My grandmother, Nellie Armstrong, believed we are direct descendants of the 16th century border reiver Johnnie Armstrong. This alleged connection resulted in her receiving considerable teasing during her public school years.While there is little evidence suggesting we are Johnnie Armstong's descendants, our family would have been among his followers and share the same clan history.
THE LAIRDS OF MANGERTON
- Alexander Armstrong, first Laird of Mangerton (c1262 - aft1300), ruled over the Armstrongs in Liddesdale - "Valley of the Liddel Water", extending 20 miles from Peel Fall to the river Esk. For 7 miles the Liddel river forms the border between England and Scotland. The fortrified building (pele tower) at Mangerton was his capital. Alexander was murdered by William de Soulis, one of the most powerful men in Scotland, when he attended a feast in that man's castle.
- Alexander Armstrong (c1284 ) In 1320 De Soulis reached to far plotted to seize the throne from Robert the Bruce. He was siezed at Berwick castle and imprisoned for life. All of his lands - which included Liddesdale - were declared forfeit. The Milnholm Cross was erected at this time, as a memorial to the first Laird of Mangerton. It stands half a mile away from Mangerton .
- Gilbert Armstrong, third son of Alexander, the second Lord of Mangerton, a distinguished clergyman and diplomat was the Canon of Moray from 1361 to 1375. In 1363 he served as a Commissioner to England for the ransom of King David II of Scotland (1324 -1371) who was held as a prisoner in England.
- Alexander Armstrong (born c1341) 3rd Laird of Mangerton.
- Archibald Armstrong, (born c 1370) 4th Laird. In 1425 Archibald's brother John built the great tower in Liddesdale. In A HISTORY OF SCOTLAND, J D Mackie wrote (concerning the period between 1371 and 1488) "On the borders the names of Armstrongs, Elliots, Johnstones and Maxwells were of political importance.."
- Thomas Armstrong (born c 1425) 5th Laird - Armstrongs peacefull.
- John Armstrong of Whithaugh
- Will Armstrong of Chingils
- George Armstrong of Ailmure
- Alexander Armstrong,(born c 1450) 6th Laird. Bad weather and poor harvests inflicted his generation. The Armstong population in Liddesdale was increasing, and expanded into the vales of Sark, Esk and Ewes. The Elliots, Nixons, and Batesons were both clan neighbours and allies. James IV of Scotland (1473 -1513) was on good terms with the Scottish Border chiefs and he regularly visited and was entertained by them. In his book THE STEEL BONNETS, George MacDonald Fraser writes that "there is evidence that many of the frontier clansmen, including the Elliots, fought on their country's behalf" (at Flodden Field, in 1513). The Armstrongs were leigemen to the Earl of Bothwell, and may have been in his division. Tragically, Bothwell's division was posted behind the crest of the hill, and remained there throughout the struggle - ignorant of the fact their countrymen were being massacured on the other side. Thomas Dacre, Warden of the English West March, had ensured his nation's victory by circling around to fall upon the rear of the Scottish right flank. Following the victory, Dacre started pillaging the Scottish border. The Scots replied by burning five English towns. Yet Dacre claims to have destroyed 6 Scottish settlements for every English one they burned. Liddesdale, Ewesdale and Teviotdale " lies all, and every one of them, waist now, noo corn sawn upon said grounds." Dacre soon claimed to have 400 Scottish outlaws employed ravanging the Scottish borderlands. Fraser mentions that before leaving for France in 1517, the Scottish regent " granted a respite to the Elliots, Nixons and other clans, but it is supposed that the Armstrongs rejected it, possibly because they were among the outlaws subsidised by Dacre to break the peace."
- Johnnie Armstrong of Gilnockie (c 1480 - hung 1530) - (c 1480 - hung c1528) is believed to have moved from Mangerton to Gilnockie castle, on the eastern bank of the river Esk, in the early 1500's. Thomas Dacre, Warden of the Western English Marches, smashed Gilnockie as he ravanged much of the Scottish border in 1523. Unable to meet Dacre in the field, the Scots struck back with raids minor and ambushes. One evening Dacre and his superior, Lord Surrey, lost 1,500 horses. Johnnie of Gilnockie probably took part in some of these actions. However his name iis first metioned at Dumfries, in 1525, when he and his son Christie put "their hands at the pen" - i.e. made their mark, as they could not write - to an agreement that they would receive Langholm in return for services to serve Robert Lord Maxwell, Warden of the Scottish West March. In his book THE STEEL BONNETS, George MacDonald Fraser comments that this "probably meant leaving Maxwell's cattle alone if he turned a blind eye to their other activities." That same year the Earl of Angus, regent of Scotland, descended upon Liddesdale to capture Simon "Sim the Laird" Armstrong, his brother and some 4,000 beasts. Angus meant to bring about peace between Scotland and England, and the Armstrongs were in the way. Johnnie built a defensive tower at Gilnockie on the Esk.
