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Ancestors of Patrick Martin Stevens, Jr.


      210. Major Thomas Walker594,595, born Abt. 1655 in Gloucester Co., VA; died Aft. 1723 in King and Queen Co., VA. He was the son of 420. Lt. Col. John Walker and 421. Rachel Croshaw. He married 211. Susanna Peachey Bef. 1677 in Richmond, VA.

      211. Susanna Peachey596, born Abt. 1657 in VA; died Aft. 1695.

Notes for Major Thomas Walker:
He was a member of the House of Burgesses in Jamestown after 1683 and is a qualifying ancestor for entry into the Jamestowne Society.

Caution is advised in dealing with these Walkers and their connections, as little is certain! I had shown Mary Walker as wife of Zachary Lewis, but have added as a second wife one widow Hancock, nee Shackelford.

More About Major Thomas Walker:
Fact 1: Colonel in Gloucester Co., VA

  Notes for Susanna Peachey:
I have some strong reservations that these daughters are all sisters, indeed that Thomas Walker and Susannah Peachey are their parents. There are many confusions in these early Walkers, including a(nother) marriage of Thomas Walker and Susannah Peachey in 1709, whose son was the celebrated explorer of Kentucky. Thomas Bledsoe, <bledsoe@housingpartnership.net> is also exploring these issues, and wonders whether Collins has it right.
     
Children of Thomas Walker and Susanna Peachey are:
  105 i.   Mary Walker, born Abt. 1677 in Richmond, VA; died 09 January 1723/24 in Middlesex or King and Queen Co., VA; married Zachary Lewis Abt. 1692 in Spotsylvania Co., VA.
  ii.   Sarah Walker597, born Abt. 1693 in Richmond, VA; died 18 January 1730/31 in Salem, MA; married William Fairfax 27 March 1723 in Nassau, Bahamas; born 18 October 1691 in Toulston, Yorkshire, England; died 03 September 1757 in Belvoir Plantation, Fairfax Co., VA.
  Notes for Sarah Walker:
That Sarah is Mary's sister is attributable to research lodged in the LDS files, but seems supported by other constructions, notes C. R. Collins.

(I think the relationship between these two Walkers-- Mary and Sarah-- is suspect and needs work: first, I have seen most dates for Susanna Peachey as later, too young to have these girls, although she certainly had a Mary Peachey Walker-- who married George Gilmer of Ga. There was a Mary who married Zachary Lewis, and there is a Sarah who married Fairfax. I think these are all three different families.... but will carry for now as I show in the notes.) Thomas Bledsoe, <bledsoe@housingpartnership.net> is working to sort these issues, in January, 2004

  Notes for William Fairfax:
William Fairfax (1691-1757) was born in Toulston, Yorkshire, England, the son of Henry and Anna Harrison Fairfax. He was a first cousin of Lord Fairfax. As a young man William served briefly in the British army and held a royal appointment in the Bahamas. While he was stationed there he married Sarah Walker, daughter of Major Thomas Walker of the British Army. In 1725 he received an appointment as collector of customs at Salem and Marblehead and moved to Massachusetts. Sarah died in 1731 and he then married Deborah Clarke of Salem. In 1734 Lord Fairfax's perennial dissatisfaction with his land agents in Virginia led him to offer the post to his cousin, who accepted and moved to Virginia in the same year. He subsequently built Belvoir about 1741 on the banks of the Potomac some four miles from Mount Vernon. Source: Library of Congress Website. (and courtesy of CRC, op.cit.)

  iii.   Margaret Walker598, born Abt. 1695; married Thomas Wythe; born Abt. 1692.


      212. Abraham Iversonn599, born Abt. 1620 in England; died Aft. 1653 in England or Gloucester Co., VA600.

Notes for Abraham Iversonn:
Peggy Cotton <peg@texas.net>, August 18, 1998: "A Capt. George Lydall received land in 1662 for the transport of 19 persons to VA. Among these were "Abram Iveson" and "Charles Greene". Elizabeth, dau. of Abraham m. a Charles Green. Don't know dates. On 20 May 1650 Abraham was granted 655 acres on SW side of N river in Blackjack Bay, Gloucester Co., VA. In 1665, another 230 acres. 1704 rent roll shows that Abraham had 1000 acres in Gloucester Co., VA. There were at least 2 children: Abraham, jr. and Elizabeth, who married a Charles Green."

There are almost assuredly two Abraham's here, a father and son. The senior, this one, is the Burgess in the 1653 assemblage. He represented Gloucester, and is noted by the Jamestowne Society as A4203, a qualifying ancestor for membership. He is both my 7th and 10th great grandfather.

