Armstrong 1, John (b. , d. ?)

Note: THE CLAN ARMSTRONG.



Powerful, warlike and lawless describes the border clan of Armstrong, who are said to have been able to muster 3000 men at times. The clan crest is an arm embowed and the crest motto is "I Remain Unvanquished".



Am armour bearer by the name of Fairbairn was the progenitor of this clan. During a fierce battle he rescued the King by pulling him up onto his horse. For this great service he was granted lands along the border of Scotland and England by the
King, who gave him the name of Armstrong. The fighting strength of this clan became so great they were able to pillage without fear of retaliation.



In 1529 King James V ordered the execution of John Armstrong of Glinochie who was a member of the principal family of this clan at that time. He, along with 20 of his followers, was arrested.





Further information on origin. Extract from The Book of Ulster Surnames, by Robert Bell, published in 1988.



This surname comes from the Scottish Borders where the two most important families lived in the Debateable Land and Liddesdale, the Ulster Armstrongs stemming mostly from the latter.



The derivation of the name is from the Old English earn 'arm' and strang 'strong' and the Armstrongs were a warlike clan famous for centries for raiding and thieving.



Alexander, the first chief, held the seat of Mangerton in the late 13th century. It was the most feared and dangerous clan on the whole border and at its height, in the 16th century, it could put 3000 men into the saddle.



In the decade after 1603 James V, newly King of England as well as Scotland, began a ruthless campaign to 'pacify' the borders and the great riding clans of Armstrong, Elliott, Johnston and Graham, among others, were broken.



After the death of the 10th chief in 1610 the Armstrongs scattered, many settling in Ulster, particularly Fermanagh.

Given Name: John

Change: Date: 12 Apr 2012

Given Name: Jane ANN

Change: Date: 7 May 2001

Given Name: John

Change: Date: 18 Jun 2004

Given Name: Mary

Change: Date: 18 Jun 2004

Note: The Certificate of Marriage of Augustus Henry Pegler to Irene Bessie Learmonth shows the groom's mother's maiden name as Sarah Ann Middleton whereas it should read Merritt.



Children of this marriage were -

Keith

Dorothy Lyla Mary [Dolly]

Robert Augustus Bruce

Lyla Irene



Keith married Esther Jessie Monteath on 10 December 1925

Dorothy married Robert George Armstrong on 15 February 1922

Further detail is contained in Joan Haigh's writings.



Lyla married Hugh James Armstrong, a brother of Robert, on 7 May 1927. Their son Allan Hugh Armstrong married June Margaret Green, which creates branches on the Green Family Tree for the Armstrongs and the Peglers.



Joan Haigh has written -



"Gus and Irene Pegler were true pioneers in the Adavale,Eulo and Winton districts. Gus Pegler managed properties in the Adavale, Eulo, Cunnamulla and Winton areas for almost 50 years.



"Firstly, Welford Downs Station, which was part of the largest sheep station in the world. Also, Milo Station, which had its own wool scour and rail line and many bullock teams to take the wool to Cheepie rail head about 100 miles to the south.



"About the turn of the century Gus, Irene and family moved to Murra Murra in the Cunnamulla district, then to Dynover Downs in the Eulo district and managed that property for Melbourne bookmaker Mr. Sol Green for almost 40 years. Gus was a good
and efficient manager, Dynover Downs had 20 employees at normal times. Gus was reputed to draft sheep three ways and count two at the same time. He had three sets of teeth, one baby and two permanents.



"In 1943 Gus came out of retirement to manage Lanrheidol Station, which was next door to Dagworth Station of Waltzing Matilda fame.



"Bad health caused him to retire in 1946. He spent his retirement at West End in Brisbane and passed away there in 1958".

Given Name: Augustus Gawler

Change: Date: 16 Sep 2019
Time: 14:33

Given Name: Irene Bessie

Change: Date: 7 Apr 2004

Note: The Marriage Certificate describes the groom as a Landholder of Ettrick Heywood, usually of Western Australia. His father was a squatter.

The bride is described as a Lady of Ballarat, usually of Grace Park Hawthorne. Her father was a Gentleman.

