Albert E. Armstrong

Other Events:

• Census: 1861, West Gwillimbury Township, Simcoe County, Ontario

Notes:

Federal Census of 1871 (Ontario Index)

ARMSTRONG , WILLIAM
Sex: Male
Age: 61
Birthplace: IRELAND
Religion: Church of England, Anglican
Occupation: Farmer ( F )
District: SIMCOE SOUTH ( 041 )
Sub-district: Gwillimbury Wes ( B )
Division: 2
Note: Schedule Two: deaths in the preceding twelve months ending 2 April 1871
Microfilm reel: C-9960
Reference: RG31 — Statistics Canada
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B.H. advises that:
On Jan. 24, 1846, Margaret Hastings (Aug. 7, 1820 - Nov. 12, 1911)
married William Armstrong, born 1810 in Ireland. They had 6 children.
He was the youngest of at least 9 children. His father was Robert
Armstrong, one of the original settlers in the Bradford area.

William married Margaret Hastings on 24 Jan 1846 in Markham, Ontario. Margaret (daughter of Thomas Hastings and Sarah Mitchell) was born on 7 Aug 1820 in Markham Township, York County, Ontario; died on 12 Nov 1911 in 356 Davenport Road, Toronto, York County, Ontario; was buried in Nov 1911 in Newton Robinson United Church Cemetery, Tecumseth Township, Simcoe County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Census: 1861, West Gwillimbury Township, Simcoe County, Ontario
• Census: 1881, Tecumseth, Simcoe County, Ontario
• Census: 1911, 356 Davenport Road, Toronto, York County, Ontario

Notes:

Found at http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~maryc/homedistorig.htm on May 19, 2006

William ARMSTRONG, West Gwillimbury and Margaret HASTINGS married on 24 Jany 1846 by License in Markham. Witnesses: Charles Gentie [?], West Gwillimbury and James Hastings, Scarborough.

Notes:

http://www.waynecook.com/zbradford.html#historya located on November 8, 2005

The following history is verbatim from the book "The History of Simcoe County" by Andrew F. Hunter. First published in 1909 and reproduced in 1948 by the Simcoe County Historical Society.
WEST GWILLIMBURY

BRADFORD AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD

The settlers who first crossed the Holland River arrived in the fall of 1819, and were three Irishmen - James Wallace, Lewis Algeo and Robert Armstrong. Armstrong came from the County of Leitrim, with a family, and settled on lot 13, con. 6, within two miles of the present site of Bradford. He had a large family, chiefly boys, Christopher Thomas, John, Robert, William, Simon, James and Allan, from whom have come a numerous lineage. Christopher, the eldest, did not take up with bush life, but studied law, and afterwards became a judge in Carleton County.

Robert married Ann Armstrong. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas always gave his name as Hastings or Heastings, although some records in Ireland show it as Hasty. He died before the first Canadian census was taken, and before cameras were invented. He was buried at Dickson Hill, due north of the town of Markham, 1 1/4 miles south of Buttonville, Ontario, and 1 1/4 miles east of the family farm, which was at the south-west corner of what is now called McCowan Road and 19th Avenue, Markham Township, Ontario.



Thomas was born on the family farm in Cavanacreagh, just north of the Burn Dennet River, County Tyrone, Ireland (about 7 miles south of Londonderry) on Dec 25, 1778. It would appear that his father's name was John. Thomas and Sarah married in Ireland about 1803. Sarah was born in Black Hills, Newtown Cunningham, Donegal, Ireland in 1784. Documents vary in the spelling of her last name (Mitchel or Mitchell).

Thomas, his wife, and six children arrived in Canada in November 1818. They spent the first winter in (muddy) York (in 1837 renamed Toronto). They had seven more children, all of whom were born in Canada. On April 1, 1829, Thomas Hastings purchased the east half of lot #30 in the sixth Con. in the Township of Markham in the Home District in the Province of Upper Canada for 87 pounds, 10 shillings.

In 1853, Sarah sold the farm comprising the East half of lot 30, concession 6, Markham Township to her son, Thomas Hastings. Thomas then promised that he would support his mother and that she could reside in the home for her remaining years. In addition, Thomas promised to pay his mother 50 pounds annually. Document was witnessed by William Hastings. She sold 100 acres of land to son, Thomas for eight hundred pounds.

Thomas married Sarah Mitchell about 1803 in Donegal ?, Ireland. Sarah (daughter of James Mitchell and Mary ??) was born in 1784 in Black Hills, Newtown Cunningham, Donegal, Ireland; died on 11 Dec 1861 in Markham Township, York County, Ontario; was buried in Dickson's Hill, Markham Township, York County, Ontario. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

From the document dated July 1853 entitled "Bond Thomas Hastings to Sarah Hastings", the following is summarized. Sarah Hastings sold the farm comprising the East half of lot 30, concession 6, Markham Township to her son, Thomas Hastings. Thomas then promised that he would support his mother and that she could reside in the home for her remaining years. In addition, Thomas promised to pay his mother 50 pounds annually. Document was witnessed by William Hastings.

From the "Deed of Bargain and Sale" dated July 8, 1853 widow Sarah Hastings sold 100 acres of land to son, Thomas for eight hundred pounds.

James married Mary ??. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]