RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => Topic started by: csjjpm on Wednesday 07 February 18 14:25 GMT (UK)
-
Hi,
I am looking for information on a great great uncle who emigrated from Ireland, via UK, to the USA after WWI. He had served in the British army during WWI briefly returned to Fermanagh but then left for the US via the UK.
His name is John William Armstrong and he was born, according to RootsIreland, on 1st Jun 1889 to James Armstrong and Anne Jane Woods.
I found a hint that he may have entered the US in 1922. There is a potential marriage record, to Nancy ?, in 1924 in Illinois and then had a daughter Sheila Ruth Armstrong.
I'm looking for anyone who may be able to confirm or rule these out. Or anyone who has found other information on John William.
thanks
Paul
-
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
-
California, San Francisco Area Funeral Home Records, 1895-1985 for Sheila Ruth Burdett
Sheila Ruth Armstrong/Burdett - 11 November 1924 Chicao Illinois - passed away 8 July 1970
Spouse Frederick.Father john Armstrong and Mother Nancy Flynn. Both born Ireland.
Had lived in California 24 years. 420 Eddy Street San Francisco. Occupation Clerk/Typist, Pacoific Coast Security.
Sandra
-
619 Rear Groveland Park Chicago Illinois 1940
John Armstrong aged 51 years. born Northern Ireland. window washer.
Nancy Armstrong aged 43 years. born Irish Free State. maid.
Sheila Armstrong aged 15 years. born Illinois.
Sandra
-
Sheila R Armstrong aged 40 years married Frederick Burdett aged 38 years - 18 April 1965 - San Francisco, California.
The marriage is also listed under Sheila R Cox aged 40 years married Frederick Burdett aged 38 years - 18 April 1965 San Francisco.
Sandra
-
FIND A GRAVE
Sheila R Burdett - burial Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California.
LOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot - LOT 336 Division - Div 2
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87574828
A note on the site - born Sheila Armstrong Nov 1924 Chicago Illinois/Parents john Armstrong and Nancy Flynn graduated Hyde Park Career Academy HS Chicago 1943 - died of complications of cirrhosis according to death certificate.
Photographs of her appear on the Hyde Park Career Academy School Year Book 1943
Sandra
-
Hi Rosie,
that sounds very like him in terms of similar DOB 01/06 but RootsIreland and EmeraldAncestors definitely both have him as 01/06/1889. Also he served during WWI in the British army, Black Watch. I'll see if I can find his service record to confirm year of birth.
Kilskerry is the area as Tempo, they were from between Trillick and Ballinamallard.
It is quite a coincidence.
thank you
Paul
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
-
Wow Sandra, you were quick.
I had found the 1940s census, as well as the 1930 for John and Nancy/Annie. I didn't get the Flynn connection so that is a nice new bit of information.
I had found the marriage to 'Burdett' but not the first name so that is really useful. I will see if I can track down any offspring to confirm any connection.
FIND A GRAVE
Sheila R Burdett - burial Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California.
LOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot - LOT 336 Division - Div 2
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87574828
A note on the site - born Sheila Armstrong Nov 1924 Chicago Illinois/Parents john Armstrong and Nancy Flynn graduated Hyde Park Career Academy HS Chicago 1943 - died of complications of cirrhosis according to death certificate.
Photographs of her appear on the Hyde Park Career Academy School Year Book 1943
Sandra
-
Hi Rosie,
I found an immigration record for 1922 for a John William Armstrong which matched age into Illinois on Familysearch. That may tie in with the marriage to Nancy and birth of Sheila Ruth.
Paul
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
-
Nancy Armstrong - 2 August 1890 other country passed away 5 February 1976 Alameda California.
Nancy is also buried at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California.
PLOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot - Lot 336 Division: Div 2
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87560539
Sandra
-
There is also a John Armstrong buried Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California. 17 April 1956.
PLOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot: - Lot 336 Division - Div 2 Of
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87560502
Sandra
-
619 Rear Groveland Park Chicago Illinois 1940
John Armstrong aged 51 years. born Northern Ireland. window washer.
