Hi Katherine.
Where do I fit in - an excellent question! Here's a not so short answer...
Here is what I believe is the lineage:
John Armstrong inherited Farney Castle from his father, Captain William Armstrong of the Tipperary Horse. That left second son, Thomas, without a home.
He signed a lease for Mealiffe from Kingsmill Pennefather of Newpark, County Tipperary on 1st January, 1714 (see
http://www.igp-web.com/tipperary/estate38.htm). It was a long-term lease, initially covering 3 lifetimes, but renewable in perpetuity on payment of a renewal fine. This last fact is particularly relevant as any subsequent "Armstrong of Mealiffe" presumably had to be his direct descendant. FYI, the lease was cancelled for non-payment about 1850.
Thomas married Mary Carew, eldest daughter of Robert Carew, Co. Wexford. I believe they had a very large family and Mealiffe passed to his second son, John (I think probably born about 1705) when his eldest son, William, died without children about 1768. Mealiffe then passed to John's son, the Reverend William Carew Armstrong, and I believe you are descended from this line. They retained the lease on Mealiffe and Catherine-Eleanor Beresford married a Reverend William Carew Armstrong 11 Nov 1791.
However, Catherine-Eleanor's parents married 12 June 1763 so she was probably born about 1770 and the Rev WCA above was probably born no later than 1740 based on his fathers birth about 1705. She might well have married a son of the original Rev WCA.
This is where our lines diverged in any case. I am descended from a later son of Thomas and Mary (Carew) Armstrong. As per Aunt Kate, the Reverend Robert Carew Armstrong, Rector of Shinrone, King's County married Jane Atkinson, 4th daughter of Anthony Atkinson MP of Cangort, King's County. They had a number of children - I am from Thomas who married Frances Wheeler about 1771, daughter of Francis Wheeler of Ballywire, Co. Tipperary. They had 3 sons:
- Captain Frances Wheeler Armstrong, b: 1779, Married Esther Françoise de Quetteville 15 June 1819 in Grouville, Jersey and died 15 April 1868 in Jersey
- Captain John Armstrong, b: 1788 in Torne, King's County, Married Elizabeth Frances Massey, Daughter of Hon Francis Hugh Massy of Suir Castle, Co. Tipperary; Granddaughter of Hugh Massy, 1st Baron of Duntrileague
- Robert Carew Armstrong, b: 1784 in Mount Eaton, Kilfinane, County Limerick, Married Margaret Ann Massey - the sister of his brother's wife
Aunt Kate had it mostly right - John and Robert came to Canada. Robert came first in 1823, settling near Ottawa, and John came in 1825, settling near what became Peterborough. Both were part of a government sponsored settlement project lead by an MP named Peter Robinson to punch-up the population. The program was approved, in part, to create a stronger militia in the event the Americans looked north of the border again as they had in the War of 1812. Most of the settlers were Catholic, although the Armstrongs were not.
It doesn't help much with the family that moved to Mealiffe, but check out Burkes Peerage (1863) on-line for a decent summary of how the family came to Ireland. However, I understand the connection to old Laird John Armstrong of Gilnockie is likely but not 100% proven:
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ni4BAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA936&dq=armstrong+farney#PPA936,M1 That's about it for now. I won't claim credit for most of the above - it was compiled largely by David Malet Armstrong, descended from Captain Frances Wheeler Armstrong, and Tina Hansen, descended from Captain John Armstrong. I am descended from the third son, Robert Carew Armstrong. Any errors in the above post are almost certainly due to my transcription as their research to date has proven to be exceptional.
John.
ENFIELD - I just noticed your post. Thank you VERY much. I'm sure I will enjoy the letters as much as Katherine.