See also this posted at the wonderful web site, "The Colonial Virginia Register,"
________________________________________
1653
Assembled July 5th

James City: Colonel Walter Chiles, William Whittaker, Hen. Soane, Abra. Wattson.
Surry: Captain Wilham Butler, William Edwards.
Warwick: Colonel Sam. Mathews, William Whittby, Speaker.
Charles City: Captain John Bishopp, Anthony Wyatt.
Nansemond: Col. Thomas Dew, Lieutenant Colonel Edw'd Major, Peter Montague.
Lower Norfolk: Colonel Francis Yardly, Colonel Cornelius Lloyd.
Gloucester: Abraham Iversonn, Richard Pate.
Isle of Wight: Lienten ant Colonel Robert Pitt, Major George Fowden, Daniel Boucher.
Northampton: Captain Thomas Johnson, William Mellin, Stephen Horsey.
Lancaster: Captain Moore Faunfleroy, Captain Thomas Hackett.
York: Major X'pher Calthropp, Robert Booth, William Hockaday, Captain Fra. Morgan.
Northumberland: Lieutenant Colonel George Fletcher, Walter Broadhurst.
Henrico: Captain William Harris.
Elizabeth City: John Sheppard, Thomas Thornbury.
Source: Hening I, 379.
________________________________________

See "Pioneer Lewis Families" by Michael Cook, p 51-52

"On Oct. 8, 1672, David CRAFFORD (CRAWFORD) patented 1000 acres on branches of Mattadecum Creek, adjacent to John POUNCEY's land, crossing Little Creek. (Note: this would have been adjoining the Chemokins plantation; David CRAWFORD called his plantation "Asequin" or "Esoquan" in various patents, an adapation of the Indian name "Asiskewincke". Note that Major William LEWIS had land next to Asiskewincke.) John POUNCEY acquired 800 acres on lower side of Mattadecum Creek and by land of John GETAWAY on June 9, 1666 (among those transported as head rights were Abraham IVERSON and William ADDISON; Abraham IVERSON was earlier shown on the S.W. side of North River in Mockjack Bay, Gloucester Co., dividing land from land of Thomas CHAPMAN and George LEVITT, June 10, 1651). This land was later deserted and regranted to William WINSTON and John ENGELBRECHT on April 28, 1691."
     
Children of Abraham Iversonn are:
  i.   Elizabeth Iverson601,602, born Abt. 1640 in Gloucester Co., VA; married Charles Green; born Abt. 1635 in England.
  Notes for Elizabeth Iverson:
Peggy Cotton noted on the Iverson GenForum Board that "Capt. George Lydall received land in 1662 for the transport of 19 persons to VA. Among these were 'Abram Iveson' and 'Charles Greene.' Elizabeth, dau. of Abraham m. a Charles Green.... There were at least 2 children: Abraham, Jr. and Elizabeth, who married a Charles Green." Thanks Peggy!

  Notes for Charles Green:
Probably the transported Charles Green, see other notes.

  106 ii.   Abraham Iverson, born Abt. 1645; died in Gloucester Co., VA.


      224. William Irvine603, born Abt. 1680 in probably Ireland. He was the son of 448. Robert Irvine and 449. Margaret Wylie. He married 225. Annie Craig Abt. 1699 in Larne, Ulster, Ireland.

      225. Annie Craig604, born Abt. 1682 in Raloo, near Mounthill, Larne, Ulster, Ireland605; died Abt. 1730 in Raloo, near Mounthill, Larne, Ulster, Ireland.

Notes for William Irvine:
Readers should read my first note for Christopher b abt 1701 d 1769 who MIGHT be this William's son. I do show him that way, but have little proof that seems confirmatory (2007). They should also read the note under Robert Irvine, whom I show as the father of this William.... and the notes under James Irvine born about 1615, these notes.

William came from Ireland (Scotland, originally?) and perhaps settled in Bedford Co., Va., perhaps as early as 1729. The "e" in Irvine gets dropped somewhere about here, although some branches recreate it later, and some even go to Irwin. It is a tangled web from William to his grandchildren, with numerous versions found. I started with his children based on notes from my grandfather at Oak Hill, 1957, and modified later as noted, particularly with the help of research done by Davis Reese, <drr66@verizon.net> a descendant of Christopher and Louisa Tucker Irvine.

