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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Topic started by: overlandermatt on Sunday 02 November 25 00:08 GMT (UK)
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I posted recently about my grandfather's brother, Albert Pope who emigrated to Canada and then the US with his new wife Emily Elizabeth Armstrong. They married in 1910 and the wedding was attended by the father William Armstrong.
I was interested to find out more about Emily and her family. Coincidentally, Emily's birth in 1886 was registered in Shardlow, Derbyshire where I live these days and a long way from the normal Plymouth stomping grounds. Her father William Armstrong, a soldier/bugler born in Ireland, had married her mother Emily Luscombe in Plymouth in 1878 and there were two brothers on the 1881 census when William was in Chatham. The family must have moved to Derbyshire where 3 more children were born before they returned to Plymouth. Emily senior died in 1900 but I don't know what happened to William. He was there at the wedding in 1910 but deceased on his youngest daughter's wedding certificate in 1922.
I found him on the 1881 and 1901 censuses but I've not found him elsewhere. I have wondered if he was away on military service. If he was born in Belfast in 1852, he might have joined the army by 1870 and gone overseas.
Any clues on this man and his family would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Armstrong
William
1854
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1911
1911 Census For England & Wales
Urpeth, Chester Le Street, Durham, England
He is a Boarder and working as a Plasterer, a Widower born Belfast
Household Head is William George Fraser
Tony
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Thanks Tony.
He's been a bit of a pain to find but I think I found him in East Stonehouse in 1911 at the same street address that was on his daughter's wedding certificate.
What is a bit strange is that his daughter is listed under her maiden name and there is no mention of the husband. The census only has initials rather than first names so this strangely enough proved to be quite helpful given there are quite a few William Armstrongs around the country... Less helpful was that the whole family were incorrectly listed as having been born in Stonehouse.
Just need to find him in 1861, 1871 and 1891. I did find an army record for W Armstrong from Shankhill, Belfast 1851 and Derbyshire regiment which sort of ties in with the story but that suggests he left in 1883 which was 3 years before one daughter was born in Derbyshire and he resided at the barracks...
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Has this one been ruled out?
Death Plymouth Dec 1912 age 61
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Which child was born closest to 1891 census?
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You might find his military record on Find My past.
One Fold3 information gives discharge as 3 Sept 1883 with pension date as 3 September 1889 which may be an error. I think it’s also indicates that he was a drummer.
Another shows 52nd Regiment of Foot, listing at the age of 17 years in 1868.
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The baptism for son Christopher in Derbyshire mentioned he was a drummer
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A published tree shows Emily Elizabeth’s baptism in Normanton, 1886. The abode is ‘The Barracks’ and William is a drummer in the 3rd battalion, Derbyshire regiment.
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Army records from 1868 to discharge in 1889:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO97%2F2211%2F111%2F001&parentid=GBM%2FWO97%2F2211%2F11123
He was in Malta at the time of the 1871 census
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ARMSTRONG, SUSAN HANNAH LUSCOMB
GRO Reference: 1889 S Quarter in SHARDLOW Volume 07B Page 457
1891 census
ARMSTRONG, GEORGE ROBERT LUSCOMBE
GRO Reference: 1894 S Quarter in PLYMOUTH Volume 05B Page 256
SS
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Army records form 1868 to discharge in 1889:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO97%2F2211%2F111%2F001&parentid=GBM%2FWO97%2F2211%2F11123
He was in Malta at the time of the 1871 census
And in Ireland presumably in 1861
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Quote from opening post:
Her father William Armstrong, a soldier/bugler born in Ireland, had married her mother Emily Luscombe in Plymouth in 1878 and there were two brothers (CHILDREN)on the 1881 census when William was in Chatham.
ARMSTRONG, - LUSCOMBE
GRO Reference: 1879 M Quarter in FARNHAM Volume 02A Page 100
ARMSTRONG, ROBERT JOSEPH LUSCAMB
GRO Reference: 1881 M Quarter in MEDWAY Volume 02A Page 564
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added--death of wife Emily
Deaths Mar 1900
Armstrong Emily aged 44 Plymouth 5b 236
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Per the army records, the two sons born before Emily were:
William Francis, 2 March 1879
Christopher John, 1 March 1883
Robert Joseph not listed - perhaps he did not survive
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Per the army records, the two sons born before Emily were:
William Francis, 2 March 1879
Christopher John, 1 March 1883
Robert Joseph not listed - perhaps he did not survive
Deaths Dec 1881 (
ARMSTRONG Robert George 0 Shardlow 7b 265
SS
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William Francis, 2 March 1879-should be somewhere in 1891. He appears in 1911 census, marries 1917, 1921 census, 1939 war register(dob .6.1879) and dies 1947.
ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM FRANCIS agd 68
GRO Reference: 1947 M Quarter in ISLINGTON Volume 05C Page 1346
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Army records from 1868 to discharge in 1889:
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/record?id=GBM%2FWO97%2F2211%2F111%2F001&parentid=GBM%2FWO97%2F2211%2F11123
He was in Malta at the time of the 1871 census
Thanks for sharing that Shaun. I will need a FindMyPast subscription to look at that - currently just have Ancestry. The wrong one when the time comes!
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Thank you all for uncovering the details here. I had wondered whether he followed daughter Emily to Canada but seemingly he died shortly before or after they emigrated...
I am interested in the army details. I have had a few relatives in Plymouth who married soldiers, presumably as the unit passed through the city at some stage. What is unclear in this case is the unit - I couldn't really find anything about a 3rd Derbyshire Battalion in the 1880s and the 52nd Regiment in 1878 at the time of the marriage. I need to renew the FindMyPast subscription...
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Info only, Sarah Hannah and Christopher appear together in 1911 and 1921 census together, Christopher also 1939 war register. Christopher died 1945.
SS
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In case it is not clear from the foregoing, he enlisted in the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment, which was a light infantry regiment, at Belfast on 2nd September 1868 and served with that regiment (it was a single battalion regiment at the time) until 1 June 1881 when he transferred to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Derbyshire Regiment where he served for a further 8 years until 3 Sept 1889 when he was discharged having completed his engagement (21 years). Note that his Militia service was part time.
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In case it is not clear from the foregoing, he enlisted in the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment, which was a light infantry regiment, at Belfast on 2nd September 1868 and served with that regiment (it was a single battalion regiment at the time) until 1 June 1881 when he transferred to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of the Derbyshire Regiment where he served for a further 8 years until 3 Sept 1889 when he was discharged having completed his engagement (21 years). Note that his Militia service was part time.
Thank you Andy. That's a helpful summary. I think I have sufficient detail about this man's service now.