He was the son of Rev. Roswell Burrows (1768–1837) and Jerusha (Avery) Burrows (1771–1838). He removed to
Owego, New York. In 1816, he married Sarah Lester. He was a
presidential elector in
1820, voting for
James Monroe and
Daniel D. Tompkins. Burrows was Clerk of
Broome County, New York from 1821 to 1822. He was a member of the
New York State Senate (6th D.) from 1824 to 1827, sitting in the
47th,
48th,
49th and
50th New York State Legislatures. In 1848, he was Collector of Tolls for the
Erie Canal at Buffalo. New York State Comptroller
Lorenzo Burrows (1805–1885) was his brother. ==Sources==