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IRWIN FAMILY
A brief outline of the Irwins of Union, Campbell, Anderson and Knox Counties,
Tennessee

Compiled by
William H. Irwin, Jr.

Francis Marion Irwin, born in 1777 in what is now Tennessee, most likely in
Washington County, can be considered the progenitor of a large percentage of the Irwins
of Union, Anderson, Campbell and Knox Counties, Tennessee. The ancestors of Francis
Marion Irwin can be traced to the Kingdom of Scotia (now Scotland) during the time of
King Malcolm II, who reigned during the years 1005 - 1034 AD. In the year 1323, as a
reward for his allegiance to King Robert de Bruce, William de Irvine, son of William
Irvine, Lord of Bonshaw Castle, was awarded the lands and castle of Drum. Twenty-five
generations later, his descendant, Francis Marion Irwin would find his way into the Walnut
Grove (Forkvale) section of Campbell County.

Francis Irwin, son of Robert Irwin, married Eleanor "Nellie" Lyon in Knox County,
Tennessee on March 20, 1797. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Lyon and Margaret
Armstrong. They lived on land purchased from his brother George in what is now the
Mascot area of Knox County. In 1813 Francis moved with his wife and four children to
Anderson County near the Loys Cross Roads area. In 1816 he would move to Campbell
County, near the old Walnut Grove area. His land encompassed what was later to become
Stout Dossett Cemetery. Francis and Nellie Lyon Irwin were the parents of four children,
all born in Knox County.

I. JANE "JENNIE" IRWIN, first born child of Francis Irwin, was horn in 1798,died
Nov13, 1864. Married to William "Station Bill" Sharp, she was his second wife, about 1818.
William Sharp's first wife was Rachel Stoener (Stiner), by whom he had five children: Jane
Sharp, who married John Irwin, Lucinda Sharp, who married Jacob Miller, son of
Raccoon Miller, Alfred Sharp, who married Elizabeth Loy, daughter of "Fisher" John Loy
and Nancy Miller, Louisa Sharp, who married Jacob Loy, son of "Fisher" John Loy, and
Caswell Sharp, who married (1) Hannah Duke and (2) Nancy Lovell.

The nine children of Jane Irwin and William Sharp, were:

1. Hamilton Sharp, born ca 1820, married Mary Ann Baker, dau of Soloman Baker and
Susannah Bayless. Eight children:

a. Elizabeth Sharp, married Isaac Stooksbury
b. Parley Sharp, married J.T. Loy
c. Sarah Sharp
d. Orlena Sharp, never married

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The contents of this page are copyright 2000 William H. Irwin Jr. all rights are reserved. The information on these pages are free for private use, but may not be included in any compilation or collection in any media form for either private or commercial use without the author's consent.The HTML and images of these documents are copyright 2000 Chip Brown. Coding and graphics generously donated by Maynardville.Com.