From the Early Virginia Records Site, <http://members.home.net/marirw/EaVA.html>, we find this:

"William Irvine was born ca 1690 in Scotland. He came to America through Pennsylvania and made his way to Bedford, VA where he died in 1767. He married Ann Craig in Raloo, Larne, Ulster, Ireland. They had the following children: Christopher, Johannah (ed.: is this John?), and David. William Irvine was the son of Robert Irvine and Margaret Wylie. (ed.: Others say that William remarried in America, had many children, and died in Carlisle, Pa., which of course means a different William dying in Va. in 1767)

At this juncture, because these notes span many evolutions of thought on these matters, I will post what I now believe to be the descent of these complex Irvines from William. There might yet be "stray" notes below which I will police in time. Davis Reese, noted frequently herein, has done a wondrous job of deducing what is possible and applying some common sense. In any event, these notes below reflect our current (2007-08) thinking.
_________________________________________________

                                   
      1       William Irvine      b: Abt. 1680 in probably Ireland                 
..            +Annie Craig      b: Abt. 1682 in Raloo, near Mounthill, Larne, Ulster, Ireland      m: Abt. 1699 in Larne, Ulster, Ireland      d: Abt. 1730 in Raloo, near Mounthill, Larne, Ulster, Ireland     
.......      2       John (of Hat Creek) Irvine      b: Abt. 1699 in Ireland IR            d: 1788     
...........            +Mary Boyd      b: Abt. 1724 in Ireland IR      m: Abt. 1738           
.................      3       Abraham Irvine      b: Abt. 1739 in the mid-Atlantic en route to the US            d: Bef. 1788     
.................      3       William Irvine      b: Abt. 1741                 
.....................            +Elizabeth Holt      b: Abt. 1755                 
.................      3       John Irvine      b: Abt. 1743 in Hat Creek, Campbell Co., VA            d: 15 January 1814 in Hat Creek, Campbell Co., VA     
.....................            +Mary Ann Tucker      b: Abt. 1755      m: 14 August 1772 in Amherst Co., VA      d: 1817 in Hat Creek, Campbell Co., VA      Burial: in Hat Creek Presbyterian Church, Campbell Co., VA
.................      3       Robin Irvine      b: Abt. 1743                 
.....................            +Mary South      b: Abt. 1740      m: 04 November 1760 in Bedford Co., VA           
.................      3       Elizabeth Irvine      b: Abt. 1745                 
.................      3       Mary Irvine      b: Abt. 1747                 
.................      3       Nancy Irvine      b: Abt. 1749                 
.................      3       Margaret Irvine      b: Abt. 1751                 
.................      3       Mary Anne Irvine      b: Abt. 1753                 
.................      3       James H. Irvine      b: Abt. 1755                 
.................      3       Matthew Tucker Irvine      b: Abt. 1757                 
.......      2       Christopher Irvine      b: 1701            d: Bef. 26 July 1769 in Bedford Co., VA     
...........            +Mary      b: Abt. 1702                 
.................      3       David Irvine      b: 29 May 1721 in perhaps Co. Antrim, Ireland            d: 17 October 1805 in Madison Co., KY     
.....................            +Jane Kyle      b: Abt. 1736 in Co. Tyrone, Ireland      m: 21 July 1754 in Bedford Co., VA      d: 15 February 1809 in Madison Co., KY     
..........................      4       William Irvin      b: Abt. 1751            d: 20 March 1828     
..............................            +Catherine R. [--?--]      b: Abt. 1752            d: 03 September 1832 in Lexington, Fayette Co., KY     
..........................      4       Christopher Irvin      b: Abt. 1753 in Bedford Co., VA            d: 1815 in Morgan Co., GA at Whitfield Tucker's home     
..............................            +Louisa Tucker      b: Abt. 1758 in Amherst Co., VA      m: 06 September 1778 in Amherst Co., VA      d: Bef. August 1784     
..........................            *2nd Wife of Christopher Irvin:                       
..............................            +Prudence Echols      b: Abt. 1770      m: 01 January 1785 in Halifax Co., VA      d: 1821 in Judge David Irwin's home, Marietta, GA     
..........................      4       Margaret Irvin      b: Abt. 1755                 
..............................            +Valentine Sturman      b: Abt. 1755      m: 16 March 1778 in Bedford Co., VA           
.................            *2nd Wife of William Irvin:                       
.....................            +Elizabeth Anthony      b: Abt. 1740      m: Bef. March 1760 in probably Bedford Co., VA           
..........................      4       Mary Irvin      b: Abt. 1758                 
..............................            +John Menzies      b: Abt. 1758      m: 02 December 1774           
..........................      4       Sarah Irvin      b: Abt. 1760                 
..............................            +Robert Bradford      b: Abt. 1754      m: 08 February 1777 in Bedford Co., VA           
..........................      4       Elizabeth Irvin      b: Abt. 1761                 
..........................      4       Nancy Ann Irvin      b: Abt. 1765                 
..............................            +William Moseley      b: Abt. 1763      m: 01 December 1784     
.......      2       Johannah Irvin      b: Abt. 1704            d: Abt. 1730 in Raloo, near Mounthill, Larne, Ireland     
.......      2       Alexander Irvin      b: Abt. 1706            d: Abt. 1756 in Bedford Co. (?), VA     
...........            +Unknown      b: Abt. 1720            d: Abt. 1756     
.................      3       Christopher Irvine      b: Abt. 1739                 
.................      3       Andrew Irvin      b: 1748            d: 25 April 1830 in Fayette Co., OH     
.....................            +Elizabeth Mitchell      b: 1750      m: 1769 in probably Bedford Co., VA      d: 1843 in Fayette Co., OH     
.................      3       William Irvin      b: Abt. 1750                 
.....................            +Martha Burton      b: Abt. 1763      m: 04 December 1788           
.......      2       William Irvin      b: Abt. 1708           
_______________________________________________

