They made their first appearance on the border during the reign of Malcolm II (1003-1034), having been sent there as a bulwark against the Saxons of Cumberland. For hundreds of years the Irvins have lived on the lands bordering the Solway between the Nith and Esk, in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, where they were once a powerful clan. From Annandale younger sons migrated to other parts of Scotland and the north of Ireland and England. The most important branches of the clan are those of Bonshaw, Hoddom and Drum, in Scotland, and the castle Irvine in Ireland. Other Irwin families have their seats in Perthshire, Ayrshire and the Orkneys.
Bonshaw Tower, Scotland -- This tower is square, and rises to a height of about seventy feet from foundation stone to battlements, the walls are eight feet thick, in places, and six in others. This tower was built about 900 A.D. by the chieftain, of what Irvin clan is unknown. It came into the possession of the Irvines in about the year A.D. 1285, and has ever since remained in their possession. The residence is occupied by the Baron or Chieftain, and attached to this residence is one of the few inhabited Peel towers. The clansmen live in clachans, or huts, within sound of the great bell, still hanging in the tower, where it has hung for centuries, this tower having come down in a direct line of descent through a thousand years. Colonel John Beaufin Irving is retainer of Bonshaw Tower at the present time.
"The Irvines" immigrated to the east of Ireland, and west of Scotland with the Gauls of Spain. Our immediate family moved to the north of Ireland during the protectorate of Cromwell. On May 9, 1729, some of the Irvines, McDowells, McElroys, Campbells and others landed the same year in Pennsylvania, where they remained until 1737, when they removed to Augusta County, Virginia.
The coat of arms -- The coat of arms of the various branches of the clan differ slightly, but in general (avoiding heraldic terms) consist of leaves (green) upon a white (silver) field, spaced two and one. Now about the spelling of the name, which gave me considerable trouble until I learned by comparison and experience that Irvin, Irvine, Irwin and Erwin are identical -- those bearing the names thus variously spelled belong to the same family. In all of the early court records of Augusta County, Va., the name is spelled Erwin, and when members of the same family appear in the court records of Kentucky the name is spelled Irvin and Irvine, and many of those who still linger around their early birthplace righted themselves about 1800. Irvine is undoubtedly correct, as evidence the town and River Irvine in Scotland and
"Read the long list of honors won by the Irvines of Scotland, England and Ireland, and then follow their descendants from 1729 when they first landed in Pennsylvania down to the present time, and be convinced that the law of heredity in man is as immutable as the law that governs the animal and vegetable world. The same courage on the battlefield, the same ability in literature, statesmanship, and theology that characterized many an Irvine of the old country, have distinguished the Irvines of America."
It cannot now be definitely determined, but about 1740 Edward Erwin and wife Frances, and a large family, mostly of boys, settled on Long Glade, Augusta County, Virginia. I have found a descendant of Edward Erwin of the seventh generation, E. Paul Erwin, of Perry, Iowa, who has the Bible of his great grandfather, John Erwin, b. 1769 (dated June 4, 1829), which relates that "the paternal ancestor of the present owner of this book came from the north of Ireland, by households, about a century ago. My great grandfather by name Edward Erwin, his wife and five sons, John, Robert, Andrew, Edward and Francis, established themselves pretty advantageously in Augusta County, Virginia." I take it, therefore, those five sons were married when they came to Virginia. Father and sons were original emigrants.
In 1742, the following were all members of Captain John Smith's militia company in Augusta County (then part of Orange County), Andrew Erwin, Benjamine Erwin, John and Edward Erwin.
In 1754 the following persons were appointed to care for a road from John Davis's mill to Wood's new cleared up gap (among others), Andrew Erwin, John Erwin, two Edward Erwins, Francis Erwin and Benjamin Erwin. Land was patented to Edward Erwin March, 1747, and April 6, 1748.
D. B. I. Page 227. 29 Nov., 1751. Edward Erwin, Sr., yeoman., and Frances (his wife), to Edward Erwin, Jr., yeoman, 206 acres, part of 2 patents to Edward, Apr. 5,1748, and March, 1747. Long Glade; cor. William Brown and John Anderson; William Alexander's corner;
B. 1, Page 456. 27 Jan., 1757. Edward Erwin, Sr., yeoman, to Francis Erwin, yeoman, £200; 148 acres, part of 350 acres patented to Edward Erwin, 5 April, 1748, cor. Edward Erwin, Jr., korn of stone; cor. Benjamin Erwin also 100 acres, part of 220 acres, patented to Edward--March, 1747, cor. of William Brown and William Alexander: Tes John, Andrew, and Edward Erwin, sent to Francis Erwin by order Sept., 1774.
Book 2, P. 74. Two patents to Edward Erwin, Sr., father of Edward Erwin, Jr., 5 April, 1748, and Mar., 1747, patented to Edward Erwin May 12, 1770.
Book 2, Page 154. Patented to Edward Erwin, Jr., 12 May, 1770. Delivered, John, Mar. 1, 1793. Tes. Francis, Sr. and Jr. Samuel (this may be our Edward and Samuel).* From Chalkley abstracts of Augusta County, Virginia. It is a fact known to the descendants of Edward Erwin that he held a patent from King Charles II. for military service rendered either before he came to America, or after in some of the border wars.
It has been given me from reliable sources that the Erwins and Bells built before the Revolution six strotlg houses out of stone as a protection against the Indians, four of which are still standing.
A portion of a letter from an Irvine near Bridgewater, Va.: "I saw
an old deed dated Mar. 28, 1759, signed by John Ervin and Jean Ervin,
his wife, and was witnessed by Andrew, Francis and Edward Ervin.
