John Francis Armstrong (1845-1893): A Short Biography
November 29, 2014John Francis Armstrong was born near Tubbercurry in County Sligo, Ireland in September of 1845, the first year of the Great Irish Famine (1845-1851).
JF’s parents, Francis and Anne Leonard Armstrong, were Catholic tenant farmers on the Nicholson and Cooper estates in Kilcummin and Derreens Townlands. They were members of Cloonacool Parish, a small Roman Catholic church in the village of Cloonacool, located about a mile from where they lived.
According to stories handed down by his descendants, JF became involved in anti-British activities as a young man and had to leave Ireland quickly in 1865. He took a ship to the United States and eventually settled in Augusta, Georgia, where his father’s brother had immigrated during the famine years of the late 1840s.
In Augusta, JF married Sarah Theresa McAndrew and worked as a store clerk. On June 25, 1870, he was recorded in the US census as a bookkeeper and a male US citizen over twenty-one years of age. By the late 1870s, he co-owned Daly and Armstrong, a successful dry-goods store on Broad Street, and was active in local and state politics.
The Irish National League of America and the Clan na Gael
During the 1880s, JF became well-known in the Irish home rule and Irish agrarian reform movements in the United States. He was a founding member of the Irish National League of America in April of 1883, when he was appointed to the new organization’s Council of Seven. Of the seven council members, the Chicago Daily Tribune reported that six – including JF – were members of the Clan na Gael, the secret American Fenian organization.
In February of 1886, JF delivered funds from the League to the Irish Parliamentary Party in Dublin and met privately with Charles Stewart Parnell, the Irish Protestant MP and leader of the home rule movement.
During the Parnell Commission hearings in London in 1889, the English spy Henri Le Caron, born Thomas Miller Beach, identified John F. Armstrong as “a very prominent member of the V.C., U.B., and I.N.B.” (The United Brotherhood was the name used for the Clan na Gael among its members. VC was code for UB and the Irish National Brotherhood was the name taken by part of the CNG when the organization split in the late 1880s.) Based on this and other evidence, the British government identified JF as a member of the Clan na Gael in the Parnell Commission Report of 1890.
Sketch of JF Armstrong from Gladstone-Parnell and the Great Irish Struggle, published 1890
In 1890, in response to Le Caron and the Parnell Commission, Thomas Power O’Connor, M. P., and Robert McWade, Esq. wrote Gladstone-Parnell And the Great Irish Struggle with an introduction by Charles Stewart Parnell, M. P. The book included biographies of notable Irish American leaders in the INLA. JF’s bio described his private meeting with Parnell in 1886 as “pleasant”. It denied accusations that JF had been sent by the INLA leadership to threaten to discontinue financial support if Parnell didn’t push a more home rule bill in the London Parliament. No mention was made of the Clan na Gael or the allegations of corruption made against Alexander Sullivan by John Devoy and other Clan members.
In the John Devoy Papers at the National Library of Ireland, JF was listed as a witness in the Clan’s internal inquiry over the misuse of treasury funds by the organization’s leadership in the late 1880s. The collection also contains a letter JF wrote to Devoy in the summer of 1883, when Devoy was serving a prison sentence at Blackwell’s Island in New York.
Illness, Detention by the British, and the Return to Augusta
In May of 1890, JF fell seriously ill in Augusta. He retired from Daly and Armstrong in February of 1891 and left for an extended trip to Ireland, where his health continued to deteriorate.
At some point, probably during 1892 or 1893, British government agents visited Augusta to inform JF’s children that he had been claimed as a British subject. As such, all of his assets were to be confiscated. However, once his children produced his U.S. naturalization papers, he was given permission to return to the United States.
When JF finally reached Augusta at the end of August in 1893, he was mentally incapacitated. Shortly thereafter, he was committed to the Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum in Milledgeville, where he died a month and a half later on November 9th, 1893.
Image of JF
John Francis Armstrong, circa 1865. Print is from the photo collection of Mary Van Sant Wheeler.
