Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-12-21
VOL. 6.---NO. II.
WASHINGTON IRVING.

ted that full researches made few years since
prove that the father of Irving was born in
Shapinshay, one of the Orkney Islands. emf
grated to New York in l760. and died in 1885,
that the family from which Washington Irving
descended can be traced back far 1922.
and that the Irving Clan is mentioned in the
history of Scotland during the reign Of James
l, and in the ballads of Sir David Lindsay, one
of Scotland's s earliest poets.
The Sir Robert Strange, to whom allusion
is made in the letter, was an eminent engraver,
the founder of the branch of the art called his
torical engraving. He born IN the Ork-
ney Islands, and learned engraving in Edin-
burg. He Joined the pretender in the rebel
lion of 1745, and after the defeat and ront Of
the Pretender's army, wandered a fugitive in
the Highlands. He was finally pardoned, aud
then went to London. He visited France and
Italy, and as made 4 member of the Royal
Academy of Painting in Paris, and of the learn
ed schools of Florence, Rome and Bologna.
He returned to England, made valuable i'm
prOvements In the art of engraving, rose to dis
tinction and was created a Knight by George
the Third. 1t is said that he and Irving'S ia
ther were blood relations.
The Irvings of Orkney were cadets, or youn-
ger brothers OF the Irvings of Drum, which is
proven by coats of arms appended to old char
ters. Coats of arms are not held in high es-
timation in the United States, and yet, in tho
Old World, when well authenticated, they are
useful and instructive, for they are good evil
dence in regard TO property and families. They
We're first invented aid used at period when :
reading and writing were confined to the cier-
gy and a few of the highest class of society.
The coat of arms was the cogRizaRce, or badge,
by which person or family could be distinct
ly marked and known. The illustriouS author
of that exquisite book, ssBracebridge Hall,''
has right to emblazon all the stars of our Ma
tional Flag on his escutcheon, for he has in
Structed, humanized and refined his own coun-
al,- c1,o in
the estimation OF the enlightened world.
The name of Irving appears to have been
also spelled Irvine, Irven, Irwyn and Erying.
We presume that the lrwins and 1rvings, scat
tered over Pennsylvania, are descended from
the same original stock or clan as Washington
Irving. The IrwIns, of,the n Orth of Ireland,
are of the same Scotch origion. The ances-
tors of many of them settled in Ireland du-
ring the time of Cromwell, and obtained
grants of land from the Protector.
wAsuISGToY IRVING g ANCESTOR.
Dear Sir II see, from paragraph now go
ing the rounds, copied from the NOrthe n Eai-
siga. that Mr.. Petrie, county clerk OF Orkney,
has discovered that Washington Irving, the =
celebrated writer, is an Orkney man by das-
cent. Mr. Petrie says
'sAlong with other gentlemen, L have been
engaged for the last six or eight months in
tracing the pedigree of Washington Irving;
and We have found, from the manuscripts (most
that his father was born in Shapinshay, emf
grated to New-Y ork about 1850, and died in
1893, leaving a large fortune. The Rev. 2. P.
Irving was here about three weeks, and car
ried away with him a table Of the family des-
cent, tracing them back to 1922, and subscrih-
ed 10y Sheriff Robertson and myself. The
Orkney Irvings are descendants of the Irvings
OF Drum, appears from the coat Of arms,
appended to charters, &c"
Some years ago, weather beaten old Shields
sailor gave me the following particulars =
William and Peter Irven or IRVINE brothers,
were born in ShapiEshay, Orkney, about the
middle of last century. William took TO the
sea Peter was bred tailor. The former got
on rapidly, and, having acquired great for
tune, while yet young man, settled IN New
\ ork seventy or eighty years ago. Peter,who
remained in his native island, married, and
had five daughters, of whom the youngest, Sa-
rah the only one of the lot who entered the
married state was named after her uncle's wife
in Anne rica. She espouSed George Fowless
mariner, belonging 10 Durncss. and had seven
children, of whom the oldest. Thomas, nay in
formant, now living in Shields, is about sixty
years old. The rich American uncle had a
son, whom he named after the illustrious pa
triot Washington and this individual Is the
world renowned author of the S.Sketch Book''
and ''Bracebrdge Hail.
In Denniston's Memoirs of Sir r. Strange,
some additional facts are given John of Ir-
>
ney, in 1888. when the country was still an ap-
pcndage of the crown of Denmark and Nor
way. The Irvines of Sebay very frequent-
ly mentioned in the times of Robert and Pat
rick Stewart Earls of Orkney, and suffered
very severely from the outrages of these ra-
paciouS mobiles. They became extinct in the
direct male line fempors Charles. L; but one
collateral branch had Immediately before set
tied in the island of Sandy, and another. the
lrvines of Gairstay, in the island of Shs,
shay. They lett the estate of GairstaYi
generations back, and sank down isrS dsv Iwss
dition of mere peasants, tenar,. 3.ia." 10Y
where some of them resids !, -. -. .hp IA I'D
there lately with Mr. F9u 49, our ,ai horn VII.
roodast hn1'saa, eof Washington Irving. Is
liam Iryi,e cat singular that Sir Robert
II not se.lthe author of 'sBracebrldge HAIR
Strars IN ost demonstrated of the same blood?
cscess, if Irving knew his pedigree could be
.aced step by step up to Ohm lrwyn OF 1885,
e would readily claim and yindicate his Or
adian descent.
The Irvines. Irvins or Irwins, though SEEM
ng to derive their appellation from place in
Ayrshire are connected with the old moss
rooping Eurewings. of the southwestern Scot
ish march, The latter are enumerated by Sir
David Lindsay among the Border clans:-
Taylors, Eurewings, and Ellwands,
Speedy OF foot and light of hands.
A branch OF them settled early in the North
md we find that the Irvines, along with Il.
Zeiths, Leslys, ForheSes, and other cians6as
ing at enmity with Huntley and Errol l,ianis
James L., in his expedition TO the ii 49,
lRobertson's History Scotland, ii Baocr1r.
South Shields, octobcr.,, l0o0.
------s1 ave others, breaks the
DE tnat cannot b must pass himself.