Then we have Peter Schavoir, who says on the Irvine Family Forum, August 21, 1998: Margaret Irvine was the daughter of Robert Irvine (born abt 1660) and Margaret Wylie... they lived on the Irvine property in Glenoe, Ireland. This old homestead passed from family ownership in 1731 when Francis Lee bought it with gold coins found at the roots of a tree he had dug up.... (Margaret and Robert) had ten children: Margaret, married Ephraim McDowell, Mary, married John Wylie, Thomas, died in Cushendall, Ireland, Alexander, married __ Gault, George, David, William, Robert, James, and Samuel (these last seven are the brothers who came to America). These Irish-born descendants of Robert Irvine operated linen mills near Larne, County Antrim, Ireland. On May 9, 1729 the seven brothers departed Londonberry, Ireland on the ship "George and Anne", their destination being Philadelphia, PA. The name was changed to Irwin in America. (ed.: I have added only some of these boys to the list of children. However, I am told by Stuart Irvin that he has looked at that ship's record and finds no names....) Additionally, Elizabeth Harris writes: "The other thing that has turned up that may be a problem is that the 1729 voyage of the George and Anne is probably NOT the one the Irvines et al. arrived on. (We may have talked about this before - I can't remember who was part of the original discussion where I learned all this). The ship was at sea for months, there were problems with the captain, there were many deaths, and they ended up landing in New York or New England (can't remember which without going back to the old e-mails) rather than Philadelphia as intended. A grandson of John Irvine wrote an account of his family's arrival that refers to their voyage as "without storm or tempest" and mentions nothing worse than whales en route, which doesn't match this year's account at all. Also, although there may not be a complete passenger list, what survives of one doesn't include the Irvines. So I'm inclined to doubt the Boyd book on this one also."

In this interesting analysis, Ron Irvin, <rlirv@charter.net> writes: " THE SEARCH FOR A SHIP and WHICH CHRISTOPHER," 13 Jun 2001:

A question previously asked was for the name of the ship the Irvines were said to have come on... p. 196 of THE IRVINES AND THEIR KIN by BOYD gives us a name. "About the year 1730, James McElroy, with his young bride, Sarah McHugh (or McCune, sailed on the vessel "GEORGE AND ANNE," in company with the Irvines, McDowells, McCunes (or McHughs) and others. They first settled, on on the borders of Pennsylvania, in New Jersey or Delaware, thence farther west in Pennsylvania; and later the family of James McElroy and John Irvine, a Presbyterian minister, moved South and settled in Campbell county, Va... John Irvine's children were: John, Esther Nancy, Mary, Elizabeth and Margaret."

Nowhere is there any reference made about whether Christopher was with them or not.

[And about this ship, the following which if true certainly injures the validity of the Irvins and the ship George and Ann: " Les" <statman@cox-internet.com> notes that:

" I came across info in a copy of the Orange County Genealogical Society (NY) that has post mark of Mar 12, 1974 Chester NY. There is a portion of the journal of Charles Clinton of his journey from Ireland to America in 1729 aboard the "George and Anne." He boarded the ship in Dublin on May 18th and sailed the 20th. They made stops in Glenarm on the 24th and at Green Castle on the 26th. They sailed on the 29th 'in company with the John of Dublin.' Many people died on this voyage. A list of passengers and deaths is given. No Irvins are on either list. I think this is proof the 1729 voyage is bogus and therefore the whole 1729 story."]

