William Armstrong (1565 - 1649)

Born 1565 in Gilnockie, Dumfriesshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Elliot — married 1600 in Falde, Dumfries, Scotland

Descendants

Died 1649 at about age 84 in Brookeborough, County Fermanagh, Ireland

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Biography

William Armstrong is a member of Clan Armstrong.

William Armstrong was born in 1565 in Gilnockie, Dumfrieshire, Scotland.^[1][2][3][4] His parents were Christopher Armstrong and Gorthe Graham. He was called 'Christie's Will' as well as "The Younger of Barngleish" and later "Younger of Langholm", and "Younger of Aughingill". ^[5]

It is well known that during the troubles of Charles I, the Earl of Traquair continued unalterably fixed in his attachment to his unfortunate master, in whose service he hazarded his person and improverished his estate. On one occasion his lordship dispatched Christie's Will to London upon business of the highest importance to his Majesty. But the task was a difficult one, as the Parliamentary leaders used their utmost endeavors to prevent and communication between the king and his Scottish friends. Will arrived at London and delivered his papers in safety. In the meantime his embassy had taken air, and orders were dispatched by the enemy to intercept him.

He passed skillfully from London to Carlisle, a distance of 265 miles, stopping at the latter place to refresh his horse, and then proceeded on his journey. Crossing the bridge over the Eden just outside of Carlisle, he suddenly discovered Parliamentary soldiers springing up like magic at both ends of the bridge. There was nothing left to do but take to the water, which was in high flood. Facing down stream, he patted his horse's neck, and with a touch of the spur gracefully cleared the parapet. Horse and rider were carried by the swift current to a place called the Stanners, or Stanhouse, where he guided the horse up the wet bank but they slipped back into the river.

Quickly cutting the loop that held his long wet cloak, he made for the bank again. With the noble effort the animal brought his master to firm ground. The soldiers, for a time struck with wonder, forgot to fire upon him. Two or three ran down the waterside intending to capture him, but Will pointed his wet pistol at them, which weapon, although useless, caused them to halt.

From the Eden he was chased to the Esk, which he swam. Gaining the further side, he wheeled around and in true Border style called out to his pursuers to come through and drink with him. They declined, knowing he was in the neighborhood of friends. After this taunt, he proceeded on the journey and faithfully accomplished his mission.^[6][7]

In 1630 William kidnapped Sir Alexander Gibson, Lord Durie, a Judge and kept him prisoner for 3 months in Castle Dungeon until court decided in favor of his friend, then released the Judge at night. Judge and friends thought William had been spirited away by witchcraft.^[8]

There is a story told of Christie's Will, that when confined in Jedburgh Jail, the Earl Traquair, who knew him well, got him released in order to send him to Edinburgh. This was to aid his Lordship in terminating a law plea, which he proposed doing by getting the Counsel opposed to him out of the way.

Christie's Will undertook to do this. He said he liked to do a "pawky trick," and engaged to remove the opposing lawyer, whom he accordingly inveigled away on the promise of giving him some "flowing fees," and when he succeeded in getting the advocate into his own free-booting domain, he incarcerated him in a tower till Traquair gained his suit. This Earl was perhaps Charles the First's friend, who fought with his son at Preston on behalf of his Sovereign, and fell into the hands of the rebels, when they were committed to Warwick, and imprisoned like the counsel, though for a much longer period, their captivity extending to four years. After the Earl's release and return, he suffered extreme poverty. Soon after this Christie's Will joined the Army of King Charles I.

William settled in Fermanagh Co., Ireland in 1604. ^[9][10]

Christie's Will died in battle in 1649 in Brookboro, Fermanagh Co., Ulster, Ireland, during the period of the First Civil War with Ireland 1642-1646.^[11] reign of King Charles 1, in Parliment at Westminister in 1640. He is buried in the Old Churchyard of Agahvea, a short distance from Brooksboro, Fermanagh Co., Ireland.^{[12][13][14][15][16]} Upon his death, his heirs were awarded a land grant in Fermanagh County, in what is now Northern Ireland.^[17][18][19]

There is an old house in Brookboro with the Armstrong crest and motto, "Valida Manu", over the fireplace. It must have been a grand place in its time, and now is used as a hotel. This house marks the spot of the first home of the Armstrongs in Ireland, that of Christie's Will's family, who went there from the Border in the early part of the seventeenth century.

