Page 26 - Armstrong Bloodline - ebook_Neat

The first of our ancestors from whom we
can trace our bloodline is Martin
Armstrong. Family genealogists have
estimated that Martin was born between
1735 and 1750. 8 & 31 However, based on the
birth year of his oldest child (Lois - 1767), it
is probable that he was born prior to 1745
or earlier in either Ireland or Colonial
America. As of this writing, we have not
verified the name of his father, his mother
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or his siblings. Family histories and other
information leads us to believe he may
have been married twice, his first wife’s
name may have been Elizabeth Elliot, who
is believed to have died or been killed in
Willsboro, NY near the beginning of the
American Revolution in Jan. 1776. 28, 47, 48, 49
& 49a His second wife is believed to have

been named Abigail.

Our only documented link to Martin’s residence in Willsboro is found in land records in Ticonderoga, NY, when
his grandson (also named Martin) and another Armstrong by the name of Edgar F., purchased two lots on 21
50
Mar 1861. In this record the younger Martin is identified as the son of Jewitt Armstrong, (the) son of Martin
Armstrong of Willsboro, N.Y. and Shoreham, VT.

In order to better know our ancestor, it is necessary to cite more than a few dates and names of family
members; it is, indeed, much more interesting to piece together events surrounding him and to attempt to
understand the world he lived in. To do this, we need to provide some background that begins with the
founder of the city of Willsboro in Essex County, NY; a remarkable, high energy adventurer by the name of
William Gilliland.

Gilliland was born in 1734 at a place named Caddy, near Armagh, In Chapter 3, we learned that Armagh is the
Ire. After serving with an English regiment during the French- same area in County Fermanaugh, Ire. where
several of our Armstrong ancestors first
English war in America, he was discharged and moved to New
settled over 100 years earlier. It is interesting
York City in 1758. After quickly establishing himself and marrying to speculate how acquainted he may have
into a wealthy family, he began purchasing several thousand been with Armstrongs residing in that area
acres of land in an untamed area near Lake Champlain adjoining or those who may have earlier immigrated to
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the river Boquet, in northern New York. In addition, in 1763 he Colonial America…

petitioned the City of New York, for additional grants of land in Alexanders Index, Part 1 Ireland, Armstrong
the area, describing his plan to populate a settlement “of a Locations & Records, Page 3, Carnmoney:
number of families who are daily expected from Ireland.”
8 Nov. 1731- John Armstrong married
In 1765, along with several families and craftsmen he had Elizabeth Gilliland
induced to try their fortunes with him, he began his venture.
NOTE: It is about 40 miles from Armagh to
From his extremely interesting diary which he kept through
Carnmoney
midyear of 1767, we are given a first-hand narration of his

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