April 1, 1635, "It is ordered that there shall be
a way paled out from the burying-place to Mr.
Branker's, by the 16th day of May next, to be paled
out by the several men that own the lots."
September 10, 1637, " It is agreed by general vote
of the plantation that there shall be a meeting-house
built between Mr. Branker's and -- --
~160 raised for the purpose."
He sold his house and land in Dorchester to Ambrose Martin, September 2, 1637.
Roger Clap. His autobiography is contained in
his oft-published memoirs. Born at Salcom, Devon,
in 1609; passenger in the Mary and John, 1630;
grantee of lands, 1633; filled most of the important offices of the town at various times from 1637
to 1665, when he was appointed commander of the
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