Page 16 - Armstrong Bloodline - ebook_Neat

and his father stopped on the east side, Thomas went west side. Years after some of his children moved to
South Bend, Ind). Elliot Armstrong ( name not included in version #2; instead, reference is made to great-
grandfather) was buried in a little yard walled in with a rough stone wall in what is called now East Shoreham,
VT.

In four short paragraphs we are suddenly presented with a family history primer that transports us through
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epic adventures of historical note - from 11 century Normandy and England with William the Conqueror;
through conflicts with England in Scotland; our subsequent migration to Ireland and emigration to colonial
Long Island, NY; a further trek “mainland” to a settlement of Dutch Puritans; a return trip northeast to the
safety of Fort Ticonderoga, NY, a shared attack on Fort Ticonderoga with Ethan Allen (in 1775) and the Green
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Mountain Boys prior to the American Revolution; and finally interment of Martin’s son Elliot in 19 century
Vermont.

One is drawn to this narrative as it has several elements that are compelling. For example, the Normandy
origin of the Armstrongs ties in directly with information provided by the Clan Armstrong Trust. The
disenfranchisement of the Armstrong Clan in Scotland and subsequent migration to Ireland also rings true.
We’ll also see how Long Island, NY, the Puritan settlement, Fort Ticonderoga, and Shoreham, VT all reappear
as we continue to review genealogical and historical information uncovered from various sources.

A few final thoughts about this family history… This narrative appears as an attachment to a family history
prepared by a member of the Phelps family, which may well explain why it tends to focus a bit heavily on Elliot
Armstrong who married into their family. However, the immigration to America and the move to the Dutch
Settlement would have all occurred before Eliot was born in 1772, and when Ethan Allen captured Ft.
Ticonderoga, Elliot was still a toddler. As a result, these adventures should be credited to Martin, not his son.
M. Virginia Armstrong also noted that it was a Mormon descendent of the Phelps family who initially entered
the names of Elliot and his offspring into Temple LDS records in the 1920/1930 timeframe and that some of
the information appears to be erroneous. Finally, by referring to a descendent of the Wrights in Chelsea
(Michigan), it is certainly possible that this Phelps family researcher had other acquaintances in that area. As
Rolla S. Armstrong (my ggrandfather Alva D. Armstrong’s younger brother) lived in Chelsea as early as 1868, it
is possible that it is through his family this historical summary was originally obtained and then slightly
modified.

This is not the only version of this story that we know of. In 1912, a letter prepared for Henry Ransom
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Armstrong of Chatfield, MN (son of Spencer Armstrong) to Jerome B. Armstrong (son of David W.
Armstrong), contained an expanded version that was handed down through a family descendant who also
lived in Chelsea, MI. Below are the segments that are different from the above version, plus information I have
added in bold lettering:

“A few years ago that stepmother of mine (Cornelia Smith) sent me a Masonic apron saying she found it
among Aunt Irene’s (Spencer’s older unmarried sister) things (who died at father’s some 28 years ago).

It took me back about 75 years ago to my lying on the floor at grandfather’s
feet (Elliot Armstrong) looking at the nice pictures on his apron. Grandfather
died a few years later (1852). Before I went to California (prior to 1859) I
visited with grandmother (Eleanor Phelps). We talked over that apron. She
said it belonged to the Armstrongs. They were all Irish Orangemen. The apron
was a master’s, the emblems painted on to stay. The lambskin was yellow,
the trimmings faded but it has been carefully cared for.” Masonic Apron

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