Nancy Armstrong aged 43 years. born Irish Free State. maid.
Sheila Armstrong aged 15 years. born Illinois.
Sandra
This address also appears on a WW2 Draft for a John Armstrong - born 27 September 1888 Belfast. ???
Name of person who will always know him was Jackson Flynn. 5735 So. Carpenter. Chicago. Illinois.
Chicago Motor Company. 4533 Wilcox Chicago Cook Illinois.
Jackson Flynn was on that 1930 census.
John Armstrong 40 Annie Armstrong 36 Sheila Armstrong 6
John Fitzgerald 61
Jackson Flynn 23 Edward Flynn 24
Sandra
-
FIND A GRAVE
Sheila R Burdett - burial Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California.
LOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot - LOT 336 Division - Div 2
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87574828
A note on the site - born Sheila Armstrong Nov 1924 Chicago Illinois/Parents john Armstrong and Nancy Flynn graduated Hyde Park Career Academy HS Chicago 1943 - died of complications of cirrhosis according to death certificate.
Photographs of her appear on the Hyde Park Career Academy School Year Book 1943
Sandra
Also buried at Cypress Lawn Birch Lot 336 Division Div 2 OF is John Armstrong 17 Apr 1956
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87560502
This fits with the California Death Index entry
John Armstrong
b 27 Apr 1888
birthplace other country
d 17 Apr 1956
San Francisco
father Armstrong
mother McGonity
-
There is also a John Armstrong buried Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California. 17 April 1956.
PLOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot: - Lot 336 Division - Div 2 Of
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87560502
Sandra
Noitce that someone has left a note attached saying born 27 September 1888 Belfast - father Armstrong and Mother McGonity. Married Annie Jane (Nancy) Flynn in Chicago and had one daughter Sheila Flynn Burdett. ???
Slight discrepancy on the birth date ???
Sandra
-
Thank you all for your help with this. That rules John, Nancy and Sheila out then in terms of DOB, mother's maiden name etc...
-
By the time of WWII he was 50! Would they have drafted him at that age?
There is also a John Armstrong buried Cypress Lawn Memorial Park Colma, San Mateo County, California. 17 April 1956.
PLOT Garden / Section: Birch Lot: - Lot 336 Division - Div 2 Of
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87560502
Sandra
Noitce that someone has left a note attached saying born 27 September 1888 Belfast - father Armstrong and Mother McGonity. Married Annie Jane (Nancy) Flynn in Chicago and had one daughter Sheila Flynn Burdett. ???
Slight discrepancy on the birth date ???
Sandra
-
WW2 Draft also known as “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft".
The registration included men born between 27 April 1877 and 16 February 1890 - ages 45 to 64 - and listed their industrial capacity and skills that could be used for military support during World War II - it did mean that they served.
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_World_War_II_Draft_Records
Sandra
-
The family myth is he worked on the railroads for JD Rockefeller. I contacted both the JD Rockefeller archive and the national archives for railroad employees and he doesn't feature. Rockefeller only keep records for direct employees. The railroad archives have massive gaps depending on who you worked for, how long etc...
-
I never knew that. Fascinating bit of history... like Dad's Army.
WW2 Draft also known as “Old Man’s Registration” or the “Old Man’s Draft".
The registration included men born between 27 April 1877 and 16 February 1890 - ages 45 to 64 - and listed their industrial capacity and skills that could be used for military support during World War II - it did mean that they served.
https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_World_War_II_Draft_Records
Sandra
-
Hi Rosie,
I added Mollie into Ancestry as a spouse and a person hint popped up. Someone has the marriage of John W and Mollie in their tree.
They have John W born in 1850 in Rhode Island and dies in 1922. Obviously this is determined by DOB or age on marriage certificate. I don't have a full subscription to Ancestry, only uK/Ireland.
Paul
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
-
The 1922 immigration for John W was attribute to him from the 1930 US census in Chicago. So it is not the same John.
