Thomas Burkby was a watchman in Boston, and his name appeared in the court records, September 3, 1639. He removed to Rowley and was made a freeman 30: 1: 1647. He deposed in 1672 as about 58 years old. He married, first, Mrs. Martha Sadler, widow of Anthony Sadler. She was the daughter of John and Martha Cheney and was born in England about 1629. Her first husband died before November 2, 1650. She was buried January 24, 1658. He married, second, in Rowley, April 15, 1659, Sarah Kelley, daughter of John Kelley of Newbury. She was born in Newbury, February 12, 1640. Thomas conveyed to his only son Thomas "The moiety or halfe part of all his housings, buildings, Orchard, upland ground, tillage land & pafture, marsh or meadow ground enclofed wilderness Lands lying Scituate & being in ye confines of Rowley," together with half of all his "quick stock or living creatures;" Thomas, junior, to maintain his parents during their lives and to pay to his sisters, Sarah Spofford and Mary, £20 each, and his niece (parent's granddaughter), Hannah Higgins, £5. This document was dated December 20, 1690. He died June 1, 1701, and his widow died December 25, 1713.
