Lineage. Hall, a strong castle situated on the west side of the river Eske, in the parish of Canaby, and county of Eskedale. This manIsion is still known as the residence of this distinguished chieftain, and the spacious ruins that remain, even to the present day, evince how strong a position it must have been in former times. In this fortress, John Armstrong maintained for many years sumptuous state, and considerable forces, harassing, by continued incursions, the neighbouring counties of England, until, at length, delivered by treachery into the power of JAMES IV. he was executed, together with many of his retainers, by the king's orders, at Carlingrig, about the year 1530. He left a son Christopher, who succeeded as laird of Giltknock, and was living in 1530, and a younger brother, CHRISTOPHER ARMSTRONG, laird of Mangerton (a castle standing on the south-west bank of the river Liddle, twenty miles northeast of Carlisle), who had the good fortune to escape the execution of Carlingrig. He married and had two sons, the younger of whom, William, left Scotland some years after the death of Queen ELIZABETH, and seated himself in the county of Fermanagh, where he became the founder of a numerous family, whose branches flourished in those parts. The elder son of the laird of Mangerton was father of The family of Armstrong was in ancient times settled on the Scottish border, and springing from this parent stock several branches, at a very early era became located in the northern counties of England. One, established at Corby in Lincolnshire, had continued there for seven descents; and another, at Tynedale in Northumberland, for nine generations, at the period of the Visitation in 1623. A third scion, Thoroton, in his History of Nottinghamshire, mentions as fixed at Thorpe, in that county, so early as the eleventh year of RICHARD II. and gives the pedigree, in an interrupted succession, to the year 1672; and Leland, in the first volume of his Itinerary, speaks of a family of Armstrong settled in Yorkshire, ANDREW ARMSTRONG, born in the castle whose representative he calls "a gentle- of Mangerton in 1576, who, having disposed man of many lands." Tradition affirms that of his patrimony in Scotland to one of his the original surname was Fairbairn, and kinsmen, migrated, in the commencement that it was changed to Armstrong on the fol- | of the seventeenth century to the north of lowing occasion: An ancient king of Scot- Ireland, and established himself near his land, having his horse killed under him in uncle in the county of Fermanagh. At the battle, was immediately remounted by Fair-breaking out of the rebellion in 1641, he bairn, his armour bearer, on his own horse. For this timely assistance, the king amply rewarded him with lands on the borders, and to perpetuate the memory of so important a service, as well as the manner in which it was performed (for Fairbairn took the king by the thigh, and set him on the saddle), his royal master gave him the appellation of Armstrong, and assigned him for crest" an armed hand and arm, in the hand a leg and foot in armour, couped at the thigh, all ppr." The Armstrongs of the border were at the head of a numerous and warlike clan, who, upon all differences that arose between the two crowns, made frequent inroads into the northern counties of England, encountering the enemy wherever they met with them, and were occasionally assisted by the other neighbouring clans of their alliance. The most famed leader of these bold and adventurous men was JOHN ARMSTRONG, the laird of Giltknock embraced a military life, and served as an officer of horse in the army of CHARLES I. for several years with great reputation. He m. first, a lady named Alexander, of Scottish descent, and had by her, one son and one daughter, viz. 1. Andrew, who m. and had one son and three daughters, viz. Richard, who m. a daughter of Mr. Armstrong, of Forelock, in the King's County, and dying in 1720, left, with several daughters, two sons, viz. John, who m. and had several children. Thomas, was made an ensign in Col. Philip's regiment of Foot in North America in 1731, and became lieutenant in 1737; he d. unm. Rebecca, m. to Mr. Johnston. Mary, m. Thomas Robinson, of II. EDMUND, of whom presently. III. THOMAS, for whose descendants see ARMSTRONG of Ballycumber. IV. William, who had three sons and two daughters, viz. 1. John, who m. his cousin Miss Cuthbert, and had issue. 