William Armstrong b1852 Ireland but British soldier

[overlandermatt]

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!

[tonepad]

Armstrong
William
1854
—
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

[overlandermatt]

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...

[Milliepede]

Has this one been ruled out?

Death Plymouth Dec 1912 age 61

[Milliepede]

Which child was born closest to 1891 census?

[heywood]

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.

[Milliepede]

The baptism for son Christopher in Derbyshire mentioned he was a drummer

[heywood]

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.

[ShaunJ]

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