A Genealogical History Compiled by Norma Todd Cansler B & H Printing
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AR:MSTRONGS OF THE CATAHBA a genealogical history Compiled by Norma Todd Cansler B & H Printing and Letter Service Dallas 1969 Copyright, 1969, by Norma Todd Cansler Printed in the United States All Rights Reserved FOREHORD This compilation, incomplete as it is, assembles the largest collective body of information to be published to date on descendants of the Armstrong family of the Catawba Creek branch of the James River area in Colonial Virginia. It is hoped that others will continue the research in depth, adding to knowledge of the pioneer family as well as completing some of the lines. The volume addresses itself not only to descendants but to persons of other lines engaged in genealogical search. It seeks to record for present and future generations a collection of family letters, Bible records, newspaper clippings, court records of deeds, wills and marriages, and cemetery inscriptions. In some cases it will provide a glimpse of community life to those interested in the history of the particular localities. These are the facts as we have been able to ascertain them. How little they convey of the lives of those who have gone on before us. I am grateful to dozens of descendants who have shared information. In parti cular I 1Jould express appreciation to Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth B. McAfee, Evanston, Illinois, for making available to me the unpublished genealogical journal of Rev. Samuel L. JvicAfee, D. D. (1841-1917-+). Mrs. J. H. Langford, Harrodsburg, Kentucky, who is descended from three of the children of John and Priscilla Armstrong, was very helpful in providing information on those branches. The letters dated 1842 to 1866 which were loaned by Mrs. L. I. Cansler, Sr., Fort Horth, Texas, uere a valuable source. Other major contributors were Nrs. C.H. Clarke, Knox City, Texas; Mrs. S. E. Carter, Abilene, Texas; Mrs. Sherman Low, San Saba, Texas; Mrs. Farris Glenn, Olton, Texas; Mrs. D. P. Rigler, Roswell, Nei.r Mexico; Mrs. Grady D. Rash, Dallas, Texas; Mr. Hollis Brice, Midland, Texas; Mrs. Hugh R. Ennis, Jr., Chillicothe, :Missouri;· Mr. John Mills, Osceola, Missouri; Mrs. Lawson N. Dick and Mrs. Edward H. Russell, Vicksburg, Mississippi; Niss Annie Sharp, Harrodsburg, Kentucky; and Hrs. Harry P. Ogden, Knoxville, Tenr~essee. Library collections which have been utilized are: National Archives, Library of Congress, National DAR Library, Washington, D. C.; Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville; Texas State Library, Austin; Virginia State Library, Richmond; Arkansas Historical Commission, Little Rock; Kentucky Historical Society Library, Frankfort; city libraries of Scottsboro, Alabama, and Dallas, Fort Horth, Haco, Austin and Richmond, Texas. Courthouses I have searched in person are: Hashington, Greene and Knox Counties, Tennessee; Austin, Bastrop, Cass, Fayette and Fort Bend Counties, Texas; Jackson County, Alabama; and Franklin and Mercer Counties, Kentucky. Also I visited the General Land Office of Texas. For permission to reprint the drawing of the Armstrong fort at Bridgeport, Kentucky, I am indebted to the Kentucky Historical Society. Finally, to my husband, Lowell, who has shared the pleasure of discoveries and contributed to the research where possible, my especial thanks. This study has been conducted as a hobby over the last four years, and 1,1e look forward now to pursuing other interests. No:rma Todd Cansler 9850 Lakemere Drive Dallas, Texas 75238 ARMSTRONGS OF THE CATAHBA CONTENTS Chapter Page(s) 1 Origin of the Clan 1 2 Armstrongs in Colonial Virginia 10 3 John Armstrong of Lincoln and Mercer Counties, Kentucky 31 4 Hilliam Armstrong of Lincoln, Mercer and Franklin Counties, Kentucky 88 5 Lanty Armstrong of Uashington, Greene and Knox Counties, Tennessee 104 6 Josiah Armstrong of Knox County, Tennessee 127 7 William C. Armstrong of Jackson County, Alabama 135 8 Josiah Armstrong of Jackson County, Alabama, and Cass County, Texas 164 9 Lanty Armstrong of the Republic of Texas 166 10 Lewis Alexander Armstrong of Jackson County, Alabama 196 11 Fearless Allison Armstrong of Knox County, Tennessee 197 Illustrations John Armstrong Home and New Providence Presbyterian Church, McAfee, Kentucky 33-4 Armstrong Fort, Bridgeport, Kentucky 89 W. L. Armstrong Home and Family 153-4 James L. Armstrong and Family 175 Martha Elinor Armstrong Standifer and Family 176 ARMSTRONGS OF THE CA.TAHBA CONTENTS, CONTINUED Page(s) Outlines of Descendancy Ursus (Beorn) -- Siward the Strong 6-7 John Armstrong: Robert Armstrong 37-42 Mary (Polly) Armstrong Lapsley 4.3-59 Prudence Armstrong Irvine 59-63 Hilliam Armstrong 6.3-66 Alexander Armstrong 67 Rebecca Armstrong Buchanan 67-68 John Armstrong, Jr. 68-70 Thomas Lanty Armstrong 70-79 Priscilla Armstrong McAfee 79-80 Margaret (Peggy) Armstrong Cleland 