The progenitor of the Irwin family in America was of Scotch-Irish birth. In the veins of his descendants of the present generation the blood of three nationalities unites — the Akins of Scotland, the Tellers of Holland and the Irwins of Ireland. They also unite with the best blood of the Mohawk and Hudson River valleys through intermarriage.
(I) William Irwin, the pioneer ancestor of the family, was born in county Antrim, northern Ireland, 1699, died in 1785. He came to America early in the eighteenth century and settled in Dutchess county, New York. He formed the acquaintance of General Washington and enjoyed his friendship. He married Jane Hoffman.
(II) James, son of William and Jane (Hoffman) Irwin, was born at Newburg, New York, August 12, 1760. He married Margaret Patten, born 1763, died December 22, 1832. Among his children was William Patten.
(III) William Patten, son of James and Margaret (Patten) Irwin, was born in Newburg, New York, February 21, 1789, died in Sodus, New York, 1863. He removed to Sodus, Wayne county, New York, in 1811, and purchased the farm on which he spent the remainder of his life. He took an active interest in the affairs of the town and was major of a local military company. He married, in Sodus, 1824, Mehetabel Hayward, of Windsor, Massachusetts. Among his children were: William Patten, Theodore and David.
(IV) William Patten (2), fifth son of William Patten (1) and Mehetabel (Hayward) Irwin, was born in Sodus, Wayne county, New York, April 11, 1833, and died at his home on Greenbush Heights, town of East Greenbush, New York, October 30, 1876. He was educated at the academies at Rochester and Oswego, New York. From 1853 until 1856 he was engaged in the grain business in Oswego, New York. He then removed to Albany, where he lived six years, and finally to Greenbush Heights, where his death occurred. He was extensively engaged in the grain and produce business in Albany, and in Greenbush he had a large malt house, mill and elevator. He was largely interested in real estate, having important holdings in Michigan, South Carolina, New York City, Brooklyn, Albany and Greenbush. At the time of his death he was the president of the East Albany Banking and Trust Company and a prominent member of the Albany Board of Trade. He was held in the highest esteem, as an honorable, upright business man. He. was of warm impulse and charitable to a marked degree. He was an earnest Christian, an active member and senior warden of the Church of the Messiah (Episcopal) of Greenbush. He contributed largely to the prosperity of that village, where he is held in grateful remembrance by the survivors of his day. He married (first) in Sodus, New York, January 19, 1853, A. Matilda Andrews, born February 12, 1834. Children:
- Millard William, died in March, 1880;
- Mille Matilda, married Egbert W. Tracy;
- Harriet M.
He married (second) November 23, 1864, Anna Mary Teller (see Teller VII). Children:
- Anna Mary, married Jacob Chester Chamberlain;
- Martha Teller, married Dr. Frank Sidney Fielder;
- Theodore Dudley;
- Alice and
- Herbert.