Examine New Census Data Transcribed By State   

 Written by James B. Armstrong & Robert Stevenson Armstrong.

Descendants of William Layard Armstrong  (Armstrong Photo Album)

Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM LAYARD2 ARMSTRONG (FRANCIS1) He married FRANCES MITCHELL.

Notes for WILLIAM LAYARD ARMSTRONG:
oldest son of Francis Armstrong, William was born at Ballyreagh but did not remain on the farm to which he, as first son, would have succeeded his father. He was for some years superintendent of Police in Kingstown, Ireland, a position of some dignity at the time. He spent a large part of hi life in Liverpool, England, later moving to Wales where he died. His wife was from Kings County, Ireland.

Children of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and FRANCES MITCHELL are:
2. i. JOHN3 ARMSTRONG, b. Ballyreagh, Brookeborough, County Fermanahg, Ireland; d. April 25, 1896.
3. ii. FRANCES ELEANOR ARMSTRONG.
4. iii. FRANCIS ARCHIBALD ARMSTRONG, b. March 13, 1865; d. April 1945.
iv. HARRIET FRANCIS ARMSTRONG, d. 1923; m. ARTHUR BARNETT.

Notes for HARRIET FRANCIS ARMSTRONG:
she was employed by John McBurney * Co. in Limerick and married Arthur Barnett, adopted son of Mr. McBurney. He operated the business after Mr. McBurney's death. They had one or two boys and a girl, whose names are unknown. Harriet died while her children were young. A son fought in France during WWI.

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN3 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born in Ballyreagh, Brookeborough, County Fermanahg, Ireland, and died April 25, 1896. He married MARY ARMSTRONG December 19, 1854. She was born 1831, and died December 17, 1908.

Notes for JOHN ARMSTRONG:
John was the second son of Francis Armstrong and born at Ballyreagh. He inherited the farm after his father's death. He married Mary Armstrong, no relation, of Drumee, a nearby farmstead. She was a descendant of the Caramore Armstrong family, which is described in the this tree. In his later years, he and his wife moved to Dublin to live with their unmarried daughter, Margaret. They are both buried in the Dublin Protestant Cemetery. John was a member of the Church of Ireland Episcopal and an abstainer.

Children of JOHN ARMSTRONG and MARY ARMSTRONG are:
5. i. WILLIAM ROBERT4 ARMSTRONG, b. October 10, 1860; d. February 11, 1937.
ii. WILLIAM ROBERT ARMSTRONG, b. February 15, 1860; d. July 01, 1931; m. AMY JOHNSTON BELL; b. February 25, 1860; d. July 01, 1931.

Notes for WILLIAM ROBERT ARMSTRONG:
First son of John Armstrong, he was born at Ballyreagh. At an early age, he began to earn his own living as a general store clerk at Cootehill and Dunboran. He emigrated and came to Pittsburgh in 1879 at the age of 19. His first employment was with his brother, John, and later he established a grocery store at the corner of Penn Avenue and 22nd Street, in partnership with William M. Bell, whose sister he married in 1885. Subsequently, he operated the store alone and then discontinued it as the character of the community changed. In 1891, he made his only trip to Ireland and upon his return built a house at 5107 Baum Boulevard. Also, at about this time, he became the Principal Stockholder of the North Avenue Stair Company, located in Allegheny later the North Side. The firm manufactured stairs and interior wood work. His salary as treasurer and manger was $110.00 per month. After the outbreak of WWI, the business did not prosper due to a lack of new building, and it was liquidated. From 1917 to 1927, he was employed by the Union Trust company in its safe deposit department. He was a member of the Shadyside United Presbyterian Church until 1923 when he joined the Fourth United Presbyterian Church. He was a very religious man and a total abstainer.

His wife Amy, was born near Bandridge, County Down, Ireland, and came to America with her parents at an early age. She lived in Brooklyn with her uncle Joseph Bell for a year before coming to Pittsburgh. After completing public school, she attended Burtt's Normal, later becoming a school teacher in the Ralston School at Penn Avenue and 15th St. until her marriage.

iii. MARGARET ARMSTRONG, d. 1925.

