Person:Robert Irwin (18)

  Featured Page: Week of 8 February 2021

Name and Relationships

Name: William ROBERT Irwin. Source is 1901 Canada census. He was called Robert. Source is his grave marker which is written as W Robert Irwin. His 1929 obituary listed his name incorrectly as Robert W Irwin.

Parents: William Irwin and Frances Jackson. Both were born in Ireland. Source is Robert Irwin's 1929 death registration.

Spouse: Georganna Stewart. Source is Georganna's and Robert's grave marker in Chapman Cemetery.

Children: ELMER Enoch Stewart, WILLIAM Robert, Ella Maria GRACE, James ROYAL, Kenneth, George Edward VICTOR, Florence EDITH, and JESSIE Lavina.

Siblings: ANNA Maria Irwin, JAMES Jackson Irwin, and half brothers John Henry Harrison and David George Harrison. Source is 1891 Census of Canada.

Personal History

1875 - Birth: William ROBERT Irwin was born on March 16, 1875 in Ontario. Source is 1901 Canada census ^[1] . Have not been able to locate a birth registration for him. The year is consistent with his grave marker that also says he was born in 1875. However, his 1929 death registration says that he was born March 11, 1877 in Magnetawan. This latter information was provided by his 24 year old son Elmer who seems to have have made an error in the day and year.

1878 - Death of Father: When Robert Irwin was 3, his father William Irwin died suddenly. Source is William Irwin's 1878 death certificate.

1881 - Census: On April 4, 1881, Robert Irwin 6, was living on the family farm near Magnetawan with his mother, Frances Irwin 34 (now widowed), his sister Annie 7, and brother James Jackson 4. Source is 1881 Census of Canada ^[5].

1881 - Marriage of Mother: On September 12, 1881, Robert Irwin's mother, Frances Irwin 35, married William Harrison 28, in Magnetawan. Source is their 1881 marriage registration.

1891 - Census: Ten years later, on April 6, 1891, Robert Irwin 14, lived on the farm with his mother Frances Harrison 45 (Note: the 1891 census says 37 but this is an error). Robert Irwin is listed by the name Robert Harrison in this census. Also in the same household are: James Irwin (listed as James Harrison) 12, Annie Irwin (listed as Annie Harrison) 17, John Henry Harrison 8 and David George Harrison 6. Source is the 1891 Census of Canada ^[4]

1892 - Death of Step-Father: On April 28, 1892, William Harrison 39, drowned in the Magnetawan River near Kneophflie Rapids during a log drive. Following this tragedy, Frances Harrison 45, continued to live on the Magnetawan farm with her children. Source is D. Smyth My Irwin Family, unpublished.

1901 - Census: On March 31, 1901 Robert Irwin (listed as Robert W Irwin in this document) 26, was living on the Magnetawan farm at Lot 97, Concession B, Chapman Township with his mother Frances Harrison 54, his biological brother, James Jackson Irwin 24, and his two half brothers, John H. Harrison 18, and David G. Harrison 16. Robert Irwin was not married. Source is 1901 Census of Canada ^[1].

1904 - Marriage: On June 28, 1904, Robert Irwin 29, married Georganna Stewart 21, at her parents residence in Chapman Township. Source is The William Irwin Farm by D. Smyth, 1989. NOTE: could find no record of marriage registration in 96 pages of 1904 records in Muskoka/Parry Sound District.

1905 - Birth of Child: On November 10, 1905, Georganna and Robert's first child, ELMER Enoch Stewart Irwin, was born on the family farm near Magnetawan, Ontario. Source is Elmer's 1905 birth registration. Georganna was 23 and Robert was 30.

1907 - Birth of Child: On February 2, 1907, Georganna and Robert's second child, WILLIAM Robert Irwin, was born on the family farm near Magnetawan, Ontario. Georganna was about 25 and Robert was about 32.

1908 - Birth of Child: On October 15, 1908, Georganna and Robert's third child, Ella Mariah GRACE Irwin, was born on the family farm near Magnetawan, Ontario. Georganna was about 26 and Robert was about 33.

190? - Residence: Some time prior to the 1911 census, Robert's mother, Frances Harrison moved out of the Magnetawan farm and moved in with James Irwin's family on their farm in Chapman Valley.

1911 - Census: On June 23, 1911, Robert Irwin 36, was living on the farm with his wife Georganna 28, and three children: Elmer 5, Will 4 and Ella (Grace) 2. Source is 1911 Census of Canada ^[2].

1911 - Birth of Child: On June 1, 1911, Georganna (spelled Georgina in this document) and Robert's fourth child, James ROYAL Irwin was born on the family farm near Magnetawan, Ontario. He was called Roy. Source is his 1911 birth registration. Georganna was about 28 and Robert about 36.

