Are you an Erwin, an Irwin, or even an Irvine, or an Irvin who is stumped when trying to identify a distant ancestor? Are you in a quandary where to begin your search? Join the author on her journey through the journal section of the book. She discovers the clues embedded in family tradition and uses the internet to reach out for more clues. Later, while traveling through eight Pennsylvania counties, many documents are gathered regarding any Irwin, including any spelling, who was born in the 1700's. Family stories are also considered. Through perseverance, eleven Irwin men born in the early 1700's are identified as being closely related to each other.Perhaps your unknown distant ancestor is one of these eleven men who is related to the others. These men are either brothers, cousins, fathers, sons, uncles, or nephews. The exact relationship is unknown. However, a close relationship is apparent using DNA results of Autosomal, Big-Y, and Y-DNA, geographical location, and family tradition.Each appendix in the appendices section is a compilation of facts and documents for some of these men and their families. One appendix gives the location of all of the families and where they lived in relation to the others.Over a thousand names and ten generations of Irwins are included in the descendants chart section of the 'Unknown' Irvine. The eleven men are listed as Generation Two. Perhaps, someone in your family is on this family tree.Hopefully, the methods used in this book will help you to break through your 'brick wall'.

William Erwin (1778-1861) immigrated with his parents (names unknown) from Ireland to Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1782, and married Elizabeth McDowell. Descendants and relatives lived in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, California and elsewhere.

The Irwin Surname - its Origins, Diaspora and Early Branches Poplarly spelt today as Ervin, Erwin, Irvin, Irvine, Irving, Irwin and Urwin, this surname was used by early Scottish kings (allegedly), the armour-bearer of Robert the Bruce, the author of Rip van Winkle and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, one of the first two men to attempt to summit Mount Everest, and the eighth man on the moon. The name has been given to towns, rivers and mountains in Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and Antarctica, and even an asteroid. Tradition claims that all those born with the surname and descended from a single ancestor, but DNA tests show that today there are over 40 unrelated branches of the surname. This is the first book to be published that makes a comprehensive record of the traditions, homesteads, heraldry, DNA, early records, chiefs and tartans associated with the surname, and to analyse its origins, spelling, pronunciations and principal migrations. The genealogies of the main branches of the name are refined and updated, including radical re-appraisals of the early Barons of Drum ad Lairds of Bonshaw. The book includes mini-biographies of the principal genealogists who have researched these branches, together with extensive lists of distinguished bearers of the surname, Irwin placenames, armorials, and transcripts and lists of early contemporary references.

Published in 1910, this volume contains an abstract of North Carolina wills. Compiled from original and recorded wills in the office of The Secretary of State.