Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Armstrong, David |
Born |
1818 |
Birthplace |
Dumfrieshire, Scotland |
Places of residence |
Northeast half of Lot 35, Concession C, Sydenham Township, Grey County |
Nationality |
Scottish |
Education |
Likely apprenticed as a carpenter in Scotland |
Notes |
David Armstrong was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, in 1818. He emigrated in 18__. He and his brother Robert moved into the Lakeshore Line area of Sydenham Township, Canada West, c. 1846, and settled in the Dunedin area (which became known as Annan). He had been married in 1841 to Agnes Johnstone. Mr. Armstrong used his carpentry skills when he built his own one-storey log cabin (1851 census description). David Armstrong and Andrew Biggar corresponded with William P. Telford, a teacher, and engaged him to come to the Lakeshore Line area and become the first teacher at Annan. Mr. Telford and his family moved there in the fall of 1848, bringing along a stove to heat the schoolhouse with. Mr. Armstrong and others of the section paid Mr. Telford's salary of 60 pounds (1849) and raised his salary to 75 pounds in 1855. The school was S. S. No. 3 Sydenham. There is a handwritten listing of the early pupils of this school at Grey Roots. In July of 1852, the Presbyterians in the area had a bit of a divide. The Annan congregation voted to leave the Free Church, and joined the United Presbyterians. Their church at Annan was a precursor to the present-day Annan United Church. In August, 1855, Rev. Robert Dewar was "extended the call" to come to the community to be their minister. The congregation was then about 50 members, and the first four to sign the call to Rev. Dewar were David Armstrong, Andrew Sibbald, William Telfer and Gideon Harkness. There were two different Scottish Armstrong families in the area in the early years. In the 1861 census, David was 43, Agnes 42, William (19), John (17), Mary (12), David (10), Agnes (8), Robert 6) and Isabella (3) were listed. There was a Charles Armstrong family living in the area as well. In 1866, Mrs. David Armstrong travelled back to Scotland for a visit, accompanied by Gideon Harkness and Andrew Sibbald. One of the sons, David Armstrong, died at the age of fifteen in Dec. 1866. In the 1871 census David and Agnes had the following children in their household: Mary (20), Agnes (17), Robert (15), Isabella (13), James (10) and Andrew (8). David's brother Robert Armstrong (age 55) lived nearby. In the 1891 census, David was 73, Agnes was 71, and their son James, then 29, were on the farm still. David Armstrong passed away on July 7, 1893, after an illness of about four months duration. Dr. Sloane had attended him, and his death was recorded by James Cannon. He was buried at Annan. His wife Agnes, passed away on Feb. 8, 1903, age 83. |
Occupation |
Carpenter Farmer / Settler |
Publications |
Ross, Allan, REMINISCENCES OF NORTH SYDENHAM, 1924, pp. 110, 115-117, 137, 141-142, 207, 229, and there is a head & shoulders image of David Armstrong at the back of the book. HISTORY OF SYDENHAM TOWNSHIP, 1967, pp. 147, 154-155, 306 Ontario Death Record, July 7, 1893, 005966, for David Armstrong |
Relationships |
Brother: Robert Armstrong Great-grandson: Victor Bassingthwaite of Annan Descendent: Frank Bassingthwaite |
Role |
Farmer |
Spouse |
Agnes Johnstone, m. 1841 |
Children |
One daughter died in 1849 William Armstrong John Armstrong Mary Armstrong David Armstrong (d. Dec. 8, 1866, age 15, three months, 24 days) Agnes Armstrong Robert Armstrong Isabella Armstrong James Armstrong (d. March 29, 1940, age 78, eleven months) Andrew Armstrong |
