Individual Details

Although Robert later gave his place of birth as Virginia, it seems more likely he was born in Kentucky. Since Kentucky did not become a state until 1792, it would have still been a part of Virginia when Robert Irwin was born - perhaps an explanation for the confusion. Two of his sons, Ira and Harrison, seem to think their father had been born in Ohio - certainly he had lived there for a time.

There is also a problem of which of John Irwin's wives was Robert's mother and when was he born. The will of John Irwin seems to imply that his daughter Mary & son Robert might have been the children of his first wife Eleanor, while the daughter Eleanor seems to be the child of the second wife Esther. It is an implication, not a certainty.

24 Jun 1809 Charles Waits and Catherine his wife, Clermont Co, Ohio to Robert Irwin of the same place. For $140 in the county of Clermont on waters of the east fork of the Little Miami. [metes and bounds description], containing 50 acres. Signed by the marks of Charles and Catherine Waites
Wit: Levi Rodgers
On the same day, Charles and Catherine acknowledged the deed, she being examined separately.
This deed effectively somewhat dates the birth of Robert - he would have need to be age 21 to be a land owner, unless he was a married man. Likely he was born before 1788. In fact, the marriage of a sister would suggest he could have been as much as 10 years older, which would make him really old at his death in 1874.

Although Ohio became a state in 1803, the census for 1810 has been lost. There is an 1810 Tax List for Clermont Co online at
It lists both a John Irwin and a Robert Irwin there in 1810.
There are also earlier tax lists - a John Irwin and John Irwin Jr. were taxed in Clermont Co in 1806; John Irwin and Robert Irwin in 1809. The fact that Robert was not yet included in 1806, might indicate he was probably not yet age 21, but was age 21 by 1809.

Multiple Robert Irwins served in the War of 1812.
There is a War of 1812 Record for a Robert Irwin, 1st Regt (under Col. James Mills) Ohio Militia. He served as a Corporal. More details follow as this is this man.
There was a Capt Robert Irwin's Company probably from Belmont Co, Ohio - whose roll is listed in Roster of Ohio Soldiers in the War of 1812, published by the the Adjutant General of Ohio, 1916. Capt. Robert Irwin was the only Robert Irwin in this book. There was a Robert Erwin who served in Capt. Nicholas Murray's Co from Jefferson County.

This Robert Irwin (my ancestor) was a Corporal in Capt. Daniel Hasbrooks' Company, (Hasbrooks name is also seen as "Osbrooks") Ohio Militia, and received bounty land. His address was Rushville, Schuyler Co, IL; he enlisted 25 Feb 1813. He was discharged, 12 Aug 1813. He received bounty land warrants #4983 and #16090, each for 80 acres. in 1850-1855 and 1871, he was still living in Rushville. His wife was Lavina White, married about 1830 in Clermont Co, Ohio.
12 Nov 1850. Declaration for Bounty Land. Robert Irwin age 60. He served as a Corporal, commanded by Dapt Daniel Osbrook, Regt of Infantry commanded by Col. Mills. Drafter at New Town, Ohio about the first of Feb 1813 and served six months; honorably discharged at Fort Amanda on the 3rd of Aug 1813. Signed with his own signature.
21 Apr 1855. When he made his second application for 80 acres of bounty land, he was age 65 and said he served as a Corporal under Capt Osbrooks in the Ohio Militia, commanded by Col. Mills. He was drafted at Cincinnati about the 5th of Feb 1814 for six months and was discharged at Amanda, Ohio, 5 Aug 1814.
20 March 1871. Declaration for Pension, War of 1812. Schuyler Co, IL. Robert Irwin, age 82 of Buenavista Twp, Schuyler Co. Wife, Lavina White, married March 1830, Clermont Co, Ohio. He served the full period of 60 days, drafter, and served under Capt Daniel Ausbrook, or Osbrooks, Col. Mills Regiment. Drafted at Hamilton Co, Ohio in the first draft after Winchester's defeat at the River Raisin. Discharged at Fort Amanda on the Auglaize River after a full six months. The were never in any engagement but quartered at Fort Amanda and went down the Auglaize with boats & supplies for the forces at Fort Meigs. Only went as far as Defiance.
Certificate of Pension dated 11 Nov 1871.

