Francis Irwin, Sr. was a neighbor to brothers John and Robert Shepherd in Spotsylvania Co., Virginia. These families, along with others in Spotsylvania, Virginia, moved to the Reddies River area of Wilkes Co., NC on the eve of the Revolutionary War.
| Francis Irwin, Sr. Born: About 1740 possibly in Spotsylvania, VA Died: Before 1800 in Wilkes Co., NC Married: Ann __?__ about 1768 in Virginia Three Known Children: 1. Thomas Irwin, born abt. 1770. 2. Francis Irwin, Jr., born abt. 1780. 3. Mary Irwin |
| Thomas Irwin Born: About 1770 Died: November 25, 1853 in Russell Co., KY Married: Agnes Shepherd (Daughter of Robert & Sarah Rash Shepherd) in Wilkes Co., NC Thirteen Known Children (All Born in Wilkes Co., NC): 1. Elijah Irwin, born 1792/93. 2. Thomas P. Irwin 3. Alley Irwin, born Mar. 6, 1797. 4. Squire Irwin 5. Nancy Irwin Thomas, born ca. 1798. 6. Andrew Irwin, born ca. 1799. 7. William Irwin, born ca. 1800. 8. Sally Irwin Shepherd, born ca. 1803. 9. Robert Irwin, born ca. 1810. 10. Larkin Irwin, born ca. 1812. 11. Franklin Irwin 12. Elizabeth Irwin Spencer |
| Alley Irwin Born: March 6, 1797 at Reddies River, Wilkes Co., NC Died: June 28, 1879 at Reddies River, Wilkes Co., NC Married: Larkin Shepherd, Dec. 13, 1817 in Wilkes Co., NC Eleven Known Children (All Born at Reddies River, Wilkes Co., NC): 1. John F. Shepherd, born Nov. 25, 1817. 2. Lucinda Shepherd Weaver, born Nov. 1, 1821. 3. Rebeccah Shepherd Coffey, born March 7, 1824. 4. James Wilburn Shepherd, born Oct. 6, 1827 5. Franklin Shepherd, Sept. 16, 1829. 6. Sarah Shepherd Pierce, Sept. 19, 1831. 7. Jordan Ashley Shepherd, born Aug. 2, 1834. 8. Benjamin Shepherd, born Aug. 12, 1836. 9. Abraham Shepherd, born Feb. 25, 1839. 10. Martha Shepherd (Phouts) Phillips, born July 16, 1842. 11. Mary Matilda Shepherd Brown (twin to Martha), born July 16, 1842. |
| James Wilburn Shepherd Born: October 6, 1827 in Reddies River, Wilkes Co., NC Died: April 28, 1899 at Weaversford, NC Married 1st: Elizabeth Jones, Sept. 30, 1852 in Alleghany County, NC Married 2nd: Sarah Ellen La Rue, August 17, 1879 Six Known Children by Elizabeth Jones (All Born in Ashe Co., NC): 1. Sarah Jane Shepherd (Hash) Nuckols, born July 17, 1854. 2. John Calvin Shepherd, born Oct. 3, 1856. 3. James Franklin Shepherd, born Oct. 5, 1860. 4. Martha Malinda Shepherd Phouts, born April 8, 1864. 5. Mary Matilda Shepherd, born March 16, 1859. 6. Leona Shepherd Johnson, born Oct. 21, 1870. |
| John Calvin Shepherd Born: October 3, 1856 in Ashe Co., NC Died: July 27, 1929 , NC Married 1st: Rosabelle Baker, Aug. 22, 1876 in Ashe County, NC One Known Child by Rosabelle Baker: 1. Flora Ennis Shepherd Pegram, born August 22, 1877. Married 2nd: Sarah Anne Ballou, July 23, 1883 Four Known Children: 1. Grover Cleveland Shepherd, born May 6, 1885. 2. Fieldin Jones Shepherd, born Sept. 13, 1886, died Feb. 22, 1887. 3. Victoria Maude Shepherd, born Jan 16, 1888, died Mar. 7, 1892. 4. Benjamin Harrison Shepherd, born Feb. 9, 1890. Married 3rd: Martha Ludema Hash, June 25, 1891 Three Known Children: 1. Mary Elizabeth Shepherd Colvard, born June 12, 1892. 2. Lelia Jane Shepherd Brown, born April 6, 1894. 3. Ruby Swan Shepherd McMillian, born Nov. 22, 1896. |
| Grover Cleveland Shepherd Born: May 6, 1885, Ashe Co., NC Died: August 19, 1954 Married: Ethel Isabelle Walker, January 26, 1910 Eight Known Children: 1. James Wilburn Shepherd, born July 10, 1911. 2. Walter Leonard Shepherd, born Feb. 22, 1913. 3. Robert Blaine Shepherd, born 1915. 4. Sallie Edith Shepherd Howard, born Aug. 16, 1918. 5. Ralph Franklin Shepherd, born July 8, 1920. 6. Myrtle Luna Shepherd Pugh, born Aug. 29, 1922. 7. Mont Fred Shepherd, born Sept. 1, 1926. 8. Betty Ruth Shepherd Williams, born Feb. 28, 1933. | Benjamin Harrison Shepherd Born: Feb. 9, 1890, Ashe Co., NC Died: Jan. 9, 1979, Jefferson, NC Married: Sibbie Neaves, Jan. 22, 1911 Three Known Children: 1. Thelma Ennis Shepherd Fender, born Mar. 22, 1914. 2. Leonard Harrison Shepherd, born Jan. 3, 1918. 3. Wayne Dale Shepherd, born Dec. 16, 1919. |