Folks, I'm new to the Kirwin List. I read with interest Tom Fitzsimmons' summarization of the spellings of the Kirwan surname. I have another spelling of the name (with variations). I am a descendant of John CARAWAN, Sr. (c. 1771), who was in Hyde County, North Carolina by 1749 when he purchased land from the Mattamuskeet Indians. His will of 1771 names his children: John (Jr.), Joseph, Patrick, William, Elizabeth and Rachel. The name was also spelled CARRAWON and CARROWON in Hyde County. I have found a John CARAWON (D. 1745) in Dorchester County, Maryland, whose estate records names his wife Mary and children Matthew, Peter, Elizabeth and John (Jr.). I believe this John (Jr.) moved, between 1745 and 1749, to Hyde Co., NC. From Dorchester Co. deeds, I found that his eldest brother Matthew was in possesion of all of their father's land. In earlier Dorchester County land records, things get interesting. In the 1730's, a half a dozen deeds mention three parcels of land belonging to this family (Patrick (b.c. 1672), John and Matthew (b.c. 1709), all in Armitage's Hundred : Hooper's Endeavor, Plain Dealing and Kindall's Chance. [John was the elder of Matthew in the division of this land.] In one deed, all spellings begin with a "C," including CARWIN and CARAWAN. In another, both CARAWAN and KIRWAN are used in the asame document; and in another, just KIRWAN is used. So the English clerks of that county couldn't decide on which way to spell the name. I guess the Irish "K" came across as a "C" and KIRWAN became CARWIN / CARAWAN. I have been informed that there was a Dominick KIRWAN in Dorchester Co., Maryland by 1690. I hope anyone researching the KERWIN / KIRWAN / CARAWAN, etc., family in Maryland and Ireland in the 1600's and 1700's will contact me. I have a web page on which I am posting information, as I find it on the CARAWAN family and will begin to add relevant KIRWAN data. The URL is: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nchyde/CARAWAN.HTM John B. McGowan jmack@bbs.carolina.net Hyde Co., NCGenWeb Page http://www.rootsweb.com/~nchyde/HYDE.HTM MCGOWAN-L Mailing List & Family History http://www.rootsweb.com/~nchyde/MCGOWAN.HTM ---------------------------------------------