Robert s/o John Armstrong [& Elinor Charleton] christened at Kirklinton, Cumberland, England on 20 May, 1683. The tenancy to the family home in Slackheads, Kirk-linton passed to his older brother John in 1693.
He is most likely the Robert Amrstrong who shows up in records of Bewcastle and Lanercost. which are about 11 miles from Kirklinton.
BEWCASTLE
Robert Armstrong was 30 when he married Ellinore G. at St Cuthbert, Bewcastle, on Dec 9, 1713.
Bewcastle is a small hamlet near the Scottish border, known unusual hexagonal Roman fort identified as Fanum Cocidi.
St Cuthbert, Bewcastle: "The 14th century through the 17th century was a period of great unrest, and the border between England and Scotland was a turbulent place, with Bewcastle at the hub. As a result, the parish was several times laid waste and little information about a church survives. A church rector is recorded in the early 1300's with several successors, but the record is then lost until about 1580. The ancient chalice of the church is dated 1630 and survives today. In 1597, the church was said to be "decayed for over sixty years and the patron unknown" and its condition had not improved by a Crown survey in 1604. The rector recorded it as in good repair in 1687, but in 1703, Bishop Nicholson of Carlisle wrote of its poor condition, noting that "The font wants a pedestal and looks like a swine's trough." and "...no bell to call them into divine service." A visitor in 1753 noted much improvement since the Bishop's visit, but a bell was not purchased until 1785. The church was remodeled in 1792 ..." - GENUKI
Robert Armstrong was an illiterate yeoman and acted as the bondsman at the marriage of James Henderson of Nunscleugh, Bewcastle, and the widow Jane Scott at Bewcastle on June 28, 1716. Both Henderson and Armstrong left their (X) mark in place of a signature.
LANERCOST
Robert's name appears in a series of christenings in Lanercost during the 1720s.
"Lanercost is a large and picturesque district, which extends about ten miles in length, from east to west, and nine from north to south. It is bounded on the south and east by the river Irthing, on the north by the parish of Bewcastle, and on the west by the parishes of Walton and Stapleton. Hadrian's Wall runs through the parish and many sections may still be seen, including an important Roman station at Birdoswald. The parish is divided into four townships; Askerton, Burtholme, Kingwater, and Waterhead." - T. Bulmer & Co's History, Topography and Directory of East Cumberland, 1884.
CHILDREN:
John s/o Robert Armstrong of Leehole Tail, Lanercost parish, Cumberland christened on Feb 14, 1720, died as an infant.
John s/o Robert Armstrong of Leehole Tail, Lanercost parish, Cumberland christened on Feb 28, 1722. - biography follows
Hannah d/o Robert Armstrong of Leehold Tail, Lanercost parish, christened Sept 23, 1723.