John Burroughs

John lies next to his wife Mary in a cemetery in Skaneateles, NY

Quick Facts

Significance:

John Burroughs served in multiple regiments of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. After war's end, he became one of many soldiers who settled on former Haudenosaunee land in an area known as the "Military Tract."

Place of Birth:

Fishkill, British Colony of New York

Date of Birth:

May 26, 1757

Place of Death:

Skaneateles, New York State

Date of Death:

May 22, 1833

Place of Burial:

Skaneateles, New York State

Cemetery Name:

Shepard Settlement Cemetery

John Burroughs was born on May 26, 1759 in or near Skenesborough, Washington County in the British Colony of New York. It is unknown who his parents were or if he had siblings. However, he was taught to read and write. At age 15, the beginings of the American Revolution were stirring, in 1775, the "Shot Heard Round the World" took place, and in January of 1776, 18 year old John enlisted in the Continental Army. 

Initially joining Colonel Seth Warner's Regiment, that fall Burroughs and his fellow soldiers marched up the Champlain Valley, over frozen Lake Champlain, and joined up with forces under General Benedict Arnold. The army marched on, first St. John's and Montreal, forcing the citie's surrenders. The goal was to make British Canada the fourteenth colony in the rebellion. From their they marched to Quebec and on New Year's Eve 1775 they attacked, attempting to take the city. They failed spectacularly with General Richard Montgomery, commander of the larger forces, dying from injuries suffered that night. 

Under Arnold's command (Arnold was also wounded), the soldiers spent that winter living in the outskirts of the city off of whatever provisions were stolen by or given to them. It was freezing and miserable and when spring came, they fled back to New York. Finding himself back in Skenesborough and discharged, Burroughs immediately reelisted into a Connecticut Regiment under Colonel Samuel Elmore. His company spent the fall and winter garrisoned at Fort Dayton in the Mohawk Valley. 

In the new year, Burroughs found his enlistment at an end yet again and reenlisted on January 6, 1777 into Colonel Lamb's Artillery. As a private, he served first under Lieutenant James Furnival, and then Captain Joseph Savage at Fort Schuyler (formerly known as Stanwix), at the edge of the new nation. As August of 1777 began, the fort and its forces found itself under siege by British forces and their Native Allies. 

Just three days into the conflict, on August 6, Burroughs participated in a sortie against the enemy forces as part of the artillery crew. Lt. William Colbrath (also of the garrisioned forces) described the event as follows:
“…the colonel detached 200 men and one field piece under command of Lieutant Colonel Willett with orders to proceed down the road to meet the generl's party; having marched a mile, they came upon an encampment of the enemy which they totally routed and plundered them of as much baggage as the soldiers could carry. Their loss is supposed to be between fifteen and twenty killed. The number of wounded who got off is unknown. They took four prisoners, three of whom were wounded, and Mr Singleton of Montreal, who says he is a lieutenant, without the loss of one man killed or wounded. Our party returned immediately and brought in a number of blankets, brass kettles, powder and ball, a variety of cloths and Indian Trinkets and hard cash, together with four scalps the Indians had lately taken, being entirely fresh and left in their camp. Two of the scalps taken are supposed to be those of the girls, being neatly dressed and the hair plaited. A bundle of letters was found in the enemy's camp, which had been sent by a Luke Cassidy for this garrison, who is supposed is either killed or taken; the letters were not broke open. Four colors were also taken, and immediately hoisted on our flag staff under the Contenental Flag, as trophies of victory.”

Burroughs remained stationed at Fort Schuyler until October of 1778. At that point, at the request of Major Robert Cochran, he transferred as a corporal into Captain James Gregg's Company of the 3^rd NY (who had been stationed concurrently at the American outpost) in exchange for another soldier, who then took his place in the artillery. From there, his new regiment marched to Albany and spent the winter encamped there. 

The following summer, they marched south along the Susquehannah River and joined the Sullivan-Clinton Campaign against the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. Burroughs and his fellow soldiers destroyed multiple Native villiages, destroyed crops, and fought in the brutal Battle of New Town in August 1779. The goal was to force the Natives away from British support. It left their homelands devastated. Burroughs and other veterans would later return to these rich lands to "resettle" the area on behalf of the United States of America. 

From western New York, the Americans marched south to Pennsylvania, continuing their destruction, and then marched east to New Jersey, eventually settling into the encampment in Morristown. Burrough's enlistment expired on December 11, 1779, but this time instead of immediately rejoining, he choose to take his discharge. When interviewed later in life, Burroughs said he thought that his papers were signed by Lt. Col. Marinus Willett himself, the very man who lead Burroughs and the others on August 6, 1777 while they were still stationed at Fort Schuyler. But he couldn't say for certain as it was never returned from Albany after he sent it in to collect his discharge pay. 

Burroughs was back in Skenesborough by January of 1780; home after serving almost exactly 4 years in the Continental Army. Shortly after his return he married Mary Granger, the daughter of Zaccheus. The couple had a daughter, Deborah, and over the course of the next decade had at least three others; including John G., Phoebe, and Alvin. 

On July 3, 1790, Revolutionary War veterans drew for lots in the "Military Tract." this was a vast area of land in Central New York that was divided into 28 townships, each comprised of 100 lots, with 600 acres in each lot. The Military Tract was taken from the territory of the original inhabitants of New York state, the Haudenosaunee; specifically, the Onondaga and Cayuga Nations. 

Below: A map of the land divisions in the "Military Tract." Skaneateles, where Burroughs and his family settled, was located in the Marcellus area. This map was engraved by Cornelius Tiebout. 

This area of one 1.75 million acres in the middle of New York State was set aside by state legislators as a bounty for men from New York who had served in the American Revolution. Privates and noncommissioned officers got 500 acres; and up to 2,000 acres for higher ranking officers. Soldiers could claim their lands by pulling lot numbers from a ballot box. Records indicate that of 2,090 New Yorkers entitled to land, though many many sold their land or let it lie vacant. 

Burroughs however, entitled to and winning 600 acres, turned his land into a farm on which his wife, children, and in-laws would live and work. The farm was located along the north side of the Seneca Turnpike road and prospered for several decades and the couple saw the birth of many grandchildren. In 1812, his father-in-law Zaccheus passed and was buried on the family farm. In October of 1830, his beloved wife Mary died at age 68.  

Just two years later, a widower well into his senior years, the now 75 year old Burroughs found himself applying for a soldiers pension in September of 1832. He was deposed on the terms of his service and recounted his story in great detail; especially in regards to names, geographic locations, and dates. The completed formal paperwork was submitted in January of 1833. Sadly, John died only a few months later on May 22, 1833, just four days short of his 76^th birthday. He was laid to rest next to Mary and his son John (who had passed in 1826).

An enscription on his tombstone reads:
“Rest worthy sire thy race is run,
Thy toil is o'er thy work is done,
Thy God propitious sits above,
To bless thee with a saviors love.”

Sources:

• The Pension Application of John Burroughs. S.22667. Onondaga Couny SS.
• Beauchamp, William Martin. Revolutionary Soldiers Resident Or Dying in Onondaga County, N. Y.: With Supplementary List of Possible Veterans, Based on a Pension List of Franklin H. Chase, Syracuse, N. Y.
• The Onodaga Historical Society. Today in History: Revolutionary War Veterans Draw For Lots in the Military Tract.