Irwins/Irvines Glencoe County Antrim Northern Ireland

The English held most of the population of Ireland under severe penal restrictions as a result of several Test Acts enacted in the late 1600's by James I and Charles II of England. These edicts specified that all marriages and funerals were required to use the Church of England rituals and ceremonies. All non-Episcopalians were barred from serving in the army or navy, as well as from all other forms of public employment.

Catholics were restricted even further, particularly in the ownership of land. While these restrictions were aimed primarily at religious activities, there were others of an economic nature which left Ireland virtually on its knees.
 Most Scottish expatriates in Ireland at this time were Presbyterian, while the native Irish were predominantly Catholic. Many eventually took the Oath of Supremacy, probably with their fingers crossed behind their backs, in order to survive economically and provide for their families.

Nevertheless, people began to look elsewhere for freedom and opportunity. David Irvine was born in 1646 at Drum Castle near Aberdeen, Scotland. He was a son of Robert Irvine (1620-1645) of Drum and Elizabeth Wylie. He, like several other young Irvine men, left Scotland just ahead of the Covenenters. He married Sophia Gault about 1663 in Glencoe, County Ulster, Northern Ireland, and eventually, with the backing of the Irvine family in Scotland, operated a linen mill near Larne, County Antrim. They had five children.

One of those five was James Irwin who married Margaret Wylie and is buried in the historic Raloo Churchyard Antrim. Their son Archibald Irwin was born in Glencoe County Antrim and died in Mercersburg PA January 23, 1798. Archibald's son, also named Archibald, married Jean McDowell and their son William Irwin is father to John Irwin and grandfather to Joseph Combs Irwin.

This is the story of Robert Irvine, father of David, grandfather of our James Irwin and great-grandfather of our Archibald Irwin.

Robert Irvine

• Birth: 1620 - Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
• Death: Feb 4 1646 - Tolbooth Prison, Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland
• Parents: Alexander Irvine, Magdalene Scrimgrour
• Wife: Elizabeth Wylie
• Child: David Irvine
• Immigration: 1644, Fled from Scotland to Glencoe, Ulster, Ireland, where the Irwins had property, because of the religious troubles in Scotland.

The Lairds of Drum, had always been Royalists, but in the 1600s, with the strength of the "Covenanters" and the weakness of the King and his few supporters, the Laird and his estate suffered badly. Alexander, the Xth Laird, was imprisoned and a decree was issued by the Covenanters to demolish the Tower and the Castle of Drum, but the decree was never carried out. 

It was under these conditions that Robert Irvine, one of the younger sons of the Xth Laird fled to County Antrim, Ireland, to escape the persecution. There he settled at Glenoe, near Larne, and being perhaps twenty-five years of age, married Elizabeth Wylie, starting a cadet branch of Drum Castle that took roots only through two generations, the third in a large part, coming to America. 

In 1644, the King commissioned the raising of an army in support of his struggle with the Parliament in England. Robert Irvine, who had fled to Ireland earlier, returned to Scotland in answer to the King's call for assistance. On April 14, 1644, "The young Laird of Drum and his brother Robert rode through Abirdene having two cullouris, one having the King's Armes, the other having the Irving Armes." 

To get recruits for service in England. However, the Covenanters, being already in force, forestalled the efforts of the Royalists and pursued the Young Laird and his brother, making it necessary for them to flee the country.

"On 10 June, 1644, Alexander Irving, younger, of Drum, Marie Gordon, his lady, Robert Irving, his brother, Mr. Alexander Irving, sone to John Irving of Auchtamford, etc., shipped abour Fraserburghe, and to sea they go. But his Lady was so troubled with sea-sickness that they landed in Caithness, where Francis Sincklair, son to the Earl of Caithness, seized them and sent word to the Estates, now sitting at Edinburgh: quharait the Estates was marvelous blythe for getting such a riche pray, who gave order for their transportation. They were wardt in the Tolbuith, Edinburgh."

Montrose, now supporting the Royalists, arrived in triumph after his victory at Kilsyth and released all the prisoners from the Tolbooth (Scot: prison). The Irvines now joined the camp of Montrose, but scarcely had they done so when Montrose was completely defeated at Philiphaugh, on the 13th of September.

The Irvines were again consigned to their dungeons. 

"Ye hard befoir the taking and warding of the yound Drum and his brother, Robert Irving. This brave young gentleman (Robert) departit this lyf within the Tolbuith of Edinburgh, upon Tuysday, 4 Februar, 1646, and that same nicht, being excommunicate, was buriet, betwixt 11 and 12 a clok, with candle licht and lanternis, the young Laird lying sore seik alse the sane chamer, who upon gryt mogan, was transportit in ane wandbed, upon the morne, fra the Tolbuith to the Castell, quhair he lay sore greivit at the death of his weil belovit brother, bourne dune by unhappie destiny".

 The prison is now gone but this pub would be a good place for you to go and raise a glass in honor of our brave ancestor, Robert Irvine and his kin.