Robert Irwin (1738 - 1800)

Born 26 Aug 1738 in Chester, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died 23 Dec 1800 at age 62 in Steel Creek, Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Robert was born in 1738. He died in 1800.

Robert Irwin, General of the American militia in the Revolutionary War. Captain in the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia 1775, 1776 - 1777. Captain in the 2nd Salisbury District Minutemen 1775 - 1776. Lt. Colonel in the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia 1777 - 1778. Colonel in the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia 1778 - 1783.

Robert was married two times.

Spouse #1: Mary (Barry) Irwin 1777 - . They were married 3/26/1798 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Per North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762 - 1979.

Spouse #2: Mary (Alexander) Irwin 1754 - 1796. Findagrave #16355158 (links her parents, 2 siblings, Robert, 3 children)

General Robert Irwin was one of the original signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence.

The Irvines, later Irwins, came from Ireland to Pennsylvania about 1730. Robert's father died in Pennsylvania in 1763, so he sold his land gained from his inheritance to a brother and moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Settling in the southwestern part of the county known as Steele Creek, he married twice, both believed to be daughters of other Mecklenburg signers.

He served on the Mecklenburg Safety Committee and was the Mecklenburg delegate to the congress at Halifax in 4/1776, and the New Bern congress in 11/1776, where the state government was formed and the Council of War organized. He was appointed a Colonel and had a victory at Hanging Rock in South Carolina. He was later promoted to General and lived almost 25 years after the war ended.

Although he did not have a formal education, he and his family married into some of the most honorable of families in Steele Creek. He was an elder in the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church for 20 years.

King, Victor C. Lives and Times of the 27 Signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence of 5/20/1775. Charlotte, North Carolina, 1956

Inscription: Sacred to the memory of General Robert Irwin who departed this life the 23rd of Dec 1800. Aged 62 years. Also to the memory of Mary Irwin his wife who departed this life the 24th of March 1796 aged 42 years.

Research Notes

The spouse that is linked is not listed as a spouse for Robert. The child is linked is listed as his child with Mary (Alexander) Irwin. See his FamilySearch & Findagrave pages and other docs added. Record was previously unsourced. 3/10/23

There is a duplicate wikitree record with the correct spouses. It is set as a rejected merge. Irwin-1689

Sources

• Robert is buried at the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA. His page lists and has links to his spouse, 3 children. There is a picture of his headstone, copy of his D.A.R. record, a plaque from the from D.A.R. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16355150/robert-irwin

• Gen. Robert Irwin: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L6J7-1LX Lists his parents, 20 siblings, spouse Mary B. & 1 child, spouse Mary A. & 9 children, 19 sources/notes. Note: 2 childen are linked on their Findagrave pages that are not listed.

• Robert Irwin, North Carolina Politician: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Irwin_(North_Carolina_politician)

• The American Revolution in North Carolina: "On September 9, 1775, Robert Irwin was appointed as a Captain under Col. Thomas Polk in the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia. Capt. Robert Irwin led his company at the battle of the Cane Brake, SC (12/22/1775) and in the infamous Snow Campaign in South Carolina (12/23-12/30/1775).

While in South Carolina, the NC Provincial Congress created the 2nd Battalion of Salisbury District Minutemen on December 21, 1775, and appointed Thomas Polk as Colonel/Commandant. Capt. Robert Irwin was now assigned to the 2nd Battalion of Salisbury District Minutemen. Capt. Robert Irwin led his company at the battle of Moore's Creek Bridge on February 27, 1776. All Minutemen regiments were disbanded on April 10, 1776.

Soon thereafter, Capt. Robert Irwin returned to the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia, now under Col. Adam Alexander. He led his company in the Cherokee Expedition of 1776 led by Brig. Gen. Griffith Rutherford on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

In January of 1777, Robert Irwin was commissioned as a Lt. Colonel under Col. Adam Alexander in the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia, replacing Lt. Col. John Phifer, who had died in November of 1776.

In the 3Q of 1778, Robert Irwin was commissioned as the second Colonel, alongside Col. George Alexander, in the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia, replacing Col. Adam Alexander, who had resigned his commission. Col. Robert Irwin became the Colonel/Commandant over the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia in the 4Q of 1780, after Col. George Alexander resigned his commission. Available records indicate that Col. Robert Irwin retained his command until the end of the war in 1783.