Ron Irvin continues: "In another portion of the book, pp. 148-149 the following paragraph is found: 'Andrew Irvine married Elizabeth Mitchell. Elizabeth Mitchell was the daughter of William Mitchell and Elizabeth Innes, who were married in Edinburgh, Scotland, and came to Bedford county, Va. Elizabeth Innes was the daughter of Hugh Innes, who came to Bedford county, Va., together with his two brothers, -- James and Robert. The ship which they sailed from Scotland to this country was wrecked, and the Innes brothers -- James, Hugh, and perhaps, Robert--were all of the crew that were saved.' To me, this would imply that only the Innes brothers were involved in the wreck, and that this occured at a different time than that stated for the 1730 trip mentioned above. Notice, none of the other names appearing above are referred to. Most likely, Elizabeth Mitchell and her mother Elizabeth Innes (daughter of Hugh Innes) were not mentioned with regard to the wreck. Also note, this account does not give the name of the ship. From this point in the book, it goes on to give account of Andrew Irvine and Elizabeth Mitchells' children.

"There is a statement on p. 156, which states 'Christopher Irvine, brother of David, son of William the widower, married late in life, (to) Jane, widow of Col. John Hardin, who was killed by Indians while on a peace mission under the government, beyond the Ohio river.' Let us assume for a moment that this is the correct and actual son of William Irvin and Anne Craig. And that David, Christopher's brother, is the one listed below, along with his (David's) 13 children. To me, this seems to make sense, unless I'm missing something....

"According to pp. 155-156 : The Christopher born September 11, 1755, killed by Indians in Ohio, about October 6, 1786, married Lydia Calloway. He was the son of the David Irvine born May 29, 1721, died Oct. 17, 1804. (I believe this David to be the son of William Irvine and Anne Craig). This is the David who is reported to have married Jane Kyle July 21, 1754, (ref. p. 150). Date of her death is given as Feb. 15, 1809. Based on the data in the book, Dave, your interpretation is just the opposite order.

"I'm going to rearrange my layout completely moving Christopher / Louisa Tucker and all, away from William / Anne Craig and exchange it for Christopher / Lydia Calloway. And place Christopher / Louisa Tucker and all under Alexander / .... Gault. I believe that makes more sense. It's going to take me some time to do it but we'll see what that looks like when I get it done. Ron"

(Editor: This work of Ron Irvin above is where I was at that time; now I have altered Christopher's father to William, the son of Christopher. This holds in November, 2002) (...and now, in October, 2003) (and again in the work of the Irvin study group in 2007-08).

In looking at the ship data, we have this from Dave Reese: "For those of you who have not seen this ... excerpts from Clinton's (grandfather of Dewitt Clinton) diary he kept on board and comments made afterward. Clinton paid for passage of 94 people from Longford Co. Ireland (not in North Ireland!) it seems most of the 168 or so passengers came with him. Of this number, 94 died in route. The names of the dead and supposedly total list are provided. There are NO Irvine/Irwin, McCune, Campbell or McElroy names (names which are in Boyd book), making it a near certainty this was NOT the voyage on which the Irvines came (however, there were at least 8 Mitchels and even more McDowells). Despite the title of 1729, the year 1728 appears twice (death of Clinton's son and when land was sighted). The Clinton party boarded the ship in Dublin on May 18, thus it could have left Londonderry on May 9th, but it appears virtually all the passengers boarded in Dublin. The account does say they left Ireland in company with the John of Dublin bound for New Castle (Delaware). I have already sent you info on the ship Dilligence which brought passengers to New Castle in 1729. I believe this leaves us with the possibility that the Irvines did sail on the George and Anne in 1729 (i.e., not the voyage described by Clinton which appears to have been in 1728) or that they sailed on one or more other ships, around the year 1729. William Irvine's account (ship not named or year) makes it clear that at least John Irvine was not on the Clinton voyage. Since we have no idea where L. Boyd got the ship name and date, we likely will never know. Dave Reese "

...and finally, noted by Davis in November, 2002, "To me, it is not clear where she (Lucinda Boyd) got the info that Irvines came in 1729 on the George and Ann. She does say at one point that the 7 brothers came between 1725 and 1731 (from Mary Semple, we know that three, unnamed, came on George and Ann in 1731)."

___________________________________________

In a summary of the George and Ann discussion, by 2008 Davis Reese concludes:

"Mary Semple wrote a book on the McDowell's in 1927. She was a reliable genealogist of Mounthill, near Larne, Co. Antrim, Ireland. She supplied most/all of what L. Boyd wrote in her 1908 Irvines & Their Kin.

