James Irving the Elder

The following is extracted from an old document preserved at Bonshaw, Scotland: "James Irving, eighth lawful son to said William and Emilia, was born April ye 19th, 1713, in ye Chamber of Dire in Bonshaw, about 3 in the afternoon, and was baptized the 27th of ye said month, being Monday, betwixt 2 and 3 in the afternoon, be Mr. Thos. Bowie, Minister of Annan.

Witnesses Gr Scot Maxwell and oyrs."

Birth 9th April 1713 page 2 (2).

"James Irving, eighth lawful son to said William and Emilia, was born April ye 1713, in ye chamber of Dire in Bonshaw, about 3 in the afternoon and was baptised the 27 the of ye said month, being Monday betwixt 2 and 3 in the afternoon be Mr Thos Bowie, Minister of Annan. Witness Gr Scot Maxwell and oyers." Page 2 foot note of James Irving's book. (2)

Degree of Doctor of Medicine about 1735 page 2. (2) (1)

Marriage to Elizabeth Motte 22 February 1746/47 Page 2 (2) Marriage recorded at St Philips Parish Register, Charles Town, South Carolina, Page 185. (2)(3)

James marriage to Elizabeth was not without problems as Elizabeth had other suitors. At a party James threw a decanter at Dawkins, they fought a duel with small swords, without seconds, in the St Philips churchyard. They were discovered wounded, lying on the ground still pricking at each other. Page 4. (2)

After the marriage they moved to Jamaica where James acquired considerable property. By 1849 they had returned to South Carolina and purchase the Ironshore Property from John Lawrence. Page 5 (2)

The acreage of various Estates and Slaves held by James Irving and his heirs are given in The Jamaican Almanac of 1833:

Irving Tower 900 acres 111 Slaves

Ironshore 1152 acres 234 Slaves

Hartfield 1152 acres 128 Slaves

Bonshaw 1000 acres

The Crawle 200 acres

Footnote page 6. (2)(4)

The most important of the sugar islands was Jamaica. By the mid 18th century it had a population of 10,000 whites and 120,000 negro slaves, direct from Africa. As a consequence the island was always in fear of a slave revolt. Its laws and conditions of life reflected this concern and were harsh, as a consequence the slave population did not breed as in the Southern USA States and therefore were constantly in need of renewal. Page 243 (5)

James held property in Jamaica and 1767 was elected to the House of Assembly of Jamaica as Member for the parish of St. James. James was member for the last 8 years of his life. Page 6 (2)

Death 4 November 1775, London Page 2 (2)

Burial in St Martin's in the Field Church 10 November 1775, page 23. (2)

Sources 1. The Irvings of Bonshaw by Alastair Maxwell Irving, 1968. Pub Wheaton & Co, Exeter.. Page 26 Genealogy of the Irving of Bonshaw.

2. James Irving and his descendants, 1713-1918 by Sir Aemilius Irving KC. Pub College Press, Toronto, Canada, 1918

3.St Philips Parish Register, Charles Town, South Carolina, (Possibly now Charleston)

4. The Jamaican Almanac of 1833

5. Eighteenth Century England by Dorothy Marshall,Pub 1977, Longman.