Person:Matthew Erwin (1)

Watchers
Matthew Erwin
b.Bet 1710 and 1715 Ireland
m. Abt 1735
  1. Col. William Erwin1735 - 1814
  2. James ErwinAbt 1737 -
  3. Hugh ErwinAbt 1741 - Aft 1761
  4. Nathaniel ErwinAbt 1743 - 1794
  5. John Armstrong ErwinAbt 1745 -
  6. Susannah 'Susan' ErwinAbt 1747 -
  7. Col. Alexander Erwin1748/49 - 1829
Facts and Events
Name Matthew Erwin
Gender Male
Birth? Bet 1710 and 1715 Ireland
Marriage Abt 1735 Prob. Irelandto _____ Unknown
Death? 1767 Mecklenburg County, North Carolina


Information on Matthew Erwin

From Rootsweb.com post:

From: <MDeniseClarke@aol.com> Subject: Re: Nathaniel Erwin Date: Sat, 8 Jan 2000 01:14:09 EST


I found this on the Erwin Genforum page. Posted by Bob Erwin.

I hate to be a spoilsport, but the story of Nathaniel Erwin as the progenitor of the York Co., SC and the Burke Co., NC Erwins is one that is just not true. It's been published in numerous geneologies for years, is carved in stone in the place where he is buried, and has acquired the status of accepted fact, but it is still in error. Below I've excerpted evidence from a very fine article to prove it. I thought for years that it was true, but contrary evidence began to catch my eye and I hope that at least some descendents will see this and correct their misconceptions. I descend from Arthur Erwin, who was probably Nathaniel's brother, not his son. The following appeared in the York County Geneological and Historical Society Journal of 1990.


THE DESCENDANTS OF MATTHEW IRWIN (ERWIN) By Addie Stokes Mayfield (Mrs. H.L.) and William Boyce White, Jr.

(Note: Mrs. Mayfield, lineal descendant of William and Sarah (Ross) Erwin, and Mr. White, lineal descendant of James and Margaret (Chesnut) Irwin, are both Rock Hill High School retired teachers. They have submitted not only a fine family history but also have skillfully demonstrated how to correct long standing misinterpretations of data. Due to the length, we regret that it is necessary to print the article In two parts.)

Although this study of the descendants of Matthew Irwin (Erwin) gives a brief account of the first four generations of the family, the chief purpose in writing is to present evidence to show, first, that Nathaniel Irwin of York County, South Carolina, was a brother of William Erwin (1735-1814), not his father, as so many writers in previous years have claimed, and, secondly, that earlier family historians unintentionally omitted the name of Maithew's second son, James from the list of children. . .

Before starting the list of the descendants of Matthew Irwin, the writers would call the reader's attention to a detailed explanation of why they believe Nathaniel was William's brother and why they believe the previous family historians erred In omitting james's name from the list of Matthew's children.

To begin with, a local historian examining all the Erwin/Irwin estate in papers in the York County (S.C.) Courthouse, discovered that three critical documents had been misfiled many years ago and had, consequently, been lost sight of. These items relate to the appointment of guardians for the minor children of Nathaniel Irwin, deceased. In Guardian File #66-3216, we find that Jonathan Sutton is being appointed guardian of William Irwin, son 1. of Nathaniel. In File #65-3016 we have Arthur Irwin being made guardian of James Irwin, also a son of Nathaniel. In file #66-3217 Jacob Julian is being appointed guardian of Nathaniel Irwin, Jr. When one examines the dates of these actions-- 1796, 1803, and 1797, respectively--one knows at once that it would be highly unlikely for a man born in 1713 to have minor children with guardians eighty-five or ninety years after his birth! The writers feet confident that they are correct in asserting that Nathaniel was born probably in 1743. not 1713, and that Nathaniel was a younger brother of William Erwin, whom previous researchers recognize as the oldest child of the progenitor, Matthew Irwin. And, too, no man would name two living children "William," as would be the case if one insists that Nathaniel Irwin was the father of William Erwin (1735-1814).

From York County (S.C.) Minutes of the County Court, Book A, April Court 1790, page 267, we learn that Nathaniel Irwin was appointed overseer of the road from Sturgis's ferry to the North Carolina line. Does common sense not teach us that a man seventy-seven years of age would not be out in the weather working with a road crew to repair the primitive roads of the eighteenth century? It cannot be argued reasonably that Nathaniel was born in 1713, a date which persists even today In published works on the subject. The writers affirm their belief that the year of Nathaniet's birth was closer to 1743 than to 1713.

Secondly, another interested student of Irwin genealogy discovered among the William Erwin papers in the South Carolinians Library, in Columbia, S.C., an original letter of 1799 from Alexander Irwin of Camden, to his uncle (so designated in the letter), William Erwin of York County, S.C. Since Alexander of Camden was the acknowledged son of James Irwin who died in Anson County. N. C. in 176 1, and since Alexander addressed William Erwin as "uncle," It is clear that the name of James must be added to the list of Matthew's children. The writers offer the reader these two major revisions in the Irwin/Erwin genealogy and invite other researchers to examine the evidence for themselves. Finally, the inscription on the tombstone of Nathaniel Irwin at Bethesda Presbyterian Church must be re-examined in light of these findings. Nathaniel's marker at death (1794) would have probably been erected at the earlier location of Bethesda Church cemetery which was located one and one half miles east of the site to which the church was removed in 1820.

We come now to the listing of the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren of Matthew Irwin, who died in Mecklenburg County, N.C, in 1767:

Children of Matthew Irwin

1. William Erwin, 1735-May 20, 1814
11. James Erwin, ca. 1737-
111. Arthur Erwin, 1737-1821
IV. Hugh Erwin, ca. 1741 -
V. Nathaniel Irwin, ca. 1743-1794
VI. John Erwin, ca, 1745-
VII. Susannah ("Susan") Erwin, ca. 1747
VIII. Alexander Erwin, 1750-June 20, 1830

. . .

V. Nathaniel Irwin. Born ca. 1743. Died in York County, S. C., in 1794. Married (1) Mary ___ believed to be the mother of five of his children:

A. Mary Irwin. Born ca. 1770. Married Abraham Roach. Born about 1768-69, of York County, S. C. B. Abigail Irwin. Born ca. 1772. Married Thomas Polk,uncle of James Knox Polk, President of the United States. Resident of Tennessee. C. Alexander Irwin. Born ca. 1774. D. Susannah Irwin. Born ca.. 1776. Married Samuel Johnston. No issue. E. William Irwin. Born ca. 1778

Nathaniel Irwin married (2) Leah Julian, by whom he had the remaining children.

F. Nathaniel Irwin, Jr. Born ca. 1783. Died 1804, Married Mary Erwin, daughter of his uncle John Erwin. Buried in McNairy County, Tennessee. G. Sophia Irwin. Born ca. 1785. Married (1) John Darnell, (2) Franklin Graham. H. James Irwin. Born ca. 1787.

. . .

VII. Susanah ("Susan") Erwin. Born ca. 1747. Married John Graham, an uncle of Governor Graham of North Carolina.