John F. Armstrong Timeline: 1865-1879
August 25, 2016
Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, formerly St. Patrick’s, the oldest Catholic church building in Georgia, where John F. Armstrong & Sarah Theresa McAndrew were married in 1868, Image courtesy of Themostholytrinity.org
In 1865, John F. Armstrong (1845-1893) left County Sligo, Ireland for Augusta, Georgia, where his uncle, Thomas Armstrong, had immigrated during the Great Irish famine of the late 1840s.
In Augusta, JF found work with the grocers O’Dowd and Mulherin and, in 1868, he married Sarah Theresa McAndrew.
During the 1870s, JF served in the Irish Volunteers, a local militia, and became a partner in the dry goods business of James A. Gray and Company. He was also active in the Georgia Democratic Party, and established a friendship with Alexander Hamilton Stephens.
Back in Ireland, JF’s parents were forced off their leased farmlands in County Sligo in 1876. His younger brother Luke was arrested in December of 1876 for firing shots at water bailiffs and taken to Sligo Gaol. He was bailed several days later and acquitted the following March.
In 1877, JF was elected president of the Augusta Hibernian Benevolent Society and, in 1878, and he and James Daly opened Daly & Armstrong, a successful dry goods store on Broad Street.
JF likely became involved in the Clan na Gael, the American Fenian organization, in the late 1870s.
1865 through 1879
1865
According to his obituary in the Augusta Chronicle on November 10, 1893, JF immigrated to Augusta, Georgia from County Sligo Ireland in 1865 at the age of nineteen. His first job in Augusta was with grocers O’Dowd & Mulherin.
1867
December 10th, Daily Constitutionalist, p. 2: John Armstrong–not John F.–was listed on a Committee of Arrangements in an advertisement for a fair organized by the Sisters of Mercy. Thomas Armstrong, his uncle, and P. Armstrong, probably his cousin Patrick, were also listed. James A. Gray was listed as the Chairman of the committee.
1868
April: Mary Ellen Langin McAndrew Geraty (c1818-1868), the mother of Sarah Theresa McAndrew, JF’s future wife, died in Augusta. So far, no obituary has been found in online newspaper archives.
April 30th, Daily Constitutionalist, p. 2: Jno. F. Armstrong, secretary of the L and B Society of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, ran a notice in the newspaper by order of the organization’s president to meet Friday morning to go to the funeral for Martin Mulherin.
August 25th: JF married Sarah Theresa McAndrew at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Augusta.
November 17th, Daily Constitutionalist, p. 4: John F. Armstrong and his cousin, Patrick Armstrong, were listed as registered citizens in the city’s Fourth Ward.
1869
March 19th, Daily Constitutionalist, p.3: John Armstrong–not John F.–was chosen for summer jury duty in Augusta.
1870
April 29th: Birth of JF and Sarah’s first child and only daughter, Mary Ellen “May” Armstrong Casey Morrison (1870-1950).
1872
August 16th: Birth of JF and Sarah’s second child and oldest son, Francis Bernard Armstrong (1872-1882).
November 20th, 1872, Augusta Chronicle, p. 3: John F. Armstrong was nominated for treasurer for the Democratic Party for Augusta’s Fourth Ward but lost to Dr. R. H. Land.
1873
Exact dates unknown: On January 22nd, 1882, the Augusta Chronicle noted on page 4 that Luke Armstrong, who had been arrested (in 1882) in Ireland under the Coercion Act, had visited his brother, John F. Armstrong, in Augusta nine years earlier in 1873.
March 16th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 2: Announcement by J. F. Armstrong, O.S. that the Irish Volunteers were to appear in full uniform on March 17th at 8 a.m. at the drill room.
1874
February 12th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: In the advertising section, J. F. Armstrong was named as one of the consignees of the South Carolina Railroad.
March 18th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: At the opera house on St. Patrick’s Day, John F. Armstrong introduced the event’s main speaker, Mr. M.P. Carroll, Esq.
May 10th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: J. F. Armstrong was listed as an honorary member of the Clinch Rifles in a story about their annual target practice meeting.
May 16th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: At a meeting of the Irish Volunteers, J. F. Armstrong, private, gave a silver cup to Sgt. Beechnor for his daughter.
August 18th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 2: Notice that John F. Armstrong had sold all of his interest in the grocery and liquor store at No. 327 Broad St. to James R. Armstrong. (Note: It was probably his brother-in-law James McAndrew. We can find no record of a James R. Armstrong.)
September 11th: Birth of JF and Sarah’s third child and second son, James Patrick Armstrong (1874-1948).
