Simon Armstrong of Cape Elizabeth

When you read about the Armstrongs who arrived in America and specifically Falmouth, Maine you will see several references to John Armstrong and some of James Armstrong.  You don't see hardly any references of John's brother, Simon Armstrong.

In fact, there is not many of records of Simon at all.  Which is too bad as he is my 5th great-grandfather.

Simon Armstrong was born circa 1701 in Ulster, Ireland.  His family was originally from Scotland.

Simon Armstrong came to Falmouth, Maine with his father and siblings in the Winter of 1718.  He married his wife Isabella very soon after he arrived in America.

Simon and Isabella had the following children:

i. Isabella Armstrong:  b. 1719 m. John Jordan 1738
ii. Elizabeth Armstrong: b. 20 Apr 1729
iii. John Armstrong:  b.  Oct 1731 m. Lucy Cop 23 Dec 1755
iv.  Sarah Armstrong:  b. 1736 m. Andrew Simonton Jr. 27 Dec 1754

Based on the gaps in the dates of the birth of Simon and Isabella's children that it is likely we are missing several of their children.

Simon was a corporal in Col Westbrook's regiment between Nov 22, 1724 and May 22, 1725.  While fighting Native American's he suffered a wound to his head, but did survive.

Simon received multiple land grants from the Town of Falmouth and Cape Elizabeth, Maine. In 1733, Simon Armstrong sold a portion of his land to Samuel Waldo.  (York Deeds Book 16, Fol 161 pg 492-493.  Sept 5, 1733.  This land transaction identifies Simon's wife as Isabella Armstrong.

My great grand Aunt, Marion Armstrong, stated that as a young girl she has seen one of the original land grants from 1747.  She incorrectly remembered that it was a land grant to Samuel vs Simon. Unfortunately, those original land grants were lost in a fire.

According to the list of parishioners of the Second Parish of Falmouth in Cape Elizabeth the only Armstrong listed in 1743 is Simon Armstrong.   All of James Armstrong's other children had moved out of Cape Elizabeth by this time and Simon's children are too young to be parishioners.

In a land transaction from March 7, 1772, John Armstrong (Simon's son) sold land to Nathaniel Dyer which was partial from land grants to Simon Armstrong and James Armstrong (John had purchased some of the land granted to James a few years before from another relative).  This land transaction further indicates that this John Armstrong was Simon's son.

In fact, John Armstrong and Andrew Simonton Jr owned several parcels of land jointly.  Which would be unusual except for the fact that John and Andrew were brothers-in-law.

I recently found this document which is Simon Armstrong providing an affidavit in 1770 where he testified to the fact that William Roberts had owned a piece of land which must have been in dispute. Here is a copy of that document.

We don't know exactly when Simon Armstrong died, but I did see a reference to probate of his estate as follows...administration granted to John Armstrong, gentlemen of Cape Elizabeth, on the estate of his father, Simon Armstrong, yeoman.  Dated July 18, 1778.