- The Armstrongs retaliated by raiding across the border. Soon after Angus left Liddesdale, 400 reivers swept into England where they killed, burned houses, and took 55 horses and men captive. Two weeks later even more horsemen descended upon the English garrison town of Tynedale where they took prisoners, as many horse, and left many dead behind them. Fraser comments that "In Johnnie Armstrong's day (the Armstrongs) could put 3,000 men into the saddle, and probably did more damage by foray than any other two families combined, both in Scotland and England... the Armstrongs began to assume the proportions of a national menace to England, and foremost among them was one of the Mangerton branch; to his fellow borderors he was Black Jock; but in the language of romance and the legends of outlawry he is known as Johnnie Armstrong." Liddesdale law effectively outside either English or Scottish control in 1526, while an alliance of Armstrongs, Elliots, Nixons and Crosers raided across the border. In 1527 the Earl of Angus made another foray into Liddesdale. He slew a score of Armstrongs, and captured another two dozen. Thirteen of these prisoners were hung from a bridge, while the remaining 11 were taken to Edinburgh as hostages for their kinsmen's good behavior. When this failed to have any effect, they were hung. The Armstrong raids into England continued. In 1527 one "Johnnie Armstrong" led a daring raid which freed some of his kinsmen, and other outlaws, imprisoned in Newcastle. Soon after some of these reivers plundered and burned the English village of Holmeshaugh.
- William, Lord Darce, the new Warden of the English West March now moved to exterminate the followers of Johnnie Armstrong and (the once again free) "Sim the Laird". Darce assembled 2,000 riders in secret. However the Armstrongs were warned in advance. Darce's force was badly maul and driven off. The stubborn Englishman returned with artillary and destroyed Johnnie Armstrong's tower on the Esk. Whatever satisfaction Darce might have had evaporated when he discovered that Johnnie had destroyed the English town of Netherby, and Darce's mill at Gilsland, on the same day. "I will not suffer the said Armstrongs to inhabit upon the Debateable ground, nor suffer any of them or any Scotman of evil name or fame to come to Carlisle market!" Darce declared. Fraser explains that "The same Armstrongs, Nixons, Elliots and the rest who carried fire and sword into Cumberland by night, who slew and kidnapped and pillaged incessantly along the English side, were acustomed to come to Carlisle by day to buy in the market, to drink at the inns, and generally pass the time of day with the local around Carlisle Cross, all within a long bowshot of the porcullis of Carlisle Castle, the seat of Border law and order and the headquarters of the warden." The Armstrongs resented Darce's bann as an infrihgement upon their liberties.
- All throughout 1528 the raids continued. In May a force of Armstrongs and Irvines cut their way through 8 English villages, burning more than 60 houses in the process. As they left, another Armstrong force crossed the border to kill 8 people and carry off 70 head of cattle. Christopher Darce, the English deputy, responded by attacking the comparitively undefended Scottish town of Routledges and seizing the local livestock. The deputy finished the operation off by burning the houses of Johnnie Armstrong's sons. Little did the English suspect the threat that 30 Nixons and Crosers were, when they seized one of Darce's tenants and a small herd of cattle from Thirlwell one August night. The Warden Darce promptly sent a strong party in pursuit and gave orders for the countryside to rise. The raiders slowly retired in the direction they had come - too slowly. The warden's men caught up with them about a mile from the border. Suddenly hundreds of Armstrongs, Elliots, Nixons and the rest rose up from the ground. We don't know how many of the warden's men were slain or escaped, only that 40 were captured. Most of these were William Darce's personal followers.