November 26, 1874, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: After a drill of the Irish Volunteers, Private J.F. Armstrong presented a sword to Lt. E.J. O’Connor in honor of his service to the company.
December 13th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: At a meeting of the Fourth Ward Democratic Party members in Augusta, J. F. Armstrong moved that the chairman appoint the delegates to the state convention. The motion did not pass.
December 17th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 2: Advertisement from M. P. Carroll, J. F. Armstrong, and A. J. Gouley for a presentation by Admiral Semmes at Girardey’s Opera House to benefit the Catholic Young Men’s Society of Augusta.
1875
March 19th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong was elected treasurer of the Augusta Hibernian Society.
April 2nd, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong and others gave toasts at a dinner for the opening of the new fire station on Upper Broad Street. Armstrong was a member of the volunteer company at the firehouse.
November 27th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong was announced as a candidate for council from the Fourth Ward.
1876
January 25, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong was chosen as the grand marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
March 17, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong was Marshal of the Day for the Augusta St. Patrick’s Day parade.
July 13th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: J. F. Armstrong was a member of the Richmond County Democratic Party and was to vote on the delegates to be sent to the state convention in Atlanta.
Between July & December: Francis and Anne Leonard Armstrong, JF’s parents, were evicted from their leased farmlands in Derreens Townland in County Sligo, Ireland.
August 2nd, Augusta Chronicle, p. 1: J. F. Armstrong was a Richmond County delegate to the Georgia Democratic Party convention in Atlanta.
October 3rd, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: At a meeting at the St. Patrick’s parish hall, J. F. Armstrong contributed $5 to the Sisters of Mercy charities in Savannah.
October 17th: Birth of JF and Sarah’s fourth child and third son, John Luke Armstrong (1876-1961).
December 30th, Sligo County General Prison Registers 1875-1879 and 1858-1879, No page numbers: Laborer Luke Armstrong of Tullyvellia, JF’s brother, was arrested in County Sligo for allegedly firing a pistol at water bailiffs on the night of December 28th.
1877
January 18th, Dublin Daily Express, p. 2: Luke Armstrong “lately returned from America” was arrested for shooting at three water bailiffs at the River Moy. Trial was set for the spring. Armstrong was released on bail of 40 pounds with “two sureties” of 20 pounds.
March 6th, Sligo County General Prison Registers 1858-1879, No page numbers: Luke Armstrong pleaded not guilty to firing shots at water bailiffs in County Sligo and was acquitted.
March 18th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4, “St. Patrick’s Day: Grand Day in Augusta”: Yesterday evening, after a day of celebrations in honor of St. Patrick, Augusta’s Irish societies and the Irish Volunteers, a local militia, gathered at the hall of the Irish Volunteers. Honorable Patrick Walsh, chairmen, announced that toasts and the names of their respondents would be read to the audience by John F. Armstrong.
March 20th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4, “Hibernian Benevolent Society”: John Armstrong was elected president of the Augusta chapter of the Hibernian Benevolent Society.
May 6th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: J. F. Armstrong was called for jury duty at the Superior Court.
October 21st, Augusta Chronicle, p. 6: J. F. Armstrong was one of many names in an announcement supporting a mass meeting to promote the expansion of the Knoxville and Greenwood railroad line to Augusta.
December 8th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 6: John F. Armstrong was one of three committee members of St. Vincent de Paul Society to pass resolutions to honor recently deceased member Joseph D. Kavanagh.
1878
March 5th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong gave a toast at a dinner at the Augusta Hotel celebrating the one hundredth birthday of Irish patriot and martyr Robert Emmet.
March 7th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 1: Copy of a speech John F. Armstrong gave at the Centenary Celebration for the Irish martyr Robert Emmet.
March 13th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4, “St. Patrick’s Day: Preparations For the Occasion – The Programme – Address by Judge Lochrane”: The Augusta chapter of the Hibernian Benevolent Society had plans for a large in honor St. Patrick. Because March 17th was on a Sunday, the festivities were planned for the next day. A High Mass was to be celebrated at St. Patrick’s Church followed by a parade to the Opera House, where Judge O. A. Lochrane of Atlanta had agreed to address the crowd. James Gray had been named Marshal of the Day. That evening, the Hibernian Benevolent Society was to host a dinner at the Planters Hotel.
March 16th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 1, “St. Patrick’s Day in Augusta: Sixty Visitors Coming From Atlanta”: Judge O. A. Lochrane of Atlanta was scheduled to give the main address on St. Patrick’s Day in Augusta. He was invited by the Augusta chapter of the Hibernian Benevolent Society.