"Based on Boyd's book,. it has become a sacred fact that seven Irvine brothers came on the George & Anne in 1729 (the year of its fateful voyage). In fact, they have tied many other Irvines and several other surnames to that voyage. It is well documented that no Irvines died on that voyage in which half the passengers did die. Since all the children but one died, even if Irvines did come, no children, as alleged for some of the brothers (eg, William with Christopher and David) came with them.

"I have been unable to locate Semple's book. It brings up no hits on Google, except Leo McDowell's, which is where I found the info in the first place. Some time ago, I posted a query trying to locate this book. A few days ago, a man from Germany offered to help if I gave him name, publisher and date. I could not supply publisher, but I gave him rest and told him published in Ireland. We will see what he comes up with. In her 1927 book, Semple states that the Ephraim McDowell group sailed from Larne in the George & Anne on May 29, 1731. In the group were 3 Irvine brothers-in law of Ephraim. These would be three of the seven brothers whose sister married Ephraim (and died in 1728). Thus, not only did the seven brothers not come over together, but three of them came in 1731.

"We have no idea if John Irvin/Christopher Irvine were closely related to these brothers. Further, although possible, we cannot even confirm they came from Antrim. We can state the possibility of 1731, but that should be used very carefully, always expressing "possibility" and cautioning others to that. Further, if you have anything about the 1729 trip in your records, you make notations with that info. It is not valid. (the known 1729 trip took so long it was not feasible for the ship to have returned to Ireland and made another trip in the year 1729). Davis"

__________________________________________

Editor: There is a William who died in Bedford Co., in about 1767; we know from the will record below:

VIRGINIA WILLS AND ADMINISTRATIONS, 1632-1800, Compiled by Clayton Torrence:
Irvine: Bedford (Co.)
........................Wm. 1767 w. (will)
........................Chris. 1769 w.

As is shown below, it is very likely that Wm here is my ggg grandfather and Christopher his father who died after the son.
     
Children of William Irvine and Annie Craig are:
  i.   John (of Hat Creek) Irvine606, born Abt. 1699 in Ireland IR607,608,609; died 1791610; married Mary Boyd Abt. 1738611,612; born Abt. 1724 in Ireland IR613,614,615.
  Notes for John (of Hat Creek) Irvine:
This is John "of Hat Creek." Davis Reese, in his work finalized in January 2008, says:

"...John Irvin came to the Hat Creek area, which is near current Brookneal in southeast Campbell Co., around 1736. L Boyd stated he came via Pennsylvania, but from where is not known. At that time, according to Rev. William Irvine, John's grandson, there was only one old white man within 30 miles. Thus, John was the true pioneer for the area. John married Mary Boyd and she delivered a son, Abraham, on the voyage across the Atlantic. John was a staunch Presbyterian, which influenced his actions. He allegedly obtained a large grant and sold parts of it over a number of years. (Note: No evidence supports Lucinda Boyd's allegation that John was the James of the seven brothers who came from Ireland about 1730. Further, at that time, only aristocrats were allowed to have two given names. Thus, it is virtually certain that John used the only name he had.)"

I am currently carrying John Irvine as a son of William, but see this caution from Elizabeth Harris who is at <ncgen@mindspring.com>, June 15 2001: "John IRVINE married Mary BOYD and settled in what is now Hat Creek, Campbell County Virginia, probably about 1737. His children are well documented. What's seriously in question at this point is who his parents were. The one thing we do seem to be zeroing in on is that Alexander Irvine, father of the orphaned Christopher, was his brother. My web page on this family is at http://www.duke.edu/web/chlamy/irvine.html".

Whatever this John's antecedents were, and I show those I believe most likely, he was the John who raised Christopher, my direct ancestor.

When did John die? There has been some discussion, but Davis Reese's comment following closes the issue for me: "John Irvin's will.... Unfortunately, I cannot find my copy. However, as I recall, the last paragraph appears to be a second person and the shakiness of John's signature makes me believe he wrote it. There is no question it is dated 1791. Regardless of the purpose of that will (some say it was refiled), it is absolutely certain that John was alive when it was written. The 1788 and 1789 dates people give for his death are certainly wrong."

