Edward Armstrong ³³

  General Notes:

The Federal Census of 1871 Ontario Index shows Edward Armstrong age 43 at Oro, Simcoe North or more commonly known as "Shanty Bay". I obtained a copy of the census page which shows:
Edward M 43 born in England
Eliza F 44 born in England
John M 18 born in England
George M 13 born in Ontario
Isabella Florence F 6 born in Ontario
Jackson M 4 born in Ontario
Joseph M 10/12 born in Ontario
Of course, Hannah, Harriet, Mary Jane, and Charles had already died by this time having succumbed to small pox in 1863
We had always been told that John J. Armstrong came to Canada when he was five (around 1857or 8) which fits with the census findings. The three girls (Hannah, Harriet and Mary Jane) would have been born in England and baby Charles born in Ontario. (Patti Gordon)

PAGE 22 JANUARY 1993 "THROUGH THE YEARS"
Edward Armstrong

Edward Armstrong was born at Driffield England February 28,1829. Eliza Jackson was born at Kilham England September 29,1828.


Their Family
1. John - the only one of their family born in England was born at Pickering, England May 22,1852.
2. George - was born at Shanty Bay near Barrie, Ontario December 16,1857.
3. ls,;bella (Bell) was born at Ors., Ontario September 21,1864.
4. Jackson (Manny) was born at Ors., Ontario October 28,1866.
5. Joseph was born at Ors. June 22, 1870.


Four small children died in about 3 months time at Shanty Bay with diptheria, they were Mary Jane, Hanna, Harriet and Charles.
When Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong left England for Canada their people made each of them a belt double thickness of canvas to be worn under their clothing. They sewed gold coins in a row between the layers, for their use in the new country.
They sailed for Canada and were six weeks crossing the ocean in a sailing ship,
They came to the Manitoulin with their family in the early eighteen seventies and settled on the west side of Silver Lake In Robinson Township on Lot 31 Concession 10. As time went on other members of their families bought adjoining lots to make a home on.
As a young man Manny had a bad experience with a bear. He and a friend John Kemp (his future brother-in-law) were out In the woods. The bear attacked Manny and his friend ran for help. There had been two bear cubs nearby.
Manny's back was badly clawed, he saved himself by playing dead.
The bear left then came back rolled him over and clawed him some more. Manny was very seriously injured and spent a long time in bed recovering.
When the Armstrongs came to the Manitoulin they brought most of their livestock, farming equipment and household furnishngs with them.
They followed the same system as was the practice In England at that time. A larger building at one end for livestock feed and then small buildings in a row - one for each type of animal - horse stable, cow. shed, sheep pen, pig pen and poultry pens.
The fields were all quite small surrounded by rail fences. Mr. Armstrong always liked to grow a field of peas each year.
Mr. Armstrong had been feeling ill and started out early one morning on horse back for Gore Bay to see a doctor.
The horse stumbled on rough ground and Mr. Armstrong was thrown off the horse and hit a stump and injured himself.
That evening some of the family saw something away across the field heading towards them. It was the horse dragging Mr. Armstrong through the snow coming towards home.
The horse would go a short distance and stop for rest and then on again.
Mr. Armstrong took pneumonia from his illness and exposure in the cold and snow and died.
Mrs. Armstrong was blind and lived the rest of her life with her daughter Bell (Mrs. John Kemp).
I would like to acknowledge and thank those who helped me gather information, Ivan Trick, Kathleen Armstrong, and my husband Reece Trick.
Kathleen Trick

Edward married Eliza Jackson, daughter of Charles Jackson and Emma Leappman, in 1848 in Kilham, Yorkshire, England. (Eliza Jackson was born on 29 Sep 1828 in Kilham, Yorkshire, England ^33,34 and died on 17 Dec 1917 in Silver Water, Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada ³³.)