Missouri Family Group Sheet for the William ARMSTRONG Family
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Submitted by: Gina Heffernan
Email address: <gina gale h @ yahoo . com>
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Husband: William ARMSTRONG
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Birthdate: 20 Jan 1759
- Paxtang, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania
Death date: 5 Sep 1841
- Fulton, Calloway Co, Missouri
Buried: Sep 1841 - Millerburg Bapt Cem, West Of Fulton, Calloway Co, Missouri
Father: Robert ARMSTRONG (Abt 1716-1772)
Mother: Ann E. THOMPSON (Abt 1727-Abt 1784)
Married: 20 Jan 1779 Place: Cumberland Co, Pennsylvania (1)
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Wife: Sarah Ann HUSTON
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Birthdate: 25 Nov 1762
- Cumberland Co, Pennsylvania
Death date: Aug 1859
- Fayette Co, Kentucky
Buried:
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Children
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1 F Nancy ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: 14 Oct 1780 - Cumberland Co, Pennsylvania
Death date: Aft 1850 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Spouse: John KING (1782-Aft 1843)
Marr. Date: 26 Jul 1802 - Adair Co, Kentucky
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2 M George William Wilson ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: Abt 1782 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Aft 1841
Spouse: Nancy S. CORN (Abt 1811-Aft 1841)
Marr. Date: 6 May 1841 - Dubois Co, Indiana
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3 M John ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: Abt 1787 - Cumberland Co, Pennsylvania
Death date: Aft 7 Apr 1812
Spouse: Jane STONE (Abt 1792-Aft 1812)
Marr. Date: 7 Apr 1812 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
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4 M Solomon William ARMSTRONG (2)
Birthdate: 1790 - Virginia Or Kentucky (3)
Death date: 26 Jul 1879 - Rogers, Benton Co, Arkansas (3)
Buried: 1879 - Grimes Cem, Benton Co, Arkansas (3)
Spouse: Ann DOSS (1796-Aft 1850)
Marr. Date: 1814 - Cumberland Co, Kentucky
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5 M Elijah ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: Abt 1793
Death date: Deceased
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6 F Jane ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: 5 Feb 1794 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: 6 May 1878 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Spouse: Simeon HAINES (1777-1862)
Marr. Date: 11 Nov 1811 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
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7 M Andrew ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: 1795 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Deceased
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8 F Mary ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: Abt 1797 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Aft 1850 - Missouri
Spouse: George KIBLER (Abt 1792-Aft 1850)
Marr. Date: 4 Apr 1828 - Calloway Co, Missouri (4)
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9 M William ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: 1798 - Virginia
Death date: Abt 1857 - Prob Missouri
Spouse: Sarah ??? (Abt 1798- )
Marr. Date: Abt 1818 - Chambersburg, Franklin Co, Pennsylvania
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10 F Elizabeth ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: 1800 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Deceased
Spouse: William KING (Abt 1795- )
Marr. Date: Fayette Co, Kentucky
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11 F Melinda ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: 1805 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Aft 1826
Spouse: Presley ATHEY (Abt 1800-Aft 1826)
Marr. Date: 15 Mar 1825 - Fayette Co, Kentucky (5)
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12 F Sarah Ann ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: Abt 1806 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Deceased
Spouse: unknown LUKE (Abt 1800- )
Marr. Date:
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13 M Samuel ARMSTRONG
Birthdate: Abt 1809 - Fayette Co, Kentucky
Death date: Deceased
Spouse: Ann LANGLEY (Abt 1811- )
Marr. Date:
Spouse: unknown BRECKENRIDGE (Abt 1814- )
Marr. Date:
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Husband's General Notes
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Declaration for pension.
"I was born on the 20th of January 1759 in Paxtang, Lancaster Co, PA. I have no evidence
of my age but decrepitude and gray hairs. The Bible in which it was recorded I have often
seen and is, I have reason to believe, in the hands of someone of the family in Kentucky.
At about five years of age, my father moved across the Susquehannah to Cumberland Co [PA]
near to Carlisle taking me along with him. I was living there when I first entered the
service of my country. It was about the 12th day of May 1777 that I was enrolled in one
Captain Jordan's Company of Militia and took the oath of alligiance to Congress along with
all the troops on parade amounting to hundreds. From this time I held myself in readiness
to march upon the first summons and it was not long until my services were required for
the British and Indians having laid seige to fort Freeland on the west branch of the
Susquehannah. Some five or six hundred men were ordered to march from York and Cumberland
Counties to the relief of the Fort. Upon this occasion, I became a volunteer in Captain
Asa Hill's Company (other company officers not recollected). And on the first day of July
1777, to the best of my recollection, we marched from Carlisle and went to Fort Freeland
which we found in ashes having been taken and destroyed by the enemy. The fire was not yet
extinguished and we found the bodies of men, women, and children lying about the Fort
which we buried and then hastened forward in order to overtake the enemy but after
pursuing them about 100 miles beyond the Fort in the direction of Niaora. The pursuit
became hopeless and was given over and we spent some considerable time ranging backwards
and forwards in the Buffalo Valley and on the frontiers in order to protect the frontier
settlements. And after having undergone considerable hardships and privations, we returned
to our homes which we reached months after the day we had left them and dispersed - for I
cannot say we were discharged, as no written discharges were given. I think our force
amounted to somewhere about six or seven hundred men in this expedition. We were joined on
our outward march by some flaming fellows, field officers I suppose, but who they were I
cannot now recollect. The only field officer of whom I have any recollections as having
been engaged in that expedition was one Major Gibson. I think Thomas Gibson who resided in
our town of Carlisle and who went out as our Major.