References
1870 U.S. census, City of Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, population schedule, Ward 3, p. 70 (penned), dwelling 511, family 565, John F. Armstrong in household of Patrick Armstrong; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 November 2014); NARA microfilm publication roll: M593_172; Page: 132B; Image: 288834; Family History Library Film: 545671.
1880 U.S. census, City of Augusta, Richmond County, Georgia, population schedule, enumeration district (ED) part of 4th Ward, p. 23 (penned), dwelling 254, family 267, Jno Armstrong; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed 20 November 2014); NARA microfilm publication T9, roll 0163; Family History Film: 1254163; Page: 411C; Enumeration District: 101; Image: 0604.
“After Beach All ‘Round: Mr. John F. Armstrong Contradicts the Spy’s Testimony,” Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, GA), 10 February 1889, online archives, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 13 March 2014), citing original p. 1.
“An Augusta Patriot,” Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, GA), 12 April 1887, online archives, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com/ : accessed 30 March 2018), citing original p. 2, col. 3.—-Notes: Notes JF’s work on behalf of Ireland. He was attending meetings all over Georgia to get prominent citizens and politicians to openly condemn the proposed coercion act in the London Parliament.
“Clan na Gael: Unsatisfactory Outcome of Great Congress of American Irishmen – Alexander Sullivan, of Chicago, Elected Leader of the New League. – Complete Triumph of the Secret Societies Over the Clerical and Conservative Elements. – The Moneyed Class Alienated – Only $275 Raised Against $28,000 Two Years Ago.,” Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL), 28 April 1883, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 March 2018), citing original p. 3, col. 2.—-Notes: Article stated that the new Irish National League of America was dominated by the Clan na Gael. Reynolds, Wallace, and Armstrong were the appointees to the Council of Seven who were named as Clan na Gael members.
“Coercion Condemned: Georgians Raise Their Voices Against The Measure – A Large Meeting In Augusta Addressed By Prominent Citizens – Resolutions of Sympathy Passed Unanimously and Cabled to Messrs. Parnell and Gladstone – Large Crowd,” Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA), 6 April 1887, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 30 March 2018), citing original p. 4, col. 6.—-Notes: JF had been busy organizing meetings and rallying support all over Georgia for the condemnation of the proposed coercion act under review in the London Parliament. Towards the end of the article, it mentions that sixty members of the Emmett Club, the Augusta chapter of the Irish National Land League, organized and attended the meeting. JF sent a letter to Jim McAlister in Charleston, SC recommending that it be strongly protested there also. M. F. Kennedy of Charleston wrote JF a letter about the matter on 4 May 1887. Kennedy’s letter referenced “our D”, meaning the local camp of the Clan na Gael.
“Colonel Armstrong Will Go To Ireland.” Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA), 18 February 1891, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2 May 2014), citing original p. 1.—-Notes: Stated that JF had withdrawn from Daly & Armstrong due to sickness and was going to Ireland for a year to stay with relatives “in hopes of recovering his health”.
Devoy, John, “Report of Trial Committee appointed by United Brotherhood to try charges against Alexander Sullivan, Michael Boland and D.C. Freeley,” From the John Devoy Papers (MS 18,019) collection at The National Library of Ireland, microfilm, no date. Also Hudson, Marie Van Sant, [private address] email, attached document containing information extracted from the Devoy Papers at the NLI to Tulie Wheeler Taylor, 2010; privately held by Tulie. —-Notes: This information was extracted from a document by John Devoy that states that John F. Armstrong of Georgia was called as a witness for Alexander Sullivan, Michael Boland, and D.C. Feely, defendants against charges of corruption at the internal Clan na Gael trial in August and September of 1888 in Buffalo and New York. This information needs to be confirmed through further research.
“For Human Rights: Augusta to Speak on the Irish Question – Grand Mass Meeting of Georgians Called for Tuesday Night to Protest against English Coercion of Ireland – A Stirring Appeal to the People, Etc.,” Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA), 3 April 1887, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2 May 2014), citing original p. 7, col. 4.—-Notes: JF sent out an appeal for help in opposing the coercion act in the London Parliament.
