The origin of the surname Burroughs or Burrows is in dispute. Some derive it from a Roman personal name introduced into Britain and thence to Ireland and Wales. It has also been said that the family takes its name from the town of Borough, Leicestershire. In any case the name is probably a place name, and the family has been of some note from the early days of surnames. In 1386 John Burroughs was rector of Collingham, Nottinghamshire, appointed July 1, 1384, chancellor of Cambridge University, of which he was a graduate.
Another John Burroughs, a Benedictine living in 1340, was a writer of some distinction. There have been many noted men in the army, navy and church in England bearing the name.

(I) Jeremiah Burroughs settled in Scituate, Mass., as early as 1645. He served against the Narragansett Indians in 1647. He married, May, 1651, a daughter of Thomas Hewett (also given as Hewes. See Pope's Pioneers of Mass.) He removed to Marshfield, and was drowned in 1660. His widow was appointed administratrix for herself and children.
Children, born in Scituate:
Jeremiah, born March 11, 1651-52.
John, Nov., 1653, mentioned below.
Elizabeth, March 5, 1654-55.
Mary, Dec. 2, 1656.

(II) John, son of Jeremiah Burroughs, was born in Scituate, in Nov. 1653. (See Burroughs family, by L. A. Burroughs, 1894). He settled at Enfield, then Massachusetts, now Connecticut, and died there in 1693. He was one of the first settlers in 1680, and owned the fifth lot south of Ferry Lane. Another account (Enfield records) gives his death as of 1691, and age forty-two years. The date was 1693, as shown by his will, dated in 1691, and presented Sept. 2, 1693, bequeathing to his wife Hannah and children.
Children:
John, mentioned below.
Hannah.
Sarah.

(III) John (2), son of John (1) Burroughs, was born in Enfield, about 1685. He married Sarah Tyler, and they removed to Windsor, Conn., in 1718, and bought land there. Another account states that he married Sarah Rumrill, daughter of Simon. A deed of 1720 gives the name of his wife as Elizabeth, showing probably that he had a second wife. His will shows that his wife was Sarah in 1756. Sarah Tyler may have been his first wife and Sarah Rumrill his third wife.
He was called ensign, a mlitary title. His will was dated Dec. 22, 1756, inventory dated Aug. 3, 1757. He had deeded his land to his heirs.
Children, born in what is now Ellington, Conn.:
John, 1711, mentioned below.
Sarah, 1714, married M. Chandler.
Hannah, 1716, married William Booth.
Simon, 1719, married Lydia Porter.
Jonathan, 1721.
Mary, 1722.
David, 1724.
Abner, 1728.

(IV) John (3), son of John (2) Burroughs, was born in Ellington, Windsor, Conn., in 1711. He married Sarah Abby, of Enfield. He removed to Tolland, and thence in May 1766, to Alstead, New Hampshire. He was a farmer.
Children:
Sarah, born 1731.
Elizabeth, 1740.
Hannah, 1744.
Joel, 1748, married Phebe Messer, of Walpole.
Daniel, 1756, married (first) Mary Crane, (second) Olive Carpenter, and removed to Vermont.
Elijah, born about 1758, mentioned below.
Timothy, married Esther Hurlburt, of Wethersfield, Conn.
Captain John, married Mehitable Carlton; soldier in battle of Bennington.

(V) Elijah, son of John (2) Burroughs, was born about 1758, in Tolland, Conn. He was a soldier in the revolution, from Alstead, in Captain Amos Shepard's company, Colonel Benjamin Bellow's regiment, at the siege of Ticonderoga, 1777; also in Captain Webber's company. Colonel David Hobart's regiment. General John Stark's command, 1777.
His brothers, Joel and Timothy, served also in Shepard's company. He doubtless had other service, the record of which is not identified.
He married Eunice Thompson. The history of Alstead incorrectly states that he had no children, and that he moved to Ohio. He lived in Gorham, New Hampshire, and West Milan, same state.

(VI) Joseph, son of Elijah Burroughs, was born in Alstead in 1773, and died July 22, 1832. He settled on a farm about four miles from Gorham, New Hampshire. About 1820 he came with his family to Rouse's Point, N.Y. He was United States health officer during the cholera plague in 1832, and was himself a victim of the disease.
He married Sarah Marshall, born 1782, died Oct. 14, 1856. He engaged in the manufacture of hats, and made the beaver hats for men then in fashion.
Children:
James Madison, born 1804, mentioned below.
Joseph, removed to Toronto, Canada.
Mary, married ____ Hutchins.
Emily W., died in 1832, at Rouse's Point, unmarried.
Frances H., died unmarried in 1830, at Rouse's Point.
George, died in the West Indies.
William, went to Madison, Wisconsin, where he owned a stage line.
Charles.
Henry.
Eliza, married William Saxe.
Caroline.

(VII) James Madison, son of Joseph Burroughs, was born in Gorham, in 1804, and died in Champlain, N.Y. Aug. 2, 1872. He engaged in lumbering at Champlain, and kept a general store there; was prominent in public affairs; director of the First National Bank; supervisor of the town.
In politics he was a staunch Democrat; in religion a Presbyterian, although of such liberal views that he became a vestryman of St. John's Episcopal church in order to promote the founding of the parish at Champlain.
He married (first) Abigail J. Dailey, born 1819, died April 3, 1849; (second) Sarah Frost.
Children of first wife:
1. Sarah Matilda, born 1841, died in Aug., 1841.
2. James M., born 1843, died April 12, 1859.
3. George Hoyle, born 1845, mentioned below.
Child of second wife:
4. Harriet.

(VIII) George Hoyle, son of James Madison Burroughs, was born at Champlain, 1845, and died Dec. 10, 1880. He was educated in the public schools, and became associated in business with his father. He succeeded to the extensive property and business of his father and continued it during his active life. He was supervisor of the town of Champlain and a leading Democrat of his day.
In religion he was an Episcopalian, and a vestryman and treasurer of St. John's church. Besides his personal business affairs, he gave active and efficient service in behalf of all community interets, and was held in the highest esteem for his probity and public spirit.
He married Mary L. Goodrich, born May 9, 1846, daughter of Silas and Maria A. (Grant) Goodrich.
Children:
James De Forris, born Nov. 10, 1870, mentioned below.
Laura Maria, Dec. 16, 1872.
Frederic, Oct. 30, 1878.

(IX) James De Forris, son of George H. Burroughs, was born Nov. 10, 1870, at Champlain. N.Y. He was educated in the public schools of Champlain and Plattsburgh, N.Y. He entered the employ of the Sheridan Iron Works in 1888, and was elected secretary of the company in 1904.
He is a Democrat in politics and is supervisor of the town (1909). For twelve years he was on the board of education and for eight years its president. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
He is an Episcopalian, and is jurior warden and treasurer of the Protestant Episcopal church of Champlain.
He married (first) June 24, 1896, Kate Louise McCaffrey, born Aug. 12, 1872, died April 30, 1900, daughter of William J. and Jennie K. (Morgan) McCaffrey. He married (second), Sept. 18, 1905, Clara Louise Stone.
Children of first wife:
William McCaffrey, born Nov. 24, 1897.
Mary Goodrich, Feb. 2, 1900, died April 30, 1900.

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