Rebecca (Shepherd) Burroughs (1803 - 1862)

Born 1803 in Loyalsockville, Lycoming, Pennsylvania, United States

Wife of Asa Burroughs — married 10 Nov 1822 in Cuyahoga Co., Ohio

Descendants

Died 17 Sep 1862 at about age 59 in Waterville, Lucas, Ohio

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Biography

Rebecca Shepherd, the seventh of the children of John Shepherd, was born in Laurel Sock, Pa. in 1803. When she was about two years old her parents removed to N. Y. Her mother died in 1806, leaving Rebecca and two younger sisters in the care of their sister, Margaret.

Rebecca's home was in Canandaigua until she was about 20 years of age. She and her younger sisters then went to Royalton, Ohio, to rejoin their father, and sister, Mrs. Margaret Engle, who had gone in 1816 to seek a home in the forest a few miles south of Cleveland, Ohio.

She was married to Asa Burroughs, who was then a resident of Cleveland. The date of their marriage is unknown, but it was during the winter of 1823-4. Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs made their home in Cleveland. Mrs. Burroughs was a member of the Christian (Disciple) church. In disposition she was cheerful and very tender-hearted. A niece of her says that she was always looking out for orphan children. This niece tells how she, herself an orphan, was befriended by Aunt Rebecca and a place found for her in a better home. She is said to have been a strict disciplinarian, and a hard worker. In personal appearance she was well built, light complexioned, with blue eyes. She and her husband, who was dark complexioned, are said to have been a fine looking couple at their marriage.

Mr. Burroughs died July 20, 1852, in Cleveland, of cholera after an illness of five hours. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Burroughs spent much of her time with her son, George W. Burroughs, in Lafayette, Ind. While on her way to visit her children in Cleveland, she was taken ill and died at Waterville, Ohio, September 17, 1862. Her remains rest beside those of her husband in Erie Street Cemetery, Cleveland.

Sources

• History and Genealogy of the John Shepherd Family compiled by R.N. Hodgman, Cleveland Ohio 1913. A copy of the book is in the possession of Bonnie Nilsen who has constructed a website about it at (http://www.johnshepherdfamily.com).