Hudson, Marie Van Sant, United States [marievhudson@gmail.com] to Tulie Wheeler Taylor, emails, 2010 and 31 July 2018, “Georgia Lunatic Asylum patient health log: John F. Armstrong, date of death 9 November 1893,” Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (GDBH&DD), Genealogy, Central State Hospital.—-Notes: This was a digital scan of a paper copy Marie received from the GDBH&DD. According to the letter to Marie from GDBH&DD, the patient log was located at the GA State Archives in Atlanta. JF’s entry contained health notes, date of death, and where body was to be sent.
“Ireland’s Rosy Prospects,” New York Times (NY, NY), 6 March 1886, online archives, New York Times (https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1886/03/06/106181806.pdf : accessed 30 July 2014 and 19 March 2018), citing original p. 4.—-Notes: Newspaper interview with John F. Armstrong about his meeting with Charles Stewart Parnell in Dublin and his trip to London for the Irish National League of America.
“Irish Americans.” Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL), 29 April 1883, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2014), citing original p. 9.—-Notes: The new Irish National League of America’s treasury was under the control of it’s officers and Council of Seven. The Chicago Tribune identified Armstrong as a Clan na Gael member on the Council of Seven.
“The Irish Cause – The Importance of Contributing to the Anti-Eviction Fund,” Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA), 7 December 1886, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed on 29 July 2014), citing original p. 4.
“The Irish Declaration: A Ringing Arrayment of England’s National Crime – The Irish National League of America Organized with Mr. Sullivan as President – The Declaration of Principles – Organization of State Bodies Provided For – Notes, Etc.,” Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA), 28 April 1883, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 23 March 2014), citing original p. 1, col. 3.
“Irish League Meetings,” New York Times (NY, NY), 7 May 1883, online archives, New York Times (https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1886/03/06/106181806.pdf : accessed 30 July 2014 and 19 March 2018), citing original p. 1.—-Notes: John F. Armstrong, representative to the newly formed Irish National League of America, updated the Augusta, GA chapter of the INLA about the organization’s meeting in Philadelphia. The chapter voted to support the INLA platform.
“J. F. Armstrong Dead,” Irish American Weekly (NY, NY), 13 November 1893, online archives, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com : accessed 1 March 2014), citing original p. 4.—-Notes: Obituary for JFA. At the end of the obit, accused him of trying to intimidate C. S. Parnell for Alexander Sullivan, former leader of the the INLA and the Clan na Gael, during his visit to Dublin, Ireland in 1886.
“A Lively Time Ahead: It Will Be Witnessed In The National League Convention – Eastern and Other Delegates Who Are Opposed To What They Call the Sullivan-Egan Faction Propose To Have Their Say – A History of the Schism in the Clan na Gael – Distinguished Visitors From Over the Water,” Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL), 6 August 1886, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 April 2018), citing original p. 1.—-Notes: JF was noted as a supporter of Sullivan.
“Mr. Jno. Armstrong: A Prominent Citizen Passes To His Last Rest,” Augusta Herald or Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, GA), 10 November 1893, paper copy from original, possibly from microfilm, in possession of Tulie Wheeler Taylor, Tallahassee, FL.—-Notes: Obituary of John Francis Armstrong written by his son-in-law, William Celestin “Dick” Casey. Dick Casey was a founding editor of the Augusta Herald and the husband of JF’s daughter May. Information from this obituary was used in JF’s obituaries throughout the US.
Moody, T.W. and F.X. Martin, Editors. The Course of Irish History. Dublin: The Mercier Press, 1993.
Neary, Gerard, Ireland [gerardneary@gmail.com] to Marie Van Sant Hudson, United States, 4 emails, 13 May 2014, four-part report on the family of Francis Armstrong (c.1818-1901) and Anne Leonard Armstrong (1820-1917) of County Sligo, Ireland.
