Note:
The following is a section of a family history compiled by Herbert
Armstrong Poole between 1905 & 1960, transcribed by AAA Maitland 1998.
Subject numbers are HAP's originals.
HAP's page divisions are shown: after subject page numbers are complete
document page numbers in brackets and issue dates.
The original text had generations indented in turn: here, generation
numbers are added to each individual: the children of the title subject
are "1/--".

                           Subject 12 P1 (90)

                             JOHN ARMSTRONG

    Captain John Armstrong married, 1st, on March 12th 1801, Macrae,
the eldest daughter and co-heiress of Major-General Stair Park
Dalrymple, of Langlands (near Kilmarnock). The date of her birth is not
known: she died in childbirth at Prestwick, in 1818, and was buried in
Governor Macrae's private burial ground in Orangefield.
    He married a second time, in December 1818, a Miss Ellen Kirk,
whose people lived somewhere in Scotland: it is not known where she was
buried. She died shortly after giving birth to her only son. It seems
strange that Dr. William Armstrong of Rathangen did not mention this
second marriage in his history of the Armstrongs.  Her son John
Armstrong, (subject 6) explains his lack of knowledge of his mother's
people etc by the fact of his having been so early sent by his father
to be taken care of by the Goodfellows (see subject 6), his cousins in
Dublin.

In 1904, I (HAP) wrote blindly to a Mr. Shaw in Ayr, Scotland, who I
had been assured by Uncle William Rufus Armstrong, still lived there
and was a lawyer.  My letter brought the following reply, from James
Edward Shaw, County Buildings, Ayr, dated February, 1904:-

Dear Sir,

    My father died in May 1902, and I have received your letter of the
18th January.  I have in my possession a book printed for private
circulation, which contains a very interesting  account of the
Armstrongs of Cherry Valley.  The book is a history of the Dalrymples
of Langlands, and deals fully with their  connections.  There is a full
account of the Armstrong family and particularly of Captain John
Armstrong, who married Macrae Dalrymple, daughter of General Stair Park
Dalrymple of Langlands.  The account is long and the book is out of
print. I shall have the information regarding the Armstrong copied for
you. It contains an account of the family written in 1854 by Dr.
William Armstrong of Rathangan, Ireland.  He claims descent from Johnny
Armstrong the Scottish Border Chief. I hope the war will do you no harm
(Russo-Jap).  Yours truly,  James C. Shaw.

The account reached me in August 1904, and reads as follows:-

    John Armstrong, who married General Dalrymple eldest daughter,
Macrae, was the youngest son of the Rev. William Armstrong, a clergyman
Killashandra in the County of Cavan , in Ireland.  (See report under
Subject 24).  At the age of 15 or 16 he went to live with his brother
William, who was about 20 years his senior, and was then a merchant in
London.  According to a sketch of his life, drawn up in 1853 by his
nephew, Dr. Wm. Armstrong of Rathangan, near Kildare (son of Thomas
Armstrong), he was a very wild boy, always getting into scrapes, and at
last had some foolish quarrel about a lady with another youth.  They
fought a duel and fired four shots each, but fortunately neither was
wounded.  This appears to have given him a taste for fighting, as he
soon afterwards became a midshipman in the same ship and at the same
time as our late sovereign, William the Fourth.  (Prince William Henry
commenced his naval career as a midshipman under Capt. Digby, in the
"Royal George" of 98 guns in the year 1779).  Life in a cockpit did not
suit him, so he left the Navy, after having served a year or two: but
having acquired a knowledge of navigation, his brother William
appointed him Captain and supercargo of one of his West Indiamen. In
her he performed but two voyages, being quite sick from the want of
excitement.  His brother quarrelled with him in consequence, and he was
turned penniless upon the world.  At that time the War in India with
Hyder and Tippoo excited great interest, and he decided on joining the
British Army, and applied to the recruiting officer of the 52nd

                   Subject 12 P 2 (95)

