Francis Fraser Armstrong (1813 - 1897)

Born 22 Feb 1813 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Mews) Armstrong — married 1 Aug 1836 in Western Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 22 May 1897 at age 84 in Perth, Western Australia

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Gilmore 1829

Biography

FRANCIS FRASER ARMSTRONG (Armstrong-10520)

PARENTS. Adam Pearson Armstrong & Margaret (Gow) Armstrong

BIRTH. 22 Feb 1813, Scotland

He was baptised at Saint Cuthberts, Edinburgh on 13/3/1813. There is no middle in the record. His parents are recorded as Adam Armstrong and Elizabeth Gow.

IMMIGRATION. 1829. On the GILMORE.

Passenger List of the Gilmore’s voyage to Perth ^[1]

Adam Armsrtong & 6 children

MARRIAGE. 1 Aug 1836, Western Australia, Australia

MARRIAGE. 1 Aug 1836, Mary Ann Mews, daughter of Thomas William Mews & Mary Elizabeth (Bogg) Mews

Children:

(1) Francis George Armstrong, b. 11 Oct 1837

(2) Elizabeth Mary Ann Armstrong, b. abt. 1940, d. 30 Apr 1871, m. 1862, Emmanuel/Emanuel Joseph Barnett, son of ??

(3) Anne Amelia Armstrong, b. abt. 1842, d. 14 Aug 1888, m (1). 28 Jun 1864, James Augustus Turner, son of J W Turner & ??, m (2). 29 Dec 1879, William Stammers Lee, son of ??

(4) Christiana Laura Armstrong, b. abt. 1843, d. 14 Nov 1904, m. 15 Oct 1868, Edmund John Stirling, son of Edmund Stirling & Ethel (Read) Stirling

(5) Frances Margaret Armstrong, b. abt. 1845,

(6) Francis Gow Armstrong, b. abt. 1847, m (1). 28 Jan 1872, Mary Ann Burgess, daughter of Henry Burgess (the Younger) and Louisa (Joyce) Burgess, m (2). 1896, Anne Patience, daughter of John Pashen/Patience & Anne (Criddle) Patience

(7) Jessie Augusta Armstrong, b. abt. 1849, d. 21 Jan 1928, m (1). 1870, Henry Pearce, son of James Pearce & Ann (Young) Pearce, m (2). 1907, Arthur Spencer, son of Henry Spencer & Sarah Hannah Eyles (Mews) Spencer

(8) James John Armstrong, b. 1851, d. 1851

(9) Adam William Armstrong, b. abt. 1852, d. Jan 1915, m (1). 1876, Margaret Catherine Brennan, daughter of Denis Brennan & Catherine (Kensley/Kinnsila/Kinsella) Brennan, m (2). 1892, Mary Cass, daughter of ??

(10) Sarah Susanna Wells Armstrong, b. abt. 1854, d. 20 Jun 1928, m. 1872, James George Aitchison, son of John Aitchison & Jane Elizabeth (Mason) Aitchison

(11) Thomas Pope Armstrong, b. abt. 1856, d. 7 Jul 1928, m. 1875, Agnes Christina Lewer, daughter of Robert Lewer & Jane Jean Ann (Campbell) Lewer, div. abt. 1903, m (2). abt. 1904, Catherine Fisher Simpson, daughter of John Simpson & Margaret (Munroe) Simpson

(12) Nathaniel Mews Armstrong, b. abt. 1858, d. 26 Oct 1925, m (1). 1893, Ada Hartley, daughter of ??, m (2). 1916, Eleanor Georgina Palo/Pule Humble, daughter of George Bland Humble & Ellen (Allpike) Humble

(13) Georgiana Eudora Armstrong, b. 4 Oct 1860, d. 30 Oct 1929, m. 3 Aug 1889, Charles Spencer, son of Henry Spencer & Sarah Hannah Eyles (Mews) (De Mayo) Spencer

(14) Alethea Edwina Mercy Armstrong, b. abt. 1862, d. 31 Jan 1908, m. 1883, John Joseph O'Connell, son of ??

