Page 37 - Armstrong Bloodline - ebook_Neat

into membership less than a month later. Although I believe these are our relatives, the dates have to be in
error, as we know that Elliott died several years earlier and that by this time, Spencer had already moved to
Minnesota. Such lodges had existed in Vermont for decades by this time, and as these records must have been
copied from the hand-written originals, it is likely that they were transcribed incorrectly. It is probable that they
became members as many as 20 or 30 years earlier (Spencer was born in 1806).

According to one family member, 9, CR-7 membership in the Masons continued to be an important part of her
great-grandfather Rolla Silas Armstrong's life as well as of his son Howard (his Masonic sword has been handed
down to one of his grandsons). 9, a brother of CR-10 A couple of us have discussed, but never followed up further on
this Masonic Link – is there some way this could be used to aid in tracking the Armstrongs back to Ireland?

Elliot died in Shoreham in May 1852 at 79 years of age but perhaps not of old age; some sources indicate he was
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killed instantly when struck by a falling gate. His wife, Eleanor also died in Shoreham in January 1859.
A year after his mother’s death, Spencer returned to Shoreham where he acted as the administrator of his
father’s estate in probate court in Feb. 1860. 96

Other references of interest for Elliot:
97
1795 Petition for new school district; signed by Elliot, brother Jewitt, and Jonathan Treadway
98
1810 Vermont Census showing Elliot & Jewitt in Addison Co., VT
99
Pictures of the house built by Elliot & Eleanor in Shoreham, VT taken during my visit in April 1998
100
Pictures of the Village Cemetery and Post Office in Shoreham, VT and Middlebury College in nearby
Middlebury, VT where David W. Armstrong attended medical school
101
Family Group Sheet for Elliot and Eleanor Armstrong and family from personal database
The Armstrong/PHELPS Offspring 20 & 102

1. Chauncey Armstrong

Chauncey is the eldest of Elliott and Eleanor's offspring. Chauncey was born and grew up in Shoreham as did his
brothers and sisters. Little is known of his education or early life, until his marriage at age 19 to Polly Griswold,
probably in Shoreham, in 1812. As mentioned above, he served in the War of 1812 with his father, and brother
Chester at Vergennes. However, our most intriguing insight into a chapter of his life and an episode of colonial
Americana is captured in the following narrative:

The Battle of Plattsburgh (located approximately 70 miles north of Shoreham on a promontory of New York real
estate that juts into Lake Champlain) connects itself with the history of all the patriotic communities of this
portion of Vermont. Before the news arrived in town that the British were approaching Plattsburgh in force,
General Timothy F. Chipman, then a Brigadier General in the militia of Vermont, received a letter from General
McComb, commanding the United States force at Plattsburgh, soliciting volunteers. General Chipman replied,
that he should be ready at all times to start at the order of Governor Chittenden, his Commander-in-Chief.

Friday, about mid-day, September 9th, 1814, two days before the battle, the news came through the central part
of the town, that the British were advancing rapidly upon Plattsburgh. Friday afternoon, couriers were sent out
into the remote districts of the town to scatter the news and rouse the people to a sense of duty. Some left the
plough in the field, where there they had been preparing for fall sowing, started Friday afternoon and traveled all
night.

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