UPDATE – Apologies, I am several weeks behind in emails (nothing new there, says you). I tend to abandon email for periods of time. Sorry, must do better.
I know some subscribers like to hear the latest about my cats, Lucy and Roxy. Roxy, being some 6 months old, was snipped this day, one week ago (last Sunday). So there’s now no chance of any little Roxettes.
After coming round from the anesthesia, she refused to stay in her basket, insisting on walking around drunk for 5 or 6 hours. Her rear legs were not communicating properly with ground control. Now both cats have been spayed. All is good.
I cannot recall ever having cats that displayed so much affection. I would be lost without them.
The Armstrong Connection
Anyways, on to this weekend’s post. In the Mulholland family tree (i.e. my branch of the Mulhollands of Eden), we have at least two connections to the Armstrongs.
My grandfather, Thompson Mulholland, married Isabella Burnside Armstrong.
She was from the townland of Moyagney, which is about three or four miles from Eden.
It was close enough for my grandfather to ride his push-bicycle over to see her, when they were dating, in the mid 1920s.
Here’s a newly cleaned up and colourised photo of her, taken in the early 1920s, at the photography studio of Mr. L. Atelier at 2 Main Street, Portrush (see photo on the right).
The other connection is via Thompson Mulholland’s sister, Charlotte Maria Mulholland, who married Joseph Armstrong from the Greenlough side of Innisrush.
My grandfather, indeed all the family, would refer to Charlotte as ‘Cis’. My uncles, including dad would refer to ‘Aunt Cis’. It took me a long time to realise who they were referring to.
The reason I am referring to the Armstrongs in this post, is because I came upon late last year, a fascinating old letter from 1856. It was from a Mathew Armstrong, from Tynan, County Armagh direction, who had emigrated to America two years previously. He was writing back to his friends in Ireland.
He has no connection to our own local Armstrongs, that I know of, but his letter made for very interesting reading nonetheless.
Those that left for America, typically had a very different experience, to those who emigrated to Australia. I must, at some point, start publishing some of the letters from local people who left for down under.
Unlike in Australia, there was plenty of work to be had in America, and many opportunities to prosper. The earth was rich in the new world and there was plenty of land available at very good prices. This Armstrong letter is proof of that.
Armstrong, Letter From America
Mathew Armstrong, a 54 year old farmer, left with his 50 year old wife, Elizabeth, for America on a ship called the Empire State.
They set sail for the new world on the 27th May 1854 and got to Castle Garden in New York in early July. They had their 12 year old son, William, with them.
Here is the original ship manifest from their arrival in New York.
By 1860, we see from the Iowa census, that their family now consisted of Mathew and Elizabeth, with their children: Robert, John, Thomas, William, Rachael and Isabella. The children ranged from 19 to 34 years old. The other children will have sailed from Ireland to join their parents.
The following is an extract of letter received by Mr. Norton, of Arva, in County Cavan, brother-in-law of Mr. Francis Gallagher, of Tynan, from Mr. Mathew Armstrong who left Ireland in 1854.
America, A Land of Milk and Honey
I may call this a land flowing with milk and honey. Certainly it was a great trial to part with so many kind relatives, and more so, in parting with you who have ever been a never failing friend and brother. Still, on the whole, it was a happy 27th May, 1854, when we emigrated to these rich and fertile prairies, abounding with wheat, oats, and Indian corn, the most luxuriant crops I have ever beheld, and I have also as good potatoes as I ever had in the Old Country.
There is no failure in the potatoes here, a good many settlers have not got any planted yet. We had, this season, four acres of potatoes planted, the same you do with the plough, they did remarkably well; we had this season about 60 acres of the very best wheat, named the Canada Club, we cut it all down in less than five days with one of McCormick’s improved Reaping Machines, which cost 166 dollars, that is 33 pounds 4 shillings British, this machine has taken the premium everywhere it has been produced, and patented as such.
This machine is drawn by four horses, and we had not any of them to borrow, for we could put eight in it if required.
We also had 100 acres of this productive grain, I mean Indian corn; we have seven yoke of oxen on our breaking plough which cuts two feet wide of a furrow, these oxen are placed two and two abreast, which is fourteen oxen in one plough without either halter or any other rein to conduct them but a driver, and a whip that measures 20 feet.