-
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
The petition for naturalization for John William Armstrong born 1 June 1891 Kilskerry Co. Fermanagh. Immigrated from Liverpool arriving Boston MA 21 June 1907 on the Republic.
Married to Mary born August 1890 Co Monaghan Ireland. Resides 147 Lockwood Street Providence RI.
Has children born 1910 (Margaret) /1911 (Twins - Elizabeth and Anna) and 1914 (John)
Sandra
-
I've found the 1925 census with a few more children, John, Clarence and Francis
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
The petition for naturalization for John William Armstrong born 1 June 1891 Kilskerry Co. Fermanagh. Immigrated from Liverpool arriving Boston MA 21 June 1907 on the Republic.
Married to Mary born August 1890 Co Monaghan Ireland. Resides 147 Lockwood Street Providence RI.
Has children born 1910 (Margaret) /1911 (Twins - Elizabeth and Anna) and 1914 (John)
Sandra
-
Rhode Island, Indexes to Naturalization Records, 1890-1992 for John William Armstrong - 1 June 1891
147 Lockwood Street Providence RI. County of birth Fermanagh Ireland. Date of port of arrival 21 September 1907 Boston. Date of Naturalization 23 September 1920. Witness Thomas F Quigley 163 South Street Providence RI and Earl Sparks 122 Lennox Ave. Prrovidence RI.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-898P-FX95?i=3586&wc=QZLQ-R92%3A1067525901%3Fcc%3D2141014&cc=2141014
Sandra
-
FIND A GRAVE
Mrs Mary Connolly Armstrong - 30 August 1884 - 27 December 1955
Born in Ireland to Owen and Mary Connolly. She was the widow of John W. Armstong.
Saint Ann Cemetery Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139863960
Daughter - Margaret Armstrong Mannix passed away 14 December 1939
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141965202/margaret-mannix
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8HJ-66R
Son - John J. Armstrong passed away 31 March 1968
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/139870152/john-j.-armstrong
Sandra
-
According to the sites I've searched the DOBs for the eldest of the 12 Armstrong siblings are
John William - 01/06/1889
Robert - 16/10/1890
Rebecca - 12/09/1892
My great great grandfather notes John as the eldest. If the 1891 date was correct that would make him the middle child of the eldest three and only born 8 months after Robert (ouch) *-o
-
Don't rely on the US records showing the correct date of birth, it was not unusual for these to show even 1 or 2 years out.
Sandra
-
There is an ancestry tree which shows John W Armstrong passed away in 1922 (without source) - this is incorrect because he shows on the next 1925 census Providence Ward 7.
John W Armstrong 37 Mary Armstrong 36
Margaret Armstrong 15 Anna Armstrong 13
Elizabeth Armstrong 13 John Armstrong 10
Clarence E Armstrong 5 Francis J Armstrong 6 months.
Sandra
-
Thank you Sandra, you've done so much.
1925-37=1888 which is closer to 1889 than 1891.
I think this family is closer. Some of the name match relatives, although common for the time.
-
Birth year was out on the marriage - but parents christian names correct
John William Armstrong - Marriage - 20 Jun 1909 - Providence, Providence, Rhode Island,
Age: 24 - Birth Year (Estimated) 1885
Father's Name: James - Mother's Name: Annie
Spouse's Name: Mollie Conley - Spouse's Age 24 - Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) - 1885
Spouse's Father's Name Frank - Spouse's Mother's Name Mary
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8VR-96Z
-
Respecting #metoo I won't kiss you :-) but thank you massively.
This is them. Father James Armstrong and mother Anne Jane Woods. As the year is estimated I'll take it as not true.
The family never heard again from John from the early 1920s. This is amazing. I will have to increase my subscription to see if I can find descendants now.
Time to celebrate :-)
Birth year was out on the marriage - but parents christian names correct
John William Armstrong - Marriage - 20 Jun 1909 - Providence, Providence, Rhode Island,
Age: 24 - Birth Year (Estimated) 1885
Father's Name: James - Mother's Name: Annie
Spouse's Name: Mollie Conley - Spouse's Age 24 - Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) - 1885
Spouse's Father's Name Frank - Spouse's Mother's Name Mary
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F8VR-96Z
-
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Francis James Armstrong - 23 September 1924 - passed away 15 September 1988 - father John Armstrong and Mother Mary Conley.