1820, Williamsburg, Clermont Co Ohio.
Robert Irwin, 1m under age 10. 1m 26-45. 1f 16-26. 1f over age 45. [Possibly Robert's stepmother Esther?]

11 Apr 1822. Brown Co, Ohio.
Robert Irwin, and Mary his wife, of Brown Co to James Waits Jr. and Richard Waits, also of Brown Co., sold for $200, a tract in Clermont Co on the waters of the East Fork of the Little Miami River. [Metes and bounds given along with the addition of neighbors.] Corner to David Snell, with his line; corner to John Trout, to Absalom Smith, with Smith and James Wardlow, bank of Crane Run, original line of John Irwin's line. 66 acres and 97 poles, being part of the same land conveyed to John Irwin, dec'd by William Lyttle, on 17 Aug 1810, recorded in Book H or 2, p.352-354, Clermont County.
Signed: Robert (X) Irwin. Mary (X) Irwin
Wit: John Irwin Fisher [John's daughter married a Fisher - is this Robert's nephew?], William Hunter
Acknowledged by Robert Irwin and Mary his wife on the same day by William Hunter, J.P.
Robert was awarded 65 acres in his father's will - this is obviously his inheritance he is selling.

Perhaps this is Robert living in Felicity, Clermont Co Ohio in 1830, although the data doesn't match very well. There were many Robert Irwins living in Ohio in 1830 - none of them were in Brown Co.
Robert Irwin, 2m under 5. 1m 30-40 [Robert would be 43]. 1f 20-30 [Lavina was older than 30]. The children do not match up well either. Neither have I been able to find Robert with any degree of certainty in 1840. No Robert Irwin/Irvin/Erwin of any spelling was present yet in Schuyler Co, IL, but the births of his children suggest he was still in Ohio in 1840.

Land Records, 1844 977.3475 R2s Family History Library
Buena Vista Twp 2N, Range 2W
Robert Irwin, the SW 1/4 of Section 33, 160 acres
Note: This is the Quarter section patented to Richard Hill.

Listed as Farmer in the 1850 Census, Schuyler Co, IL. All children said born in Ohio. including Amanda born 1838. Robert Irwin, age 59, b. VA. Lavina, age 54, b. KY. Harvey, age 17, a cooper, b. Ohio. Harrison, 14, b. Ohio. Amanda 12, b. Ohio. Eleazar, age 30, a cooper, b. Ohio.


1850 Census, Oregon Twp, Schuyler Co, there was also a Cassandra "Arvin", age 29, b. KY. She was living with James Arvin, age 28, Sarah, 18, and Emily 12, also all b. KY. These would appear to be siblings living together. It could also be James & Cassandra, married, with his siblings. Annotation to a cemetery listing stated Cassandra was a daughter of Robert Irwin. I believe this connection was an error. Interpretation of this census could be James Arvin and wife, Sarah & Emily, his sibling. There were several families of "Arvins" in 1850 and most were born in Kentucky. Although Cassandra was deceased before 1850, many of the others were still there, but in 1860 their surname was Irvin, not Irwin - this seems to be a different family. Possibly the family of an older Nathan Irvin, living in Schuyler Co.


2 Nov 1850. Robert Irwin testified before Edward Bertholf, a Justice of the Peace, that he was a resident of Schuyler County, and was the identical Robert Irwin who was a Corporal in the Company commanded by Capt. Daniel Osbrooks in the Regt of Infantry commanded by Col. Mills in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States 18th June 1812. He was drafted at New Town, Ohio about the first of February 1813 for six months and was honorably discharged at Fort Amanda, Ohio on the 3rd of Aug 1813. He never received a written discharge. He makes declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may be entitled under the Act passed Sept 28, 1850. Signed: Robert Irwin

