Wilson Joseph Armstrong (1827 - 1917)

Born 9 Sep 1827 in South West River, Seigneury of Monnoir, Lower Canada, Province of Quebec

Ancestors

Husband of Letitia (Breakey) Armstrong — married 18 Dec 1854 in Dunham, Missisquoi, Canada East

Descendants

Died 29 Apr 1917 at age 89 in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Stephen Bailey [send private message]

Primary Sources:

1. Census: 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891.

Secondary Sources:

1. Research by family member

2. Henderson City Directories: 1880 - 1940

Parents: William Armstrong (C1780 Ireland - 1867, Quebec) & Jane Wilson (C1790 Ireland - C1833, Lower Canada). Mary Dixon (born C1797, Lower Canada; married C1836, South West River, Lower Canada)

Siblings: Margaret (1817, Ireland); James Christopher (1818, Ireland); William John (1822, South West River, Lower Canada); Robert (1824, SW River, Lower Canada); Thomas Sloan (1829); Anne Jane (1832 - 1833); George Henry (1837); Mary Anne (1838)

Occupation: Wilson Joseph grew up on a farm. Around 1838, after the death of his mother, he apprenticed as a carpenter and wheel wright in Waterloo, Shefford, Lower Canada. He moved to San Francisco and made his fortune building wagons and buggies for the gold fields. He returned to farming and carpentry in Waterloo before moving to Victoria where he set up a wagon manufacturing business in Victoria and a farm in Sidney.

History:

1827, Sept 9 (Birth); Wilson Joseph is born at South West River, Seignorie of Monnoir, Lower Canada. He has an older sister and 3 older brothers.

1829, Dec 25 (age 2): Birth of brother Thomas Sloan Armstrong; South West River, Seignorie of Monnoir, Lower Canada.

C1832 (age 5): Birth of sister Anne Jane ; South West River, Seignorie of Monnoir, Lower Canada.

C1833 - 1836 (Age 6 - 8) Death of mother Jane and infant sister Ann Jane. There are no records of the deaths or burials but there was a Cholera outbreak that killed around 10,000 people in Lower Canada from 1832 through 1835. Mass graves were common during this epidemic.

C1836 (age 9): Second marriage of Father: St Stephen's Anglican Church Records at Fort Chambly, Lower Canada, state that father married Mary Dixon.

1837 (Age 10): Birth of brother George Henry (Mar 18, 1837).

1838 (Age 12): Birth of sister Mary Ann (Oct 1, 1838).

1851, Oct 15 (age 24): Wilson Joseph witnessed the marriage of his younger brother Thomas Sloan, to Mary Ann Booth in Shefford, Quebec.

1852, Jan - Mar (age 24) Ships records and family history states that Wilson Joseph travelled from Quebec to the Isthmus of Panama and crossed from Chagres, Panama by mule train to Panama City. There, he caught a ship to San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua where he caught the steam ship "SS North America" along with 900 other passengers and crew bound for San Francisco. On the calm, moon lit but foggy night of Feb 27, 1852 the ship ran ashore 50 nautical miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. All survived but they had to walk for 2 days to reach the city. On March 27, 1852 the SS Guadeloup lists W. J. Armstrong along with C. Marriott, P. Ayres, P. Woodhouse and John Stafford (and other names familiar around Stafford and Farnham Quebec) as passengers bound for San Francisco via Mazatland. He establish a carpentry business building wagons, carriages and pack sleighs.

1854 (age 24 - 26): The 1854 San Francisco City Directory is the first to show W.J. Armstrong. He is listed as a wagon maker living at 16 Bush St. Living with him are F.J. Hughes, carpenter; John Wilson and H.M. Hillman both painters; Daniel Dodge and Alex Eaton both blacksmiths. Interestingly there are 2 wagon manufacturers listed nearby at 18 Bush (John Lawton) and at 21 Bush (M.W. Allen). It is not known how he returned to Quebec.

1854, Dec (age 27): Marriage to Letitia Breakey.

1856, January 4 (Age 28): Son, William Robert Armstrong is born at Brome. (Our Great Grandfather)

1857, August (Age 29): Daughter, Letitia A. Armstrong is born at Brome.

