February 13, 2003

I’m not sure who wrote this, I received it a number of years ago, from Aunt Monica (1970 is on the first page)  it is an oral history of the first Armstrongs to come to Canada . There are 5 handwritten pages, page 4 is missing.  Only the first 3 pages refer to our direct family and I have typed them out here.  Items in Italics are mine.

John Armstrong was one of a family of eight children namely (Wm, Tom, John, Margaret, Jim, Catherine, Alfred and Alex.)  Their mother was Helen Armstrong (no relation). Their Father Wm.

They came from Sligo , Ireland about 1830 when the first boy was a baby.  They settled in Merrickville. His trade was a cooper (barrel maker).  They moved to Eganville where the family was raised.

When John grew up he kept hotel for most of his married life.  One in Eganville and later one in Round Lake near Killaloe which got burnt.  He first married Nora Culhane who bore him 5 children of whom first 3 lived.  Ida, Dan and Margaret.  She died giving birth to twin girls one died the other was Margaret who was adopted out and she became a nurse.  She went to Springfield Mass at an early age and never returned, died there about 5 years ago. (I don’t know when this was written).  Dan died at 33 of a fever which left Ida.

John married again to Mary Sibary (sic) I believe a local girl as she had relatives in Eganville but I never was told much about her.  She bore him nine children namely Susan, John, Tom, Annie, Dolly, Alex, Gerald, Clifford (my Grandfather) and Mabel.  Mary died giving birth to Mabel.  She was adopted by people in Rankin.

John then broke up home and came to New Carlow to live with Ida my mother who married her cousin Henry Armstrong a son of  Tom.  Gerald and Clifford were both little lads and Gerald made his home with Tom’s family his uncle who also lived in New Carlow.

For a time Clifford lived with Susan his sister (Mrs Neil McAlpine.)  They left New Carlow in 1912 for Mattawa.  After that Clifford made his home at our place. Gerald went up north to work in the mines and after the first World War Clifford went up there to and married and settled down so I don’t have to go into that further.  (Clifford married Mary Elizabeth Hazel McGuire.  She was born in North Bay , Ontario on November 18, 1897 .)