(1879). LIST OF PERSONS RESIDING IN THE COLONY WHO ARRIVED IN THE YEAR 1829. By the Gilmore (December)— Miss Eliza Flaherty, Miss Pengelly, Mrs. William Joyce, Mrs. John Eakins, Mrs. Henry Tichbon, Mrs. Henry Gray, Mrs. W. H. Leeder, Mrs. Cameron, Mrs. Thomas Farmer, Mrs. James Nairn, Mrs. S. E. Burges, Mr. George Munro Meares, Mr. Seymour Goldsmith Meares, Mr. William Gibbs, Mr. John Crane, Mr. Francis F. Armstrong, Mr. George Armstrong, Mr. Adam Armstrong, Mr. Chris. Armstrong, Mr. William Inkpen, Mr. James Crane, Mr. Edward Pettit, Mr. John Gooch, Mr. John Flaherty, Mr. John Thomas, and Mr. John Pengelly.

Death of Spouse: 27 Apr 1885, Adelaide-terrace, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

DEATH. 22 May 1897, Mackie-street, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

DEATH. WA BDM Death Reg: #1997/1897

Family name Armstrong

Given names Francis Frazer

Age 84

Father Adam

Mother Unknown

Place of birth Edinburgh

DEATH NOTICE. ARMSTRONG.—At his residence, Mackie-street, on the 22nd ult., of influenza, FRANCIS FRASER ARMSTRONG, grandson of Nathaniel Gow, and great-grandson of Neil Gow, the celebrated Scottish violinist, age 84 years. Deeply regretted by his sorrowing family.

BURIAL. Cemetery Hill, East Perth Cemeteries

FAMILY NAME ARMSTRONG

GIVEN NAME: Francis Frazer

DATE OF DEATH:22ndMay1897

DATE OF BURIAL:23rdMay1897

PLACE OF DEATH: Perth

AGE: 84 years

MOTHER: Margaret nee GOW

FATHER: Adam Armstrong

CAUSE OF DEATH: Influenza

LOCATION OF GRAVE: Wesleyan

GRAVE ID: 265

STATE RECORDS OFFICE: Acc 1156 V24; Cons 3403 item 1897/084

REGISTRATION NUMBER: Perth 1997

NEWSPAPER NOTICE: 10/06/1897 The West Australian pg 4; Obituary 02/08/1951 Western Mail pg 73

BIRTH DETAILS: 22/11/1813 Scotland

ARRIVAL DATE: 15/12/1829

ARRIVAL SHIP: Gilmore with Father

SPOUSE: Mary Ann Mews

MARRIAGE DETAILS: 01/08/1836 Perth

CHILDREN: Francis George 1837-1840; Elizabeth Mary Ann BARNETT 1839-1871; Annie Amelia TURNER 1841; Christiana Laura STIRLING 1843-1904; Frances Margaret 1845; Francis Gow 1847-1932; Jessie Augusta PEARCE 1849; James John 1851-1851; William Adam 1852; Sarah Susannah Wells Eyles AITCHESON 1854; Nathaniel Mews 1855-1925; Thomas Pope 1856; Georgina Endora SPENCER 1860; Alethia Edwina Mercy O'CONNELL 1862

RESIDENCE: Mackie Street

BIOGRAPHY HISTORY: Gentleman; Grandson of Nathaniel Gow great grandson of Neil Gow celebrated Scottish Violinist; Compiled Dictionary of Native Birds; Foundation Member of Wesley Church Perth; 1842 Complied Aboriginal Vocabulary with George Fletcher Moore and Charles Simmonds; Taught Sunday School at the first Wesleyan Chapel in Murray Street in 1874; In charge of Methodist Native Mission Storekeeper; Accountant; Interpreter Native Establishment 1849-1865; Collector for Perth 1867-1869; Collector of Natural History specimans; Foundation member Wesley

Buried 23 MAY 1897. Wesley Section East Perth Cemetery.

Occupation: Storekeeper, Rates collector, Commission Agent.

