Said book has arrived - at least, volume 1 of 4.
In this book, the couple I am interested in are listed as follows:
"ARMSTRONG, Thomas. From Castleton, ROX. To Queensbury par. York Co. NB prob 1819. m.Agnes MURRAY. children: Adam, James (alive 1877), Charles, Catherine, Elizabeth." The source for this information is said to be a letter to the author, 16 July 1979. Based on census information, I would say Thomas was born about 1796-1797. These children are listed in reverse birth order, as far as I can tell. I know nothing of Elizabeth. Catherine is the eldest that I have, born about 1827 in New Brunswick; and Adam is the youngest, born in Ontario 1839. Probably Elizabeth was born in New Brunswick, although it's possible she was born in Scotland, if they had married there; she may well have been married by the time of the 1851 census, hence invisible to me - this is the earliest census that I have.
For Agnes, it says:
"MURRAY, Agnes, b. ca 1812. From Castleton, ROX. daughter of Charles M and Elizabeth ARMSTRONG. To York Co., NB poss 1820, m. Thomas ARMSTRONG." The source is the same as above. Based on censuses, Agnes was born about 1799-1800, not 1812. 1812 is not likely, given the births of children. However, perhaps she was a late baptism, and someone thought that represented her birth.
I note also the following persons of interest, who are obviously part of this clan:
"MURRAY, Adam, b. 1 Aug. 1808. From Castleton, ROX, son of Charles M. and Elizabeth ARMSTRONG. To York Co, NB, poss 1819; moved to Westminster Twp., Middlesex Co., Ontario. Farmer and schoolteacher. married Jane, daughter of William BEATTIE and Janet HOGG." Source same as above.
Also there are two other MURRAYs and two other ARMSTRONGs who immigrated from Castleton but there is no clear relationship.
William BEATTIE was Liddesdale, ROX, which I think is nearby. Moved to York Co NB about 1820, moved to Westminster Twp, Middlesex Co. Ontario 1836. He and Janet HOGG had 15 children, presumably in Canada, but the names might be familiar: John, William, Catherine, Margaret, Jane, James, Isabella, Andrew, Edward, Janet, Nancy, David, Mary, Peter, George. Same source as above.
There is also an Isabella BEATTIE, b. about 1794- Castleton ROX, daughter of John B. who moved to York Co NB about 1820, moved to Middlesex Co., Ontario 1836, m.John OLIVER 8 Dec.1837, d.1883. Same source as above. There are numerous OLIVERs listed, who seem to have come from the same area, and settled in various places in Canada. John OLIVER was the son of James O. (OLIVER) and Jean ARMSTRONG - not sure if the "O." is a middle name or his last initial.
Janet HOGG, from Liddesdale ROX to York Co NB about 1820, later to Middlesex Co., Ontario. wife of Willliam BEATTIE.
I don't know how much light this sheds, but perhaps something matches up with the data you have. FYI, Queensbury parish is in York County, New Brunswick, Canada, and was being settled at the time stated. It's clear that most of these folks immigrated first to New Brunswick, then they all migrated further inland to Westminster Township in Middlesex County in Ontario.
I find it curious that the "letter" which is the source of all this, and is modern, states that James ARMSTRONG (son of Thomas and Agnes) was alive in 1877. I wonder where that came from. In fact he lived until 1893; he was a very public figure, and merited front page news on his death, so it would not be any secret, in 1979, that he lived to 1893!
There are two other MURRAYs who are listed on the same land grant with Thomas in New Brunswick in 1828 (at least I believe it is our Thomas). They are John and Charles MURRAY. I have been wondering if they are related too. They are not listed in this volume 1, but Charles is obviously a name that could run in the family; I wonder if they too are siblings of Agnes.
I would like to know when Thomas and Agnes were married, if it was in Scotland.
There are 3 other volumes to this book, but they are only available at the Reference Library, so I must make a visit there. I may not find any more about these families in them, however.
When I get hold of the other 3 volumes, I will let you know if there is anything relevant in them.
I am going to post another thread asking if anyone knows how to get hold of the letters which Mr. WHYTE collected. I fear he may no longer be with us, as the book is 21 years old. I would really like to know who wrote the letter about Thomas and Agnes, and how they knew what they knew.
ta!
loo