CAMPBELL COUNTY, VA - HISTORY - Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches Family Sketches - Irvine ----¤¤¤---- CAMPBELL CHRONICLES and FAMILY SKETCHES Embracing the History of CAMPBELL COUNTY, VIRGINIA 1782-1926 By R. H. EARLY With Illustrations J. P. BELL COMPANY LYNCHBURG, VIRGINIA 1927 Irvine The Irvine name of the Scotch settlers who first came to old Bedford is recorded variously as Irvin, Irvine, Irwin and Erwin; and a branch of the latter retains that name to this day. But the Irish Irvin, who located around Hat creek, continued that manner of spelling, only later adding the final letter "e," always in connection with Major John Irvine. The distance in neighborhood prevents confusion of the Irish and Scotch families, though members of both Irvines were active in county affairs. The Scotch emigrants, settling a little later than the Irish. John Irvin, native of Ireland and Presbyterian in religious belief, married Mary (Molly) Boyd, also born and reared in the Emerald Isle. They happened upon difficult times there, and news of easy living in America induced them to emigrate soon after their marriage. They landed in Pennsylvania, where he acquired land and remained in that state for twenty years; and there all of their children were born. Again reports concerning a land of promise caused him to sell the Pennsylvania land, which had increased in value, and make a preliminary visit to Virginia, in the mountain section, where land could be obtained without great outlay of money. His purpose was to select a place and prepare a home for his family before removing them. Making choice of Hat creek locality, he took up all the land lying in its vicinity for four or five miles; found only one very old white man living within many miles, and his plantation was the first one to be cultivated in a district of thirty-five or forty miles extent. After making necessary arrangements for their reception, he returned for his family, ten white souls and Sam and Moll, two negro servants. Irvin had not long been settled before newcomers began to pour into the neighborhood, and many of these purchased tracts of the land which he had acquired in large acreage. His sales continued over a period of many years, for he sold Charles Cobbs 1OO acres on the north side of Falling river extending to James Gates' lines, in 1784, over four decades from the time when he had become a landholder there. In 18O5 John Irvine settled up the estate of Samuel Morris. Children of John and Mary Irvin, Sr.—I. Abraham;—William, one time preacher at Hat creek meeting-house;—Robin; —John, a 2nd lieutenant in the Revolutionary army in 178O, acquired title of major of county militia, m. Mary Anne, the dau. of Matthew Tucker (will 1796), and wife, Esther;-Elizabeth;—Mary;-Nancy;—Margaret (Peggy), m., 1793, James Black. Children of Major John and Mary A. Tucker-Irvine:-Nancy, m., 1791, Richard Goggin;—Peggy, m., 1793, James Black;-Mary Anne, m., 1798, Paulett Clark, born 1771;—James H., m., 1812, Susanna Cobbs;—Mathew T. Paulett Clark was the son of John Clark of Louisa county, who married Ann Paulett and moved to Charlotte county in 1777. The name Paulett occurs also as Pawlett. Thomas Pawlett, born 1578, came to Virginia in 1618 and was a member of the first House of Burgesses in 1619. In 1641, he was appointed a member of the Council. He acquired the West-over plantation of 2,OOO acres, by patent dated January 15, 1637, the estate later owned by Col. William Byrd and well known through its association with Col. Byrd's name. This famous place on James river dates back to 1623 and was built of bricks brought from England. The name of Thomas Pawlett appears with that of another witness in 1626 to the will of Richard Biggs of West and Shirley Hundred. Pawlett's will, dated 1643-4, devised his estate to his brother, Sir John Pawlett. The name John Clark appears as sergeant in a company of rangers against Indians, in 1764; as a member of the Augusta Militia in 1758; as sergeant of the 1st Va. Regiment, presenting a claim for 2OO acres of land in 1774; in Dunmore’s war for defending the frontiers in 1774; and on the muster roll of Capt. James Harrod's party, which arrived under Colonel