Regiment to enlist him, who, surprised at a well dressed gentlemanly
lad taking such a step, and supposing it the effect of some fit of
anger or temporary difficulty, made him a present of a guinea, and told
him he would not enlist him unless he should continue of the same mind
for a week.  At the end of a week, he came back, was enlisted, and
joined the depot at Chatham.  In a few days the Sergeant told him it
was his turn to cook.  He answered "I can't cook, I never saw a dish
cooked in my life".  A soldier who was present said "I will cook for
you if you will write a letter for me". Whilst he was writing it, the
Commanding Officer of the detachment came behind him, read it, and was
surprised, for he had an extraordinary talent for letter writing.  He
at once marked him for promotion, and he was made a non-commissioned
officer, as soon as he was drilled and made acquainted with his duties.
In a short time the detachment went to India, and he served there about
15 years.  Dr. Armstrong continues "I know nothing of his campaigns,
for he never boasted, except that I read the memorial he sent to the
Governor of Nova Scotia, when applying for the 500 acres of land, which
were granted to him in that colony in which he stated that he had been
at 15 sieges and four general engagements, led four forlorn hopes, and
was three times wounded".(Captain Armstrong when at Halifax with his
regiment in 1808 or thereabouts, had arranged to start on a Monday
morning with a party of soldiers to take possession of this piece of
land, which was situated at Picton: but on the Saturday the route came,
and he left America without ever having seen his property.  It was
afterwards given by his eldest son, Charles William Armstrong, to Major
Hamilton, who was the reputed son of Hamilton Rowan, the Irish Rebel,
and who married "Bonny Peggy Bowie", sister of Dr. Bowie, for many
years a well known practitioner at Bath.  This memorial, however,
probably referred only to Mr. Armstrong's services as a commissioned
officer.  While he was yet in the ranks of the 52nd he was present at
the siege of Seringapatem in 1792 and was doubtless with his regiment
throughout the whole war with Tippoo, of which some mention has already
been made and in which, according to Stewart's  "sketches of the
Highlanders" the East India Company captured 70 forts or fortified
places and 300 pieces and 300 pieces of cannon.  The 52nd also formed
part of the force employed in the expedition against Ceylon fitted out
by Lord Hobart, the Governor of Madras, and commanded by General James
Stewart in 1795.  A fort was taken back on the coast next the Continent.
  The troops then embarked to sail round to the principal forts and
towns at the opposite side of the island, leaving their sick and
wounded behind, among whom was Mr. Armstrong.  Next day he felt well
enough to join his regiment, and set out with a native servant to cross
the island on foot, taking a few days provision with him.
  They had to march through the jungle, avoiding the natives, subjects
of the inhuman King of Kandy, and at night to sleep alternately close
to fires made to scare off the tigers, elephants and other wild beasts.
On the third day the native servants broke down, and was never heard of
after.  Dr. Armstrong proceeded and had the pleasure to receive the
troops that went by water on their landing, to their great
astonishment.  (Mr. Armstrong wrote an interesting account of this
journey, but it does not appear to have been printed, and the
manuscript has been lost).  The next events of importance in Mr.
Armstrong's life are thus recorded in the "London Gazette"- "War
Office, Feb 28/1797 - 71st regiment of Foot.  Sergeant Major John
Armstrong to be Ensign, vice Armsby, promoted in the 75th Foot."  "War
Office, 5/1797 -71st Regiment.  To be Lieutenant-Ensign John Armstrong,
from the 52nd Foot, by purchase, vica Bowles, who retires".  Dr.
Armstrong's narrative continues as follows:-  Soon after Dr.
Armstrong's joining that Corps (the 71st), a superb dinner was given to
Colonel Dalrymple

                             Subject 12 P3 (96)

by his brother officers, Mr. Armstrong being the only exception. Next
day the Colonel sent for him and asked his reason: his answer was their
acquaintances was but short, and he had no money to spare.  The Colonel
then told him he should never receive an indulgence from him while he
held command to which he answered that he did not look for any, and
hoped to perform his duty so that he should not be in any man's power.
The Colonel was an enthusiast in his profession and soon observed what
an excellent officer he was, but paid him no compliments until the
adjutancy of the regiment became vacant, when he offered it to him.
His answer was "I must decline accepting it, as if you were to speak to
me as I have heard you do to the late adjutant I should act so as to
forget my commission".  To this the Colonel replied "If you will accept
this adjutancy I promise never to use such language to you, or if I
inadvertently do so, I shall take no notice of it".  On this promise he
became adjutant.  (This was probably an acting appointment, for Mr.
Armstrong did not become adjutant of the regiment until November 29th,
1800, less than four months before his marriage, which took place on
the 12th March 1801, and after Colonel Dalrymple had been made a
Brigadier-General.  The following is the official announcement which
appeared in the "Gazette" of March 21/1801:- "71st Foot: Lieutenant
John Armstrong to be Adjutant without purchase, vice Falconer,
resigned.  Dated November 29th, 1800)."  The regiment was soon
afterwards ordered to Scotland, and the Colonel went to his estate,
Langlands.  There he found himself a stranger, even to his wife and
three daughters, and partly from esteem and partly to have someone to
talk to about military matters he invited Mr. Armstrong to spend a
month with him.  The invitation was accepted reluctantly, for I have
often heard him say he had been so long out of female society, that he
would rather face a Frenchman with a drawn sword than enter a drawing
room where there were ladies, and as to small talk, it was a foreign
language to him.  The Colonel's daughters were amused by the extreme
diffidence of the brave soldier, and by their kindness and good nature
soon made him feel at ease, and, to their father's great surprise, a
day or two before his leave expired, he proposed for the eldest.  The
Colonel asked him, had he any private fortune?  The answer was " Not a
guinea  nor do I owe a guinea".  That, said the Colonel is the answer I
expected, and I will not give my daughter to a subaltern, who has
nothing but his commission, though there is no man of whom I have a
higher opinion.  Mr. Armstrong then said "Sir, we paid you the
compliment to ask your consent, but our minds are made up, we are both
of age, and since we are not so fortunate as to obtain it, we will
marry without.  The Colonel on reflecting, thought it best under the
circumstances to consent, and they were married.  In about a year
after, General Dalrymple purchased a Company for his son-in-law in the
64th Regiment, then stationed at St. Croix in the West Indies. (His
departure in this recorded in Mrs. Armstrong's diary; "My dear
Armstrong left this for St. Kitts in the West Indies, the 8th day of
February, and sailed from Greenock on the 2nd March, 1803.  May the God
of Heaven bless and protect him, and send him safe home to our little
one and M.A.).  On joining the regiment, Colonel, afterwards Sir Edward
Pakenham, the Commanding Officer, received him very coolly.  This was
owing to his having had a quarrel with Captain Armstrong's brother
William, who was then an extensive planter, and one of the most
influential persons on the island.  But the Colonel soon perceived what
an acquisition he was, and when the regiment was ordered to St. Lucia,
was glad to avail himself of his advice in taking the island, as he
happened to be the only man in the regiment who had ever seen a shot
fired.  In storming the fort, Col.  Pakenham was dangerously wounded in
the neck, and a great many more were killed and wounded.  This caused
panic, and would have ended
                   Subject 12 P4 (97)