March 19th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 1, “Ireland’s Patron Saint: Celebration of St. Patrick’s Day By the Irishmen of Augusta”: A review of the celebrations. It was also noted that, at a dinner at the Planters Hotel in honor of St. Patrick, Hibernian Benevolent Society chapter president John F. Armstrong welcomed the guests. James R. Randall was present.
March 20th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4, “Hibernian Benevolent Society”: The officers of the Hibernian Benevolent Society, Augusta chapter, were re-elected at a meeting the previous evening. They were: John F. Armstrong, president; George Symms, vice-president; A. J. Gouley, secretary; N. Cotter, treasurer; Patrick Powers, standard bearer. Wm. Mulherin, Jas. O’Gorman, and M. Mahoney were appointed to the finance committee.
June 23rd, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: Alexander Hamilton Stephens, member of the US House of Representatives, arrived by train in Augusta and was escorted to a carriage and seated inside with Mr. James A. Gray, Mr. Solomon Marcus, and John F. Armstrong.
September 13th, Memphis Daily Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee, p.2: An announcement entitled Contributions to the Irish Relief Fund stated that John F. Armstrong, President of the Augusta, Georgia chapter of the Hibernian Society, contributed $100 collected by its members.
Contributions to the Irish Relief Fund, Published in the Memphis Daily Appeal in Memphis, Tennessee on September 13, 1878, Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
September 29th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 2: Announcement of opening of Daly and Armstrong, a new dry goods store at 224 Broad St. in Augusta. James Daly and Jno. Armstrong were the owners.
October 12th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 2: Notice of the dissolution of the partnership of James A. Gray, James Daly, and John F. Armstrong. The business was continued under Mr. Gray. This note was dated August 26th, 1878.
November 22nd, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: At a meeting of the Fourth Ward of the Democratic Party, John F. Armstrong asked that a motion from the previous ward meeting be reversed so that a nominee to represent the district could be chosen.
December 3rd, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong and others tried unsuccessfully to quiet crowd so speakers could be heard at a public meeting about moving a marketplace to a new location.
1879
March 18th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 1: John F. Armstrong was one of the guests to give a toast at the St. Patrick’s Day supper of the Irish Hibernian Benevolent Society.
May 29th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: Toast given by John F. Armstrong at a meeting of the Hibernian Benevolent Society in Augusta in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of the Irish poet Thomas Moore.
October: Michael Davitt founded the Irish National Land League and convinced Charles Stewart Parnell, the protestant landowner and Irish home rule advocate in the House of Commons, to become its leader.
November 15th, Augusta Chronicle, p. 4: John F. Armstrong was one of several people who gave speeches at a rally supporting the reelection of Robert H. May for mayor of Augusta.
References
(1865 – 1879). Augusta Chronicle. Retrieved 2014, from http://www.genealogybank.com **Note: See dates and page numbers above.
(1867 – 1869). Daily Contitutionalist. Retrieved 2014, from http://www.genealogybank.com **Note: See dates and page numbers above.
Memphis Daily Appeal. “Contributions to the Irish Relief Fund”. 13 Sept 1878, p. 2. Accessed November 2016 at the Library of Congress: http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045160/1878-09-13/ed-1/seq-2/
Dublin Daily Express. “Shooting at Water-Bailiffs.” 18 Jan 1877, p. 2. Accessed February 2017 at The British Newspaper Archive at Findmypast.com at http://search.findmypast.com/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0001384%2f18770118%2f060
Moody, T.W. and F.X. Martin, Editors. The Course of Irish History. Dublin: The Mercier Press, 1993. Print.
Sligo County Prison General Register 1875-1879, Book number 1/34/8. Entry for Luke Armstrong dated 30 December 1876. No page number. From Irish Prison Records 1790-1924. Accessed on 15 August 2016 at http://www.findmypast.com/
Sligo County Prison General Register 1858-1879, Book number 1/34/4. Entry for Luke Armstrong dated 30 December 1876. No page number. From Irish Prison Records 1790-1924. Accessed on 15 August 2016 at http://www.findmypast.com/
Wheeler, M. V. (2016, August 1). Phone interview: Family stories about John F. and Sarah McAndrew Armstrong. (T. W. Taylor, Interviewer) **Note: According to family stories, JF and Sarah McAndrew Armstrong were married at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, which was also known as St. Patrick’s Church. James O’Hara, who signed their marriage certificate, is listed as an assistant pastor in the 1860s on the parish website at http://themostholytrinity.org/church-pastors.