The IRVINES were Ulster-Scots who migrated from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland to Quebec City and area, Lower Canada between 1818-1823. They lived there for a few years, and then eventually moved to their final destination of Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY sometime around 1827-1829. Three siblings had migrated: Jane (Irvine) Elliott; Christopher Irvine; and James Irvine. In addition to them, two others also migrated: Their mother Eliza (Cathcart) Irvine; and Jane's husband Thomas Elliott. Their mother died in Quebec City as well as one infant child, Eliza Jane Elliott.
1. JANE IRVINE (daughter of JAMES and ELIZA (CATHCART) IRVINE) was born c1797 in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. She died 15 Mar 1842 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery. Both Jane and husband Thomas were first settlers along with her brothers, and they also settled in the Millens Bay area.
She married c1820-23 in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland:
THOMAS ELLIOTT born c1781-83 in Northern Ireland. He died 24 May 1856 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery.
Children of Jane and Thomas ELLIOTT, first two born in Lower Canada, the rest in Jefferson County, NY:
2. CHRISTOPHER IRVINE (son of JAMES and ELIZA (CATHCART) IRVINE) was born c1799 in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He died 10 Mar 1890 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery. As stated in his obituary (Watertown Re-union, 19 Mar 1890): "Mr. Irvine was one of the first settlers of the town of Cape Vincent, settling (in Millens Bay) near what is now known as Warren Settlement, where he and brother James were engaged in cutting and taking to the St. Lawrence River the pine timber in that section, when the country in that vicinity was comparatively a wilderness." Christopher was a farmer who also bought and sold multiple properties at nearby Depauville, NY in the 1850's. His woodframe house, just east of Millens Bay, still stands today.
He married 12 Apr 1824 in in Quebec City, Lower Canada:
MARY STEVENS born c1808 in Massachusetts. She died 15 Feb 1888 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery.
Children of Christopher and Mary IRVINE, first two born in Lower Canada, the rest in Jefferson County, NY:
3. JAMES IRVINE (son of JAMES and ELIZA (CATHCART) IRVINE) was born c1800 in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He was one of the first settlers along with his brother Christopher, and a farmer who had lived in Millens Bay. He died 4 Jan 1871 at Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Market Street Cemetery. As stated in a recent article by Nancy Dummer (What's Happening in Cape Vincent, August 2022): "James Irvine was one of the Millens Bay Union Church founders who raised funds to purchase materials and may have assisted with the construction of the church building. Construction commenced in 1869 and was finished sometime in 1871 soon after his death." Additionally, his name is printed on one of the original stained glass windows of the church. The James Irvine Stone House (just east of Millens Bay) was originally featured in the January 1947 Watertown Daily Times' article called "Old Houses of the North Country" (House No. 233). It still stands today and is a cottage-type native limestone farm house built there c1831-32.
He married his 1st wife 1 Nov 1826 in Quebec City, Lower Canada:
EVA "EVY" MONTGOMERY born in 1798 in Northern Ireland. She died 27 Oct 1855 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Market Street Cemetery.
Children of James and Eva Irvine, all born in Jefferson County, NY:
He married his 2nd wife c1861-62 in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY:
MARGARET ROY born (unknown date/place). She died 26 Mar 1880 at Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY and was buried in Market Street Cemetry.
Child of James and Margaret Irvine:
9. CHRISTOPHER S. IRVINE (son of CHRISTOPHER and MARY (STEVENS) IRVINE) was born 23 July 1825 in Broughton, south of Quebec City, Lower Canada. He died 15 June 1900 at Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery. He was a local farmer, as well as a merchant who owned a store in Millens Bay. From Feb. 1856 to May 1862 he was the Millens Bay postmaster. In 1859 he ran as a Cape Vincent delegate in the Democratic District Convention. He was an Democratic Election Inspector in 1860. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge and St. Lawrence Grange No. 396. As stated in his obituary (Watertown Re-Union, 23 June 1900): "He was of a cheerful disposition and always looked on the bright side of everything, everyone knew him as Uncle Christie"
He married c1860 in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY:
CHARITY HOLLENBECK was born 14 Jan 1838 in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County NY. She died 26 Apr 1920 at Little Rock, Pulaski County, AR and was brought back to Jefferson County, NY to be buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery.
Children of Christopher S. and Charity Irvine, all born in Jefferson County, NY:
10. JAMES C. IRVINE (son of CHRISTOPHER and MARY (STEVENS) IRVINE) was born 14 Mar 1827 in Broughton, south of Quebec City, Lower Canada. He died 20 Apr 1912 at Cape Vincent, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery. He was a local Millens Bay farmer, and as stated in his obituary (Cape Vincent Eagle, 25 April 1912): "His business transactions were always honest, and in the community he was highly esteemed". In the 1860's he ran as a Cape Vincent delegate in the Democratic District Convention. In the 1870's he served two years as an Excise Commissioner.
He married his 1st wife c1854 in Jefferson County, NY:
AMELIA HURLBURT born c1834 in Cape Vincent, Jefferson County NY. She died 19 May 1873 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery.
Child of James C. and Amelia Irvine, born in Jefferson County, NY:
He married his 2nd wife 6 Mar 1877 in Jefferson County, NY:
ALMIRA W. WARNER born 27 Aug 1845 in Lyme, Jefferson County NY . She died 25 June 1939 at Millens Bay, Jefferson County, NY and was buried at the Sand Bay Cemetery.
Child of James C. and Almira Irvine:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
For further information, contact:
Eric Irvine @ericirv123@gmail.com
Copyright 2024 Jefferson County NYGenWeb — a member of the NYGenWeb Project
If you have any questions or comments about this page, please contact,
County Co-Coordinator Bruce Coyne.