in defeat, except that Captain Armstrong rallied the regiment and
called on the Irishmen to revenge their Colonel.  The fort was taken
and the Colonel soon afterwards was ever Captain Armstrong's best
friend.  When Col. Pakenham recovered from his wounds, he was appointed
to the command of the 7th Royal Fusiliers, and finding the situation of
Paymaster vacant, offered it to Captain Armstrong, who, as a father and
husband thought it his duty to sell his Company (in February 1806 for
£1,100) and accept it, and to his patron's surprise, proved himself at
once an expert man of business and an excellent paymaster.  He soon
became the friend and advisor of every officer of the regiment who
deserved it, and as the subalterns were any of them very young, and
many of them of noble families, he was of great service to them and
became a universal favorite.  He accompanied the First Battalion to
Copenhagen, Nova Scotia, Martinique, Spain, Portugal etc. Mrs.
Armstrong notes the departure to Nova Scotia as follows: My dearest
Armstrong sailed for Halifax the 17th May 1808.  God Bless him, and
send him soon home to his wife and dear little ones." He finally
retired from the army in 1812, and became agent to Sir Edward Pakenham,
and an extensive farmer on his estate, Langford Lodge, in the County of
Antrim, on the borders of Lock Neagh. Capt. Armstrong resided at Cherry
Valley, near the village of Crumlin).  "I visited him in 1816 and found
his was considered a model farm. He had introduced all new improvements
and machines, both there and in his garden and offices and even in his
poultry yard and kitchen.  He was considered so good an agent that he
was offered more agencies, but refused to accept them.  He was,
besides, a most active magistrate and grand juror. In fact he had
energy and talent enough to get through more business than any man I
ever knew, and whatever he undertook, he executed perfectly and in
society he was remarkably cheerful, and enjoyed it as much as if he had
nothing on his mind."  Immediately after retiring from the army and
becoming Pakenham's agent, he was obliged to devote consider able time
and attention to the state of his deceased father-in-law's affairs,
(General Dalrymple), which were much involved in consequence of the
Tanjore speculations.  A meeting of the General's creditors had been
held on May 15th, 1811, the result of which was that the estate of
Langlands was conveyed to Mr. Wilson, as a trustee for all parties
concerned, and a deed of compromise, to which the General's sister,
Miss Sarah Park, was a party, was entered into in the month of March
1813, under which the sum of £3000 was paid to Mr. Colt, as a
representative of one of the principal creditors.  An arrangement was
also entered into with the East India Company, by which they agreed to
advance certain sums for maintenance of Mrs. Dalrymple, and her
daughters, on the security of the money due from the Rajah of Tanjore,
and a bond executed by Mrs. Dalrymple and Capt. Armstrong on the 22nd
August 1812.  On the 22nd July 1813, Langlands was formally conveyed to
Capt.  Armstrong, and on the following day he granted a charitable bond
over the property for £2000 in favour of Captain Donald Harrow, of
Leamington Priors, in Warwickshire.  This £2000 is believed to have
been borrowed early in the year on the understanding that security was
to be given on the Langlands estate, as soon as Capt. Armstrong got a
proper conveyance of it, and to have formed part of the £300 paid to
Mr.  Colt, pursuant to the Deed of Compromise.  Up to about the time
when this arrangement was made, Capt. Armstrong's family appears to
have resided with Mrs.  Dalrymple at Langlands, but on the 14th April
1813, the whole family, then consisting  of Mrs. Dalrymple, her
daughter, Miss Elizabeth Isabella Dalrymple, Capt. Armstrong's four
children, General Dalrymple's sister, Miss Peggy Park, left Langlands,
and after spending some months on their way, arrived at Cherry Valley
on the 6th August 1813.
                             Subject 12 P5 (98)

