Armstrong

DESCRIPTION

NameArmstrongDescriptionJohn and Jane Armstrong (nee Simpson) arrived in Australia from County Fermanagh aboard 'New Great Britain' in 1857, with their children;

Thomas b.1843 (married Mary Nobel, died 1922, Oak Farm, Calderwood)
Mary b.1844 (married William Rankin, died 1923, Bangalow)
John b.1848 (married Sarah Gay, died 1912, Lismore)
Isabella b.1850 (married William Gay, died 1933, Byron Bay)
James b.1853 (married Mary Ann Gibson, died 1933, Lismore)

John Armstrong's mother, Eleanor was already in the colony, as was his brother James who had arrived with wife, Sarah and their children, and his brother Alick.

The family settled at West Dapto, then at Mount Keira, and in 1860 purchased a farm at Macquarie River (Albion Park), known as 'Oak Farm'. John and Jane had two more children in Australia;

Margaret Jane b.1859 (married Eli Schofield, died 1916, Bowral)
George b.1861 (died 1927, Wollongong)

Eldest son, Thomas, took over the running of ‘Oak Farm’, after his parents.

Thomas married Mary Noble in 1871 and had the following children;

John Andrew 1873 (married Linda Jane Smith, died 1945, Dapto)
Mary Jane 1874 (married ? Brook, died 1945, QLD)
Isabella 1876 (married Thomas Cochrane, died 1944, Marshall Mount)
Maud Adeline 1877 (died 1945, Wollongong)
William James 1879 (married Ella Margaret Cochrane, died 1958, Bangalow)
Thomas George 1881 (married Martha Patterson, died 1967 QLD)
Margaret Annie 1884 (died 1884)
Angus Alexander 1886 (died 1966, Marshall Mount)
Annie Lily 1889 (married William Stanley Knight, died 1967, Campbelltown)
Margaret E (Ellen/Helen) 1890 (died 1974, Wollongong)

Thomas Snr was a Methodist lay preacher and donated land from his 209 acres for the Marshall Mount Methodist Church and Cemetery in Calderwood Road c.1870.

Thomas was a prominent figure in the area: the first secretary of the Albion Park Agricultural, Horticultural and Industrial Society, a Director of the first Butter Factory in Albion Park in 1885, Alderman 1879-1885, 1888-1897, 1905-1921, and Mayor on three occasions; 1884, 1895, 1914-1917.

Thomas planted one of the Norfolk Pine Trees, on Arbor Day 1895, that adorn the Shellharbour waterfront today.

The Armstrong home was made welcome to visiting Methodist ministers, who were given a meal or lodging for the night. The Thomas’ of 'Oak Vale' on Calderwood Road also shared this privilege, and were lifelong friends of the Armstrong family.

The Armstrong children were all born and raised at 'Oak Farm'.

On his death in 1922, Thomas Armstrong was buried at the Marshall Mount Methodist Cemetery.

External LinkMr Thomas Armstrong Death 1922Late Thomas Armstrong 1922Obituary The Late Mr John Armstrong 1900The Late Mr John Armstrong 1900Obituary Mrs T Armstrong 1927The Late Mrs Armstrong 1927

Photograph

Oak Farm

Natural Gap, Macquarie Pass

Samuel Shipman

Oak Farm

Ellen 'Nellie' Armstrong at Oak Farm

Tongarra School

Group of Shellharbour Dairy Industry Men

Thomas Armstrong

Marshall Mount Methodist Cemetery

Object

Letters

Memorial Card - Archdall Brothers

Family

Coughran (Andrew Branch)

Knight

Map or Plan

Mud Map of Calderwood Valley Residents from the 1930's

Place

Oak Farm

Thomas Armstrong c.1884.

CONNECTIONS

CollectionFamiliesLocalityCalderwoodOrganisationShellharbour City CouncilPlaceOak Farm

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Armstrong