1911 - Deed to Farm: A month later, on July 21, 1911, Robert Irwin received the papers deeding the farm to himself and Georganna. Source is The William Irwin Farm by D. Smyth, 1989 ^[6].

1913 - Birth of Child: On February 13, 1913, Georganna and Robert's fifth child, Kenneth Irwin, was born. Unfortunately, he died two days later. Dr. Freebow listed the cause of death as 'Instrumental Delivery'. Source is his 1913 death registration. He was buried in Chapman Community Cemetery. Source is photo of his grave marker in Chapman Community Cemetery, Magnetawan, Ontario. Georganna was about 30 and Robert was about 38.

1914 - Birth of Child: On ----, 1914, Georganna and Robert's sixth child, George Edward VICTOR Irwin was born in Magnetawan. Georganna was about 31 and Robert was about 39. CONFIRM SOURCE. Have been unable to find a birth registration for Victor.

1917 - Birth of Child: On ---, 1917, Georganna and Robert's seventh child, Florence EDITH Irwin was born in ---. Georganna was about 34 and Robert was about 41. CONFIRM SOURCE. Have been unable to find a birth registration for Edith.

1919 - Birth of Child: On ---, 1919, Georganna and Robert's eighth child, JESSIE Lavina Irwin, was born in ----. Georganna was about 36 and Robert was about 43. CONFIRM SOURCE. Have been unable to locate a birth registration for Jessie.

1921 - Census: On June 30, 1921, Robert Irwin 47, was living on the farm with his wife Georganna 38 and 7 children: Elmer 15, Will 14, Ella (Grace) 12, Roy 10, Victor 6, Edith 4 and Jessie 1. Source is 1921 Census of Canada ^[3].

1929 - Death and Burial: Robert Irwin 54, died in Magnetawan, Ontario on March 10, 1929, from lobar pneumonia following influenza. The doctor described his death as sudden since he was sick for only 3 days. Source is his 1929 death registration. Two days later, on March 12, 1929, Robert Irwin was buried in Chapman Community Cemetery. Source is 1929 death registration and grave marker ^[8]. The casket was borne by Tom King, William Fitzer, T.E. Stewart, Herb Taylor, B. Jackson and D. Stewart. Source is The William Irwin Farm by D. Smyth, 1989 ^[6]. NOTE: Pat Hall McDowell, one of his granddaughters, said that her mother, Edith Hall Irwin, told Pat that her father, Robert Irwin, broke through the ice when hauling logs and caught pneumonia after walking home with wet clothes. CAN THIS BE VERIFIED?

Grave Marker: IRWIN Father W ROBERT 1875-1929 Mother GEORGANNA 1883-1951 Son KENNETH 1913 Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Chapman Cemetery, Parry Sound District, Ontario.

Obituary

His obituary stated that Mr. Irwin always lived in Magnetawan where he was very well known and very well liked. He was a quiet man, inoffensive, patient and kind hearted. He has been a constant member of the former Methodist and now United Church of Magnetawan and was faithful in church attendance.

Stories

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Chapman, Muskoka and Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, in Canada. 1901 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   Image #z000083476, Family 61, Page 7, Line 22, 31 Mar 1901.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Chapman, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, in Canada. 1911 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   Image # e002011071, Page 7, Line 40, Jun 1911.
3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Chapman, Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, in Canada. 1921 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   RG 31, Folder 79, Page 6, 30 Jun 1921.
4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Chapman and Croft, Muskoka and Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada, in Canada. 1891 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   Image 30953 148756-00633, Page 17, 6 Apr 1891.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 Chapman, Strong and Joly, Muskoka, Ontario, Canada, in Canada. 1881 Census of Canada. (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Library and Archives Canada)
   Image e008180121, Page 20, Family 91, 4 Apr 1881.
6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 The William Irwin Farm by D. Smythe, 1989, in Magnetawan Women's Institute. Looking Back with the Magnetawan Women's Institute: A Selection of Stories from the Tweedsmuir History. (ourontario.ca, 1995)
   Page 22-26, 1995.
7. ↑ Grave marker in Chapman Community Cemetery lists date of birth as 1875. Death certificate lists birth date as 11 Mar 1877. (Note: This is incorrect as the 1901 Census confirms his birth date as 16 Mar 1875.)
8. ↑ ^8.0 8.1 Robert Irwin grave marker
9. ↑ Image:1881 Census Frances Irwin family e008180121.pdf
10. ↑ Image:1891 Census Frances Harrison family 30953 148156-00633.pdf
11. ↑ Image:1901 Census William Robert Irwin II family z000083476.pdf
12. ↑ Image:1911 Census Robert Irwin family e002011371.pdf