|
a.
|
Note: "History of Ritchie County" written by Minnie Kendall Lowther, and published in 1910.
Chapter VII
South Fork Settlers
Alexander Ireland. - Near the year 1818, Alexander Ireland, senior, with his family came from the vicinity of Clarksburg and settled just above the mouth of Otterslide, on the farm that was formerly designated as the "Joshua Davis" - now a part of the Flannagan, homestead. Here he remained until some time in the early thirties when he removed to Tyler county, where he passed from earth on July 18, 1843, at the age of seventy-one years.
Mr. Ireland was a native of Maryland, and with his father, William Ireland, who was, also, a Maryland product, migrated to Harrison county in his boyhood. Little else is known of his early family ties other than that he had one half-sister, who became Mrs. Sheets, and that his father died near Clarksburg.
His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ragan Ireland, was of German lineage - the daughter of a Revolutionary soldier. She was born at West Milford in 1771, and died at her home in Tyler county, on September 7, 1855, at the age of eighty-four years.
They were the parents of the following named sons and daughters whose posterity are scattered throughout the Union:
John, Jacob, Thomas, Jonathan, Jesse, Alexander, William, Mary, Eliza, Sarah, Margaret, and Priscilla Ireland. All of whom have passed on leaving families except Jacob, who married Miss Martha Wells and died childless, at his home in Tyler county.
John first married Miss Agnes Maxwell, and his second wife was Miss Amy Joseph. Mary became Mrs. Robert Doak, and Eliza married Alexander Doak, and all lived and died in Tyler county, where many of their descendants reside.
Thomas and Sarah, who was the wife of Alexander Lowther, of Oxford, lived and died in Ritchie county. (See other chapters.)
Johathan (married Jane Rose), Jesse (Sarah Wells), Alexander (Sarah Bond), William (________), Margaret (Thomas Bond), and Priscilla (William Wells), and all went West.
The Ireland ancestral line is not traceable to the land beyond the sea, as are many of the other pioneer lineages, but a very interesting legend as to the origin of this family in America has been handed down by tradition of generations; and although its authenticity cannot be verified, it is given credence by some and will, doubtless, add interest here:
A lad whose parents had evidently been "lost on the deep", and whose name and history were unknown, grew up on board a ship at sea, and as his appearance suggested the Irish nationality, he was called "Ireland" for the want of a better name.
On one occasion, when this lad had reached manhood's estate, the vessel which had so long been his home lay at anchor in a harbor on the eastern coast of the United States, and he decided, for the first time, to venture on shore, and being so delighted with the land, could not be induced to return to the ship, and thus America became the home of his adoption. He married and from him Alexander Ireland is said to have descended.
Circumstances point to the fact that this family are connected to other families of the name in the United States who can trace thier ancestry to the land across the water, but this connection has not been made clear, however. And this little tradition still retains its former weight and interest.
The family of Alexander Jr. is in the1830 to 1850 Lewis Co., (W)VA census. The 1840 Lewis Co. census looks like another family is living with them. This could be John Ireland who is living nearby in 1850 and is likely a son by the first marriage. They may be more children. In 1860 the family is in Upshur Co., (W)VA. His death is not in WV death records. Ages in the 1820 to 1840 census records don't agree with other records.
|
