ARMSTRONGS of Ravensden

[johnP-bedford]

Hello Ann,

I have links to the Armstrongs of Ravensden/Thurleigh but now know NOT to those from Upper Gravenhurst. It was me who started the rumour on this thread - but have been duly corrected. 

Regards John

CastleBob - do you attend the BFHS meetings ?   

[castlebob]

Hello All,
I'm based on the South Coast, so unable to attend BFHS meetings, sadly. Some info that may be of interest re Armstrongs: (I'd welcome your input)
I read that  Queen Elizabeth sent  Francis Russell, 2nd Earl of Bedford, to the Borders in 1563 as a Warden of the March in an effort to help keep the peace. Sir Walter Scott's poem "The Raid of the Reidswire" names Russell & the Armstrongs in the 'dispute'.
I wonder if Russell offered the Armstrongs an escape route to Beds? In 1586, a Simon Armstrong fathered a child Elizabeth in Woburn (seat of the Dukes). One of the last Lairds of Mangerton was Simon Armstrong, wife Elizabeth Forster. There is a betrothal stone at Mangerton with their initials.
Also, my DNA shows links to Scottish Armstrongs approx in the 1400's.
Could the Russell's be the link?
Cheers,
Bob Armstrong

[quest40]

Hello everyone,

As was said, certainly loads of Armstrongs! Unfortunately, I have not been able to find anything before Thomas and Phoebe's marriage - in fact it was only through other people's research that I found out about them! 

I see among my notes that their first child, baptised in 1789 was called Edith, so as Bob says, a similar naming pattern. 

Ann

[bedfordshire boy]

Hi Bob

That's an interesting theory, but I'm not sure if it could ever be proved!

A few comments

This is a well documented family, so I'd have thought that a move south would have been noted.

The Simon Armstrong 9th and penultimate Laird of Mangerton rebuilt Mangerton Castle in 1583 and died the same year, three years before the birth of Elizabeth Armstrong at Woburn, so he couldn't have been the Simon in Woburn. But there were a number of Simons in the family, so another member might have moved south.

Francis Russell died in 1585, the year before Elizabeth was born, and 18 years after he returned to London from the Borders. It seems a bit of a gap - 20 years - from when he moved back to London to the birth in Woburn, for there to have been a connection between the Earl and Simon Armstrong

I can't see a burial of Simon or Elizabeth in Beds, or indeed of any Armstrong at Woburn.

A Henry Armstrong was reproducing in Leighton Buzzard in 1613

Thomas Armstrongs were buried at Tingrith and Willington in 1630 and 1652, so it appears that more than one Armstrong turned up in Beds.

I prefer working backwards in time!

Regards

David

[castlebob]

Thanks David for the input & extra ( & expert)  Beds knowledge.
As you say, it's just conjecture, but I have a list of coincidences, plus vague family connections to some Scots-Irish in Beds, (see Stonestown, Ireland ), plus an early Armstrong who wed Christian Fiddes in Wilstead. (The only girl I've found of the name was from Jedburgh, & the age fits).
Unfortunately, none of this is proof positive, but my DNA links to some people from the Borders in the 1400's (+/-) is useful.
If you uncover anything in your researching travels, I'd welcome any input.
Cheers,
Bob

[bedfordshire boy]

Just came across this on A2a which you may have and which may mean nothing at all

Moravian Church, Bedfordshire


CONGREGATION BIOGRAPHIES

   Brief biographies of people connected with the Bedford Congregation

      FILE - Nathaniel Armstrong, born Hayfeild in Derbyshire, 23 Feb 1744 - ref.  MO616

David

[castlebob]

Thanks, David
That's a new one on me!
Cheers
Bob

[castlebob]

Hello All,
I think he's probably from a branch of the Gallen line of Armstrongs from Stonestown, Ireland origins. Charles & Althamia were in Derbyshire in 1748, so possible.
Bob

[wdurham]

Thanks for that, David!

There are only a couple of Nathaniels on the IGI from Derbyshire - this one looks like a relation, as Chinley and Hayfield are up in the Peak District, less than two miles apart and the baptism was in an Independent church:


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Charles was certainly in Derbyshire at the time, as he married Elizabeth Collier in 1742 in Sawley, and had two children by her, Thomas and Christian. She was the daughter of the Rev Mr Collier of Sawley. He then married Althamia in Bowden, Leicestershire, and went back to Sawley, where their first child was born. They then moved to Steppingley in Beds where the rest of their children were born.

However, uncannily, Charles' second child with Elizabeth, Christian, was baptised on 24 February 1744......but Sawley is a long way from Hayfield and Christian was a girl!