In March 2006, Barbara McCoy <barbmccoy@bellsouth.net>, a friend of my cousin Nancy Bell, sent me an extract from the book "A FAMILY HISTORY: BOYDS and Connected Families" by John Wright Boyd. Subtitled: Early Settlers Central Savannah River Area of Georgia and South Carolina. Compiled and Published by John Wright Boyd, Tignall, Wilkes County, Georgia. Copyright 1980. Library of Congress No. 80-66759. Wilkes Pub Co., Washington, GA. On page 10 of this volume is a reference to an account attributed to R.H. Early's EMBRACING HISTORY OF CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA, 1782-1926, pages 432 and 433, which note that John Irvine of Hat Creek was a native of Ireland and a Presbyterian. His wife Mary (Molly) Boyd was also from Ireland. They were married there. "They landed in Pennsylvania, where he acquired land and remained in that state for twenty years, and there all of their children were born." He went to Hat Creek and bought land, then returned to Penna. and brought his family south. This text gives their children: Abraham, William (a preacher in the Hat Creek meeting-house), Robin, John (a lieutenant in the War in 1780, and married Mary Anne, the daughter of Matthew Tucker [will 1796]), Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy, Margaret (Peggy)( married 1793 James Black), Mary Ann, m. 1798 Paulett (sic) Clark, b 1771, James H., m 1812 Susanna Cobbs, Matthew Tucker.

In November 2007, Deborah Briggs at <dbriggs806@comcast.net> kindly sent the note below:

"Hello Pat, I saw your family tree for the Irvine family at the Rootsweb location. I have just purchased a cemetery book for Campbell County, VA. The title is Campbell County Virginia Church Cemeteries, Vol. II, 1997. This book is published by the Campbell County Historical Society. In the information provided on Hat Creek Church there is a description of the grave stones for this couple. There is one large stone marking three graves. The inscription on the marker reads:

" 'Who in the year 1736 became the first settlers of this community on a grant of land of many thousands of acres conveyed to them by the King of England'

"The three graves are for:

Mary Boyd Irvine
(No Dates)
Wife of John Irvine

Major John Irvine
b. 1735 d. 1814
Son of John Irvine

Mary Ann Tucker Irvine
(No Dates)
Wife of Major John Irvine

"There is a DAR marker at the foot of the graves. (these burials are found on page 45 of the cemetery book) Next to this marker is the grave of:

John Irvine
b. 1700 d. 1788

"The only other Irvine I see in this cemetery is an infant: William Irvine, age 3 years, died November 12, 1852 (p. 44) the grave next to this one is for a Martha Carter, b. January 1837 and died 1875 (p. 44). There are a number of graves marked only with fieldstone around both of these graves and also a cluster around the Irvine burials above. Paulett Clark and his wife are also buried in this cemetery and their information is located on page 43 of the cemetery book." D. Briggs



  Notes for Mary Boyd:
I have estimated the dates of birth of her children and ordrered them as does the Boyd Family History by John Wright Boyd.

Later, in December 2007, we have from the Irvin Study Group member Michael Boyd <mikejboyd@bigpond.com> in Brisbane, who says that Walter Boyd <WYBoyd@aol.com> sent him this:

"I forgot to add that I have been following the Boyd/Irvine discussion in the Boyd Digest with great interest. I have always thought that the John and Mary Boyd Irvine family was related to George and Isabella. Here's a little unsourced tidbit I came across during my research and have been trying to verify:

" 'George and Isabella Boyd probably had at least one, and probably more, daughters since all of their known children were sons. There is at least some circumstantial evidence that they had two daughters, one of whom was named Mary Margaret Boyd and the other Frances Boyd. Mary Margaret, who was called Molly, was probably born about 1710. She later married John Irvine. Frances was probably born later, perhaps around 1725. She married David Lawson. Both the Irvine and Lawson families were with the Boyds in County Antrim, and they probably came to Pennsylvania with them. Some of the Irvines and Lawsons also came to Halifax County, Virginia with the Boyds.'

"I have asked Walter and the Boyd Net Group if anyone knows the source of the passage."

Walter replies to Davis Reese who has moderated the Irvin Group:

