Armstrongs of Breckney Bed

[jilfran]

I have a number of Armstrongs born/and or lived in Breckney Bed from 1811 to about 1871.  Possibly there are more after that but I haven't progressed any further.  I think Breckney Bed was near Waterhead or Lanercost but am not sure. I'm in Australia and I'm afraid my geography is a bit shaky. I'm wondering if it was a farm.  Has anybody heard of it??  I know the Armstrongs are pretty thick on the ground in Cumberland, and annoyingly they only seem to have about six first names between them!

[KGarrad]

I have the same forename problem with my Ag Labs from Devon!

Found a couple of references for Breckney Bed:

http://www.geog.port.ac.uk/webmap/thelakes/html/lgaz/lk01500.htm
http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=28538448

[Geoff-E]

Map http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=361600&Y=567080&A=Y&Z=120

[clearly]

Breckney Bed anciently would be in Lanercost Parish, the parish church being about five miles from the farm.  In 1853 a new church of St Mary Magdalene was erected, just over a mile away, near Gilsland, so the family may have switched to that church.  Breckney Bed is in the Ecclesiastical Parish of Gilsland.  It is in the Civil Parish of Waterhead.
Quite often civil and church parishes cover the same area but not in this case. You won't find BMD records for Waterhead.  Hope this helps.

[jilfran]

Thanks for the information.  At least I was in the right area and can now relate to some of the other place names which crop up.

[jilfran]

That does help, thanks.  Most of the Armstrong males I've found were stonemasons/farmers.  Quite a few of them 'migrated'to the Haltwhistle area as well.  I visited the area some years ago, as my father was born in Haltwhistle, but at that stage wasn't aware of the Armstrong connection.  Maybe I'll get another opportunity at some stage.