- Yet change was coming to the border. In that summer of 1528, young king James V overthrew the regency of the Earl of Angus and took the throne of Scotland in his own right. Like the English, James desired peace on the border and recognised the Armstrongs as a force outside his control. He promised to proceed against the reivers. Few took his threat seriously. In December 1528 the Earl of Northumberland negociated his own 5 year peace with "Sim the Laird" Armstrong. During their meeting, Sim commented that there would never be peace on the border unless the King of England ruled there. King James was no use, and his councilors were unstable. In fact the young king was strengthening his position. He summoned many of the Scottish border Lords. Among them was Patrick, Earl of Bothwell, leige Lord of the Liddesdale Armstrongs. The border was relatively quiet during the summer of 1529. Then in November 100 Armstrongs raided Birkshawes. The warden's men pursued them, and in so doing rode right into an ambush. Twenty of the English were captured, and a number slain. Stronger measures were needed, and in the Spring of 1530 James V had a number of his nobles (Bothwell among them) for failure to keep order, or for outrages they committed themselves.
- In June and July 1530, King James V led 10,000 men into Liddesdale.
- Johnnie Armstrong's career finally ended after he, his brother Thomas and 36 unarmed members of the clan, accepted an invitation to visit King James of Scotland. Upon being siezed, Johnny is said to have offered to maintain forty horsemen ready to do their sovereigns bidding, and within a given number of days bring any man in England - duke, earl or baron - before James. Seeing his offers were in vain, Johnny exclaimed : "It is folly to seek grace at a graceless face. But had I known this, I should have lived in the borders in despite of King Harry (of England) and you both; for I know that Harry would downweigh my best horse with gold to know that I were condemned to die this day." Johnnieand 36 of his followers were buried in a mass grave at Teviothead, which is presently owned by the Armstrong Trust. The story of Jonnie Armstrong passed into border folklore, as the following illustrates: 'A Northern Ballet,' Wit Restord in severall Select Poems not formerly publisht, London, 1658, p.30, in Facetiae, London, 1817,I, 132:
- "There dwelt a man in faire Westmerland
- Ionne Armstrong men did him call
- He had nither lands nor rents coming in,
- Yet he kept eight score men in his hall.
- he had horse and harness for them all,
- Goodly steeds were all milke white;
- O hte golden bands an about their necks,
- And their weapons, they were all alike.
- Newes then was brought unto the king
- That there was a sicke a won as hee,
- That lived lyke a bold out-law,
- And robbed all the north country.
- The king he writt an a letter then,
- A letter which was large and long:
- He signed it with his owne hand,
- And he promised to doe him no wrong.
- When this letter came Ionne untill,
- His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree:
- 'Never was I sent for before any king,
- My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee.
- 'And if wee goe the king before,
- I would we went most orderly:
- Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak,
- Laced with silver laces three.
- 'Every won of you shall have his velvett coat,
- Laced with silver lace so white;
- O the golden bands an about your necks,
- Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke.'
- By the sorrow mornings at ten of the clock,
- Towards Edenburough gon was hee,
- And with him all his eight score men;
- Good lord, it was a goodly sight for to see!
- When Ionne came befower the king,
- He fell downe on his knee:
- 'O pardon, my soveraine Leige,' he said,
- 'O pardon my eight score men and mee!'
- 'Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor strong
- For thy eight score men nor thee;
- For tomorrow morning by ten of the clock,
- Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow tree.
- But Ionne looke'd over his left shoulder,
- Good Lord, what a grevious look looked hee!
- Saying, asking grace of a graceless face -
- Why there is none for you nor me.
- But Ionne had a bright sword by his side,
- And it was made of the mettle so free,
- That had not the king stept his foot aside,
- He had smitten his head from his faire bodde.
- Saying, Fight on, my merry men all,
- And see that none of your be taine;
- For rather then men shall say we were hange'd,
- Let them report how we were slaine.
- Then, God wott, faire Eddenburrough rose,
- And so besett poore Ionne rounde,
- That fowerscore and tenn of Ionnes best men
- Lay gasping all upon the ground.
- hen like a mad man Ionne laide about,
- And like a mad man then fought hee,
- Untill a falce Scot came Ionne behinde,
- And runn him through the faire boddee.
- Saying, Fight on, my merry men all,
- And see that none of you be taine;
- For I will stand by and bleed but awhile,
- And then will I come and fight againe.
- Newes then was brought to young Ionne Armstrong,
- As he stood by his nurses knee,
- Who vowed if ere he live'd for to be a man,
- O the trecherous Scots revenged hee'd be.