“The New Irish American Organization,” Leeds Mercury (Leeds, West Yorkshire, England), 26 May 1883, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2014), citing original p. 15, col. 6.—-Notes: The Irish National League of America, newly formed, submitted its goals to the Irish National League so it the two could work together as a trans-Atlantic organization.
“Notes of a Day in Augusta,” Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, GA), 12 July 1893, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 5 April 2018), citing original p. 2, col. 2.—-Notes: John Armstrong was to return home from Ireland but there had been no improvement in his health.
O’Connor, Thomas Power, M. P., and McWade, Robert, Esq., Gladstone-Parnell And the Great Irish Struggle: A Graphic Story of Injustice And Oppression Inflicted Upon Irish Tenantry, And A History Of The Gigantic Movement Throughout Ireland, America, and Great Britain For “Home Rule”, Also A Complete History Of The Great Times Conspiracy, With Biographies Of The Great Leaders Gladstone, Parnell, Davitt, Egan And Very Many Others (Philadelphia, Pa.: Hubbard Bros., 1890), 650-655; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/details/gladstoneparnell1890ocon : accessed 6 March 2018). Short bio of “advanced Irish nationalist” John F. Armstrong. Born near Tubbercurry, County Sligo, Ireland in September 1845 & immigrated to Georgia in 1865. Detailed JF’s work in the INLA and his private meeting with Parnell in Dublin in 1886. Stated that JF was not sent by INLA to threaten Parnell to get him to adopt more aggressive policies.
Parnell Commission, A Verbatim Copy of the Parnell Commission Report With Complete Index and Notes (London: Irish Loyal and Patriotic Union, 1890), 135-136; digital images, Archive.org (https://archive.org/stream/verbatimcopyofpa : accessed 2014).—-Notes: John F. Armstrong of the Irish National League of America was identified as a member of the Clan na Gael.
“Public Member Trees”, database, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed July 2014), “Van Sant-Hudson” family tree by Marie Van Sant Hudson, profile for John Francis Armstrong (1845-1893, b. Co. Sligo, Ireland, d. Milledgeville, GA, USA), documented data updated 2014.
“The Special Commission: Royal Courts of Justice, Feb. 7,” London Times (London, Greater London, England), 8 February 1889, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2014), citing original p. 7, col. 5 and 6.—-Notes: Parts of the report from the 12th convention of the UB/CNG were read. Hugh Carroll, “F. Armstrong” [sic] “and others were mentioned as holding offices” (col. 5). Under questioning, English spy Henri Le Caron (Thomas Miller Beach) identified John F. Armstrong as “a very prominent member of the V.C., U.B., and I.N.B.” (col. 6).
“The Special Commission: Royal Courts of Justice, Feb. 8,” London Times (London, Greater London, England), 9 February 1889, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2014), citing original p. 8, col. 2 and 5 and p. 9, col. 4.—-Notes: On p. 9, col. 2, the English spy Thomas Miller Beach, aka Henri Le Caron, testified before the Parnell Commission that each Clan na Gael camp had a public name. On p. 8, col. 5, he testified that JF Armstrong was one of the “most influential and most leading men” of the VC (code for UB, United Brotherhood aka the Clan na Gael) between 1880 and January 1882. On p. 9, col. 4, he identified JF as UB (United Brotherhood, internal name for Clan na Gael).
“The Special Commission: Royal Courts of Justice, Nov. 22,” London Times (London, Greater London, England), 23 November 1889, online archives, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com : accessed 2014), citing original p. 6, col. 3, 4, 5.—-Notes: Clan na Gael groups or camps were often given public names, such as after Irish martyr and patriot Robert Emmett. JF was identified as Clan na Gael in the dissolution of the Land League and the formation of the Irish National League of America in 1883.
“Thoughtful Tribute: the Irish National League Pay Their Respects to Mr. Armstrong.” Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, GA), 3 June 1890, online archives, Genealogybank.com (https://www.genealogybank.com accessed: 1 May 2014), citing original p. 5.