Given Name: Edward Bruce

Change: Date: 26 Mar 2004

Note: Eliza Wilhelmina Clark was born in Ceylon in about 1850 but no record of her death as a Learmouth has been found.



On the Certificate of Marriage of her daughter, Irene Bessie Learmouth, to Augustus Gawler Pegler, Eliza appears as Lyla Wilhelmina Colvin Clark.

Given Name: Eliza Wilhelmina

Change: Date: 26 Mar 2004

Given Name: Robert Colvin

Change: Date: 11 May 2001

Given Name: Eliza

Change: Date: 25 Feb 2001

Given Name: William

Change: Date: 26 Mar 2004

Given Name: Mary

Change: Date: 25 Feb 2001

Note: On 17 July 1860 at age 23 years Augustus Henry Pegler was married to Sarah Ann Merritt, aged 17 years, at Trinity Church, Adelaide, by Dean James Farrell. Witnesses were Arthur Graham and Eliza Merritt.



More of Joan Haigh's Family History of the Peglers follows.



In 1874 AHP was managing cattle station 'Ned's Corner' on the Murray River comprising 13400 sqmls in northwest Victoria and 100 sqmls in South Australia. Owner was E.M.Bagot and he sold to C.B.Fisher. AHP remained as manager. In December 1876
Fisher sold to a syndicate comprising R.Barr Smith one half, J.F.Cudmore three-eighths and AHP one eighth. The latter remained manager, the station was converted into sheep and elderst son Hurtle Augustus Pegler was appointed overseer. In 1912
Barr Smith acquired AHP's interest.



In 1879 AHP acquired an interest with Cudmore Swan and Co in the 'Gooyea' run in Queensland - 1683 sqmls and 11000 cattle. In 1881 'Tintinchilla' adjoining 'Goodyea' was acquired - 9000 cattle. In 1882 'Welford Downs' and 'Sedan' with 14000
cattle were added [Adavale area, southwest Qld]. In 1883 the firm of Elder Pegler and Co was formed to work 'Welford Downs', 'Sedan' and part of 'Goodyea' with 30150 cattle. In 1886 the two firms amalgamated as Milo and Welford Downs Pastoral
Company holding 4500 sqmls. In that year AHP and his family of nine children travelled to Queensland to take over management of Milo and Welford Downs, leaving their son Hurtle to manage 'Ned's Corner'. In 1888 Cudmore transferred his interests
in Milo and Welford Downs to Sir Thomas Elder one quarter, R.B.Smith one quarter, W.R.Swan one third, AHP one sixth.



On 12 March 1934 the Pastoral Company wrote to Henry Charles Pegler [AHP's third child] while he was managing 'Comongin' - "we advise, respecting the Milo shearings, that the largest number of sheep shorn was 566217 in 1892 for 5945 bales of
wool but the largest clip was 6230 bales in 1895 from 507774 sheep shorn".



In 1893 160000 sheep were lost through overstocking. In 1896 AHP and three sons purchased 'Boondoon' near Adavale Qld from Ken Cudmore but experienced a run of seven years drought and were unable to hold on.....they had to admit defeat and walk
off after years of hard work.



At age 65 years [about 1901] AHP.....and his son Percy started as Stock and Station Agents in Charleville where they built up a successful business. In about 1910 they sold out and AHP retired to Sydney where, having retained his interest in
Milo, he was able to live in comparative comfort. In 1915 he married his nurse-come-ladyhelp Laura C.Metford at Randwick. He died there in 1918 at age 82 years.



In 1951 when helping to compile information for The Pioneers' Association of South Australia in order that a record could be made of The Pioneer Pegler Family, Helene Sarah Haigh [nee Pegler] wrote "......AHP was an outstanding horseman. He
always drove a drag of four which were amongst the most unruly horses ever harnessed. He won the Adelaide and Wentworth Cups and I well remember a handsome silver salver with which he was presented on the occasion of a successful win by
Pantaloon. My father never bet in his life nor did he smoke or drink. My brothers were all very successful managers and owners in Queensland. My father was a hard taskmaster so no doubt they were well trained".



