Esther Irwin was born around 1702 in Suffolk, England (source unknown) to unknown parents. At some point she immigrated to Cecil County, Maryland. First she married John Archer and had the following children:
Thomas Archer, born 1720
Nathaniel Archer, born 1722, died 1724
Esther Archer, born 1724
James Archer, born 1726
John Archer died sometime between 1725 and 1734. She then married Moses Ruth and had the following children:
Ruthia Ruth, born 1734
Sarah Ruth, born 1736
Moses Ruth, born 1738
Joan Ruth, born 1739
Esther died on June 20, 1786 in Harford County, Maryland.
Will of Esther Irwin Ruth:
On 24 Feb 1781 Esther J. "widow of Moses Ruth, late of Harford County Deceased ... hath quited her claim to the several Bequests to her in the Will of Said Husband Deceased & Elected in lieu thereof her Dowrey or third of the Deceased's Personal Estate, excepting one Negro boy named Peter Bequeathed to her Daughter Ruthia McCandless and also one Negro woman named Cate Bequeathed to her Daughter Jean Blair...". She made her mark.
Also on that date Esther wrote her will. She wrote .."having taken my renunciation against the several Bequests left me in the last Will of the Said Moses Ruth...". She left her McCandless granddaughters 50# gold and silver each. She left 5# to her son James Archer and her grand son Dr. John Archer, her daughters Ester Hays and Jean Blair and Sarah Kirkpatrick. Daughter Ruthia was given her Negro girl Rachel and all remaining assets. Being unable to write, she made her mark.
Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9TBG-1GX?cc=1803986&wc=SNYH-4W1%3A146534801%2C146793201 : 20 May 2014), Harford > Wills 1775-1785 > image 11 of 148; Hall of Records, Annapolis.