Soon afterwards it was found not only expedient but necessary to sell
the Langlands property.  It had previously (in 1806) been valued at
from £16,000 to £20,000, the rental being about £500 a year, but having
been for some years neglected, the houses having become older and
disrepair, and the value of the land much decreased, it was sold August
20th/1817 to Mr. Dunlop, for £13,500, a sum greatly under what it is
worth now, as a considerable part of the new town of Kilmarnock, has
since that time been built upon the property, and the site of the old
dwelling house is now occupied by buildings now belonging to the
Glasgow and South-Western Railway Station.  In 1818 Mrs Dalrymple died,
and on the 31st October that year a bond was granted by Capt. Armstrong
and Capt. Donald Harrow to the East India Co. for the repayment of such
sums as the Company should advance to the said John Armstrong for the
support of the daughter, sisters, and grandchildren of Major-General
Stair Park Dalrymple, pending the consideration of the claim of the
said Major-General Dalrymple, or his representatives, against the Rajah
of Tanjore.  In June 1830, Capt. Armstrong went to London, and on his
way back to Ireland, paid a visit to his old friend Capt. Donald Harrow
at Leamington.  Here he was attacked by a fit of the gout, and after an
illness of three weeks, died on the 8th August 1830 in the 68th year of
his age.  He left a Will dated 15 May 1830 by which he appointed David
Shaw, Alexander Mackay, and Edward Pakenham Armstrong the executors
thereof, and which was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on
5 Nov. 1832.
    The following notices of his death appeared in the newspapers of
the day.  "At Leamington Priors, Warwickshire, on the 8th instant in
the 68th year of his age, John Armstrong Esquire, J.P. of Cherry
Valley, Crumlin, County Antrim Ireland .  Capt. Armstrong at an early
period of his life, served on board the same vessel with his present
Majesty, and afterwards in the 52nd, 71st, 64th and 7th Regiments on
Infantry."
Another notice read:
"Died in Portland Street, in this place, on Sunday last, Captain John
Armstrong of Cherry Valley, leaving two sons and two daughters, to
lament the loss of a brave soldier, a good father, a kind and constant
friend,  and a sincere Christian.  In his younger days Capt. Armstrong
had the honour of serving on board the same ship with his present
Majesty.  He afterwards served in the 52nd, 71st, 64th, and 7th
regiments of Infantry, both in the East and West Indies, and in Africa
and in America, and his uniform display of very noble quality that
could adorn the soldier and the man, gained him the love of his brother
officers, and the respect and attachment of his men.  Capt. Armstrong
was also a magistrate of the County of Antrim for many years.  In
his discharge of the arduous duties of that office he acquired and
preserved the esteem of all parties of every persuasion, by happily
uniting the firmness and impartiality of the Magistrates with the
judicious advice and conciliatory manners of the friendly mediator,
thus frequently preventing that vexatious and petty liquidation by
which trifling and temporary quarrels are too often magnified and
perpetuated into irreconcilable feuds.  The writer of this (probably
Capt. Donald Harrow) had the happiness of Capt. Armstrong's
acquaintance for six and thirty years: and his affliction at the loss
of an esteemed friend is alleviated by the consoling reflection that,
during an illness of three weeks, everything that the first medical
talent could suggest, and all that the assiduous attentions of attached
friends could minister was none to soothe and mitigate the suffering of
a sick bed.  On Saturday the deceased received the consolation of
religion from the respected Vicar of Leamington, and his last hours
were distinguished by an expression of cheerful resignation and a
frequent and grateful acknowledgment of the
                   Subject 12 P6 (99)

kind enquiries and attentions of his acquaintances.  The remains of
Captain Armstrong were interred in the churchyard  of the Parish on
Wednesday.  The following inscriptions on his monument in the
churchyard at Leamington:-"In memory of Captain John Armstrong, late of
Cherry Valley, in the County of Antrim, Ireland, 1830."
"In memory of William Armstrong, formerly of the Island of St. Croix,
West Indies, 1830.  This memorial was erected by the children of
Captain John Armstrong, in commemoration of their lamented Father and
Uncle, whose bodies are interred herein." "Here rest the mortal remains
of Donald Harrow, formerly Paymaster of the 2nd Battalion, 71st
Regiment of Foot, who lived in the hearts of a numerous circle of
friends, and died shrouded by their grief, Jan 6/1833, aged 70 years."

The Honourable H.R. Pakenham, afterwards Sir Hercules Pakenham, who had
succeeded to the estate of Langford Lodge on the death of his brother,
Sir Edward Pakenham, sent the following reply to Capt. Harrow's letter
announcing the death of his friend:- Langford Lodge, Aug. 13th, 1830.
Sir Your letter of the 10th instant has given me more pain and grief
than I can attempt to express.  My excellent, upright, intelligent
friend, my companion in arms, my assistant in peace, was such a comfort
to me and such a blessing to this district, that his loss is
universally deplored by all.  His family have been so astounded by the
blow, that for some time they cannot look steadily around them. I trust
that you may continue to them the friendship and advice their beloved
father so highly prized.  I know our departed friend was a sincere
Christian, that he looked for salvation through our Blessed Saviour,
and that in God's time we shall meet covered with the same robe of
righteousness, to part no more.  I remain, Sir, with the highest
respect, Most truly yours,   H.R.P.

