NameArmstrong, ThomasOccupationFarmer, AldermanPlace of Residence'Oak Farm', Calderwood.BiographyThomas Armstrong was born in 1843 in Fermanagh Ireland, and came to Australia aboard ‘The New Britain’ in 1857, with his parents, John and Jane (Simpson) and siblings Mary, John, Isabella and James.
Thomas married Mary Noble ( daughter of John and Ann) in 1871, and lived at 'Oak Farm' in Calderwood, from 1870-1922. The farmhouse was in North Macquarie Road and the farm is now part of the Calderwood Valley estate.
Thomas and Mary had ten children, and all were born at Albion Park, probably in the family home.
John Andrew bn.1873 (married Linda Jane Smith, died 1945, Dapto)
Mary Jane bn.1874 (married Allen B Brook)
Isabella bn.1876 (married Thomas Andrew Cochrane, died 1944, Wollongong)
Maud Adeline bn.1877 (died 1945, Wollongong)
William James bn.1879 (married Ella Cochrane, died 1958, Bangalow)
Thomas George bn.1881 (married Martha Patterson, died 1967 QLD)
Margaret A bn. 1884 (died 1884)
Angus Alexander bn.1886 (died 1966, Calderwood)
Annie Lily bn. 1889 (married William Stanley Knight, died 1967, Marshall Mount)
Margaret Ellen/Helen 1890 (died 1974, Wollongong)
Thomas performed many roles in the community in those days. He was a Methodist lay preacher and donated land for the construction of the old Methodist Church and cemetery at Marshall Mount.
Thomas served as secretary of the Albion Park Agricultural and Horticultural and Industrial Society (AH&I), and director of the first Albion Park Butter Factory in 1885. Thomas also found time to be an alderman on Shellharbour Council for many years and served as Mayor on three occasions.
As Mayor, Thomas planted one of the famous Norfolk Island Pines at the foreshore at Shellharbour Village, on Arbor Day 14 August 1895.