In the fall of the year 1777 there came an order from the government to raise troops
in our part of the County to be marched to Valley Forge where General Washington and the
American forces were encamped, the British being at the same time in possession of
Philadelphia about sixteen miles off. Being an apprentice in Carlisle at that time, though
I was anxious to march, I was not allowed to volunteer but had to stand a draft, and the
lot fell upon me as one of those who would have to march. Accordingly, on Christmas, or a
very few days before, we took up the line of march for Valley Forge. What makes me
recollect the time is that either in York or Lancaster, through both of which places we
passed, New Year's Day rejoicings were going on. The Congress was sitting in York, and I
myself tho' young at the time had a conversation with one General Roberdoux, a member of
Congress I think, as we passed through. The Company in which I marched was commanded by
Captain William McClure who lived within three miles of Carlisle. I think the name of the
Lieutenant was Donaldson, the Ensign I do not recollect. We were but two companies
together on the march. We crossed the Susquehannah at Wright's Ferry and proceeded along
the Philadelphia till we reached the White Horse where we turned off to the left, went by
the Yellow Springs and thence to Valley Forge, which was but a few miles farther. We
reached Valley Forge a few days after New Years in 1778 where we found the whole American
Army under General George Washington. there was a General Wayne, General Lafayette Sutben
(it is unclear whether this is a 'misrecorded' reference to two people: the Marquis de
Lafayette and General Steuben, both of whom were at Valley Forge), there was my intimate
acquaintance Major Hay who was wounded at the storming of Stoney Point. Captain James
Morrison afterwards Colonel Morrison who died not many years since at Lexington, KY.
Colonel Butler who was afterward General Butler and who fell at St Clair's Defeat, Captain
Thomas of the regulars who was wounded at the Battle of Germantown. these last four I was
well acquainted with personally. When we reached Valley Forge, we were placed under the
command of one General Lacy who, though a Quaker, had suffered his love of country to
subdue his Quaker principles so far as to engage him in warlike occupations.
We did not remain in camp, but almost as soon as we had reached it, we marched under
the command of General Lacy across the Shikill into Bucks and Philadelphia Counties and
cruised about between the enemy and Valley Forge in order to cut off the foraging parties
of the enemy and protect the inhabitants. We had no engagement while out. We several times
met with a few of the enemy who generally fled firing and receiving a fire from us. I
recollect that one night during our march we were met at midnight by a detachment under
the command of Colonel Butler who I presume was engaged in the same sort of service with
ourselves. I remember seeing our General Lacy and the Colonel embrace and after having had
some conference, the commanders and detachments parted. Some time in March we returned to
Valley Forge, what fixes this in my recollection is that during our absence from camp we
heard that a disturbance had occured in the Pennsylvania Line of the occasion of the
celebrating of St Patrick's Day which was on the 17th of March. We marched back to
Carlisle by the same way we had gone and saw Congress still sitting in Little York. We
reached Carlisle on the last day of March or within not more than 6 or 8 days of that time
as I firmly believe and were regularly discharged. When I say we were discharged, I
understood we were discharged by General Lacy whilst we were in Bucks County under his
command owing to the approach of the expiration of our term of service and thence went to
Valley Forge and thence home to Carlisle. We received written discharges from our Captains
but I have lost mine many a day ago. In fact I never thought about preserving mine. It is
right that I should say what is a fact that tho' I was drafted no one was ever more
willing to march than I was and I would have volunteered if I had liberty to do so. In
this campaign I was engaged three months or more I believe. After this I remained in
Carlisle until I was married and very soon after that removed to Westmoreland County in
the same state. Whilst there a detachment of British and Indians made an attack upon
Hannah's Town about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. Several Companies were immediately raised
all volunteers who, under the command of one Colonel John Perry, marched to the relief of
Hannah's Town. I was with this expedition in Captain Daniel williamson's Company,
subaltern officers not recollected. When we reached Hannah's Town it was involved in
smoke. The town was burned to ashes, a small Fort that had been in the town had, however,
held out and escaped the flames. Many of the people were killed. Mrs. Hannah and her
daughter with many others were taken prisoners. The enemy had left the town about 24 hours
before we reached it. We pursued them northwardly about one hundred miles. Finding it
impossible to overtake them we returned towards home and were ordered in detachments of
fifty, twenty-five, to different Stockdale forts that were about the frontiers to scout
and guard the settlements and after having been engaged in this service from the first day
of our marching about two months, we were discharged without any particular formality,
being permitted to go to our several homes. I think this happened near the close of the
War about the year 1781/1782 but to state the day on which we marched out and the day we
were discharged is impossible and I hope will not be considered indispensible when my
great age is considered. I refer, however, to history which I presume must have noticed
the burning of Hannah's Town. It must have been not more than a day or two previous to
