Armstrongs at Cross Hill, Cumberland

[robbie414]

Hi guys,
Wondered if anyone else has been researching the Armstrongs who in the 1871 census owned or rented a farm in Cross Hill, Stanwix, Cumberland? Of if anyone can shed light on where exactly the farm was, as i've not been able to locate it.
The people i've been looking into are:
George (b 1818) and Hannah (b1820) Armstrong and their family.

Thanks,
Rob

[danuslave]

Hi Rob and welcome to RootsChat

The census index shows the ‘town’ as Houghton House, which shows on google maps in the triangle formed by the A7 and the A469 at Harker

If you have access to the original image, you can look at Next & Previous images to put the location in context. 

You should also see

Cumberland > Houghton > District 4 > 12

If you click on District 4 it will show you the area covered by the enumerator.

If you have any problems doing this, give me a shout

Linda

[Gan Yam]

Hi Rob

Cross Hill Farm still exists.  Remembered your post when I was driving along a road near Houghton and passed a sign post for Cross Hill.  I have driven past that sign 100's of times if not 1000's and never been down that road.  Drove down and Cross Hill Farm is about a mile and half down it.  The farmhouse looks to be undergoing a refurb with building work going on.

Even more bizarrely I went to Houghton Churchyard to look for one of my own relatives and the first grave I came across was for the Armstrong family of Cross Hill Farm.  There was also another Armstrong grave with Hannah and one of the daughters.  As I was going for my own research I had a camera.  If you pm me with your email address I will send you the photos I took of the graves (thats when I manage to get them of the camera).

Looking forward to hearing from you

Julie

(ps I found what I was looking for as well)

[bobgraham]

Armstrong, being a Reiver name, is kinda commom round here so lots of possibilities. I have a George marrying a Hannah Wells in Q1 1847 on freebmd but trying for progeny shortly after that produces lots and lots!
Julie, what was the daughters name at Houghton to see if we can form a connection?
bob

[Gan Yam]

Hi Rob and Bob

I've managed to download the photos.  The first gravestone has four daughters on, but only two that are on the 1871 census and that's Annie died 1872/3 aged 24,  daughter of George and Hannah Armstrong of Cross Hill and Isabella died 1880 aged 17.  The other 2 died in Allendale before 1871.

But I think you are right Bob about the marriage, only its not Wells, it Wills. The second gravestone is for Margaret Wills formerly of Burgh died aged 73 in 1885 at Cross Hill (Hannah's sister I would think) and it also has Hannah Armstrong, wife of late George Armstrong of Cross Hill who died 1891 or 1901. (difficult to read) 

Julie

[robbie414]

Hi July, Bob!
This is fantastic! Thank you so much for your help! 
I do have George and Hannah, but didn't know Hannah's maiden name. I also have note of Annie (b. abt 1849) & Isabella (b. abt 1865)

I'll pm you my email addy July. Thank you

Rob

[bobgraham]

Julie, you're right but at my age and decrepitude I can't read my own writing. Rob, on the deaths, Isabella shows up spot on with the gravestones but you may need to do a bit of searching on freebmd for annie (as ann). The 2 in allendale I haven't managed to source as there was no firstname given.
The big problem is Hannah. No obvious candidates appear either in 1891 or 1901 (I always allow a year either way in searches) in cumberland or northumberland.
If you do georges death between 71 (if still on census) and 91 (Hannah, wife of late) then 2 reasonable matches show up.
Good luck
bob

[robbie414]

Hi Bob,
Thanks for searching. I do have Hannah on 1891 still living in Stanwix, but no mention of Cross HIll on the census though. George's death was between 1871 and 81 as I have him on the 71 census and 81 shows Hannah as a widower.

What i'd like to do now is find out when the Armstrong's left Cross Hill farm. Perhaps something will show up when i visit this weekend

Thanks again for your help guys
Rob

[bobgraham]

Rob, still 2 I'm afraid in 73 and 78 but I've checked in historicaldirectories.org and a George is farming in Houghton (no farm given) in 1873 but then there are no more directories until after 81 so I can't check further for you. Sorry.
Might see you in the near boot at the weekend then if you're visiting!
;>}
bob