The plough runs on an axle on wheels such as the forward wheels of a carriage and a lever on the beam that makes her take the ground at any depth you wish, or put her out of it, so that the ploughman has nothing to do but put her in at the one end and out at the other and she will run all the day without any other assistance and plough from three to four acres, it is the best method of ploughing that I have ever seen, it would be the very best on an old stock farm if not very rocky. Our plough and seven yoke of oxen have been estimated at 1,000 dollars, that is 200 British pounds.
We intend having a thrashing-machine before the harvest, it will cost us about 600 dollars, that is 120 British pounds. It is an eight horse power, and that takes all the horses that we have got at present, but we will have a few colts before harvest. This ensuing season we will have 300 acres under cultivation, we will have 150 acres wheat, we have got 960 acres, 240 of this is woodland, beautifully divided from the prairie by a nice river of water running alongside our pasture land, a distance of
240 rods or perches, given up by all emigrants in pursuit of land to be one of the best localities they have ever seen for raising stock. They also say where we live is the nicest place they meet with.
In October last, we were offered 15,000 dollars for this property, this would amount to 3,000 British pounds, and at present it would sell for more, but we could not wish to be better situated, and I think we will not sell, you have often heard it said, let well enough alone.
We can ride or drive as we think proper, when all the family go a visiting, we drive four horses well harnessed, the same as you would see in the Old Country, in gentlemen’s carriages.
We have the very best of times here, we want for nothing this earthly world can afford, we have peace and plenty, the Almighty has wrought a wonderful work for me and my family and we must be always mindful of Him who has done so much for us.
John has got 280 acres and he has got a fine house on it, and intends sending for his wife and two children in the Spring, so that they may be here in the fall of 1856. He has got acres of first-rate wheat, he has also three horses and one yoke of oxen. He was offered 600 dollars for them, that is about 120 British pounds.
Armagh Guardian – Friday 25 April 1856
And in the End
The Armstrongs came late in life to America. Elizabeth Armstrong was only eleven years in the new world, when she passed on, 17th September 1865. Depending on which record one chooses to believe, she was either in her 61st or 71st year.
Her husband Mathew survived her by six years. He died on the 20th August 1871. Again, depending on which record you choose to believe, Mathew was either in his 71st year, or his 82nd year.
If the older ages are the correct ones, then that would indicate that the couple declared they were a decade or more younger, when they initially entered America. Or else, they had poor memories (or strong accents).
They are both buried at West Union Cemetery, in Fayette County, Iowa.
Source of Immigration card in above article – “Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XKLD-DTZ : 2 March 2021), Mathew Armstrong, 1858; citing West Union, Iowa, NARA microfilm publication M1285 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 8; FHL microfilm 1,432,008.
That’s an interesting letter, so good to hear that they were so happy and dong so well. So brave to go to a new country at such mature ages.
Pleased to hear the cats are such good company. I am thinking of getting another cat now that I am settling into my new home, I miss the sound of the purring and the patter of little paws,
Hi Karen.
yes, one does miss the company and personality of a domestic pet. It sounds like a cat would not go amiss in your new home.
I hope you are safe and well.
All my best.
Thanks so much for sharing – super interesting letter Will.
You are most welcome, Sarah. I have a fair few letters to publish in the future, including a few from local people who emigrated to Australia.
No wonder people left in famine times before poverty killed them off.
Thank you for sharing that interesting letter.
Viola
You are very welcome, Viola. Hope you are keeping well. All my best.
As always, a pleasure to read your posts. I cannot imagine the courage and ingenuity it took for folks to leave all they loved and venture forth. I’m so glad the Armstrongs prospered in their new home.
Thanks again trudger.
Eileen from New Jersey,
with ancestors from Sligo (surname Clements) and Armagh (surname Dreeland).
PS. I understand your appreciation of your wonderful cats.
Hi Eileen. Thank you for the lovely comment. I am so happy that you enjoy the posts. I was only through New Jersey once, way back in 1988, on the way down to Wildwood, on the coast. Mariner’s Landing, if I recall, was the name of the entertainment place on the boardwalk there.
All my best regards and thanks for the lovely comment.
I often reflect on the circumstances which led to our near and distant relatives emigrating. There usually was little other choice, it must have been a huge wrench, but it mostly turned out for the better. The contrasting lifestyles and opportunities Australasia and the Americas offered.
