James “Bedad” Armstrong (c1791 - 1880)
Lots has been written about James "Bedad" Armstrong but I would dearly like to learn more about his life in Magheraculmoney, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland and that of his family.
His life in brief . Born to Robert Armstrong and Isabella Nethery. James married Jane Johnston, daughter of Kitty and Thomas Johnston, on the 7 May 1810 in Derryvulan, County Fermanagh, Ireland.
1838, James’s daughter Isabella and husband Joseph Vance sailed to Australia aboard the ship Parland, with Joseph being sponsored by the Police Force in Sydney.
1839, James, along with his wife Jane, followed closely behind on the ship Susan, with them came the rest of their family: Robert (23), Mary (21), Catherine (17), Jane (15) Thomas (12), Margaret (9), James (7) and John (5). Over the course of the next eight years and four separate ships, two of James’s sisters, Catherine and Sarah along, with husbands and children came to Australia
1841 family living at “Garden Hill”, Wollongong, New South Wales.
1844 James moved his family into Kiama, New South Wales
1862 Jane Armstrong passed away
1866 James remarried Alice McCready at the Temporary Church at Gerringong.
1880 James passed away Kiama N.S.W There is lots written that James was 107 when he passed and lots of certificates state different years of birth. I went by the year on the Shipping Records which had him listed as 48 at the time of embarkment in 1839
James siblings I have listed at (which I think are correct) Christopher c1770 maybe immigrated to USA / Thomas c1774 maybe immigrated to Scotland / William c1774 ? / John c1785 - 1852 stay in Ireland / Robert c1786 ? / Sarah 1792 m. Robert McClelland immigrated to Australia / Catherine c1803 m James Martin immigrated to Australia