- Johnnie Armstrong?
- Christy Armstrong (c 1523 - aft1565) According to Fraser, Christie put his mark alongside his fathers on the 1525 agreement which made his father tenant of Langholm. I posed this question to William Armstrong, who gave the c 1523 estimate for Christy' s birth. Bill emailed me back that "I think someone is confused with Christopher, Johnnie's brother, and Christopher, Johnnie's son". In support of Bill, Johnnie's brother Christy is designated "of Langholm" in Armstrong genealogies .
- Following his father's hanging, "Sim the Laird" managed to obtain a pardon from James V, who undoubtedly thought the clan had been pacified. The Armstrongs avenged the hanging of Johnnie Armtsrong by refusing to join the Scotish army that marched to defeat at Solway Moss in 1542. Some Armstrongs even fought for the English! The Armstrongs continued their raids for the next eighty years. Once an English widow sent them protection money. Upon entering her area, the Armstrongs made careful inquiries as to where she lived. Then they looted every other house. Another time a contigent of Armstrongs had joined an English army that entered Scotland. Noting the signs of an approaching ambush, they promptly switched sides and joined their countrymen in falling upon the invaders.
- William Armstrong (born c 1565) - see "Armstrong, of Ireland"
- Christopher Armstrong of Langholm - probably the Christopher who put his mark alongside that of his brother Johnnie of Gilnockie in a 1525 agreement whereby the Armstrongs submitted to Robert , 5th Lord of Maxwell, and in return obtained the tenancy of Langholm.
- George Armstrong
- Alexander or Andro Armstrong
- Robet Armstrong
- William Armstrong
- Thomas Armstrong ( Died 1548 or 1549) 7th Laird. Brother to Johnnie of Gilnockie, perhaps the most famous of the border reivers. In 1530 King James V of Scotland came calling upon Liddesdale with 10,000 troops. Thomas and his brother set out to visit them: Johnnie and 35 of his men were hung; Thomas appears to have lived. Peace came to the border for a few years. Yet, as George Way writes in his CLANS AND TARTANS (Harper Collins) " King James was to rue his treatment of the Armstrongs when they failed to support his invasion of England which ended in the dismal rout of Solway Moss in 1542."
- John Armstrong of Tinnisburn
- Richard Armstrong of Dryup
- Thomas Armstrong
- Simon Armstrong Tinnisburn
- Archibald Armstrong (r 1548 or 1549 to 1558) 8th Laird, as the English Waren wrote " The old Laird of Mangerton, his son, and of the Liddesdales and others, once or twice a week are with me, and show themselves ever willing to serve his majesty.." Between 300 and 619 ( depending on the source) Armstrongs swore fealty to England. Young Archie and his clansmen were part of a 300 man force left in ambush when the Captain of Langholm sallied forth to capture the Laird of Johnstone. Knowing that the Laird's stronghold of Lochwood Tower was too strong, the Captain instead sent 40 riders to burn Wamfrey. The Johnstones poured out of Lochwood to avenge their kinsmen. An English ambush was quickly overrun. The Johnstones seemed to have the upper hand. Then Archie's ambush was sprung: 140 Johnstones were captured, among them there Laird who was wounded three times.
- Ninian Armstrong
- Rowe Armstrong
- Simon Armstrong (r 1558 to 1583) 9th Laird
- Ungle or Hingle Armstrong
- Simon Armstrong of Runchbach
- Archibald Armstrong (r 1583 to 1610) the tenth and last Laird of Mangerton In 1603, Elizabeth I died and James VI of Scotland (James I of England) was declared her heir. After a splendid coronation at Westminister Abbey, James settled down to life at the English Court. One of his highest priorities was the suppression of the Border families like the Armstrongs, as he was afraid that their incursions would make him unpopular in England. Archibald Armstrong who was denounced as a rebel in 1603. James I established powerful landlords in the Debateable Land around Liddesdale and Eskdale, and appointed Sir William Cranston to put to death all within two miles of the Border. Archibald remained as the Laird until 1610, when he and twenty-four of his followers were charged with plundering an enemy’s property. They were ordered to appear before the Council but failed to do so. Shortly thereafter, Archibald was executed and his lands given to the Bucceuchs. Armstrong reivers were tortured and hung at the Market Cross in Edinburgh, at Carlisle and no doubt on a number of local gibbets.