James William Erwin (1760 - 1849)

Born 12 Feb 1760 in Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Armstrong) Erwin — married 27 Jun 1787 in Orange, North Carolina, United States [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 7 Feb 1849 at age 88 in Mc Minn County, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bob Skinner [send private message]

Biography

Research Notes

• U.S. Census: 1850 Census of Hopewell, Beaver County, PA; Roll M432_750, p. 184A. If he died in Tennessee in 1849, he wouldn't have been in the 1850 Census in Pennsylvania ... are his death date & location correct??

1. Dr David Stumpf, David Stumpf Erwin Research, Erwin, James WIlliam Sr, 1997. " JAMES WILLIAM ERWIN, SR. via email to Marci Kippenbrock Young Delaney 1997 James William Erwin was born February 12, 1760, putatively in Ireland (other sources give the date as 1780). His exact origins and parents are not known. Family legends of a similar nature exist in branches of the family that diverge as far back as the sons of James William Erwin, Jr. These stories indicate that James William Erwin, Sr. was the third son of Colonel Arthur Erwin (1726-1792) and his first wife Mary. These facts cannot be substantiated in the rather substantial records available concerning Col. Erwin. Nonetheless, James Erwin was in Virginia and apparently married Mary (or Polly) in 1797. His eldest son William was born there in 1797. The first definite record of the family of Erwins in this line is in Blount County, Tennessee. Supposedly they lived in Cades Cove in 1810 and 1820. His son William was married in Blount County in 1821. The entire family either moved, or a boundary shifted, taking them to McMinn County by 1830. There, according to Ms. Boyers (an accurate historian), James William Erwin, Sr. died on February 7, 1849. The legendary sources place the date as 1836. His wife disappeared from the census records after 1850.

Source: Dr David Stumpf 1997."

WILL

Many genealogy researchers have located the will of James Irwin in Washington Co., Tennessee. It is the principal evidence for the parentage of James W. Erwin.

"James Irwin Will

In the name of God Amen. I James Irwin of Washington County and territory South of the river --- as it is appointed for all men to die and the uncertainty of the time when, I do make this my last will and testement being on a sick bed ----and first of all I comend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner and at the discretion of my executors as for what worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me withdispose of in a manner and form following that is to say ---- first I allow my funeral charges & all my just debts to be paid by my executors. ---- I do appoint my lawful wife Mary Irwin to act as my executor and to act as is her right according to this my will and my son Benjamin Irwin to act with is (sic) mother Sd. Mary Irwin as my executor in the same manner as fa-do --- that this my land shall be for the use of raising my small children and to remain my lawful wife's while she remains my widow and that they may sell Sd land and ---- as they shall be causen to purchase other lands for the benefit of Sd children and if she my said wife --- widow this lands to be sold and the monies to be ---- it my sons, viz., Benjamin, James and William & John. Davis ---. I likewise desire that as soon as the land is sold aftermy death that my son Robert shall receive from my executors fifteen pounds Virginia money and one horse to this same value and to my daughter Lettie I do give or bequeath ten pounds to be paid in the same manner as aforsaid and as to my three daughters Ellinor, Mary and Eliza I give them ten pounds to each on condition that they do behave themselves --- want manner to their mother and themselves and to Ellinor's child Rose five pounds if this estate is able. And the amount that I have against Neil MFall whose estate is in the hands of William Duttle in Pennsylvania to be divided equally among all my children … obtained and likewise this account in the hands of Col James Johnson living in Pennsylvania --- obtained to be divided in the manner and I do desire that all the cattle and --- other property of the estate be for my wife as afoursaid and I do appoint my dear wife and son to execute this my last will and testiment disallowing ---- all other wills as wills made by me confirming this and no other to be my last will and testiment. In witness hereof I have set my hand and seal, signed and pronounce and deliver as my last will and testiment and in presence of viz. Jas Irwin

The foregoing will was proven in court by the ---- Richard Long and of the subscribing witnesses ---- Session 1796 & ordered be recorded. Mary Irwin and Benjamin Irwin qualified as Executrix and executor of this ----"

Name: Erwin, James W.; date: 4/20/1843; Buyer: Wolff, John; LREC: BK4; p. 39; S=N; Deed book H, p. 185. Land formerly owned by William Erwin. John Wolff, advance bid on James W. Erwin land; land sold under a Deed of Trust. Another Deed date: 2/27/1804; Blount Co., Tennessee; Seller: Lowery, William; Buyer: Erwin, Isaac; Book B, p. 154; S=X; Isaac Erwin may have been his brother. Fam Hist: LREC: BK5; S=X; Horace Erwin maintained that James' father was Col. Arthur Erwin, a Revolutionary War hero. However, this reference clearly documents all of the colonel's children, and our ancestor is not to be found. Other sources confirm this. Thus, Horace's data and conclusions are not accurate. Cen 1830: McMinn Co., TN Cen 1840: McMinn Co., TN

Source: dr david Stumpf, 1997 via vanessa Butler to MKYoung Delaney 2001

DNA

Earliest known ancestor of Big Y-700 tester, kit 792577.

Sources

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, International Genealogical Information (IGI), contributed by volunteers, some with sources, Copyright (c) 1980, 2002, accessed 8 Jul 2020 "Erwin/Armstrong, marriage: 25 Oct 1796 McMinn County, , Tennessee."