Col. Robert Irwin led part of the Mecklenburg County Regiment of Militia at the battles of Rocky Mount, SC (7/30/1780) and Hanging Rock, SC (8/6/1780). He was marching to join up with Maj. Gen. Horatio Gates, but turned ill and had to go back home prior to the battle of Camden, SC.

Robert Irwin was born on August 20, 1738 (another source says August 26, 1740) in Chester, PA, the son of William Irwin. His first wife was named Mary Alexander and they had ten known children - Margaret, Eleanor, James, William, Sarah, Dorcas, Mary, Robert Jr., Amy, and Martha. He married a second time to Mary Barry on March 29, 1798. Robert Irwin died on December 23, 1800 in Mecklenburg County, NC.

Robert Irwin was one of the original signers of the Mecklenburg Resolves on May 20, 1775. He was a delegate to the Fourth Provincial Congress in Halifax during April of 1776, and to the Fifth Provincial Congress during November of 1776, also at Halifax. He was elected to the NC Senate from 1778 to 1783, in 1795, and from 1797 to 1800. He was elected to the NC House of Commons in 1790." https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriot_leaders_nc_robert_irwin.html

• Robert Irwin: "Gen. Robert Irwin of Steele Creek Township, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (1738-1800) was a long term North Carolina State Senator. The first State Senator ever elected from Mecklenburg County, he served as the North Carolina State Senator from Mecklenburg County in the years 1778-1783, again, in the years 1787 and 1795, and, finally, from 1797-1800, dying in office.[1] Prior to entering the Senate, Irwin commanded Patriot (American Revolution) militia forces of the North Carolina State Militia, rising to the rank of a general of command in the 1st Mecklenburg County Regiment (Est. 1775, Split into 1st & 2nd regiments 1780, and Disest. 1783). He commanded the battalion while fighting strategically against Loyalist (American Revolution) militia forces beside South Carolina patriot militia General Thomas Sumter at the Battle of Rocky Mount and later beside him victoriously against loyalist provisional units and militia while heavily outnumbered at the Battle of Hanging Rock. Irwin is reported to have been a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. Gen. Irwin was of the Presbyterian faith." https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Robert_Irwin_(North_Carolina_politician)

• Biography Of Robert Irwin: "Robert Irwin” was a distinguished officer, and performed important military service during the Revolutionary War. In 1776, he and William Alexander each, commanded a regiment under General Rutherford, in the expedition from Mecklenburg, Rowan, Lincoln, and other counties, to subdue the Cherokee Indians, who were committing murders and numerous depredations upon the frontier settlements.

After the fall of Charleston many of the unsubdued Whigs sought shelter in North Carolina. Early in July, 1780, General Sumter had taken refuge in Mecklenburg county, and having enlisted a considerable number of brave and dashing recruits in that chivalric region, returned to South Carolina prepared for new and daring exploits. Soon thereafter, accompanied by Colonels Neal, Irwin, Hill and Lacy, he made a vigorous assault against the post of Rocky Mount, but failed in reducing it for the want of artillery. After this assault General Sumter crossed the Catawba, and marched with his forces in the direction of Hanging Rock. In the engagement which took place there, and, in the main successful, the right was composed of General Davie’s troops, and some volunteers under Major Bryan; the centre consisted of Colonel Irwin’s Mecklenburg Militia, which made the first attack; and the left included Colonel Hill’s South Carolina Regulars.[G] In 1781 Colonel Irwin commanded a regiment under General Rutherford, in the Wilmington campaign. He was a delegate to the Provincial Congress, which met at Halifax, on the 4th of April, 1776, with John McKnitt Alexander and John Phifer as colleagues. He was again a delegate to the Provincial Congress which met at Halifax, on the 12th of November, 1776, which body formed our first Constitution. His last civil services were as Senator from Mecklenburg county, in 1797,-’98-’99 and 1800. For many years he was a worthy and influential Elder of the Presbyterian Church at Steele Creek. He died on the 23rd of December, 1800, aged sixty-two years." Hunter, C. L. Sketches of Western North Carolina, Historical and Biographical. 1877. https://accessgenealogy.com/north-carolina/biography-of-robert-irwin.htm

• D.A.R. From Lineage Book #2 of NSDAR: "MRS. JESSICA “PEARL” NEELY GRANT (1865-1931) (1st picture) Was DAR member #1951. She was born in Tennessee. She was the wife of James Daniel Grant (1864-1924) (2nd picture). (James Daniel Grant was born November 4, 1864 and died December 3, 1924. He was a cotton broker. Jessica “Pearl” Neely Grant was born July 8, 1865 in Memphis, Tennessee and died August 24, 1931 in Memphis, Tennessee. They married in 1890. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee. - 3rd & 4th pictures.