Christian at Point Pleasant after the battle there. Three Irvine brothers, David, Christopher and William, hailing from near Irvine, Scotland, came to America during the reign of George II, and were among the early settlers in Bedford. They were granted a large boundary of land around New London, Leesville and the present Alta Vista. The grant was preserved in the family at the old Irvine home till burned in a fire which destroyed the house in 1888. In 1786 David Irvine patented 278 acres on Flat creek; in 1787 Christopher Irvine-Clendenning patented 115 acres on the west branch of Flat creek and in 1793 Christopher patented 114O acres both sides of Flat creek. William Irvine married Polly Anthony and died in 1767, when his only child, William, Jr., was very small. His widow-married Robert Cowan, who was supposed to be related to William Cowan, opposing lawyer to Patrick Henry in the case of Hook against Venable. Wm. Irvine, Sr., built his home, Otter, near Otter river about seven miles from New London, and was one of Bedford's justices. Wm. Irvine, Jr., married Martha, the daughter of Jesse Burton, who helped to lay out Lynchburg; their children were:-Edmund, attorney-at-law, moved to Rocky Mount, Va.;—Judge Robert, moved to West Virginia;—James, remained in Campbell county;—Jesse married Clementina, daughter of Col. Wm. and Anne Carrington-Cabell, of Union Hill, Nelson county. Children of Jesse and Clementina Irvine were:—Wm. C., m. Mary A., dau. of Meriwether Lewis, of Milton, N. C.;-Ann C., m. David Flournoy;—Edward C., m., 1st, Jane, dau. of Meriwether Lewis; m., 2nd, Mrs. Merrett. Edw. C. Irvine served in the 2nd Va. Cav., C. S. A., was severely wounded in a battle in 1863, and represented Campbell in the House of Delegates, 1873-74;—Sarah C., m. Judge Asa Dickinson of Prince Edward county;—Mary E., m. Philip D. Christian of Lynchburg;—Jesse, m. Margaret, dau. of Dr. Paul C. Venable; he was captain of a cavalry company in Col. Winston Radford's Regiment, C. S. A., and lost a limb in a charge of his company;—Juliet M., m. Rev. David W. Shanks (his 2nd wife); Margaret F., m. Thomas Rosser, relative of Gen. Rosser, of Campbell county.—Alexander, m. Lockie T., dau. of Capt. Henry Brown, a Revolutionary soldier, and their children were:—John B., of Kvington, member of llth Va. Cav. under Gens. J. K. B. Stewart and Jubal A. Early;—Wm. Henry m. Anna, dau. of Col. Jas. Sinkler (of Upper St. Johns, Berkeley Parish, S. C., and his wife, Anna, dau. of Col. John Huger, of Charleston, S. C.,) and had sons, Alexander and Guilford Huger of West Virginia and Dr. James Sinkler Irvine of Otter., who married Evie, dau. of Maj. Fleming Saunders and his wife, Mary Gwaphmey of Flat Creek. Christopher Irvine had several sons; Christopher, Jr., was commissioner for Bedford in 1781. He and his wife, Mary Irvine, sold John Hook and David Ross, merchants in partnership, in 1783, 100 acres of land (part of 29O acres patented by him in 1780), lying on both sides of Watery branch, both sides of Irvine's road at Anthony's corner, along John Callaway's line; also sold 19O acres on the South side of Cattail branch along Irvine's road and Watery branch, the West branches of Flat creek, on Hook's line. Irvine in 1784 purchased the old buildings in New London, and the same year made a transfer of land to his sons Charles and Isaiah. Two of this Irvine family, Col. William and Capt. Christopher, moved to Kentucky in 1779, and five years later Christopher was registered in Lincoln county, Ky. He was empowered to locate military land warrants in that state for Campbell county soldiers. Various deeds were made by Christopher in 179O—to Conrad Speece for a tract on Flat creek; to Wm. Harris land on west branch of Flat creek; to James Clark in 1792, land on Quarry branch; to Wm. Watts, land on Flat creek; in the latter deed he signs his name as Christ. Irvine Clendenning. His son, Charles, m. Anne, dau. of Hugh Rose of Amherst, and their dau., Mary, in 1814, m. Samuel Anthony, whose dau., Anne E., m. John Hampden Pleasants, publisher of "The Virginian," in partnership with Richard Toler. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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