2. Andrew, died unm. 3. William, an officer in the Welsh Fusileers, who lost an arm at the siege of Tournay, and retired from the army. He subsequently became Fort Major of Duncannon Fort. He d. s. p. 1. Margaret, m. to John Turner, esq. 2. Anne, m. first, to Mr. Gordon, and secondly, to Robert Cooper. v. Robert, who m. in 1637, Lydia, daughter of Michael Howard, of Ballyard, in the King's County, and by her, who died 25th December, 1715, aged sixty-five, left at his decease 23rd May, in the following year, three sons and two daughters, viz. 1. JOHN, b. at Ballyard 31st March, 1674, a very distinguished military officer and engineer, who served with the highest reputation under the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene, but especially at the siege of Bouchain, where his services were deemed so important by the duke, that in some years after, his grace caused a picture to be painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, wherein Colonel Armstrong is represented with a plan of Bouchain in his hand. This painting is now at Marlborough House, St. James's, and several copies of it are preserved by different members of the family. In 1712, Colonel Armstrong replaced General Cadogan as Quarter Master General, and on the conclusion of the peace of Utrecht, in 1713, he was joined with Colonel Lascelles in commission for the demolition of the fortifications and harbour of Dunkirk. 1717, he was made Colonel of the regiment of Foot previously commanded by Brigadier Tho In mas Staruvix; in 1719, he proceeded as Quarter Master General with the expedition sent against Vigo under the command of Lord Cobham, and in 1739 he obtained the commission of major general of his majesty's forces. At length, after having served the crown for more than half a century, this gallant and distinguished officer died at his house in the Tower, 15th April, 1742, and was buried with military honours in the chapel there. At the period of his decease, he was surveyor general and master general of his majesty's ordnance, chief engineer of England, lieutenant governor of the tower of London, colonel of the 18th regiment, quarter master general, and major general of his majesty's forces. When the death of General Armstrong was announced to GEORGE II., his majesty exclaimed, " England has indeed had a loss," and ordered a monument to be erected to his memory in the Tower. General Armstrong founded the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich in 1716. He m. in September, 1714, Anne-Priscilla, dau. of Major Burroughs, and sister of Colonel William Burroughs, and left by her, who died 27th March, 1725-6, five daughters, LYDIA, m. to William Blair, esq. ANNA, m. in 1747 to Dr. Benjamin Hoadly, physician to the king's household, eldest son of the Bishop of Winchester. FRANCES, m. in 1739, to Taylor White, esq. barrister-atlaw, son of the Bishop of London. MARY, b. 1721, d. unm. PRISCILLA, b. 1725-6, d. unm. 2. Samuel, d. under age. 3. Michael, b. 17th April, 1678, a military officer, who served in Flanders and Scotland, at Blenheim and Culloden. He m. 26th November, 1716, Jane, fourth daughter of Bigoe Henzell, esq. of Barnagrotty, in the King's County, and dying at Chelsea, 27th August, 1757, left issue, Bigoe, b. 10th September, 1717, a general in the army and colonel of the 8th or King's Own regiment. He d. 24th July, 1794, s. p. John, b. at High Wycombe, William-Buchanan, cap- in the East India Com- Hester-Fleetwood, m. to John James-Middleton-Berry, VI. John, died unm. Andrew Armstrong m. thirdly, in the seventy-fourth year of his age, Mrs. Jane Stephenson, and had by her two other sons, VII. MICHAEL, who m. and died at Banagher. VIII. ARCHIBALD, for whose descen- I. PHILIP, who was invited to London II. WILLIAM, of whom presently. rank of colonel. Eventually he retired to Ireland, and purchasing the lands of Morristown, in the county of Kildare, fixed himself there, being appointed a justice of the peace. He m. lady Westray, of the noble family of Sandilands in Scotland, but had no issue. Colonel Armstrong died in 1722, aged 80, leaving his estate to Edmund, the eldest son of his brother William. IV. Hugh, died unmarried at his house at Stonestown, in the 82nd year of his age. v. Charles, a military officer, who purchased an estate in the county of Kildare, and built a residence called Mount Armstrong. He m. 1st, a daughter of Sir Robert Gostwick, bart. of Wellington, in the county of Antrim, and secondly, the relict of Robert Constantine, esq. alderman of Dublin, but died s. p. in the 85th year of his age, when his estate passed to Edmund, the son of his brother William. vi. Thomas, b. at Stonestown, in 1661, captain of a troop in his brother Philip's regiment, who retired from the army in 1717, and went to reside at his house at Ampthill, in Bedfordshire, (for which county he was a magistrate and commissioner of the land-tax). He m. in 1705, Frances, fourth daughter of John Thompson, Lord Haversham, by lady Frances Wyndham, his wife, daughter of Arthur earl of Anglesey, and widow of Francis Windham, esq. of Felbrigg Hall, in Norfolk, and died 7th January, 1747-8, aged 86, having had issue, John, b. in 1706, d. unm. Charles, b. in 1712, m. first, in 