She was the daughter of James Columbus Neely (1826-1901) (FIFTH PICTURE) and Frances Blocker (1839-1905), his wife. (James Columbus Neely was born April 19, 1826 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and died January 22, 1901 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a grocer. Mary Frances Blocker was born February 4, 1839 in DeSoto County, Mississippi and died February 27, 1905 in Memphis, Tennessee. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee. - 6th picture.

She was a granddaughter of Moses Neely (1799-1837) and Jane McDowell (1805-1885), his wife. (Moses Neely was born January 29, 1799 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and January 18, 1837. He was a farmer. They married in 1825. Jane Parks McDowell was born February 10, 1805 and died July 5, 1885. They are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery, Memphis, Tennessee. - 7th Picture.

She was a great-granddaughter of Hugh McDowell (1777-1835) and Margaret Irwin (1782-1838), his wife. (Hugh McDowell was born December 16, 1777 in Burke County, Tennessee and May 16, 1835 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Margaret Irwin was born in 1782 and died May 3, 1838 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. She married Hugh McDowell about March 31, 1802 (date of marriage bond). They had 8 children: Jane Parks, John Hamilton, Marguerite Irwin, Joh Hugh, Hannah A., Sarah S., Robert Irwin, & Margaret Cornelia McDowell. They are buried in Steele Creek Presbyterian Creek Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina. - 8th and 9th pictures.

She was a great-great-granddaughter of John McDowell (1743-1795) and Jane Parks (1746-1824), his wife. John McDowell received three wounds at the battle of Camden, SC. He rose to the rank of colonel. John McDowell was born in 1743 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and died July 30, 1795 in Mecklenburg, North Carolina. Jane Parks was born March 5, 1743 in Rowan County, North Carolina and died October 8, 1824 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He married Jane Parks in July 1772. She was the daughter of Hugh Parks & wife Margaret Young. She is known as a local patriot, sort of the Paul Revere of Mecklenburg County, who is said to have ridden 10 miles, with a baby, to tell her husband and his military unit that the British were evacuating Charlotte during the American Revolution. A historical marker at the site commemorates Jane's ride. - TENTH PICTURE The McDowell home was on S. Tryon Street in Charlotte. The original log cabin is still contained within what is now a larger, later home. - ELEVENTH PICTURE) They are buried in Steele Creek Presbyterian Creek Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina. - 12th and 13th pictures.

She was a great-great-granddaughter of Robert Irwin (1738-1800) and Mary Alexander (1754-1796), his wife. Robert Irwin was a signer of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence; member of the first State Constitutional Convention, which met in North Carolina, November 12, 1776. (Robert Irwin was born August 26, 1738 in Chester County, Pennsylvania and died December 23, 1800 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. General Robert Irwin was one of the original signers of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. The Irvines, later Irwins, came from Ireland to Pennsylvania about 1730. Robert's father died in Pennsylvania in 1763, so he sold his land gained from his inheritance to a brother and moved to Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Settling in the southwestern part of the county known as Steele Creek, he married twice, both believed to be daughters of other Mecklenburg signers. He served on the Mecklenburg Safety Committee and was the Mecklenburg delegate to the congress at Halifax in April 1776, and the New Bern congress in November 1776, where the state government was formed and the Council of War organized. He was appointed a colonel and had a victory at Hanging Rock in South Carolina. He was later promoted to general and lived almost twenty-five years after the war ended. Although he did not have a formal education, he and his family married into some of the most honorable of families in Steele Creek. He was an elder in the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church for 20 years. Mary Alexander was born in 1754 in Cecil County, Maryland and died March 24, 1796 in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. Her father, Zebulon Alexander, was 34 and her mother, Hannah Hodgson, was 19 when she was born. They are buried in Steele Creek Presbyterian Creek Cemetery, Charlotte, North Carolina. 14th and 15th pictures. From the National Pike Chapter DAR, facebook group.