Notes for MARGARET ARMSTRONG:
She was a buyer of ladies clothing for a department store in Dublin. She had sufficient means to bring her parents to live with her in a house known as Llanfair Lodge which she owned. William R. her brother, referred to her as "Her Nibs" and described her as stately in appearance and authoritative.

6. iv. JOHN HENRY ARMSTRONG, b. 1861; d. 1923.

3. FRANCES ELEANOR3 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) She married (1) HENRY WARE.

Notes for FRANCES ELEANOR ARMSTRONG:
They lived in Liverpool until Henry Ware died after which Frances moved to Berkeley, California in search of a more favorable climate. She had two daughters and a son. Nora remained in Liverpool, unmarried. Frances married John Pedro of Berkeley from whom she later separated. She became an invalid as a result of an auto accident. Thomas lived in Liverpool.

Children of FRANCES ARMSTRONG and HENRY WARE are:
i. NORA4 WARE.
ii. FRANCES WARE, m. JOHN PEDRO.

Notes for FRANCES WARE:
He was captain for the White Star Line and died in Yokahama, Japan. He had one daughter who married John Huff and lived in Berkeley, California.

iii. THOMAS WARE.

Child of FRANCES ELEANOR ARMSTRONG is:
7. iv. EDITH4 ARMSTRONG.

4. FRANCIS ARCHIBALD3 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born March 13, 1865, and died April 1945. He married VIRGINIA GLOVER July 02, 1890. She died July 1950.

Notes for FRANCIS ARCHIBALD ARMSTRONG:
Francis came to America after his two elder brothers and settled at Redlands, California. He owned a health resort with varying success. Later he bought a ranch of 1300 acres near Riverside. His daughter, Elizabeth, is a retired school teacher.

Child of FRANCIS ARMSTRONG and VIRGINIA GLOVER is:
i. ELIZABETH4 ARMSTRONG, b. February 26, 1900.

Generation No. 3

5. WILLIAM ROBERT4 ARMSTRONG (JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born October 10, 1860, and died February 11, 1937. He married AMY JOHNSTON BELL April 23, 1885, daughter of JAMES BELL and ANN JOHNSTON. She was born February 25, 1860, and died July 01, 1931.

Children of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and AMY BELL are:
8. i. CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, b. September 19, 1889.
9. ii. JAMES BELL ARMSTRONG, b. March 18, 1886.
iii. MARY FRANCIS ARMSTRONG, b. December 10, 1887; d. December 05, 1963; m. SAMUEL B. CALHOUN, October 14, 1916; b. August 18, 1885.

Notes for MARY FRANCIS ARMSTRONG:
After graduating from Central High School, for several years she served as secretary of the Athaliah Daly Home for girls. She married Samuel B. Calhoun who served in several positions for the Pittsburgh National Bank and its predecessors. He managed their branches at Lawrenceville and East Liberty and was a Vice President. They lived in Mt. Lebanon.

iv. ALMA VIRTA ARMSTRONG, b. September 29, 1907.

Notes for ALMA VIRTA ARMSTRONG:
A graduate of Schenley High School, she completed her secretarial training at Miss Connelly's school. She was employed by the National Tube Company and later United States Steel Corporation, it successor,, in several important secretarial positions. Her service to the company exceeds forty years. She lived with her parents, and later her sister, Catherine Hittner, but in recent years in an Oakland apartment.

10. v. WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL ARMSTRONG, b. February 09, 1893; d. March 05, 1952.

6. JOHN HENRY4 ARMSTRONG (JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born 1861, and died 1923. He married GRACE LEONARD. She was born 1865 in 1919, and died 1919.

Notes for JOHN HENRY ARMSTRONG:
John came to America before 1880 and settled in Pittsburgh. He soon established himself in the real estate business. His office was at 2115 Penn Avenue, where he also lived for a few years after his marriage until moving to a stone house on Winebiddle Street below Liberty. He lived there ten years then moved to Hampton Street. For some years, he was a member of the Common Council of Pittsburgh from the old 12th Ward. From real estate and appraisals, he acquired considerable means but in later years lost most through unwise investments and drinking. His career is a temperance lesson for our family. During the period when he was 35 to 50 years old he was wealthy. But in the last ten years of life he had nothing, and his habits were such that his own family was ashamed of him and rarely saw him. About 1922 he remarried to Nora King.