1742, Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Collier, of Soly, in Derbyshire, by whom he had a son, Thomas, and a daughter; and, secondly, in 1747, Althania, only child of Matthew Priaulx, esq. of Bedford, by whom he had four children, who all died infants. Martha, died young. Frances-Mary, m. in 1736, to the Rev. D. Reynolds, son of the Bishop of Lincoln, and died s. p. in 1749. Althania, died unm. v11. Edmund, in holy orders, rector of Kilcolgan, in the county of Galway, m. Isabella, daughter and co-heir of Captain Thomas Armstrong, and by her, who died in November, 1751, left at his decease in 1744, 1. Martin, who m. a daughter of Ulick Burke, esq. and dying in 1748, in the 53rd year of his age, left a son and daughter, Edmund, b. in 1736, and Mary. 2. Philip, died unm. 3. Andrew, b. in 1717, m. in 1750, a daughter of Peter Judge, esq. and had issue. 1. Margaret, m. to John Ringrose, esq. of the county of Clare, and had issue. 2. Jane, m. to James Wilson, esq. of the county of Clare, and had issue. 3. Elizabeth, became the wife of 4. Isabella, m. to the Rev.Mr.Verro, VIII. John, of Usher's Quay, Dublin, Robert Parkinson, barrister-atlaw, M.P. for Ardee, m. in 1728, Diana, only daughter of Jacob Peppard, esq. town-clerk of the city of Dublin, and had one daughter, Mary. Charles Parkinson, an officer in the army. William Parkinson, twin with Charles, served his apprenticeship with Alderman Gedler, of Liverpool, and entered on a commercial life. Philip Parkinson. Lucy Parkinson, m. in 1717, to the Charles Bagot, of Paddock, m. Elizabeth Bagot, b. in 1702, m. to Mary Bagot, m. to Thomas Walsh, esq. of Hallaboys, in the county of Kildare, and d. s. p. The second son of Edmund Armstrong, by Mary Hamilton, WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, esq. of Stonestown, married Alice, daughter of Francis Coghlan, esq. of Kilcolgan Castle, in the * The M'Coughlans were formerly the largest landed proprietors in the King's County: the barony of Garrycastle was so called after Garret King's county, and had by her two sons and two daughters, namely, 1. EDMUND, his heir. 11. Philip, m. Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Judge, esq. and sister of Samuel Judge, esq. of Ballyshaile, in the King's County, by whom he had one daughter, Elizabeth, m. to Captain William Despard, of Coolrane, in the Queen's County. 1. Elizabeth, m. in 1731, to John Cusack, esq. of Rathgar, in the county of Dublin, and had a daughter, Anne, m. to Mr. Fitzgerald. II. Barbara, m. to the Rev. Wm. Smith. William Armstrong died in 1717 or 1718, in the 80th year of his age, and was s. by his ANDREW ARMSTRONG, esq. of Gallen, b. at Kilcolgan Castle, 2nd May, 1730, was in the commission of the peace for the king's county, served the office of sheriff in 1751, and was colonel of two volunteer corps, one of cavalry and one of infantry. He m. in the following year Constantia Maria, daughter of John Pigot, esq. of Prospect, in the Queen's county, by Constantia-Maria, his wife, daughter of Sir Roger Burgoyne (said to have been the "Sir Roger de Coverly" of the "Spectator,") and had six sons and nine daughters, viz. VI. Alicia. VII. Anne, m. in 1793 to Andrew Armstrong, esq. and died in 1824. VIII. Lucinda, m. in 1795, to Robert Mills, esq. of Malahide, fifth son of the Rev. Richard Mills, rector of Annaclone, in Downshire, and had issue. IX. Fanny, m. to Joseph Barnes, esq. captain in the artillery, and had issue. The eldest son and heir, EDMUND ARMSTRONG, esq. of Gallen, b. 14th December, 1754, was called to the bar in 1779. He m. 4th February, 1783, Elizabeth, sister of Lord Ashtown, third daughter of Frederick Trench, esq. of Woodlawn, in the county of Galway, by Mary, his wife, eldest daughter and co-heir of Francis Sadleir, esq. of Sopwell Hall, in the county of Tipperary, and had, by her, who died in 1825, five sons and three daughters, viz. 1. ANDREW, his heir. 11. Edmund, b. 25th September, 1786, an officer in the army, died unmarried at Castel Branco, in Portugal, where he was serving with his regiment, the 4th Dragoons. III. Frederick (Sir), knt. b. 25th June, 1789, an officer in the army, who served with great gallantry under the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsular war, had the order of the Tower and Sword conferred upon him by the King of Portugal, and was made a British knight upon his return to Ireland. He died in London, in October, 1821. IV. John, b. in June, 1791, in holy orders, inducted rector of the Union of Lickmolash, Ballenabrill, and Leitrim, in the county of Galway in 1818; m. 25th July, 1822, Ellen, dau. of Jacob Willan, esq. of Carrighill, in the county of Dublin, and has surviving issue, Edmund Ashtown, b. 5th July, Andrew, b. 21st February, 1829. 1834. v. William, b. in 1797, died young. 1. Mary, m. to Henry-Anthony Hard |