Note: The West Australian. Monday 24 May 1897. DEATH OF MR. F. F. ARMSTRONG. The rapidly-decreasing band of old Colonists has suffered further diminution by the death of Mr. Francis Fraser Armstrong, which his friends will regret to learn took place at his residence in Mackie street on Saturday morning. The deceased gentleman might indeed be accounted one of the earliest of Western Australian settlers, he having arrived in the colony in November, 1829, by the ship Gilmour. Mr. Armstrong's father, aunt, and several of his uncles had been attracted to the Swan River Settlement, as it was then called, and left their homes in Edinburgh, of which city the deceased was a native, to try their fortunes in the new land. Mr. F. Armstrong was then a lad 17 years of age. He had not long been in the colony before he entered the employment of Mr. Fletcher Moore, and kept a small store in what is now Bazaar Terrace, facing the pavilion on the recreation ground. Later on he was employed by the late Mr. George Shenton, father of the present President of the Legislative Council, and managed his store in St. George's-terrace, for many years. After this, Mr. Armstrong entered into business for himself as a grain and produce and commission agent, and in this business, which he carried on conjointly with several other ventures, he acquired a comfortable competence, and some years ago was able to retire. In 1834 he received the appointment of native interpreter to the Courts of Justice. Mr, Armstrong had from the time he arrived in the colony, interested himself very much in the aboriginal natives, and was placed in charge of the first native and half- cast mission for boys, his wife taking control of a similar institution for girls. There were probably few men in Western Australia who had a better knowledge of the different southern and south-western districts than he, which caused his services as a linguist in interpreting between the Court and the natives to be very valuable He also had an intimate acquaintance with the manner of life and the customs and practices of the native tribes, and copies of a pamphlet written by him dealing with the language and life of the natives were in existence a few years ago, if they are not now, giving an interesting account of his observations of the natives in the early stages of the colony's history. Another public position held by Mr. Armstrong for very many years was that of City Rate Collector in the earlier days of the municipality, and to this he brought, as indeed he did to everything he undertook, the most unwearied and capable energies. Of late years Mr. Armstrong led a very retired life. Always modest and unassuming, he shrank from anything like publicity, and there are probably few living at the present time who could tell a tithe of the good quietly and unostentatiously performed by Francis Fraser Armstrong. He was one of the foremost men in Wesley Church until increasing years compelled him to give place to the younger spirits. With other equally devoted earnest Methodists, his name is associated in the founding of the Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School in this colony. He also laboured in the same quiet way in the cause of temperance and other social reforms, and, in a word, in his own, modest manner displayed very many the best qualities worthy of a good of citizen. Mr. Armstrong married, in 1836, Mary, the second daughter of the late Mr. T. W. Mews, and who pre-deceased her husband in 1886. By her he had four sons and five daughters, all of whom are living, and his descendants also numbered sixty-five grand-children and eighteen great-grand-children. The eldest of his children are Mr. F. G. Armstrong and Mr. A. W. Armstrong, Mrs. J. R. Stirling and Mrs. H. Pearce. An interesting fact connected with the deceased gentleman is, that he was an immediate decendant of Nathaniel Gow, the composer of the well-known song "Caller Herrin," and who himself was the son of a well-known Scottish violinist. Niel Gow. For some time past, Mr. Armstrong had been in indifferent health. His increasing years told on him, and recently he was attacked with influenza. Last Easter he took to his bed, from which he. never rose again, and on Wednesday last his medical attendant pronounced his case hopeless. He breathed his last at the good old age of eighty-four years. THE FUNERAL. The funeral took place at half-past three o'clock yesterday afternoon, when the body of the deceased gentleman was interred in Wesley Cemetery, East Perth. The body was enclosed in a handsome coffin, and covered with wreaths and crosses, was borne in the hearse to Wesley Church, William-street, where the first part of the Burial service was performed by the Rev. G. E. Rowe, assisted by the Rev. C. A. Jenkins. Mr. Rowe delivered an address, in which he bore testimony to the deceased gentleman's many virtues, and referred to the valuable and devoted services which had been rendered to the church by Mr. Armstrong, who, since the death of Mr. G. Lazenby some time ago, had been its eldest member. At the conclusion of the Service, which took place in the presence of a large congregation, the procession was again formed, and wended its way to the cemetery, where the coffin was lowered to the grave, the Rev. C. A. Jenkins officiating. The pall-bearers were Mr. John Arnold, Mr. H. G. Stirling, Mr. G. Randell, senr., Major T. Sherwood, Mr. H. Strickland, senr., and Mr. G. Glyde, sen. The chief mourners were Mr. F. G. Armstrong, Mr. A. W. Armstrong, and Mr. T. B. Armstrong (sons), Mr. H. Pearce, Mr. John Stirling, Mr. C. Spencer, and Mr. J. Aitcheson (sons-in-law), Mr. John Mews, Mr. James Mews, and Mr. T Mews (brothers-in-law), and a considerable number of the grandsons and nephews of Deceased. Wreaths and crosses were sent by Mr. F. Spencer, Auditor General, Sir George Shenton, President of the Legislative Council, Mr. and Mrs. C. Spencer, Mrs. J. O'connell, and a number of his grand-children and other relatives besides many of his friends. Several of the wreaths and crosses were tied with the tartan ribband of the Scottish clan to which Mr. Armstrong's family belongs. The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs Bowra and O'Dea.

