Thomas Burrows prospered as a civilian. The fact that he had earlier been promoted to the rank of corporal while in the military and that he came highly recommended for a civilian post suggests that he was intelligent, hard-working and conscientious. That was certainly the reputation that followed him into private life and, years later, when he was living in Kingston Mills, he was appointed to positions of public trust as justice of the peace and postmaster.

Thomas Burrowes drew this map of the Upper Town section of Bytown around 1830. “Shier Falls” was how he heard the French word, “Chaudière.” The map shows lots that the Royal Engineers laid out and offered to incoming settlers north of Wellington Street (at the bottom).

Click to see a larger image (213K)
Map of village near Shier Falls, [ca. 1830]
Thomas Burrowes fonds
Reference Code: C 1-0-0-0-116
Archives of Ontario, I0002127

In 1874, William Pittman Lett wrote a long poem about people he had known as a child in early Bytown. He gives us a poetic snapshot of Burrowes as a respected member of the young community:

And there stands Thomas Burrows [sic], too,
As he appeared before my view,
Leaning upon his garden gate
Beside the Creek in ’28;
He held of trust, an office high
Under the reign of Colonel By.