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Research in Other Countries => Australia => Australia Lookups completed => Topic started by: KMurray on Monday 03 August 09 20:26 BST (UK)
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I would love to find more information on the family of my grandfather's uncle, Thomas Armstrong.
From the information I have he was born in Ireland in 1836 or 1837 and went to Australia around 1855, possbily married and with his wife. He was still alive in 1898 and living in southern NSW or Victoria. We have a reference in a diary to Bombala and Cooma as possible jump off via train to his home.
His parents were William Armstrong and Katherine Blakely. His father died in Ireland, but his mother died in NSW.
Any direction, suggestions or clues would be truly appreciated.
Kathy
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Hi Kathy,
Here is Thomas's arrival.
Thomas arrived in Sydney on the KATE 4 Dec 1855
ARMSTRONG Thomas aged 19. He was single, a Farm Lab from Derravullen Fermanagh. His parents were William and Cath (father dead - mother living in Derravullen.)
Religion CE.
He could read and write.
Relative in the Colony - Sister Jane ARMSTRONG - Pitt St Sydney
State of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness - Good
Is to pay Mr Black £12
£1 Land and Deposit- Mr Black - Kiama
Cheers Kris :)
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And here is his mothers arrival
She arrived in Sydney on the 20 Sep 1859 aboard the ABYSSYNIAN
ARMSTRONG Catherine 48. She was listed as a Housekeeper from Lowthurstown Fermanagh. Parents Thomas and Jane BLAKELY - dead
Religion CI
She could read
Relative in the Colony -
"Thomas ARMSTRONG - Son
Jane ARMSTRONG - Daughter
not now in Sydney
Thomas, Rebecca _ BLAKELY
nephew _ Sydney"
She could Read
State of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness - Feeble
ARMSTRONG William 27, He was a Farm Lab from " - Father dead mother arrived
Religion "
He could read and write
Relatives in the Colony "As Above"
State of bodily health, strength and probable usefulness - Good
Cheers Kris :)
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Kris
God bless you! and so prompt with the information! Is there away to find out more about the adult Thomas, his wife, children, death and where he lived?
What you have given me is a huge help though. My great grandfather was the William age 27. He died in 1882 and a good deal of connection and information was lost because he was so young.
You have made my day.
Kathy
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Hello there Kathy
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/search.htm
you can search the NSW birth death and marriages on line
there is a marriage in 1858 for Thomas Armstrong to Jane Gray at Kiama
this couple appears to have had 15 children including two sets of twins.
I have not detailed them for you because I thought you might like to search foryourself ( including one child with the unusual name of Mortimer Johnston Armstrong)
if not just ask and I will post them up.
Bear in mind this in just an assumption based on the area we know he went to, and only a certificate will confirm it ;D
Jenn
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http://cemindex.arkangles.com/inscription.php?id=3272535
Maybe this is his grave? young son and his wife Jane
Jenn
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Thanks Jenn for your help and suggestion. I was hopeful with the Jane Grey direction until I realized that he died in 1882. My Thomas died after 1898 and though he may have started in Kiama, he definitely relocated south later in his life. I believe he had a daughter Mary. I will take a look at a marriage to Jane Rolston in Kiama.
But now Jane Armstrong (sister of Thomas) opens a larger mystery. All that we have known of the family has come from Catherine's death certificate in 1868. She had daughters Isabella (b. 1820), Mary (b. 1822) and Catherine (b. 1825) and a reference to a deceased daughter and son.
Jane was obviously the deceased daughter.
I was surprised that Jane went to Australia before 1855 and her brothers or mother. Now I need to find when she arrived and if she did so in a penal group, the womens bounty or something else. With the gaps I would assume Jane was born between 1825 and 1834.
I will look for death and marriage information, but if someone could direct me to her arrival and/or the best source I would appreciate it.
You have all been marvelous!
Kathy
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My Thomas died after 1898 and though he may have started in Kiama, he definitely relocated south later in his life. I believe he had a daughter Mary.
Can I ask how you know he died after 1898?
There are a large number of resources at the start of the Australia threads have a browse through them to see if anything can help you, meanwhile I will take a look around for Jane Armstrong.
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,369703.0.html
Jenn
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Sorry Kathy,
I have had no joy with Jane's arrival. I did look yesterday when I found the others, and have been over it again this morning. I see no-one likely listed. I presume she arrived unwed as she is mentioned as Jane ARMSTRONG. Be sure to take a look at the NSW resources (very comprehensive list of free resources we have compiled and listed by State on our Resources Board.)
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,369703.0.html
Cheers Kris :)
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Isabella Armstrong arrived in October 1851 on the Earl Grey
she was 27 years old a general house servant from Lowestown, Fermanagh
parents William and Catherine mother living at Lowestown,
relatives in the colonies none. religion CE
Jenn
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Good find Jenn. MMM I wonder if she was Isabella Jane Armstrong :-\
Also on the Earl Grey arriving 15 Oct 1851
BLEAKLEY Rebecca 16 Domestic Servant from Lowestown Fermanagh Her parents were Thomas and Margaret father living in Lowestown. She could not read or write (Isabella could read.) She follows Isabella on the passenger list of single females. She was also Church of England.
Cheers Kris :)
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Sorry forgot to put that she could read ;D
I saw the Bleakley Rebbeca and it didn't click so well found Kris.
You could be right with the Isabella Jane as we have all experienced finding family by the middle or second names
JEnn
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As to knowing that he died after 1898. My grandfather was in the country at that time and wrote a letter in an attempt to visit in 1898. Thomas was alive and the directions, or at least locations referred to in his diary was to take the train from Sydney to Bombala and in another Cooma. Unfortunately the visit didn't happen.