Children of JOHN ARMSTRONG and GRACE LEONARD are:
i. GRACE5 ARMSTRONG, b. 1887; m. ALBERT MCPHAIL.

Notes for GRACE ARMSTRONG:
They moved to Tampa, Florida for his health, where he deserted her leaving four of five children. They existed in strained circumstances. All five children were boys, whose names are unknown.

ii. FRANCIS ROBERT ARMSTRONG, b. 1889; d. 1907.

Notes for FRANCIS ROBERT ARMSTRONG:
An early victim of the automobile

iii. MARY ARMSTRONG, b. 1892.

7. EDITH4 ARMSTRONG (FRANCES ELEANOR3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) She married JOHN HUFF.

Child of EDITH ARMSTRONG and JOHN HUFF is:
i. JOAN ELIZABETH5 HUFF.

Generation No. 4

8. CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born September 19, 1889. She married WILLIAM J. HITTNER JR. April 22, 1913 in Pittsburgh, PA, son of WILLIAM HITTNER and CORA MOOR. He was born December 06, 1888, and died December 04, 1963.

Notes for CATHERINE JOHNSTON ARMSTRONG:
In addition to attending public schools, she was a student at Margaret Morrison Carnegie School. She married William Hittner who became superintendent and later president of the Iron City Spring Company. They lived for many years on Parkway Drive, Mt. Lebanon

Children of CATHERINE ARMSTRONG and WILLIAM JR. are:
11. i. CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER, b. March 07, 1914.
12. ii. ANN JANE HITTNER.

9. JAMES BELL5 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born March 18, 1886. He married MARY DUNLAP STEVENSON. She was born June 21, 1887.

Notes for JAMES BELL ARMSTRONG:
First child of William R. and Amy Armstrong, he completed his education at Pittsburgh's Central High School. His business career involved several positions but principally with Brown & Company, Crucible Steel Company located in Bridgeville. He and his family resided for many years on Sheridan Avenue near Highland Park and later in Squirrel Hill. It was his interest in his family background that began and made possible this book.

Child of JAMES ARMSTRONG and MARY STEVENSON is:
i. JAMES MICHEL6 ARMSTRONG, b. June 06, 1948.

10. WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL5 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born February 09, 1893, and died March 05, 1952. He married FLORENCE LAPPE.

Notes for WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL ARMSTRONG:
He attended Osceola and Liberty Schools and then the Carnegie Institute of Technology. For several years, he was employed by the Crucible Steel Company and then made a connection with the Myers Printing Company of East Liberty of which he eventually became owner. The family lived in the Highland Park area.

Children of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and FLORENCE LAPPE are:
13. i. WILLIAM ROBERT6 ARMSTRONG, b. December 08, 1921; d. July 28, 1960.
14. ii. JOHN FULTON ARMSTRONG, b. August 14, 1925.

Generation No. 5

11. CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER (CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born March 07, 1914. She married WILLIAM GEDDES BROWN December 22, 1938 in Mount Lebanon, PA, son of JAMES BROWN and SADY PIPER. He was born September 12, 1911, and died 1988.

Notes for CATHERINE ARMSTRONG HITTNER:
Westminster College Graduate bachelor of Business Administration 6/8/1936. President of the South Hills College Club. Of the 600 member women's group.

Notes for WILLIAM GEDDES BROWN:
Owned his own company "Iron City Spring Co." they manufactured auto and truck leaf springs. Served in WWII.

Children of CATHERINE HITTNER and WILLIAM BROWN are:
15. i. GRETCHEN HITTNER7 BROWN, b. March 15, 1943, PA.
16. ii. CATHERINE SUZANNE BROWN, b. January 16, 1940.
17. iii. BARBARA GEDDES BROWN, b. March 15, 1943.

12. ANN JANE6 HITTNER (CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) She married RICHARD FULLER COLLINS.

Child of ANN HITTNER and RICHARD COLLINS is:
i. NANCY7 COLLINS.

13. WILLIAM ROBERT6 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL5, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born December 08, 1921, and died July 28, 1960. He married HARRIET STUBBS November 15, 1941.

Children of WILLIAM ARMSTRONG and HARRIET STUBBS are:
i. DAVID BELL7 ARMSTRONG, b. March 19, 1945.
ii. JOHN HICKMAN ARMSTRONG, b. April 09, 1946.
iii. THOMAS WILLIAM ARMSTRONG, b. December 19, 1947.