81-84 Hilliam Armstrong: Alexander Armstrong 92-96 Rebecca Armstrong Sharp 96 Prudence Armstrong Hol."D.all 96-97 Lanty Thomas Armstrong 98 Hilliam Armstrong, Jr. 98-99 Robert Armstrong 99-102 Lanty Armstrong: Alexander Armstrong 123-24 John Armstrong 124 Hilliam Armstrong 125..26 Josiah Armstrong: 134 Uilliam C. Armstrong 161-63 Josiah Armstrong 165 Lanty M. Armstrong 178-95 Lewis Alexander Armstrong 196 Fearless Allison Armstrong 203 CHAPTER 1 - ORIGIN OF THE CLAN The name Armstrong is said to have originated when it was bestowed by an ancient king of Scotland upon his armour bearer, Siward Fairburn, as a reward for setting the king upon another horse when his was killed in battle. For this service (performed by grasping the sovereign's leg and so lifting him), the king granted Fairburn lands on the Border and assigned him the surname Armstrong and a cr'est--"an armed hand and arm, in the hand a leg and foot in armour, couped at the thigh, all proper. 11 1 Other crests have been recorded for various branches of the family at later dates. The family motto, "Invictus Maneo, 11 means "I remain unvanquished." "Siward the Strong" was of Danish extraction.2 Son of Beorn and grandson of Ursus (Beorn),3 he was in the course of his life closely related to the royalty of Denmark, England and Scotland. Thirty-two generations later his descendants are scattered in several nations and include England's presently reigning head of state--Queen Elizabeth. A chart of descent follows. He can assu..'ne that the incident in the opening paragraph occurred on an expedition from England in the late tenth or early eleventh century. Recorded incidents in the life of Siward make it certain that he spent at least twenty years in England, and he most likely had been there since early manhood, or was born there. He died "an old man" in 1055, and even if he were eighty (sixty is more plausible), it is not likely he would have been engaged in a battle before 995. Kenneth II was King of Scotland at that time, and successive rulers were Malcolm II (1005-34), Duncan I (1034-40) and 11acbeth (1040-57). The "ancient king" would seem to be one of those mentioned. In examining the life of Siward, the first of the name of Armstrong, let us now review the flow of the Scandinavians into England and the growth of Christianity within its borders--two circumstances which would help to shape the world of Siward. Uhen the Scandinavians (from Denmark, Norway and Sweden) began to attack and ravage England near the end of the eighth century, they were heathen and delighted in destroying churches and monasteries and burning villages. Coming across the North Sea in boats carrying thirty or forty men each, for the first fifty years they came in the spring as independent bands of adventurers and returned before cold weather with their loot. After the middle of the ninth century, some of them began to pass the winter in Britain, and the attacks gradually gave way to settlement. About 980 a new series of attacks began, under the leadership of Olaf of Norway and later Sweyn of Denmark uith the objective of winning the English crown. Beginning in 991, the English Ethelred attempted to buy peace with silver payments, which brought the northmen in greater numbers. The country's resistance weakened until in 1017 a Dane, Cnut, son of Sweyn, became king. The Danes, traditionally believed to have come from Sweden, were probably established in Denmark shortly before the end of the fifth century. A hundred years later the first seeds of Christianity were sowed in England (597) when Augustine was sent to England with a body of monks as missionaries; all England was Christian by the end of the seventh century. The Scandinavians -1- were gradually Christianized by the population among whom they settled. They brought an increase in trade to England and, by uprooting the ancient kingdoms (England had about twelve at 600), played a decisive part in the creation of the English monarchy.4 Siward married second a descendant of the royal family of the old kingdom of Northumbria--Aelfled, daughter of Ealdred, Earl of Northumberland. His cousin Ulf, son of his father's brother Thorgils "Sprakaleg," married Estrith, a sister of Cnut who was King of England 1016-.35, King of Denmark 1018-35 and King of Norway 1030-35. One authority says that Siward was agpointed Earl of Northumberland by Cnut in 1035 when Ealdred was assassinated; another says that Ealdred was assassinated in 1038 and Siward becaie earl in 1041 upon the death of Ealdred's son who had succeeded him as earl. The five great earldoms of England had been formulated by King Cnut, the first of four Danish kings.7 The three largest earldoms covered most of England and were headed in the mid-eleventh century by Godwine of Hessex, Leofric of Mercia and Siward of Northumberland. The area covered by Northumberland stretched from the river Humber north to the Scottish border.