William Armstrong (1795 - 1847)

Born 1 Jul 1795 in Abingdon, Washington, Virginia, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Nancy (Irwin) Armstrong — married 1 Jul 1823 in Nashville, Davidson, Tennessee, United States

Descendants

Died 12 Jun 1847 at age 51 in Spiro, Le Flore County, Oklahoma, USA

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Biography

Capt William Armstrong served in the US Army in the War of 1812
Service started: 1812
Unit(s): Tennessee
Service ended: 1815

William was a U.S. Indian Agent.

William Armstrong is Notable.

William Armstrong was an American Jeffersonian Republican politician. Armstrong fought in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812. He served as Mayor of Nashville from 1829 to 1833. In 1835, President Andrew Jackson appointed him Superintendent of Indian Affairs in the Western Territory, where he implemented the Cherokee removal from Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama to the Indian Territory (modern Oklahoma). His brother, Major Francis Wells Armstrong, served in a similar capacity.

William Armstrong was born 1 Jul 1795 in Abingdon, Virginia to James Armstrong and Susan (Wells) Armstrong. His father was a Colonel in the U.S. Army during the American Revolution and William also served during the War of 1812.

William married Nancy Irwin 1 Jul 1823 in Nashville, TN. They were parents to seven children:

1. Mary Elizabeth Armstrong 1824–1847
2. James Trooper Armstrong 1825–1873
3. David Irwin Armstrong 1827–1880
4. Susan Wells Armstrong 1829–1848
5. Francis Wells Armstrong 1830–1868​​
6. Margaret Nichol Armstrong 1833–1854
7. Nancy Irwin Armstrong 1835–1897

William Armstrong became Indian Agent in 1835 and eventually moved along with the Choctaw to Indian Territory, developing his own property and farming operation. He died there 12 Jun 1847 and is buried near present day Spiro, Oklahoma.

Obituary. The Christian Record, Nashville. July 17, 1847
Major Armstrong was appointed Agent for the Choctaws in 1835. His wife died shortly after they moved to the Territory. Following the death of Major Armstrong, a large meeting of Choctaws was held on the 15th of July. Many resolutions were passed. Fifth Resolution stated “That we gratefully remember the happy and successful efforts on our late lamented agent to promote the peace and allay the dissensions among the Choctaws and other Indians.”

Presbyterian Record, Nashville, April 20, 1850
“Many of our readers, especially such of them as reside in this city, will learn with much sensibility, that the remains of William Armstrong, have at length been removed to Fort Coffee, and interred near those of his dear departed wife…”

Sources

• "Tennessee, County Marriages, 1790-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZ7P-NWC : 10 March 2021), Wm Armstrong and Nancy Irwin, 01 Jul 1823; citing Davidson, Tennessee, United States, Marriage, p. 270, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville and county clerk offices from various counties; FHL microfilm 200,294.

See Also:

• Wikipedia: William Armstrong (Tennessee politician)

• Wikidata: Item Q16161658, en:Wikipedia

• Find A Grave: Memorial #144151782

• Foreman, Carolyn Thomas, "The Armstrongs of Indian Territory," The Chronicles of Oklahoma 30 (Fall 1952). https://cdm17279.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17279coll4/id/38043/rec/3