         At a numerous meeting of the tenantry of the Hon. Col.
Pakenham, held in Mrs. Henderson's Dec 31/1831, Rev. W. Campbell,
Chairman, the following address was agreed upon and presented to Col.
Pakenham:- Sir, being anxious to erect a monument with a suitable
inscription to the memory of the late Capt. Armstrong, with great
impartiality and; much mildness among us, and as we believe, with
strict fidelity to your interest, we beg your sanction so to do. We
embrace this opportunity of expressing to you the deep sense of
gratitude which we feel for the many comforts our forefathers and we,
have enjoyed under your honourable and considerate landlord, who
permitted him to abate the high price of our farms at which many of
them were let during the French War, to a more moderate rate.  We are
happy in living under you, and we trust that you will be long preserved
with the most lengthened life.  R. Campbell, Chairman.

His reply was as follows:-
Dear Sir:-                   Langford Lodge, Dec 31/1831

In reply to the address which you have this day communicated to me , I
beg to inform my esteemed tenantry that I feel the utmost gratification
in hearing they are about to erect a testimonial of respect to our
departed friend, Captain Armstrong.  My acquaintance with him was of
long standing, and under all circumstances, I ever found his conduct
marked by integrity, intelligence, and good feeling.  As to myself, my
object has ever been to merit the esteem and confidence of those with
whom I am connected by the interest of property.  A considerable regard
to their well being is, I am convinced on my part, the best worldly
policy, and, alive to the responsibility of the station I hold, I trust
I may have reason to merit the support of a self approving conscience
when called upon to give an
                             Subject 12 P7 (100)

account of my stewardship. I sincerely hope that my tenantry may
continue in that same respectable course by which they have been so
much distinguished, and that our district may never be involved in the
mischief and misery by which so many parts of the Kingdom have been
afflicted.  With the most sincere wishes for their welfare, I remain,
Sir, Most truly yours
                       H. R. Pakenham.

        The monument referred to in the foregoing address was erected
at the entrance to Gartree Church from The main road.
(Addition by H.A.  Poole -Today July, 25th 1905, when I visited this
church I read the inscription on an ornamental gate at the entrance
from the road.  "Erected by the Spontaneous and Voluntary Contributions
of a Grateful people, to the memory of John Armstrong, Captain of the
7th Fusiliers, the late truly respected agent of the Hon. Hercules
Pakenham, who, while in that office, discharged the Duty thereof, with
great impartiality and much mildness among the tenantry, and with the
strictest fidelity to the landlord.  Obiit August 8th, 1830.
Aetatis68.  Bred to arms and conversant in Camps, it could not be
expected that he would have understood or regarded with interest, the
toils and difficulties of farmers.  But with these, he soon rendered
himself acquainted with the sanction of the Landlord, (who has on all
occasions identified his interests with those of his tenantry) lowered
the high rate of rent laid on their farms during the French War, to one
more proportionate to the produce of the land in peaceful times."

Issue:- (by his first wife)
1/1. Glencairn Dalrymple Armstrong . Born  May 12/1802, died November
17/1868.
She married on November 1/1826, David Shaw of Ayr, Scotland, born
November 5/1788, died May 1902, at the remarkable age of 114 years:
David Shaw was writer to the Signet in Ayr, Keeper of the Peculiar
Register of Sassines for In County of Ayr, Bailiary of Kyle, Carrick
and Cunningham, till the discontinuance at that office on September
30/1869, pursuant to the provisions of The Lands Register (Scotland)
Act of 1868, and Clerk to the Commissioners of assessed taxes, Justices
and County Prison Boards, admitted a Writer to the Signet in 1812.
  Issue:-
  2/1. John Shaw, born September 5/1827, an attorney of the High Court
     of Madras. He married Sophia Alicia Byam, second daughter of
     Captain John Houlton Gunthorpe, of the Madras Horse Artillery.
     Issue:-
     3/1. David James Shaw.
     3/2. Margaret Glencairn Dalrymple Shaw.
     3/3. John Byam Diston Shaw.
  2/2. Charles George Shaw, born November 3/1830. Ha was a solicitor in
     Ayr, and Clerk to the Commissioners of assessed taxes, Justice of
     the Peace, County Prison Board, County Police Commission, District
     Lunacy Board: he married Flora Campbell, daughter of William
     Whiteside, M.D. of Ayr-
     Issue:-
     3/1. David William Shaw.
     3/2. Patrick John Shaw.
     3/3. Charles Alexander Shaw.
     3/4. Flora Glencairn Whiteside Shaw.
     3/5. Elizabeth Dalrymple Shaw.
     3/6. James Edward Shaw. (This is The man who sent me the above
        history of John Armstrong. I, (H.A.P.) visited him on July
        18/1905 at his residence, Martnaham lodge, near Ayr).
     3/7. Philip Armstrong Shaw.
  2/3. David Shaw. Born June 7/1832, died April 7/1834;
  2/4. Elizabeth Dalrymple Shaw, born June 20/1835, died July 6/1851.

                             Subject 12 P8 (101)

  2/5. Edward William Shaw. Born July 24/1837, a Captain in the Madras
     Staff Corps. He married Jane Isabella, daughter of John
     HouIdsworth of Cranstoun Hill.
     Issue:-
     3/1. Hellen Dalrymple Shaw.
  2/6. Reverend Glencairn Alexander Shaw, born January 17/1840. He was
     Vicar of Sharfleet in the Isle of White.
  2/7. Carolina Anna Shaw, born February 6/1840.
  2/8. Barbara Jane Shaw.

