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Transcribed in its entirety by Stephen Carroll Pearsall. Edited
by Jerome Tew, who so graciously donated a copy to Southern Families.
Thomas James Armstrong in response to a letter from his daughter living at Bogue Swamp, NC, date, March 21, 1867.
My Dear Children, believing that a sketch of my cherished life might possess something of interest and further to show that we are truly creatures of circumstances. I have determined to devote a few of my leisure hours to the task. I was born at South Washington the 21st A. D. day of April 1813
My Father, (Edward Armstong2 1768-1827) as I have been told, was the son of John Armstrong and his wife Barbara, her maiden name I never heard) was born on the voyage from Ireland to Wilmington NC in the year of our Lord AD 1768.
I never have heard anything in connection of my fathers history from his infancy except that they settled in some of the near counties to Wilmington and married my Mother on the banks of the NE River about five miles below Hallsville, in or about the year 1791 at a place within one mile of the place where uncle Lincoln Sheffield died some time in the year 1863.
This place once belonged to my grandfather Isham Sheffield. The father of my Mother, my mother's parents were Isham Sheffield (1750-1781) and Barbara his wife, her maiden name was Barbara Boney. She was three times married, first to Isham Sheffield, second to Major Robert Dickson died 1790, and last to Dr. John Wilkinson who took her property on defensio (illegible) her.
By her first husband she had two children, viz. Mary Sheffield (1774-1826) and Lincoln Sheffield (1776-1863)
By her second husband she had three children viz. Williams, Robert, and Susan Dickson. Williams was twice married first in 1813 Margaret Sloan near Magnolia, the second to Mary Johnson in Charlestown SC. By his first wife he had several children some of whom are yet living in Florida.
Robert was killed in a light horse loam in Swansboro NC. Susan was married to Colonel David Hooks and lived many years near Faison's Depot, Duplin County where she now has one daughter living (Mrs. Thomas Wright). Her name is Eliza and they had several children all of whom moved to Alabama in or about the year 1833 Since which time several of them have died.
My Grand Pa (John) Armstrong was also married some two or three times which I am not correctly informed but there are some reason why I think three times as I think I heard my Brother Isham say that he found another uncle or uncles in Georgia that he did not recollect. one of the uncles he mentioned was named Andrew Armstrong. Thomas Armstrong was not an own brother of my father but was the youngest brother, he married in 1800 Miss Rachel Cooper of Duplin County and many years ago before my day they moved to Alabama and some 20 years ago to Miss. and when I last heard from him he lived near Jasper, Texas with his fifth wife he has many children and grand children. Some of them filling high positions. One son President of a college in Alabama, another an itinerant Preacher, one of his Grand daughters husband a member of Congress. The Dicksons ware highly educated one of them a graduate of Yale College. The Hooks ware not so affluent, their opportunities was good but not so much appreciated.
My father I learn was married in homespun pants and my mother in a Hummings dress as it was termed in that day. That was fine bleached goods. They first lived where they were married and bought the first Negro they ever owned, old Aunt Hannah the mother of Phyllis. If my memory serves me right, he was to pay $500 five hundred dollars for her. He went to work and made a tar kiln which ran 100 bbls. He got on the raft with another hand and went to Wilmington when he was floating along about what is called manhut dock, he was hailed by a Capt. of a vessel and ast what he had, he answered tar. He ast him what he would take for it he answered $5 per bbl. The Capt. threw him a rope or line as they term it to make fast to his vessel he sprang aboard counted the bbls called father on board the vessel they took him in the cabin and counted out his five hundred dollars
in specia which my father eagerly took up and immediately cut out for his home with just enough money to pay for old Aunt Hannah. They did not go through with the notice of landing and inspecting as in this our day.
I am not informed when or where my Grand Pa and Ma Armstrong died or were buried. My Grand Pa (Isham) Sheffield died a prisoner of war at Smithfield NC in the year 1781, the exact time is not remembered. My Grand Ma Barbara (Boney Sheffield) lived until 1827 April 20th and died at her daughters Susan Hooks then living on bear swamp near Faison's Depot. Sister Barbara and myself went to see her buried. Sister Barbara then had one child Mary M. Caleb.
I will now return to my father and mother from the N East they moved to a place now owned by Clem Gillespie of Duplin near the Grove Academy then called I think the Joe Dickson place, here they lived several years, had at the time several children Viz. Isham, Hugh, and Susan.
They all went to school in the same yard of the present Academy to Rev. Samuel Stanford this was considered a school of high grade and many of the young men of that day finished their course at that school. It was keeped up for many years and one time he had what was then termed an exhibition spoken of as one of the most magnificent affairs that ever took place in all that country I have very often since my day heard old people speak of that wonderful affair if I have been correctly informed a part of the performance was of a theatrical character Uncle Robert Dickson was spoken of as the hero of some great exploit he had stages erected and the affair continued for Several days. He farmed at the place just mentioned.
From that place my father (Duplin Court House now called Kenansville) moved to the place where Wm. Farrior now lives. The house I suppose has long since been removed and replaced by another at Kenansville he keeped a boarding house for the Sawyers Travelers also a Livery stable and I suppose a farm & store. From this place he moved to So Washington where he engaged in a very large merchandise business at Wilmington, So Washington, and Kenansville under the name and style of Armstrong, McIntire, & McGowan they did a very extensive business so I have been told McIntire was the father of James and David McIntire of this section and McGowen was the father of Mrs. Thomas Hall at Hallsville NC.
In the midst of this heavy business a very sad event happened to my father he was suddenly stricken with prelaxises and lay for days and nights like one that was dead I was then some two years old, but can faintly remember the bustle & confusion and well remember the Dr. in attendance Dr. Albert Guthrie the husband of Mrs. Ann Guthrie yet in Wilmington Oh how sad was all around the house and how my dear mother weaped and watched around him
this was the first downfall of our family My father never recovered again he lived a helpless invalid until his death.
This affliction of my father and the death of Mr. A. McIntire forced a speedy close up of their business and I have no doubt a very great sacrifice which is generally the case under such circumstances from this date I do not remember any thing of interest for about two years when I can remember as a dream another sad time the death of my oldest sister Susan Oh --how many tears were shed.
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