This is the line from Robert Burrows that I descend from. I have a little information on the other families in this file and will be glad to share anything I have with others who are interested in this family. Feel free to let me know of any corrections or additions to this family. I have placed some of my sources at the end of this page. E-mail to Ginny Deagan (NEW E-MAIL:[email protected]
1. Robert Burrows was born in England. His parents are not known. He was married about 1641 at Wethersfield, CT to Mrs. Mary Ireland , widow of Samuel Ireland. She was born about 1605 and died 3 October 1672 at Mystic, CT.
Robert came to America on the "Arbella" in 1630 with a group of Puritans on the flagship of Winthrop's Fleet. Tradition has said that he had been driven out of Manchester, England with his two brothers, John and William because of religious persecution because they were Baptists. Supposedly, one brother settled in New York and the other in Pennsylvania. No basis has been found for this tradition.
Another theory on his birthplace is that because of his friendship with Robert Parke who also came on the "Arbella" and who came from Lancaster County, England, that his may have been his home. He was apparently also on close terms with Governor Winthrop of Connecticut who often visited him in Mystic.
In 1639, Robert Burrows settled in Wethersfield, CT. He was a carpenter by trade. He moved to Mystic CT and in 1660 was appointed by the General Court of Connecticut as the ferryman across the Mystic River. He ranked third in that town in the amount of taxable property held. Robert Burrows died in August 1682. There is no record of his burial.
Children of Robert and Mary (Ireland) Burrows:
2. John Burrows was born at Wethersfield, Hartford County, CT in 1642. He was the son of Robert and Mrs. Mary (Ireland) Burrows. He was married in New London County, CT on 14 December 1670 to Hannah Culver. Hannah was the daughter of Edward and Ann Ellis Culver. She was born 11 Apr 1651 and died abt. 1731. John Burrows became a freeman in October 1669 at New London, CT. The part of New London that he lived in became Groton in 1705. He was the sole heir of his father and inherited a large amount of land.
John and Hannah Burrows became members of the First Congregational Church of Stonington, CT on 3 January 1685/86. The members who lived long distances from the church petitioned for a site for a church on the Groton side of the river. The pastor, Rev. Saltonstall opposed this and the differences became bitter. John Burrows must have been on who opposed the pastor's views, because there is a record "John Burrows was re-admitted July 20, 1701, having been suspended for offense to Mr. Saltonstall".
On 12 February 1716, John Burrows died at Groton, CT without leaving a will. He had previously given his large land holdings to his son, John. His inventory was valued at 249 pounds, 6 shillings and 4 pence. Among the items found in the inventory of his estate was "1 bedd and beding for the negro Gearle". John is buried in the Wightman Burying Ground at Groton, CT. His grave is covered with a large flat stone known as a "wolf stone" to keep the grave from being dug up by animals.
Children of John and Hannah (Culver) Burrows:
3. . John Burrows Jr. was born 2 September 1671 at Groton, CT. He was the son of John and Hannah (Culver) Burrows. He was christened 3 January 1686 at the First Congregational Church of Stonington, CT. He was married on 14 October 1700 at Groton to Lydia Hubbard. Lydia was the daughter of Hugh and Jane (Latham) Hubbard. She was born 7 Feb 1674/75 in New London County, CT and died before June 1752.
John inherited a great amount of land from his father. He died 26 May 1752 at age 80. His will was dated 1 December 1748. The inventory of his estate was taken 16 June 1752. The estate totaled 7,709 Pounds. Among his possessions were a large Bible, a number of old books, and old "Great Cote", a pair of leather britches and a new suit of "Lite Collered", valued at 25 Pounds. He had a shoemaker's hammer and other tools.
Children of John and Lydia (Hubbard) Burrows: All born in Groton, CT.
John and Desire (Packer) Burrows Family , generation 4.
Robert Burrows and Descendants 1630 - 1974, Compiled & published by R. Earl Burrows, Cleveland Ohio 44107. Vol.1.
History of Stonington, CT, Richard Anson Wheeler. (New London, CT,: Press of the Day Publishing Co. 1900)
Elliot-Elliott , 1625-1976, Sara Jane Beamish. Page 158-160.
New London VR 1-10
Parkhurst Manuscript, Ct. State Library.
Groton VR 1-11
Stonington VR 3-39
Groton VR 1-115
"Allegany County NY Cemeteries" from record in Amity Town Hall, Belmont, Allegany Co. NY. LDS Microfilm #1378785
Allegany County Will Book 15, page 38. Will of Eli S. Burrows.
Chenango County Deed Book 80, page 168. Deed from Nathan Burrows to Eli Burrows, 1849.
Chenango County NY Deed Books: Burrows Land Transactions
Chenango Co. Cemetery Records, Wylie Cemetery, Coventry, NY: (Nathan Burrows d. 19 Aug 1808, age 64.)
Correspondence with Theodore F. Elliot, O. D., 15 Prospect Drive, Sidney, NY 13838. 1991.
Tombstones in Lower Page Brook Cemetery (viewed 1988)
From Raft to Railroad , History of the Town of Greene, Chenango Co. NY, 1792 - 1867. Mildred English Cochrane, Town Historian. 1967.
Index to New York State Death Certificates: Albany NY Eli Burrows 10 Dec 1897 Belvidere NY #48839 Sarah L. Burrows 17 Apr 1895 Amity NY #16420
"Maritime Mystic Ct.", Virginia B. Anderson. (Mystic Ct. #39, Jan. 1962) pages 2, 6, & 18.
The History of Ancient Wethersfield CT , Vol. II. Henry R. Stiles. (Wethersfield Historical Society: New Hampshire Publishing Co. Somersworth, 1975). Pages 168-170.