14. JOHN FULTON6 ARMSTRONG (WILLIAM MOLLAN BELL5, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born August 14, 1925. He married GLORIA RESSLER October 21, 1950. She was born July 26, 1925.

Children of JOHN ARMSTRONG and GLORIA RESSLER are:
i. WILLIAM BELL7 ARMSTRONG, b. July 28, 1952.
ii. AMY ROSS ARMSTRONG, b. July 18, 1955.
iii. SUSAN MARY ARMSTRONG, b. January 08, 1959.

Generation No. 6

15. GRETCHEN HITTNER7 BROWN (CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born in PA. She married CHARLES THOMAS ARCHIBALD September 07, 1953, son of JOHN ARCHIBALD and ALICE GIERING. He was born July 15, 1941.

Notes for CHARLES THOMAS ARCHIBALD:
ARCHIBALD. A surname derived from the personal name Archibald. in OE Arcebald, Arcenbald, or Ercenbald and doubtfully explained as meaning 'right bold' or 'holy prince'. Archebaldus filius Swani de Forgrunde is mentioned in reign of William the Lion. Erchnbaldus, Abbot of dunfermelyne mentioned c. 1180, appears again in the same record as Arkebaldus and Arkenbaldus. Thomas, the brother of Erkenbaldus, witnessed the gift of the church of Kilmaurs to the Abbey of Kelso before 1189, and Arkembaldus de Duffus was witness to an agreement between the bishop of Moray and John buseth concerning the churches of Coneway and Dulbatelauch between 1203 - 34. Robert Archebalde had a charter of the Hospital of Roxburgh in 1390 from Robert III and John Archibald was a witness in St. Andrews in 1545. The "of" (de) form of the personal name is found in Archambaud (earl of Dougles), 1405. Harrison's explanation of the use of Archibald for Gaelic Gillespie is probably correct. "Archibald was adopted by the Scots as a Lowland equivalent of Gillespie because the -bald was mistakenly supposed to mean 'hairless', 'shaven', 'servant' and therefore to be equivalet to Gael. gille 'servant', 'shaven one', 'monk'. Harchbald (earl of Argyll) 1493, Archombaldus 1233, Arkanbaldus 1228, Enkerbaldus a. 1189. (This information provided by our good friend Elaine from Britain.)

Children of GRETCHEN BROWN and CHARLES ARCHIBALD are:
18. i. JASON GRANT8 ARCHIBALD, b.  Alliance Ohio.
ii. MELISSA ARCHIBALD, b.
19. iii. BRAD OWEN ARCHIBALD, b.

16. CATHERINE SUZANNE7 BROWN (CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born  She married JOHN SINCELL JR. .

Children of CATHERINE BROWN and JOHN JR. are:
i. MARK8 WILLIAM, b.
ii. MATTHEW JOHN, b.

17. BARBARA GEDDES7 BROWN (CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born  She married JOHN ROGER HEADLAND.

Child of BARBARA BROWN and JOHN HEADLAND is:
i. DOUGLAS MICHAEL8 HEADLAND, b.

Generation No. 7

18. JASON GRANT8 ARCHIBALD (GRETCHEN HITTNER7 BROWN, CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born  in Alliance Ohio. He married MELISSA ANN MCCREADY  in Toledo, Ohio, daughter of WILLIAM MCCREADY and SHARON KING. She was born in Toledo, Ohio.

Notes for MELISSA ANN MCCREADY:

Children of JASON ARCHIBALD and MELISSA MCCREADY are:
i. CRYSTAL ANN9 CHADWELL, b. , Toledo Ohio.
ii. JORDAN CHASE ARCHIBALD, b. , Toledo Ohio.

19. BRAD OWEN8 ARCHIBALD (GRETCHEN HITTNER7 BROWN, CATHERINE ARMSTRONG6 HITTNER, CATHERINE JOHNSTON5 ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM ROBERT4, JOHN3, WILLIAM LAYARD2, FRANCIS1) was born . He married FRANCIE ?.

Child of BRAD ARCHIBALD and FRANCIE ? is:
i. ZACHARY9 ARCHIBALD, b. 1999.