1/2. Charles William Armstrong. Born May 18/1805, died February 8/1858.
succeeded his father as agent to Sir Hercules Pakenham and to the house
and farm of Cherry Valley, which was held  upon a renewable lease for
three lives. He was also agent to Sir Hercules's two sons, Lt Colonel
Edward Pakenham, of the Grenadier Guards, who succeeded to the estate
of Langford Lodge on the death at his father in 1850, and was killed at
the Battle of Inkerman, on November 5/1854: and the Revered Arthur
Pakenham who succeeded his brother. He married on September 4/1844,
Louise Isabelle, daughter at Richard Boyle Bagley, by Alicia, daughter
of Richard, 2nd Baron Castlemain, but he died without issue on February
7/1858. The following notice of his funeral appeared in a local paper:-
"On Tuesday last the mortal remains of this kind hearted agent and
popular magistrate was conveyed from Cherry Valley to Gartree Burying
Ground. Although the distance was nearly two miles, the tenants on the
estate intimated to the friends of the deceased, their desire to carry
the bier. This was at once acceeded to and 48 were selected for the
purpose. They walked two and two behind the coffin, and in turn, eight
by eight, they performed the duty allotted to them. After these came
the servants belonging to Cherry Valley and Langford Lodge, then the
carriages of the friends containing the friends the deceased: about 40
carriages followed in order. An immense number of friends from a
distance, as well as the agriculturialists of the neighbourhood, on
horse and on foot paid the last respect to the memory of the deceased.
Having arrived at Gartree, the remains were deposited in a grave
adjoining the vault of the Pakenham family. The solemn service of the
Church of England was read by the Reverend Mr Roe, incumbent of
Gartree, and the Rev CJ Smyth of Glenavy. Rarely has there been
witnessed such a feeling of sorrow as was evinced by the numerous
servants present.
The body was afterwards removed to Glenavy and buried beside Mr
Armstrong`s grandmother, Mrs Glencairn Dalrymple who died August 1816.
Mrs Louise Isabella Armstrong, the wife of Charles William Armstrong,
married again, secondly: on February 17/1863, Robin Alexander of the.
Bengal Civil Service, and had children whose names are unknown.

1/3. Anna Maria Armstrong. Born March 28/1807. She married on March
 21/1833, William Dysart Smith, proprietor of a large distillery and of
 several Mills in County Antrim, Ireland, where they lived.

1/4. Edward Pakenham Armstrong. Born December 31/1808. Never married,
He was Vicar of Skellingthorpe, Leicester and, and succeeded on the
death at his brother to the barren honour of representing Dalrymple of
Langlands, the only member of the family now bearing the name of
Dalrymple being Miss Margaret Dalrymple, of Lansdown Crescent,
Cheltenham, the third daughter of Captain Charles Dalrymple of
Orangefield.

Issue: (by his second wife)
1/5. John Armstrong,. Born December 21/1820 at Cherry Valley, County
Antrim, Ireland, died September 24/1890 at Chicago, Illinois. He

                   Subject 12 P9 (102)

married on January 20/1840, 1st, Eleanor: Isabella Wilson, born August
1817, died April 28/1848 in Ireland, daughter of Charles and Eleanor
Isabella (Mullarkey) Wilson. He married 2nd, Henrietta Wilson, born
January 6/1826, died April 16/1914 in Chicago, the youngest sister of
his first wife: they were married in Ireland. See subject 6: for issue
and further particulars.

                 The end of the John Armstrong Genealogy.