21 Apr 1855. Robert Irwin, aged 65 [indicates a birth year of 1790 although some of the censuses indicate he might have been a year or two older], declared before Nathan Moore, County Clerk of Schuyler County, that he was identical with the Robert Irwin, Corporal in the Company commanded by Capt. Osbrooks in the Regt of Ohio Militia commanded by Col. Mills in the war with Great Britain, 1812. He was drafted at Cincinnati about the 5th of Feby. 1814 for six months and was honorably discharged at Amanda, Ohio on th 5th of Aug 1814. Any bounty land to which he is entitled under the Act approved 3 Mar 1855. He referred to his former declaration made 28 Sep 1850 under which he obtained Land Warrant #4983 for 80 acres, which he having legally transferred and disposed of, is not within his power now to return. He further declares he has not received a warrant for bounty land under any other act of Congress except this one and the former one on 28 Sep 1850. Signed Robert (X) Irwin.

From The Source, A Guidebook of American Genealogy, comes the following information concerning the acts passed by Congress to award Bounty Land for the War of !812. The Act of 28 Sep 1850 actually extended bounty land to officers & enlisted men who had not previously received land and who had served in any war since 1790, including the Indian wars. 80 acres was awarded for at least 4 months service; 9 months served brought 160 acres. The Act of 3 Mar 1855, extended the privileges by making 160 acres the minimum entitlement and reducing service to fourteen days or sometimes even less. A veteran who had received less than 160 acres, could apply for the balance.


1855 Illinois State Census. Buena Vista Twp. Robert Irwin had in his household:
1m age 20-30, 1m 60-70. 1f 10-20, 1f age 50-60.

Age given as 73 in 1860 Census.
1860 Census. Woodstock Twp. Rushville, P.O. Schuyler Co IL Hh 789
Robert Irvin, age 73, b. VA
Lavina, age 64, b. KY
Harrison Irvin next door; Ira Irvin enumerated next.

On 31 Jul 1863, Robert Irwin swore to the effect that Eleazer D. Irwin had died on or about the 11th day of April 1863. He was appointed administrator of his son's estate. Ira Irwin co-signed the security bond in the amount of $100.

1865 Illinois State Census. Woodstock, next to son Ira. 1 female age 60-70. 1 male age 70-80.

In 1870, Woodstock, Schuyler Co IL, Robert and Lavinia are listed as "Quinn". An obvious misunderstanding on the part of the enumerator. Or he recopied the data and could not read his own handwriting. Robert "Quinn" was age 81, born Virginia. Lavinia was age 72, born Kentucky. They were Hh 40 and son Harrison Irwin was Hh 42.

Rushville Times, 16 May 1874
Mr. Robert Irvin, one of the early settlers of this county, died on the 9th inst. at the residence of his son Harrison in Woodstock township; aged about 80 years.


I was first told by an Irwin researcher, that Robert had two wives named Lavinia. The deeds from Ohio show that his first wife certainly was Mary. The Lavinia found married to Robert in 1830 was old enough to have been the mother to all the known children, but hadn't been married to him long enough. However, there is some evidence Lavinia was married previously to a man named White and had at least one son from that marriage.

Birth	1787	Virginia
Marriage	18 Mar 1830	Clermont County, Ohio - LAVINA Hill
Death	9 May 1874	Rushville, Schuyler County, Illinois
Marriage		Mary [Irwin]

Spouse	LAVINA Hill (1797 - 1872)
Child	IRA PERRIN IRWIN (1831 - 1913)
Child	Harvey IRWIN (1834 - 1922)
Child	Harrison IRWIN (1835 - 1904)
Child	Rachel Amanda IRWIN (1838 - )

Spouse	Mary [Irwin] ( - )
Child	Eleazer D. IRWIN (1820 - 1863)
Child	Lavina Jane IRWIN (1826 - 1917)

Father	JOHN IRWIN (1751 - 1818)
Mother	ELEANOR [Irwin] ( - )
Sibling	Mary IRWIN (1772 - )
Sibling	John IRWIN (1780 - )