I am amused how dates of birth were often ‘adjusted’. Sometimes, the true date of birth wasn’t really known, but mostly a new date was chosen to improve prospects. Four of my grandaunts emigrated together, and even the twins gave different ages! The emigrant’s stated occupation would also alter according to their plans!
When you compare the date of arrival, date of marriage, and date of first born, there were other opportunities for these young adults.
Absolutely Barry. You see the same issues as me, re contradictory data on various documents, re folks age.
I often wonder, why….was there some ulterior motive. e.g. in this case above, would the Armstrongs on entering America, wanted to have played down how old they really were (lest they be refused entry). One can only guess.
In the Mulholland tree, there are instances of two or three ages, across various documents, for the same person.
Yes, one reflects on what made our ancestors leave for the Americas and for down under. It must have been so hard, leaving loved ones and neighbours behind, knowing you would never see or hear them ever again. Unlike today, when we have immediate connection via the internet.
Barry,
I found your email most interesting, especially the farming information as I grew up on several farms in New Zealand’s South Island. My paternal grandmother had Antrim ancestry (Kidd and McAteer) and it always amazes me what many families went through when their goal was to better themselves and their family.
Thank you for your reminder of the price that many paid in doing so.
Blessings
David Stevens
So interesting to read your blog, what brave people they were and wonderful to read how well they settled.
You mentioned Aunt Cis, who was my mother (as you know), what a worker she was, managed the farm and 4 young children. I was the youngest, born 2 months after my father died.
I so enjoy your blogs.
Thank you,
Sybil Bell.
Hello Sybil. Lovely to get your comment. Delighted to hear that you enjoy reading the articles.
Yes, I never made the connection, of the name “Cis” to your mother until recent years. I would always hear my grandfather Tommy, dad, Sammy, Stanley, refer to Cis. I never knew who Cis referred to, during their lifetimes. Yes, when one imagines, what it must have been like for your mum to raise a family of four very young children, as well as look after a farm, on her own, it brings it home, what a hard worker your mother was. She hadn’t any free time.
All my very best Sybil for this new year.
Well it looks like we are related, through the Armstrong-Mayogney link.
Margaret Ann Armstrong married my great grandfather William James Neely also of Mayogney.
My Grampas sister, Margaret, married Joe Armstrong. They came back from America and married. They lived in Mayogney. They died in the 1950s.
I will read your post when I get peace to take it all in. I’m nursing an old sick dog and my cat, just as well I’m retired
All the best for 2022 William. Your wee cats look amazing. What would we do without our animal friends.
Yours,
May
May, great to get your comment.
I wonder how long your grandfather’s sister and husband, Joe Armstrong, spent in America. Where and why did they return to Ireland, I
I wonder.
I hope your dog gets back to good health soon. Yes, what would we do without our furry friends. Adorable.
All my best to you for this new year.
William, I don’t know how long Aunt Margaret nee Neely and uncle Joe Armstrong stayed in USA but I remember they certainly had an American accent.
Margaret was first married to Archibald Barclay, but I don’t know what happened to him, no children. She was registered on the ship’s manifesto as a housewife and I think the name Barclay,I heard he was an older man.
Nobody left to ask, wish I had been more interested when I was a child.
Now the young in the family don’t listen to me, and so it goes.
Margaret Jane Neely 1883 married Archibald Barkley 1854 (a teacher), on 13 Apr 1899 (note the dates). A daughter Margaret Jane Neilly Barkley was born on 19 Aug 1899 (again note the dates).
The daughter went on to marry a Robert Dennis.
In the 1901 Census, the parents were listed as living separately, Margaret in the family home.
So afterwards, it looks like Margaret and Joseph Armstrong 1882 arrived in America around 1903, I don’t know if they travelled together. They married in America on 02 Sep 1926. They were still living at 2552 University Ave, Bronx, New York in the 1942.
I have Margaret’s death as 17 Dec 1959, I don’t have Joe Armstrong’s?
Best wishes, Barry
Thomas ‘Yankee’ Gordon was named so, because he twice left for America, and twice returned. He married Ann Burnside 1836-1916. They settled in Lislea.
These are my Gordon’s,,,there were also
The fighting Gordon’s
The Gordon’s of the Mill
All from around the Lislea,Fallahogey areas