The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians

ARMSTRONG, Francis Fraser, b. 22.11.1813 (Scotland), d. 22.5.1897 (E. Perth). arr. 15.12.1829 per Gilmore with father, m. 1.8.1836 Mary Ann MEWS b. 19.2.1819 d. 26.4.1886 (Perth). Chd. Francis George b. 1837 d. 1840, Elizabeth Mary Ann b. 1839 d. 1871, Annie Amelia b. 1841. Christiana Laura b. 1843 d. 1904, Frances Margaret b. 1845, Francis Gow b. 1847 (Rottnest) d. 1932 (Geraldcon). Jessie Augustus b. 1849, James b. 1851 d. 1851. William Adam b. 1852, Sarah Susannah Wells Eyles b. 1854, Nathaniel Mews b. 1855 d. 1925 Thomas Pope b. 1856, George, Aleathia Edwina Mercy b. 1862 d. 1908, Georgiana Eudora b. 1860, Lillian. Collector of Natural History specimens. Conducted Native School at Mt. Eliza with his wife 1836- . Storekeeper 1830s. Accountant. Interpreter Native Est. 1849-65. Interpreter Aboriginal Dept. KGS 1865-66. Collector for Perth 1867-69. Commission Agent 1870? Foundation member of Wesley Church, Perth, taught in chapel. Compiled Aboriginal Vocabulary with G.F. Moore & Charles Simmonds 1842. Frem. Town Lots 1853. Employed 3 T/L men 1811-5, (carpenters, tinsmith & labourer). Commemorated in 1979 in a brass pavement plaque at Perth for year 1841. ^[2]

MEWS, Mary Ann, b. 1819, dtr. of Thomas William & Mary Elizabeth, m. 1836 Francis Fraser ARMSTRONG. ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ Passenger List of the Gilmore’s voyage to Perth: http://www.mandurahcommunitymuseum.org/downloads/The%20Gilmore.pdf
2. ↑ The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888, Vol 1, A, pg 67. [compiled by Rica Erickson]
3. ↑ The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888, Vol 3, M, pg 2154. [compiled by Rica Erickson] https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary

• Scotland Select Births and Baptisms 1564 - 1950. Original data: Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2013.

• LIST OF PERSONS RESIDING IN THE COLONY WHO ARRIVED IN THE YEAR 1829. By the Gilmore (December): The Inquirer and Commercial News (Perth, WA : 1855 - 1901) Wed 4 Jun 1879, Page 1: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65954704

• Death: WA BDM Death Reg: #1997/1897

• Death Notice: The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Fri 11 Jun 1897, Page 4: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/3113478

• Burial: https://www.eastperthcemeteries.com.au/explore/burial-search/burialsite/126829.html