Kathy
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Great work from all of you. I found a Jane Armstrong that died in 1867, the year before Catherine. I will do some more research and sort through what you have given me.
Thank you so much!
Kathy
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I found this snippet which has some dates for the use of the Cooma railway .
The line to Cooma was opened in 1889, with the line beyond to Bombala open by 1921.
Apparently, from Sydney or Melbourne you had to go to Goulburn and change for Cooma. The length of time for the journey would certainly put you off!
http://trackside.wordpress.com/heritage/cooma-monaro-railway/
Judith
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Police Gazette 13 Aug 1879
Bombala, On about the 12 ultimo some person or persons maliciously killed a Bullock and two cows, the property of Thomas ARMSTRONG near Bombala. Mr Armstrong offers a reward of £25 for information leading to the apprehension of the guilty person or persons. residents of the district suspected.
Police Gazette 29 Feb 1888
George Edwin HARRIS was charged with stealing a letter containing a check on the Bank of NSW Sydney for £76.3 shillings (recovered)- the property of Thomas ARMSTRONG Bombala
John Thomas HARRIS charged with feloniously receiving £42 (recovered) property of Thomas ARMSTRONG. Both got 18 months hard labour in Cooma Gaol.
1900 PO Directory lists under Bombala
ARMSTRONG Thomas - farmer
There seem to be a Thomas and Annabella in Bombala
Thomas ARMSTRONG = Annabella McKENZIE Sydney 630/1858 - 6 births listed at Bombala including a Mary. Annabella died Bombala 1903, also listed several childrens deaths in Bombala. There is a Thomas ARMSTRONG died 1914 parents Robert and Catherine :-\
http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/search.htm
Cheers Kris :)
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1913 Pastoral Directory
ARMSTRONG Thomas - (Name of Station) - Saucy Creek - (Postal Address) Bombala
This mentions Sheep Farmer
http://www.archive.org/stream/genealogiesofabe00smituoft/genealogiesofabe00smituoft_djvu.txt
also listed here from newspaper index listing saucy creek
http://www.gownewspaperindexes.com.au/bom1875-81.html
Kris :)
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There are also a number of deaths and births with parents Robert and Catherine :'(
Several Thomas Armstrong within that area is making idendification difficult.
Jenn
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There are 217 Armstrongs on the database for Monaro Pioneers, including 10 Thomas Armstrongs. Some entries have good bio details and some are very sketchy but worth a look. Had a quick glance and I don't think your Thomas is there.
http://www.monaropioneers.com/
Judith
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Electoral roll (I only have access to these two dates)
1930
Arthur Charles Armstrong, labourer, Delegate
Rebecca ARMSTRONG, home duties, Saucy Creek, Bombala
Daisy Agnes Jessie, William James, and Bridget Catherine Armstrong all at Delegate, and Mary Eliza at Tombong.
Same in 1936 except no mention of Arthur
Death from NSW BMD site
12489/1914 Thomas ARMSTRONG, father Robert, mother Catherine, registered BOMBALA
Judith
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I know from my previous work that there seem to be the proverbial "tons" of Thomas Armstrongs from Ireland to Australia. That has been part of the issue. But it is also evident that names of parents become foggy. I am thinking this Robert / Catherine could well be the one, as everything else seems to fit In another place they thought it was Thomas / Catherine.
I wasn't sure how far into the interior his property may have been, but with this information on the train to Cooma, they must have lived at Bombala, or at least close by.
Thanks so much for all of your help. Let me know if you stumble over anything else, but just this has been a God send.
Kathy
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Now I question it (Robert/Catherine) if there were a number of childrens deaths in the area and they are the parents.
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A new thought. Perhaps Thomas, who would have been in his early 60s in late 1890s, had sold off and moved to his daughter's home (Mary) in Bombala. I don't know if or how that might change the records.
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Two deaths to me seem a possibility
regno 16118/1919
ARMSTRONG THOMAS aged 9O YRS at ADELONG
right age by the death
the other death has right parents but you say he was still alive then
reg no 1952/1895
ARMSTRONG THOMAS
father WILLIAM mother KATE at MENINDIE
Jenn
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Is there a way of viewing transcripts online before actually ordering a hard copy?
I have dozens of potential registration numbers for births, deaths and marriages, while only a few might be actual "hits". Anyway around the issue short of spending tons of money? I don't want to deprive transcriptors their daily bread either. I want to find my family...but the are turning into an potentially expensive little lot.
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No, not at all.
The transcription agents offer a service for around $9 to look at the information and check or verify if the registration might be "yours"
I appreciate how frustrating this can be with such a common name and there being several in the area you are looking for.
Jenn
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I stepped away from this search for awhile but perhaps I need to thank all of you who stepped forward with suggestions, information, and research. In trying to find the identity of Thomas Armstrong it has been solved as the Thomas Armstrong of Saucy Creek, Bombala, NSW. He married Annabelle McKenzie in Sydney and located soon after to Bombala, where he died in 1914. So one mystery down. Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond, research, and help. Now my hope is to someday find one of his descendants but for now I am content.
Thank you
Kathy
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Have found this:
ARMSTRONG.—October 27, at her parents' residence, Concord, Bessie Rhoda, infant daughter of William and Caroline Armstrong, aged 8 weeks ; also, December 24, after a short illness, William Armstrong, aged 53 years, many years resident at Ashfield, and brother to Mr. Thomas Armstrong, Bombala, formerly of Enniskillen, county of Fermanagh, Ireland. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Saturday 13 January 1883 p 1
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Thank you but I had located that earlier. I do appreciate your help