James Irving (1792 - 1861)

Born 10 Jun 1792 in Dornock, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 29 Apr 1861 at age 68 in Clifton, Colchester, Nova Scotia

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Biography

James was born 10 Jun 1792 at Dornock, Dumfriesshire, Scotland. He was probably the son of Thomas Irving, born 1769.

He arrived to Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1819.

James married (1) Mary ___________. She was born circa 1795 in Dumfrieshire, Scotland and died 16 May 1832 in Londonderry, Colchester County, Nova Scotia. Her obituary states "left husband and 5 children, emigrated from Dumfrieshire, Scotland in 1819"

James married (2) Sarah Holmes. Other sources give her name as Sarah (Brewster) Thomas. She was born circa 1806. After the death of James, census records show that she was still living in Old Barns in 1871 but had moved to Truro by 1881. She died 5 March 1883 in Truro and is buried in Clifton, Colchester Co. Her tombstone shows "wife of James Irving, d. 5 March 1883 aged 76 years".

The family religion was Presbyterian.

The 1838 census of Londonderry township shows James Irving as a farmer with 2 females under 14 [?, ?], 1 male over 14 [James?] , 1 female over 14 [Mary Ann ?], total 5 including himself.

The 1861 census of Old Barns, Colchester County shows James Irving as a farmer with 1 male 10-15 [George W.], 1 female 10-15 [Catherine], 1 female 50-60 [Sarah, his wife], 1 male 60-70 [himself], total 4.

James died 29 Apr 1861 in Clifton, Colchester Co. and is buried there. The tombstone shows "native of Dumfrieshire, Scotland, d. 29 Apr 1861 aged 69 years". The 11 May 1861 edition of The Presbyterian Witness reported: "d. Mon 29 ult. at Clifton, Truro, in 68th year, native of Dumfrieshire, Scotland, for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church"

An article on James' son George W. T. Irving, which appeared in the Truro Daily News on 23 Dec 1897 states: "His ancestors were Scotch, connected with the family of the celebrated clergyman, and pulpit orator, Edward Irving."

Children (first 5 by 1st marriage):

1. Jane, b. 25 Aug 1814 in Scotland, m. 13 Aug 1835 in Onslow Township, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia, Thomas McCallum, d. 6 Mar 1904, bur. McCallum Settlement, Col Co.
2. Margaret, b. 1818 in Scotland, m. 19 Dec 1839 in Onslow?, David McCallum, d. 14 Apr 1882, bur. McCallum Settlement, Col Co.
3. prob. James, b. circa 1823.
4. prob. Mary Ann, b. ca 1823.
5. a daughter, b. before 1824.
6. prob. Henry, b. ca 1841. Residence Old Barns in 1871, Clifton in 1881, Truro in 1891 (surname recorded as Erwin). He married Elizabeth _______.
7. George William Thomas, b. 11 Apr 1841.
8. Catherine, b. ca 1844, d. 7 Sep 1876 in Halifax. In 1871, Catherine and her mother were living together in Old Barns, Colchester Co. She mar. 18 May 1871, Joseph Mahon of Truro. Her tombstone shows "wife of J. C. Mahon, d. 7 Sep 1876 aged 33 years"

Sources

• Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950; FHL Film Number: 1067958; Reference ID: - 2:160SJ1P
• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s; Place: Halifax, N.S.; Year: 1819; Page Number: 132
• Canada Census Year: 1851; Census Place: Pictou, Pictou County, Nova Scotia; Schedule: I; Roll: M_5903; Line: 13
• 1838 census of Londonderry township, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia
• 1861 census of Old Barns, Colchester County, Nova Scotia
• 1871 census of Old Barns, Colchester County, Nova Scotia

Research Notes

Several other James Irving’s seemed to have emigrated from Dumfrieshire to the Maritime provinces around the same era that this James Irving came.

The 25 Sep 1878 edition of the Daily News reported: "Dr. Waddell was born in Truro, N.S. on 7th March 1810 and when quite a boy his mother died. ... After attending Grammar School at Truro, kept by James Irving, he entered the Pictou Academy under the presidency of late Dr. McCulloch."

The Memorial of the one hundred and twenty-second, and of the one hundred and twenty-first, advertised as the one hundred and twenty-third anniversary of the settlement of Truro, by the British contains an article on the History of Education in Truro, a Prize Essay by Miss Aggie McKay of Grade IX, Model School, Winner of Governor General's Silver Medal, December 3rd, 1885 - "Mr. James Irving taught on Prince street ; and about the year 1810, in a red school house erected in a hollow, on the corner of what is now called Queen and Church streets. In wet weather the school house resembled a floating island. This hollow has disappeared, being filled in for the purpose of leveling up Queen street. Mr. Irving was educated In Edinburgh, and was considered an accomplished scholar and thorough teacher. ... At a later date Mr. Irving and Mr. Eaton taught together, on the corner of Queen and Church streets ; the former teaching the Languages, English grammar and Geography ; the latter, the simpler English branches and Book-keeping."