"I received your e-mail as well as those from Mike in Brisbane. Mike and I have corresponded in the past, but allow me to give you and the others a little background on myself. As Mike mentioned, I am a descendant of George and Isabella Boyd of Scotland/Ireland/Pennsylvania through his oldest son Patrick. My grandfather, William Jefferson Boyd, was born in Halifax County in 1888, and was the last in my immediate line to live there, but I have several close Boyd cousins who still live in and around South Boston (the site of Boyd's Ferry). I live 40 miles south of there in North Carolina, but I'm up there quite a bit. As you know, Patrick and at least three of his brothers are known to have come from Pennsylvania to what is now Halifax County, Virginia sometime between about 1742-44. (At least those are the dates that correspond with the earliest land records I can find on the Boyd brothers.) According to family lore, they came to Virginia in the company of several families, including Lawsons and Irvines. Most of the Boyds and Irvines left Halifax County after the Revolution. Some went west to the Tennessee-Kentucky area, and others went south into North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. My line is one of the few that remained in Halifax County. The Boyd and Irvine families ran ferries across Dan River, and it seems to have been a close-knit family business. John Boyd founded and ran the most famous of the ferries, but there were several. Even Patrick had a ferry of his own, although the story in the family is that he actually made the liquor (on Roger's Island) and floated it in kegs down the river to the ordinaries located at the ferry. The Boyds and Irvines didn't actually do the ferrying, but just managed the ferries. My grandfather's cousin Lightfoot Boyd, who lived in Halifax County, spent many years collecting family papers and writing up the family history. She was killed in an automobile accident in South Boston a few years ago, but I understand her papers are at the local museum. One of my cousins heads up the museum and is currently looking for them. When Frank Boyd and his brother were writing "The Boyds of Boyds Tank" about 40 years ago they used Lightfoot and my father's first cousin John as their sources of information on the Virginia Boyds. I believe it was John who told me that the Boyd brothers had at least two sisters--Mary Margaret "Molly" Boyd and Frances Boyd -- and he thinks he heard it from Lightfoot. Molly is the one who supposedly married an Irvine, and they settled in the Brookneal area a few miles north of Halifax County. As I understand it, William Byrd II envisioned establishing a large Scottish settlement on his lands in Virginia, but died before it got underway. His son, William Byrd III, a notorious gambler who later killed himself, wound up selling a lot of the land. When the Boyds and Irvines settled what is now Halifax County, it was part of Brunswick County, so the land records would be there. However, most of the old Brunswick County records were destroyed during the Civil War, and only a very few remain. Therefore, I'll look at the Lunenburg and Halifax County records as well. I'll keep everyone posted regarding my findings. I've been working on a book about George and Isabella and their descendants for a couple of years now, and I have some pretty extensive notes on all of the descendants, but the Boyds weren't very good about keeping records. Regards, Walter"

He adds in a note to Davis Reese, "Dave, I looked for any Brunswick County marriage records a few years ago, but wasn't able to find any. There are some records for Antrim Parish in Halifax County, but most are missing. Certain portions of the vestry book still exist, but that's about it. I think most of the records for Antrim Parish were probably lost in the Dan River flood about 1800 which wiped out South Boston (and the church). I have all of the old Halifax County marriage records, as well as those from Lunenburg County, but I wasn't able to find a Boyd-Irvine marriage. There's about a 10-year gap in the records regarding the Boyds-Irvines, which makes me think they probably left Lancaster/Chester County, Pennsylvania about 1732 and lived somewhere else between then and about 1742. Two Boyds took out Blunston licenses in Pennsylvania (although I'm not sure they are the same as George's sons), so they may have moved farther west, or they may have settled for a while in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley (like many Scots-Irish and Germans from Pennsylvania did). However, the records for those frontier counties are few and far between. Walter "

  112 ii.   Christopher Irvine, born 1701; died Bef. 26 July 1769 in Bedford Co., VA; married Mary.
  iii.   Johannah Irvin, born Abt. 1704; died Abt. 1730 in Raloo, near Mounthill, Larne, Ireland.
  Notes for Johannah Irvin:
I do not recall the source of this name!! Is it John rather than that given? I perhaps got it from my grandfather's notes?

  iv.   Alexander Irvin616, born Abt. 1706; died Abt. 1754 in Bedford Co. (?), VA617,618; married Unknown; born Abt. 1720; died Abt. 1754619.
  Notes for Alexander Irvin:
Reputedly, Alexander and his wife died the same day when their boys were young. Apparently, their boys were sent to be raised in Penna.

Who was Alexander's father? Dave Reese: " (about)... Alexander. Although possible, I doubt he was son of William and Anne Craig (Irvin). A very old reference I have said that only two sons came with William: Christopher and David. Some have said Alexander was one of the 7 brothers, but it is more likely he was a son of one of the 7 brothers, or even a relative who came over later. Note: the original source for the William/Anne info is probably the Lucinda Boyd's "Irvines and Their Kin" written in 1896 but published a little later. I have never seen this book.... or the Asher manuscript of the 1960s covering the Hat Creek Church in VA where John Irvine, who supposedly raised Christopher, was a founding member.... I am not sure how the John Irvine fits---it seems unlikely he is the James of the 7 brothers as is alleged; but everyone wants to connect to the 7 brothers! Dave"

I agree with Dave, but will carry Alexander here as shown for lack of a place to put him!

  Notes for Unknown:
But she might be the widow Irvine who later married Pitman.

  v.   William Irvin, born Abt. 1708.


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