Marriages

Wife: Margaret Elliott

Child: Thomas Armstrong

Marriage 1600 Scotland^[20][21][22]

Wife: Gorthe Catherine Graham

Child: William Armstrong

Marriage 1545 Barngleish, Dumfriesshire, Scotland^[23][24][25]

Sources

1. ↑ Source: #S1496 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
2. ↑ Source: #S1497 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
3. ↑ Source: #S1493 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
4. ↑ Source: #S1515 Data: Text: Date of Import: Aug 18, 2012
5. ↑ Brookeborough Parish Records in Fermanagh Co., Ireland Source-Armstrong House of Langholm Item 5. Source-Border Exploits edit 1812 p. 292.
6. ↑ Wilsons Tales of the Border edit. London vol. 2, p. 736, on perilous mission from Scotland to King Charles 1st, in London
7. ↑ Armstrong Surname Organization Salt Lake City, Utah
8. ↑ Preface of Forbe's Journal of the Sessions, Edinburgh 1714
9. ↑ Armstrong Surname Organization Armstrong families of Ireland, most all trace back to William & nephew Andrew in Brooksboro Ireland.
10. ↑ Chronicles of the Armstrongs p. 245, 309, 316 , 318 & 392.
11. ↑ 1635-1651 Civil War, (Abstract of acts of settlement & explanation),
12. ↑ Sir Bernard Burke Source-Chart of the Ten Lairds of Mangerton Castle Source-Clans & Tartans by Harper/Collins Publishers P.O. Box, Glasgow G4 ONB-1995( Mention of the Civil War on page 89, & 248)
13. ↑ Source: #S1496 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
14. ↑ Source: #S1497 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
15. ↑ Source: #S1493 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
16. ↑ Source: #S1515 Data: Text: Date of Import: Aug 18, 2012
17. ↑ Chronicles of the Armstrongs, p.p.203, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 320,330 sent to author Dr. James L. Armstrong
18. ↑ Letter from Edwin E. Armstrong of Detroit, Michigan dated 12/6/1897.
19. ↑ "I Remain Unvanquished p.p.117,118,119
20. ↑ Source: #S1496 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
21. ↑ Source: #S1493 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
22. ↑ Source: #S1515 Data: Text: Date of Import: Aug 18, 2012
23. ↑ Source: #S1496 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
24. ↑ Source: #S1493 Data: Text: Date of Import: Sep 25, 2001
25. ↑ Source: #S1515 Data: Text: Date of Import: Aug 18, 2012

See also:

• Chronicles of the Armstrongs p. 316 & 392.
• Thomasson, Curtis. "Armstrong descendents are of Scotch-Irish origin." The Andalusia Star News. 11/12/2011. https://www.andalusiastarnews.com/2011/11/12/armstrong-descendants-are-of-scotch-irish-origin/
• Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=7547870&pid=-912413146
• "Armstrong of Ballycumber" Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry, Volume 1, pp. 23 ff. A PDF copy may be downloaded from Google Books at this link: [ https://books.google.com/books?id=YdIKAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=armstrong+burke%27s&source=web&ots=qCtnn-f83K&sig=iAmW1oRPJp1fhNsTdmz_q9hr3uw&hl=en#v=onepage&q=armstrong%20burke's&f=false]
• Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=25788179&pid=139
• https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/LFYD-69X/colonel-william%2C-christies-will%2C-armstrong-sr-1565-1649, accessed 19 Apr 2021
• https://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p6296.htm, accessed 21 Apr 2021