The South Australian Advertiser of 15 April 1915 stated that " Mr AHP, aged 78, has travelled 22000 miles in 20 months in his powerful Talbot car. He recently motored from Sydney to Adelaids to see the Oakbank Racecourse at Onkaparinga..."



In Joan Haigh's Family History of the Peglers she has listed the following as progeny of this marriage, fuller names and more detailed dates and places having been added as the results of searching records -



Elizabeth Susan born Reed Beds SA 16 July 1861,died in infancy

Hurtle Augustus born Reed Beds SA 27 November 1862, died 1933

Henry Charles born Reed Beds SA 30 December 1864, died 1941

Percy William born Port Gawler SA 25 January 1867, died 1951

Augustus Gawler born Thebarton SA 18 January 1869, died 1958

Florence Emily [Nell] born Ned's Corner Vic 1 May 1871, died 1952

Edwin John Murray born Ned's Corner Vic 21 July 1873, died 1954

Charles Morphett born Ned's Corner Vic 10 May 1876, died 1954

Grace Margaret born Ned's Corner Vic 20 November 1878, died 1963

Margaret Murtho born Ned's Corner Vic 1 August 1881, died 1970

Helene Sarah born Ned's Corner Vic 8 June 1884

Milo Mulchra born in Queensland 17 April 1888

Welford Lindsay born in Queensland 8 April 1889, died 1919

Given Name: Augustus Henry

Change: Date: 16 Sep 2019
Time: 14:34

Given Name: Sarah Ann

Change: Date: 24 Mar 2004

Note: Joan Merritt Haigh, MBE, was the author of a Pegler Family History which she appears to have written in 1972. In those writings she quoted extracts from "Dursley Gazette", Gloucestershire, England, in which it is stated that

"Most of the Gloucestershire Peglers are descendants of Peglours, Huguenot exiles, who came to England in about 1588....and settled in the village of Uley".



At Uley Parish Church there is a monument to Henry Pegler who died on 12 August 1695 aged 85 years and to his wife Hester Pegler who died on 26 November 1694 aged 69 years.



Joan Haigh has then written that Henry William Pegler decided to migrate to Australia owing to the Depression in England and in the passenger list of the barque 'Moffatt', which arrived at Port Adelaide on 19 December 1839, are the names Henry,
Susan and two children, Augustus and Martha Pegler.



Henry Pegler obtained work for C.B. and Hurtle Fisher at 'Lockleys' near Adelaide but had the misfortune to lose an arm in a chaffcutter in 1844 and his eldest son Augustus Henry had to leave school to assist his father at the stud farm
'Lockleys'.



Here, in November 1860, Augustus Pegler unshipped the thoroughbreds Hurtle Fisher had purchased in England, namely, Fisherman,Rose de Florence [by Flying Dutchman],Juliet [by Touchstone with a chestnut colt at foot by Stockwell], Gildermere
[with a filly foal at foot by West Australian] and Marchioness [with a filly foal at foot by Stockwell].



Henry Pegler married his cousin Susan Pegler [There is record of marriage of a Henry Pegler to Susan Hill at Minchinhampton, England, on 25 December 1835. A Susan Hughes Pegler, wife of Henry, died at Underdale S.A. on 1 October 1889 aged 75
years].



There is record of a Henry Pegler dying at New Thebarton SA on 25 December 1894, aged 78 years.

Given Name: Henry William

Change: Date: 16 Sep 2019
Time: 14:35

Note: In Joan Haigh's Family History of the Peglers she has written that Henry Pegler, born 25 February 1816, married his cousin Susan Pegler, born 1 October 1814.



There is record of marriage of a Henry Pegler to Susan Hill at Minchinhampton, England, on 25 December 1835. If this was the marriage of the cousins it puts Henry at almost 20 years of age and Susan at just over 21 years.



There is record of a Susan Hughes Pegler, wife of Henry, dying at Underdale SA on 1 October 1889, aged 75 years.

Given Name: Susan

Change: Date: 16 Sep 2019
Time: 14:35

Given Name: James

Change: Date: 18 Mar 2001

Given Name: Jane [later]

Change: Date: 20 Apr 2004

Given Name: John

Change: Date: 16 Jun 2004

Given Name: Elizabeth

Change: Date: 16 Jun 2004