Death Certificate Number 8804024
Sandra
-
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Anna A Armstrong - Anna A Migliaccio born 13 december 1911 - passed away 16 Dec 1989
John W Armstrong - Mother Mary Conley. Death Certificate Number 9663
Last Residence 02882 Narragansett, Washington, Rhode Island.
Sandra
-
Elizabeth Armstrong/Lawrence - 1912 passed away 1986 -
Burial - St Anns Cemetery - Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island. Plot section 18
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141965390
Husband Francis 1910 - 1988
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141965341/francis-f.-lawrence#view-photo=116328148
Sandra
-
On that headstone was Margaret Mary 1908 which predates their marriage. She appears in FamilySearch with them as parents with a birth year of 1911 but that was the year Anna was born.
Elizabeth Armstrong/Lawrence - 1912 passed away 1986 -
Burial - St Anns Cemetery - Cranston, Providence County, Rhode Island. Plot section 18
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141965390
Husband Francis 1910 - 1988
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/141965341/francis-f.-lawrence#view-photo=116328148
Sandra
-
Hi Rosie,
that sounds very like him in terms of similar DOB 01/06 but RootsIreland and EmeraldAncestors definitely both have him as 01/06/1889. Also he served during WWI in the British army, Black Watch. I'll see if I can find his service record to confirm year of birth.
Kilskerry is the area as Tempo, they were from between Trillick and Ballinamallard.
It is quite a coincidence.
thank you
Paul
There is a Naturalization Record Rhode Island for a John William Armstrong this one born
1 st June 1891 kilskerry Fermanagh does this sound like him ?
Looks like this John William Armstrong married a Mollie Conley 20 June 1909 Rhode Island
Rosie
Glad it was the right one for you and all the information from Sandra wonderful
Rosie
-
Yes great shout also I've learned from Sandra that the year of birth on US dates may not always be accurate.
I know age isn't always a good indicator on marriage certs as in Ireland they all are '22' because they only had to be over 21 to marry.
-
Providence, Rhode Island, City Directory, 1931/1932 - John W (Mary) Chauf 64 pond - h 96 Home Ave.
Also listed at that address - Marg M - clk 100 South - h 96 Home Ave. Eliz - clk 100 South - h 96 Home Avenue.
Providence, Rgode island, City Directory 1937 - Eliz - clerk - 100 South - 771 Cranston Ave. Marg M - clk - 100 South - 771 Cranston and Mrs Mary - h 771 Cranston Avenue. (no mention of John W Armstrong)
Sandra
-
Margaret Mary Armstrong married Milton William Mannix (1912 - 1969) - Margaret passed away 14 February 1939.
The couple had a daughter "M. L" 3 February 1939. This lady married Chester "Chet" F. Aylesworth.
This is the obituary for Chester. Passed away 3 September 2013. This will give you the name of family to date. With the help of https://www.whitepages.com/ you should be able to trace living relatives.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?pid=166786902
Sandra
-
U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 - Anna A Armstrong - Anna A Migliaccio born 13 december 1911 - passed away 16 Dec 1989
John W Armstrong - Mother Mary Conley. Death Certificate Number 9663
Last Residence 02882 Narragansett, Washington, Rhode Island.
Sandra
FIND A GRAVE
Burial - Saint Francis Cemetery Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island.
PLOT Section J, Lot 4, Grave 6
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/151295717
husband - Nicholas Migliaccio - 8 December 1906 passed away February 1976 -
Last Residence 02910 Cranston, Providence, Rhode Island.
Sandra
-
Thank you Sandra you've been great. I've now made contact with someone via Ancestry who is a descendant and hopefully I can fill in the missing bits and the families can catch up with each other.
-
Thank you Sandra and Rosie. I've now made contact with long lost relatives in the US.
-
That is great exciting news. Thank you very much, we always appreciate updates.
Regards
Sandra