1859, July 3 (Age 31): Daughter, Mary Adella Armstrong is born at Brome.

1860, April 27 (Age 31): Daughter Letitia A. dies age ~2 at Brome.

1861 census (age 34) Brome, Brome, Canada East: Living with Letitia (30), William (5), Mary A (2). There are also three adults listed as residing with Wilson Joseph and Letitia. Ellen Simes age 22, single, resident of household but not a member of the family, William Markin, age 40, profession listed as laborer, married, lists residence Farnham; James Breakey, age 24, single, residence Farnham (most likely younger brother of Letitia). Most likely the same James A. Breakey who witnessed the marriage of Wilson Joseph and Letitia. Above census states: Personal Census 5 Enumeration District #1. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth Range and including all lots South of No. 15 in said Range of the South West part of the said Township of Brome.

1861 Agricultural census: Wilson Joseph's land is listed as Range 5, Lot 14. He owns 50 acres. Of this 49 are under crops in 1860 and 1 acre is an orchard or a garden. Cash value of his farm is $1000.00. Cash value of his farming implements is $125.00. (It is interesting to note that 4 other persons are listed as owners of Range 5, Lot 14. Each owns 50 acres. They are Ashby Sweet, L. Barns, H.G. Turner and Peter Louks.) Breakdown of his plantings and yield on this 50 acres is as follows: Acres in Oats-9, yield in bushels-75. Acres in Buck Wheat-2, yield in bushels-75. Acres in Indian Corn-3/4, yield in bushels-50. Acres in potatoes-3/4, yield in bushels-250. He also harvested 2 bushels of beans. He also harvested 20 tons of hay from this land. He reported 40 pounds of wool. He owned 2 steers or heifers under 3 years of age, 1 milch cow, 1 horse over 3 years of age. Value of horses is $125.00. He also claimed 1 colt or filly under 3 years of age, 8 sheep, 1 pig. The total value of his livestock is $194.00. He produced 700 pounds of butter. He had 2 barrels of pork weighing 200 pounds each. He had 3 pleasure carriages for a total value of $100.00. The value of the produce from his garden was $20.00.

Also Wilson Joseph owns 100 acres on Range 6, Lot 14. Of these 100 acres, 50 are under cultivation with 30 of the acres under pasture and 20 acres under crops. Fifty of the 100 acres are under wood or wild. He indicated that he got 8 tons of hay from this acreage.

1861, Oct 27 (age 32): Daughter, Martha Jane Armstrong is born at Brome.

1867, May 16 (age 37): William Armstrong (1827 - 1867), his father, dies at the original family farm at St Brigide. He is buried in the Anglican Cemetary at Farnham, Quebec 5 miles east of St Brigide.

1870, Jan 12 (age 42): Wilson Joseph witnessed the burial of William, son of Robert McFarlane of Waterloo, Shefford County, Quebec. This information from LDS Film #1403249 Folio 181.

1871 Census (age 44): Living at Waterloo, Shefford Cty, Quebec. Living with Letitia (40), William (15), Mary A (12) and Martha J (10).

1873 (age 46) The family took the train to San Francisco and then went to Victoria, BC, Canada by ship. Wilson established a wagon and carriage shop on Discovery Street and lived on Quadra Street. He also purchased 160 acres of land in North Saanich adjacent to what is now Sidney, BC. He cleared the land and started a farm. He had brought maple keys from Farnham which he planted around the farm. The farm was called "The Maples". Armstrong Point and Resthaven Island were also part of their property.

1873, November 10 (age 47): Son Wilson Joseph Charles "Charlie" Armstrong is born at the Maples

1881 Census (age 54): Living at "The Maples", Saanich, Vancouver District, British Columbia. Living with Letitia (50), Mary A (22), Martha (20) & Wilson J (8).

1889, Aug 8 (age 62): Marries Bessie Walker (age 28) at Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Pat Bay, British Columbia.

1889 Fall (age 62): William and Bessie take over "The Maples" farm. Bessie had come to Canada with her mother's relatives, the Reids and several of her Walker relatives. The Reids lived on a farm adjacent to "The Maples".