that event that we marched as we lived in the same county of which is the (Last of
Justice) and I have stated that we were not discharged from active service for two months
or thereabouts, I can not be more particular. Mrs. Hannah and several of the other
prisoners afterward got back home for I remember to have seen them. Hannah's town was
burned in July and the succeeding fall, I think in October, a campaign was projected
against the Indians up the Allegany and a considerable number of troops were raised by
volunteering of which I was one. We marched under the command of General Erwin of
Pittsburgh and ascended the Allegany for a considerable distance but, whether the General
thought our force insufficient or what other cause there might have been I never could
learn certain it is, we were ordered back and returned home after an absence of about six
weeks. I served in the expedition under the same Captain Dan williamson as a volunteer. We
did no good on that expedition and I always considered it a complete failure. We however
spent some of our time in scouting and ranging on the frontier in order to protect the
settlements and allay the fears of the inhabitants. A year or two after this I removed to
Lexington, KY and found there that although the war was over with for England, it was not
over with the Indians for I volunteered in a company of horses commanded by Captain
Nathaniel Wilson of Lexington whence we marched to Major Shelby's house whence we marched
under his command southward into what was then called Tennessee against the Chicamauge
Indians. Whilst on our march we were met by an express from the governor of North Carolina
and informed that some sort of a treaty had been made with those Indians which would
render our further services unnecessary whereupon we marched back home after an absence of
about six weeks.
I, after this, volunteered to march against the Indians northwest of the Ohio and made
a fruitless march of some days or weeks being ordered back by General Scott. I have not
mentioned all the military services which I have rendered my country as it would make too
long a story. I have always marched when there was a prospect of danger. I have had two
brothers who were killed in the Revolutionary War, one near Philadelphia under General
Washington, another in Clark's Campaign to the west. Taking my first three expeditions
together, I served fully seven months and taking all together I believe more than a year.
I am old and fortune has not smiled upon me. Both these have probably conspired to prey as
well upon my memory as upon my body. I do not know any living person by whom I can prove
the rendition of the services which I have mentioned. Colonel Morrison of Lexington who
died a few years ago is the last man within my knowledge with whom I was acquainted in
service.
I lived in Kentucky about Lexington for a great many years of my life where I was well
known and could refer to many respectable men of that state to testify as to my character
both a man of integrity and truth of my Revolutionary Services. I could name as such W I
Barry, Felix Grundy, Henry Clay, all of whom I knew when they were boys and who, if they
will tax their memories a little, can speak of me. From Kentucky, I came to this country
and have resided in this County of Callaway for the last few years and am known here to
many, several of whom knew me in Kentucky and some of whom have heard their parents speak
of me. Amongst those to whom I be known I will name the Judges of this Court, also Colonel
William A Rupell, Colonel J I Moore, E B Litton, and many others."
William and Sarah lived in Cumberland County until about 1783, then moved to the following
places: Westmoreland, Lexington KY with 13 children: John, Nancy, George, Elijah, Solomon,
Jane, William, Elizabeth, Malinda, Sarah, Mary, Andrew, and Samuel. Some of the children
moved west into Calloway Co MO in 1831.
William and Sarah moved to Louisa, Va then to Lexington, KY. Shortly before his death,
they moved to Callaway Co, MO. After William's death, Sarah returned to Fayette, KY to the
home of her daughter and was living there in 1860 at age 91. Federal Census 1860.
DAR Application of Jennie Belle Wilmont Philippi, approved April 12, 1951. She sent copies
of Bible records, wills, deeds, obituaries, and grave inscriptions, and other records for
each generation below -filed under NSDar #320371 and 372205. She states on Ancestor's
services:
William Armstrong enlisted first about May 12, 1777 in the Cumberland Co, PA Militia. He
served under Captains Jordan, Asa Hil,, William McClure, Daniel Williamson, and Colonel
John Perry. In his Pension application he stated he was at Valley Forge with Washington in
1777. He fought against the Indians after the Revolutionary War. He was pensioned under
the Act of June 7 1832 on Certificate # 13 362 which was paid at the Missouri Agency. His
widow. Sarah, was pensioned under the Act of June 4, 1836, on Certificate # 4 382 and was
paid at the Kentucky Agency. Pension listed as "Armstrong, William W."
Was sued by Thomas Anderson of North Carolina who appointed Henry Clay as his lawyer.
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Wife's General Notes
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Other source says she died in 1855
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Source
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1. Pension File, Revolutionary War.
2. Gilman, Mildred Armstrong, 3rd great granddaughter of William.
3. Family History Library Catalog, IGI.
4. Calloway Co, Missouri, Marriage Books.
5. Fayette Co Marriage Records.
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My Notes
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Nothing is known of Sarah's family and there are many arguments about whether her surname
is HOUSTON. I do not have proof that my Solomon and William's Solomon are the same person.