    In 1905, I, (Herbert Armstrong Poole), went on a trip around the
world and while in the British Isles, went up to Ayr to visit James
Edward Shaw, who had sent me the long history of the Armstrongs. The
following are  extracts from the letters I wrote home to Yokohama,
telling of this visit:
Glasgow, July 22/1905: I took the 12.30 train for Ayr, an hour's ride.
I located Mr Shaw's office but found it closed and that be lived about
6 miles out of town at a place called Martnaham Lodge.  I drove out in
a taxi in about 40 minutes over hill and dale to a small Loch on the
further side of which was a big forest-like clump of trees, wherein his
place is situated. Down a long driveway, through  a wild garden to
a two storied stone house on the shore, with peacocks and other birds
walking around. I sent my card in to Mrs Shaw as the maid told me Mr
Shaw was away in Camp on the other side of Ayr at Irvin.  I did not
know whether he had told his wife about my coming, but she said when I
met her that her husband had told her a cousin of his might turn up. I
didn't think I was a close enough relative to be called a cousin. She
was pretty and very nice about 30 years old, and showed me round the
place.  It is not at all well kept, all unshaven and wild, but she
explained they had only had it a year and were gradually fixing it up.
They have just built an addition to the old house. My taxi driver told
no it was a howling wilderness when they got it: they have the fishing
rights on the loch too, which is entirely disregarded by the frequent
poachers.  She showed me many old family portraits which did not
interest me much, as they were all of Shaws & Dalrymples. She said
David Shaw had a great many of the old family pictures, so I am sorry I
shall not be able to see him.  She thought I was Scotch and was
surprised to find I was an American, and more surprised to find I had
been in Japan for so many years. She said Mr Shaw would be home next
day, and asked me to lunch at that time, which I accepted. He has the
rank of Colonel in the Volunteers. I went back to Ayr for the night and
drove out again next morning in a spanking dogcart, the driver of which
was very Scotch and very voluble, and told me of all the notables in
the place, of which David Shaw is the principal.  His place is out at
Dumfries and is part of the Bute estate, he being Agent of the Marquis
of Bute, living there six months of the year in the discharge of his
duties.  The Shaws still keep up their old established law firm, the
reputation of which is the highest. James Shaw later told me that
Martnaham Lodge is not his own, but part of the Marquis of Ailsa's
estate, whose affairs are in his keeping. I arrived at Martnaham Lodge
at 1 P.M. and met Mrs Shaw out walking with her baby in a pram, and her
nurse. Mr Shaw had not yet arrived from Camp, but just as we reached
the house, he drove up in his motor. Mr Shaw was surprised to learn who
I was, and said he was very glad I had taken the trouble to come out
and see them. He is about 32, tall and broad, light haired, yellow
mustache, and very sunburned from his week's soldiering. After lunch we
had a talk about cause of the dispute between our grandfather and the
knowledge about the cause of the dispute between our grandfather and

                   Subject 12 P10 (103)

the latter's brother before he emigrated to the United States. He says
that Cherry Valley is still intact, so I shall certainly go there from
Belfast. I drove back to Ayr by a roundabout way, past the Burns
cottage and the banks of the "Bonny Doon", past many lodges and manors
of Lord and Marquis so-and-so. Belfast, July 26/1905. I came across the
Irish Channel from Ardrossan by the fast ferry steamer "Adder", and
this morning caught the 8.50 A.M.  Motor Coach for Crumlin, about 1 1/2
hours distant. The country was very pretty as we went along, much more
wooded than in England. The houses are generally only thatched huts,
nice and clean and whitewashed.  At Crumlin I asked the first man I met
on the street if he knew where Cherry Valley was. Oh yes, he said, its
about a mile down the road and belongs to a Mr McConnell. I walked
there, along lovely lanes, a jolly long mile too, but at last got to
the gates. I at least knew who to expect inside, so marched boldly in:
its a tremendous place with a long driveway. The house looked so pretty
but smaller than I had imagined, two-storied with cement walls,
finished like stone, and with white windows and green blinds. The trees
on the lane are wonderfully old, with signs of having been carefully
trimmed for many years. The tennis court to one side looked so well
kept and inviting, and two red headed girls of about 16, were just
putting up the net. I of course came in for a considerable stare, but
walked up to the door and rang the bell. Soon one of the girls came
over and let me in: I explained why I had come and she welcomed me with
open arms and went to fetch her elder sister, also red headed, about
25. She told us her father, Mr McConnell, was in Dublin, attending a
meeting of the Irish Land Commission, of which he is a member. She said
she knew well about the Armstrongs, and that her grandfather had bought
the place when it was sold by the executors of Captain Armstrong's
Will. Miss McConnell was most kind and showed  all over the place,
first over the building, which had been much changed in recent years.
She pointed out the rooms which had not been changed, such as the oak
panelled dining room, and the little room used by Captain Armstrong as
his study. Then outside, she showed me all the old buildings now used
mostly as stables, and the original old yard surrounded by a stone wall
to keep the cattle out.  There is a curious old tower about 20 feet
high at one angle at the wall, with a bell on top which used to be rung
at lunch time to call the hands in; many orchards also. The arrangement
of the grounds and buildings is very like Grandfather Armstrong's farm
at Arcola, Ill, and I imagine he tried to follow the Cherry Valley plan
when he built it. The place has about 200 acres.  There seem to be
about three McConnell girls and one son now at the Edinburgh
University.  What Mcconnell does, I don't know, probably a man of
leisure. I took a few photos of the place, but there are too many trees
about, and the ground slopes down from the house, so the house will
look dwarfed in the photos. The house is very low anyway the ground
floor being the same level as the ground outside. They insisted on my
having some coffee and cake to which I succumbed rather easily. I was
sorry to miss Mr McConnel as I could probably have got much information
from him. I left about 11.30 and walked on further to Langford Lodge,
the Pakenham's place, about a mile further, right on the shore of Loch
Neagh. As the ground slopes gradually from Cherry Valley to the Loch,
you can see the Pakenham place from it. Loch Neagh is an immense body
of water and Langford Lodge occupies one whole promontory - about 3000
acres. I had to walk all the way as there was no conveyance and it was
a hot walk.  The country here is very sparsely settled, but the fields
are all cultivated and growing something or other.  I came at last to