1889 - 1891 (age 62 - 64) Wilson Joseph and Letitia Armstrong move into Victoria and live at 81 Discovery St. This is now at the corner of Douglas and Discovery after the streets were renumbered in 1905. He is listed as a carpenter. Family history suggests he re-entered the wagon and buggy manufacturing business.

1891 census (age 64): Living in Johnson St Ward, Victoria, BC. Living with wife Letitia (60) and grandson Wilson Joseph (16).

1892 - 1917: (age 65 - 90) Henderson City Directories shows Wilson Joseph Armstong, retired living at 26 4th Ave, Victoria. The street name was changed to 2538 Quadra Street in 1905. He lived there until 1917 when he died. Grandson "Bill" Wilson Joseph Charles Armstrong (1892) is living with them from 1902 through 1912 when he moves to Saskatchewan. Bill is listed as working for Weiler Bros Furniture from 1902 through 1908 (age 10 - 16) and for Taylor Mills from 1908 - 1911 (ages 16 - 19).

1901 Census (age 74): Not available.

1905, Aug 31 (age 78): Wife Letitia dies at age 74 in Victoria BC. Is buried at Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria.

1911 census (age 84): Not available.

1917, Apr 29 (age 89) Death. Victoria, BC. Buried at the Ross Bay Cemetery.

LAST WILL and TESTAMENT (age 89) Left to Martha Jane Michell, $500; William Robert Armstrong, 1 acre in North Saanich District; Wilson Joseph Charles Armstrong, all the residue of my real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever. (Its noted that William Robert and Wilson Joseph Charles and Martha Jane were executors and executrix of the will )

Person giving information on death certificate was the undertaker, M.C. Sands who apparently was a neighbor as his Sands Funeral County was located at 1612 Quadra St., Victoria, B.C. Death Certificate indicated he had been a resident at 2338 Quadra St for 25 years and a resident of Victoria for 30 years.

From the Sidney Islands Review dated Thursday, September 30, 1915. Under the heading "Presented Pioneers Photos". Mr. D. Thomson, of South Saanich, this year presented the North and South Saanich Agricultural Society with a series of forty-five photographs of the pioneers of this district, all of whom have at one time or another taken an active interest in the association's work. Included in the list of names was W.J. Armstrong. Also named was David B. Reid, the uncle of Bessie Armstrong, daughter in law to W.J. Armstrong.

From the Sydney "Beachcomber" dated October 22, 1997 in an article in the "Peninsula Heritage" section of the paper..."The home of Wilson Joseph Armstrong is a good example of the courtesy offered to travelers.

While on his visit to Vancouver Island in 1883, William Henry Barneby, accompanied by two friends, traveled out to Saanich in search of land to purchase. He related the following story: "After leaving Henderson's we drove on in search of an Indian reserve and a canoe, but when we reached one we found that all the inhabitants had gone out fishing, so that no one was available, and we in consequence did not quite know what to do, for it was getting late. Continuing our drive, we were surprised at passing a nice little hop-yard, and soon afterwards came to a farmhouse, where a woman gave us some information, but a canoe to-night was evidently out of the question; so we inquired for lodgings, and were told of a man of the name of Armstrong, on the East road, who might be able to accommodate us, and who could put us off in a boat to catch the morning steamer. We found that a sofa-bed could be made up for one of us, and that the other two could sleep together in a bed in the same room with the brothers Armstrong; but we did not see any great necessity for making an arrangement of this sort, so decided instead on returning to Henderson's for the night, and on taking our chance of getting a canoe in the morning."

From Probate Record: Property owned at the time of his death:

Lot 747, Block P, Victoria City Value $2500.00

E 1/2 of Lot 748, Block P, Victoria City Value $1750.00

Lot 156, Block 10, Work Estate, Victoria City Value $2000.00

Lot 2 Block 6, Finlayson Extension, Victoria District Value $1250.00

NW corner of Section 15, North Range 3 East, North Saanich District Value $100.00

Also: Flanders "20" Automobile, valued at $150.00.

Cash in Bank: Bank of Montreal, $181.30

Dominion Government Savings Bank, $923.96