It is quite probable that this Francis Irwin is the same Francis Irwin who was living in St. George's Parish, Spotsylvania County, VA in 1763. One of his neighbors in VA was John Shepherd who also migrated early to Reddies River in Wilkes County, NC. Francis Irwin sold his land in Virginia in 1782 and was on the taxable list in Wilkes County by 1784. When his land was sold in Virginia, his wife Anne also signed the deed.
Children of Francis Irwin and his wife Anne
Thomas Irwin (abt. 1770-aft, 1853) m. Agness Shepherd (?-1856), niece of John Shepherd
Mary Irwin (probably did not marry)
Francis Irwin (abt. 1780-aft. 1803) m. Anne Mullins
Children of Thomas Irwin and Agness Shepherd
Elijah Irwin (abt. 1792-1878) m. Elizabeth Goodman (?-1870) (died in Alleghany Co., NC)
Squire Irwin (abt. 1795) (moved to Russell Co., KY)
Alley Irwin (1797-after 1879) m. Larkin Shepherd (1794-1849)
Thomas P. Irwin
Nancy Irwin (abt. 1798-1857) m. John Thomas Jennings, s/o Elijah Jennings and Sarah Shepherd
Andrew Irwin (abt. 1800-aft. 1875) m. Lucy Wyatt, d/o Virey Wyatt and Mary Owens
William Irwin (abt. 1802-abt. 1824) (did not marry)
Sally Irwin (abt. 1803-abt. 1831) m. John Shepherd
Robert Irwin (abt. 1810-1872) m. 1) Sally Lutteral; 2) Elizabeth Ann Vannoy (moved to Russell Co., KY)
Larkin Irwin (abt. 1812-abt. 1845) m. Margaret Paul
Franklin Irwin m. Elizabeth Spencer
Polly Irwin m. Elijah Jennings
Elizabeth Irwin m. John Spencer (moved to Morgan Co., IL)
Children of Elijah Irwin and Elizabeth Goodman
John Irwin (1815) m. Abby Anders
William M. Irwin (1816) m. Mary Anders
Thomas S. Irwin (1818) m. Sina Caudill
Polly Irwin (1820) (did not marry)
Martha Irwin (1828) m. Cola Williams
Elizabeth Irwin (1830) m. Armsted Lovelace
Abstract of Reddies River Church Membership, 1798-1889, by Paul W. Gregory
Personal communications with Paul W. Gregory
Early Settlers of Wilkes County, Paul W. Gregory