Joseph Armstrong (chrs April 6 1817, Bridekirk – died abt 1860).
FIRST MARRIAGE
Joseph’s first marriage was to Hannah Miller in Aspatria, 9 Mar 1839.
They christened their son Joseph, on Dec 8 1839.
SECOND MARRIAGE:
15 Feb 1845, at the Register Office, Cockermouth, Cumberland: Joseph
Armstrong, of full age, WIDOWER, nailor, of Cockermouth, son of JOSEPH
Armstrong, nailer; married to Sarah Mirehouse, of full age, spinster, of
Cockermouth, daughter of John Mirehouse, hatter.
Witnesses were John Birkett and Jane Armstrong (who both signed their
names); Joseph signed his name, but Sarah made her mark.
COMPETITION FROM CUT NAILS & CHEAP IMPORTS
The Industrial Revolution came to seriously impact the hand nail making industry during Joseph's lifetime. Factories were producing "cut nails" in large numbers by 1830. The new process reached its zenith by 1860 and, together with cheap hand made nails from Belgium, gradually squeezed cottage manufacturers out of the market.
BIRTH RECORDS 1846 - 1850:
c1846 George Armstrong born in Cockermouth (from 1851 census)
30 Sept 1847, Castle Street, Cockermouth, birth of John, son of Joseph Armstrong, nailor, and Sarah Armstrong (formerly Mirehouse)
1848, Oct 6 - John Armstrong, aged 12 mos, baptised at Cockermouth All Saints to Joseph & Sarah Armstrong ( nailor) of Cockermouth
1850, 29 Sept - Ann baptised at Cockermouth All Saints to Joseph & Sarah Armstrong ( nailor) of Cockermouth
1851 CENSUS -
The family was listed at 94 St Helen street, Cockermouth. Joseph is listed as a 33 year old , journeyman nailmaker, born Bridekirk (about 10 miles north of Cockermouth). His wife Sarah (27) was from Cockermouth. In addition to their children - Joseph (11), George (5) John (3) and Ann (1) - the census also mentions Sarah's 15 year sister Isabella "Myers" living with them.
MORE BIRTH RECORDS
1853, Aug 7 - Joseph baptised at Bridekirk ( second son of this name - then died prior to 1860)
1855, 10 Aug - Mary baptised at Dearham
c1856 - William Armstrong born Cockermouth - biography follows
1857, 13 Sept - Thomas baptised at Cockermouth All Saints to Joseph & Sarah Armstrong ( nailor) of Cockermouth
Oct 19, 1859 - Joseph Armstrong born Whitehaven
DEATH
Joseph was still alive in 1859, but disappears from the record sometime prior to the 1861 census.
CHILDREN
- Joseph Myers Armstrong (born 1841 in Brigham, Nr Cockermouth, Cumbria) married Mary Smith in 1905
- served with the 2 CONT 13th Light Infantry. A cousin reports a story he was KIA during the indian Mutiny. THis is at least half true: the 13th Regiment of Foot was in India: "In May 1857, the Indian Mutiny broke out. Reinforcements were requested, and the 13th arrived at Kolkata in October 1857. They took part in some minor actions."
- 1860, Whitehaven; 17th Somerset Light Infantry; Armoury sergeant with volunteers and terriers, Bury.;
- Died at his home, 9 Cooper Street, Bury on 8.8.1914 aged 73 Buried in Bury cemetery, grave No AP – 250 See obituary in the Bury Times of Sat Aug 15th 1914.
- George Armstrong (c 1846 Cockermouth) married Elizabeth Hancock in 1877
- 15 year old factory hand in 1861.
- John Armstrong (abt 1848, Cockermouth, Cumberland) m Alice Booth (abt 1850, Bury) in 1870.
- In 1861 John was a 13 year old factory hand living with his mother at 13 Haslem street.
- 1881, he and his wife and their own household at #4 Haslam street, Bury. She worked in a cardroom - cotton mill; John was a hat trimmer.
- Ann Armstrong ( c 1850 Cockermouth) - not listed in 1861
- Henry Armstrong ( abt 1854 Cockermouth) m Selina Siddell 1/4 1872
- according to the 1861 census, was working in one of Bury's factories at age 7!
- William Armstrong ( c 1856) - biography follows.
- Thomas Armstrong (c 1858, Cockermouth, Cumberland) m Emily Ann Kay 4/4 1882
- listed as a hat trimmer, with a four year old daughter (Sarah) who lived with his mother Sarah when the 1881 census was taken.
- Joseph Myers Armstrong (born in Whitehaven, Oct 19, 1859 - died Nov 7, 1937 in Bury. Buried at St Paul's Church, Bury, Lancs (Grave 4642) married Mary Ellen Whittaker at St Paul's Church, Bury on Feb 18 1882.
- He is listed as a 1 year old in Bury's 1861 census.
- By 1881 was an unmarried hat trimmer living with his mother Sarah & bother Thomas.
- rumour had it that he was an alcoholic.
- Re Wife: Mary Ellen WHITTAKER BIRT 1858 JUL 21, DEATH 1913 MAR 18 b. 21.7.1858 at Burrs, Walmersley, Bury, Lancs Buried at St Paul's, Bury (grave No 4642) her father James WHITTAKER b. 1833 Mule spinner from Summerseat
- Buried at St Paul's Church, Bury, Lancs (Grave 4642)
- Children:
- Hannah Armstrong (b. 3/4 1882) m. 3⁄4 1908 Richard Howarth
- Thomas Armstrong (2/4 1883)
- Hannah Isabella Armstrong (b & d 4/4 1884)
- Joseph born 20/9/1892 in Lancashire
- Richard Armstrong (1892) - during WWI joined the 17th (Service) Battalion (1st South-East Lancashire), in Bury, on Jan 1, 1915. This was a Bantam Bn organised by Lieutenant-Colonel G E Wike and a committee. On March 16, 1915, the 17th moved to Chadderton near Oldham and then to Masham, Yorks to join the 104th Brigade of the 35th Division. August 27, 1915,the War Office took over the 17 and 18th bns and they were moved to Cholderton, Salisbury Plain. The 17th landed at Havre on Jan 29, 1916 and was sent into action during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, The fighting for Arrow Head Copse, Maltz Horn Farm, and Falfemont Farm. The 17th participated in the pursuit on the Germans to the Hindenbug Line, fighting in Houthulst Forest and the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Richard was KIA at Passcendale, the inscription at the Tyne Cot memorial, in Belgium, states : Lance Corporal ARMSTRONG, RICHARD, Service Number 20499. Died 11/10/1918 17th Bn. Lancashire Fusiliers
- Thomas Armstrong (1895)
- Nellie Armstrong (1899)