Simon Armstrong

Biography

Simon Armstrong was born circa 1701 in Ulster, Ireland. His family was originally from Scotland.

Simon Armstrong came to Falmouth, Maine with his father and siblings in the Winter of 1718. He married his wife Isabella very soon after he arrived in America.

Simon and Isabella had the following children:

• i. Isabella Armstrong: b. 1719 m. John Jordan 1738
• ii. Elizabeth Armstrong: b. 20 Apr 1729
• iii. John Armstrong: b. Oct 1731 m. Lucy Cop 23 Dec 1755
• iv. Sarah Armstrong: b. 1736 m. Andrew Simonton Jr. 27 Dec 1754

Based on the gaps in the dates of the birth of Simon and Isabella's children that it is likely we are missing several of their children.

Simon was a corporal in Col Westbrook's regiment between Nov 22, 1724 and May 22, 1725. While fighting Native American's he suffered a wound to his head, but did survive.

Simon received multiple land grants from the Town of Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. In 1733, Simon Armstrong sold a portion of his land to Samuel Waldo. (York Deeds Book 16, Fol 161 pg 492-493. Sept 5, 1733. This land transaction identifies Simon's wife as Isabella Armstrong.

My great grand Aunt, Marion Armstrong, stated that as a young girl she has seen one of the original land grants from 1747. She incorrectly remembered that it was a land grant to Samuel vs Simon. Unfortunately, those original land grants were lost in a fire.

According to the list of parishioners of the Second Parish of Falmouth in Cape Elizabeth the only Armstrong listed in 1743 is Simon Armstrong. All of James Armstrong's other children had moved out of Cape Elizabeth by this time and Simon's children are too young to be parishioners.

In a land transaction from March 7, 1772, John Armstrong (Simon's son) sold land to Nathaniel Dyer which was partial from land grants to Simon Armstrong and James Armstrong (John had purchased some of the land granted to James a few years before from another relative). This land transaction further indicates that this John Armstrong was Simon's son.

In fact, John Armstrong and Andrew Simonton Jr owned several parcels of land jointly. Which would be unusual except for the fact that John and Andrew were brothers-in-law.

We don't know exactly when Simon Armstrong died, but I did see a reference to probate of his estate as follows...administration granted to John Armstrong, gentlemen of Cape Elizabeth, on the estate of his father, Simon Armstrong, yeoman. Dated July 18, 1778.

Origins

From “Family Pilgrimage: John Armstrong of Falmouth, Boston and Saco.” < link >

I recently uncovered a genealogy of the Armstrongs by Harry Alexander Davis which he compiled in the late 1800's. I tend to believe that early research done closer to the events that take place tend to provide more accurate data. Quite often they capture information from people that have first or second generation information that is more accurate.

Mr. Davis identifies James Armstrong as born circa 1667 in the province of Ulster, Ireland. He married Jean Jameson (prior to 1689). The genealogy indicates that James and Jean Armstrong had the following children:

1. Robert born circa 1689
2. Jean born circa 1691
3. Mary born circa 1693
4. James born circa 1695 (died in childhood)
5. John born circa 1701
6. Simon born circa 1703

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Mr. Davis states that Jean Armstrong died in 1714 in Ireland and that James remarried Mary (last name unknown). Mary accompanied him with his sons to Maine. Mr. Davis claims that James and Mary Armstrong had the following children:

1. Thomas born 12/25/1717 in Ireland
2. John born 5/2/1720 in Falmouth, Maine
3. James born 4/25/1721 in Falmouth, Maine

I think it is likely there were two James Armstrong's that arrived at Falmouth aboard The Robert. James Armstrong the Elder or father and James Armstrong his son. Mr Davis wrote that James Armstrong Jr. died in childhood. It is possible that this is true, but that they had another son that named James Armstrong that did survive (it was not unusual at that time to name children with the same name if a child died). I think it seems likely that the James that married Mary was actually James Jr.

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References

• https://familypilgrimage.blogspot.com/2017/09/
• https://gw.geneanet.org/hal90002?lang=en&iz=296&p=simon&n=armstrong... (may have errors)