                   Subject 12 P11 (104)

the Lodge gate and found the Cemetery was another mile farther, way
round on the other side at the estate. I also found the Pakenhams were
home for the summer with a big house party, so didn't dare go in,
especially as it was half a mile from the gate to the house. I found
the cemetery, a lovely spot, with a nice little church built for the
Pakenham's own use.
The gate is a handsome stone arched gate, and happening to look up, saw
Captain Armstrong's name staring me in the face. It proved to be the
gate erected by the tenentry to him, as their kind and helpful master.
I copied out the inscription for our "tree", and got a good photo of
the gate and church. The graveyard doesn't show: I routed out the
sexton's wife who fetched the keys and let me in. It is private ground
and named Gartree. Most of those buried there are Pakenhams their
retainers and servants: none refereed to our family. The Pakenham's
vault is under the Church and they don't have any door and steps
leading down to it; but they wall it in each time and fill in the
earth, so that to open it is a three day job. The most recent addition
has quite a horrible history. It was the youngest Pakenham, about 28
who served in the Boer War: he was wounded and has been queer ever
since.  Early this year in married an English girl named Markham, and
three days later, while here on honeymoon, committed suicide by
drowning himself in the loch. I remember now, seeing the notice of this
in the London papers when I first arrived. It took me an hour's fast
walking get back to the station, and caught the 1.45 P.M. to Glenavy,
the next station to Crumlin, as I had to see the graveyard where I knew
several Armstrongs were buried. I found the church on the banks of a
little river, and the Armstrong enclosure, with head stones of Macrae
Dalrymple and her eldest son Charles Armstrong. But no stone of the
second wife Ellen Kirk. I found there, too, the graves of Ann Jane
Dickson and her husband John, the mother and father of Mrs Goodfellow,
with whom Grandpa lived first when he was being educated.  They were
the school teachers in Cherry Valley. This Ann Jane Dickson was the
daughter of William Haughton, Mother's direct ancestor on her maternal
side. I suppose it was through them that Grandpa met the Wilsons, as
Charles Wilson married the other daughter. Glenavy is even smaller than
Crumlin: as I had to spend another night in Belfast I decided to return
there via Antrim instead of via Lismore, as on my way out in the
morning. You see, Cherry Valley is on a branch line connecting the
north  and south lines out of Belfast. I got to Antrim and though I
might as well look it the churchyard there: I did so and found a big
church and graveyard, and happened on a whole nest of Kirks. So I
fetched the sexton and asked him about these graves: none bore the name
of Ellen. Antrim was the home of the Kirks, and as it was barely eight
miles from Cherry Valley, I thought I was on the right track. The
sexton told me that the Kirks were still going strong, and that the
present oldest Kirk living was the Magistrate of Antrim. I happened to
run into him on coming out of the church: the sexton introduced me.  He
is a big grey haired and bearded man, florid and well fed. I explained
what I wanted so he brightened up and began to think: he said this was
taking him back to his grandfather's time, but he had never heard of
any one of his family marrying one of the Cherry Valley Armstrongs. He
also said that Ellen was not a family name of theirs, and that she was
probably of some other Irish family of that name.  However, I then
remembered that Grandpa said his mother`s family lived somewhere in
Scotland. The old man was interested to hear I came
from Japan and asked me to stay to dinner, but I had to catch the 7
p.m. train back to Belfast. His son is in South Africa so he said he
always thought a lot of anyone who cane from a foreign country.  The
old chap is over 60 and looks like pictures of Abraham Lincoln.

For the continuation of Bert's trip to Longford and Holly Park, see
under Charles Wilson

                   Subject 12 P12 (105)

The following is a copy of a letter from JH Connell, written
to me from Cherry Valley, Crumlin, date March 3 1906: Your letter
from Tokyo dated January 8/1906, I duly received, and my daughter
received the photo of this house, also the Japanese souvenir, which is
very beautiful, and for which she thanks you. I was exceedingly sorry
at missing you when you were here last summer and when I got home from
my official work about a week later, I wrote to you to the London
address given, which at the time I thought meager, but it never reached
you, as it was returned six weeks or two months later. Relative to our
predecessors, my father purchased Cherry Valley from the Reverend
Edward Armstrong in November 1838, who was I think the youngest son of
Captain Armstrong, but I regret that I do not know anything of Captain
Armstrong, or his wife Ellen Kirk. I have been making enquiries from
some old people in the neighbourhood, but they can give me no reliable
information about either. From some old  assignments I have, I think
the Armstrongs came from West Meath, but I have not a thread of
evidence of where Miss Kirk came from, or who she was. If you can tell
me from what county she came from, I will try to find something out
about  her.  ???  many, for your kind invitation to Japan - nothing
would please me better, but as I have a rather good appointment from
the Government, and as my vacation is too short, I fear there is little
chance of my being able to visit your adopted and grand country. well
may you be proud at the prowess at arms of the Japanese people: they
have astonished the world and are a worthy ally of dear old England.
Should you revisit our shores in days to come, I shall be very pleased
to put you up for a while, and show you around where your forefathers
lived, one of whom my father constantly spoke of in the highest terms,
I mean the Rev Edward Armstrong, from whom he bought the property, and
whom be knew.
                           Believe me, Yours truly,
                            J.H.Connell.