This land was granted to John and Jean Erwin by King Geo. 24 and
signed by Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor, Aug. 16, 1757. The
Irvines appear to have obtained, by patent or grant from the King, all
the good land on both sides of the "Glade" from near Bridgewater to
the land of Henry Miller (who established the Millers Iron Works),
about 1748, on what is now known as the Sam Farreo farm at Mossy
Creek." According to court record Edward Erwin sold to Henry Miller
and Mark Bird, iron men, the land on which the iron works was built.
__________
* - The absence of Samuel Irvin's1 name from the Augusta County court records can be accounted for, from the fact that in his early manhood, either before the Revolution, or during, he made a visit to some near relatives in N. and S. Carolina.2 From there he enlisted in the Revolution in South Carolina. After the Revolution he returned to Rockingham County and married in 1788 Jane Brewster, daughter of James Brewster, who owned land on the south side of Dry river in Rockingham county.
The descendants of Francis Ervin, son of Edward, Sr., claim that he had a patent from the King for a large grant of land, and also the descendents of Edward Erwin, Jr., claim he held a grant from the King for military service. It is possible they all did service and all had land patents for military service.
It is a further fact that Edward Erwin had other children than the five mentioned in his great grandson's memorandum, Benjamin and two daughters. Frances married William Brown and one had married Robert Low.
Will B. 4, Page 480. The Will of Edward Erwin of Long Glade, proved January 13, 1772. He made bequests to sons Edward and Francis, also to Frances Brown and son-in-law, Robert Low. Ex. Sons Edward and Francis.
John had died, his will proved Feb. 15, 1761.
Andrew's will proved April 24, 1765. Benjamin had probably moved away. Here is a clue. On April 24, 1790, Joseph Erwin, son and heir of Benjamin Erwin, deceased, of Johnston County, North Carolina, conveyed to John Erwin 350 acres of land in Augusta County, Va., which land had been patented to Edward Erwin in 1748.
This is the beginning of Mrs. Morris' enumeration of Irvin descendants:
Edward Erwin married Frances, in Ireland, it is probable, and circumstances point to her name as Frances Francis, as both are perpetuated and handed down. By approximation he was born about 1689 or 90. Their children were:
D. B. 2, Page 125. From Borden's Exe. to Robert Erwin, Feb. 6, 1748 or 1749. Contract made in life of Benjamin Borden, Sr. Benjamin Borden died 1742.
D. B. 2, P. 505. Nov. 15, 1751. Same to Robert Ervin, £6, 100 acres, part of 92,100; cor. Robert Ervin's former tract in Jno. McKee's line, cor. William and Frances Brown. (Frances Brown was a daughter of Edward Erwin). Will of Robert Erwin:
W. B. No. 1, P. 1338, in Rockbridge County, Virginia Mar. l4, 1780.
To wife Ann--"The negro wench named Phillis, and all the dresser furniture and one of Erskin's large volumes which she pleases, and the large Bible, and all her apparel for back and bed, and what I have in hand of hard money, and her saddle and bridle, and the third part of the remainder of my movable estate (negroes excepted). I order that my son Robert give his mother a good maintenance for herself and her negro wench and her horse during her natural life, or if he does not, to pay her seven pounds per annum, and he is to give her maintenance on the plantation and in her own house, where she now lives.--The negro wench named Phillis is to be my son Robert's at his mother's death.--I give to my son Robert the plantation I now live on, containing five hundred and five acres, and likewise that piece of land I bought of Patrick McConnel.--I give and bequeath to the heirs of his body _____ otherwise to be sold and equally divided among my sons and daughters.--I likewise give to my son Robert the negro named Joe, and the negro wench named Rachel, and the wench named Ells, and all the remainder of my movable estate, except ten pounds that I give to my daughter Hannah Logan. To my son Benjamin Erwin the negro named Dinah--and all my wearing apparel be equally divided between my three sons, Edward Erwin, Jonas Erwin and Joseph Erwin, _____
Signed, sealed, etc.
ROBERT ERWIN. (SEAL)
Green, in his "Historic families of Kentucky," says: "Robert Irvine, father of Hannah Logan, was a Presbyterian minister." It is possible Robert Irvine married Anna Crockett in Penn., though she may have belonged to the family of Crocketts who settled in Culpepper County, some of whom lived in Rockbridge County, Va. They were French Huguenots and were driven out of France about 1672 and took up their residence in the north of Ireland. "The whole family of Crocketts afterwards left Ireland and settled in the Colony of Virginia about the years 1716, 1717 and 1719. In France the name was 'Crockeshawney,' and was pronounced Crocketawny. After the family fled to the north of Ireland in 1672 the name was changed to Crockett." The children of Robert and Ann (Crockett) Erwin were: Robert, Benjamin, Edward, Jonas, Joseph and Hannah, who married James Logan in Rockbridge County about 1765. Her children will appear tinder the head of James Logan.
The Currys and Irvins came to America on the same voyage and landed in Pennsylvania. Here they remained for a time4 but how long cannot now be learned, but the Irvines were in Augusta County as early as 1740 and the Currys 1745. The farms they lived on joined. It was on the voyage that Edward Erwin met and won his wife, and they were married soon after they landed in Pennsylvania. Edward (or Ned as familiarly known), owned large lands on Mossy Creek, adjacent to the Miller's Iron Works5, where he lived, in fact he sold land to Mark Bird and Henry Miller, iron men, presumably the land on which the iron works was built. He also owned land on the glade. I have been unable to learn where Edward Erwin, Jr., died. He undoubtedly owned land on the south side of the Shenandoah in Rockingham County, and possibly died there, where all the Court records were destroyed by fire during the late Civil war. Yet he may have moved to Kentucky, where many of his children located. The children of Edward and Mary, his wife, as far as I have been ahle to learn, in many ways, were as follows: