Sophronia Burrill

Sophronia was the wife of Russell Leonard. Family tradition gives her last name as Burrill. Her birthdate has yet to be found. In 1855, her age was reported as 43, which would make her born abt. 1812. Other records imply she was born 1815. Conflicting reports on her birthplace are given. On the 1855 census, Chenango County is given, on 1865 "can't tell" and on the 1875 census, Broome County is given as her birthplace. The 1865 census shows she was twice married and had 11 children. She had been recently widowed. In 1875, she was living alone in Springport, New York, and in 1880, she was living with her daughter in Summerhill. The only proof of her connection to Joshua Burrill is my DNA results.

Russell said goodbye to Sophronia in November of 1833 with the intention of buying land in Michigan Territory. When he hadn't returned after five months, Sophronia placed a missing persons ad in the paper in May of 1834 but what became of Russell is unknown. She eventually remarried to Thomas Knapp and had several children with him. They moved to Locke, Cayuga County, New York, around April of 1855. Both Thomas and at least two of her sons enlisted and fought in the Civil War. Thomas died May 10, 1869, age 52. He is buried in West Genoa Cemetery in King Ferry, New York. (Source1) (Source 2)

Their son Dewey, died in the fight. She was named on the Pension list of 1883, receiving $8 per month. [Source]

Sophronia died on the 3rd of December, 1883, at Moravia. She was 69 years old and was said to have been buried in Union Springs.