John Isham of Barnstable

John Isham of Barnstable is the ancestor of many American Ishams. There are a number of popular stories about how John Isham got to Barnstable.  Most do not withstand scrutiny. I have not yet found a satisfactory story connecting John Isham with the Northamptomshire Ishams. The tradition with the most credibility has him running away from Virginia colony, possibly with James Percival, who settled in Barnstable.

Upon arriving in Barnstable, John Isham leased the homestead of Thomas Ewer in the northern part of town. He later acquired his own property on the South Shore near Osterville. There is an Isham Island, which has since been joined to the mainland.