My wife's family has ties to the William Burns family/descendants in Clinton County, Illinois. A Silas Burns, son of William Burns, Jr., married Amelia Mayhew April 7, 1871.

Ameilia was the daughter of Henry Mayhew and Eliza Hickman.

Other tidbits;
Simion Burns age 36 enumerated in 1850 Clinton County, IL living with the Daniel Mayhue family
William (age 91) born in GA & Nancy Burnes (age 56) born in GA; enumerated in 1850 Clinton County, IL page 362 Dist 68.
William Burnes Jr. (age 35) born TN and Amanda Burnes (age ?) born in TN; Matilda age 8 and Silas age 3/12; enumerated in 1850 Clinton County, IL census page 362 Dist 68.

This is all that I know on the Burns family.

Lyle