John Burwell was born Dec 22, 1804 or November 19, 1804 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzeme County, PA to Joseph Burwell and Sarah McLain. He married Lucinda Norman on Jul 12, 1827 in Muskingum County, OH. They had ten children:
1. Sarah Ann Burwell, b. Sep 12, 1832 in Hocking County, OH, d. Feb 1, 1851 East Nelson Twp., Moultrie County, IL or Pickaway County, OH
2. Joseph William Burwell, b. Jan 11, 1835, m. Rebecca Grady
3. Richard C. Burwell, b. Feb 28, 1837, m. Jane Hickle
4. John W. Burwell, b. Jan 29, 1840, m. Rebecca Grady
5. Byard Burwell
6. James J. Burwell, b. Jan 8, 1844, m. Adah Burgan and Nancy Margaret Graham, d. Oct 13, 1907 in Los Angeles, CA
7. Thomas Beall Burwell
8. Hannah Elizabeth Burwell
9. Albert Claypool Burwell
10. Francis Meriam Burwell, b. Mar 14, 1830 in OH (?), m. Amanda C. Markwell on Sep 9, 1862, d. Sep 15, 1879 in Jasper County, IL
John Burwell died Aug 24, 1888 in East Nelson Twp., Moultrie County, IL of stomach cancer.
He is buried in Smyser Cemetery, Gays, Moultrie County, Illinois.