Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

William Dale (or F.) Armstrong

Male Abt 1826 - 1897  (~ 71 years)


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  • Name William Dale (or F.) Armstrong 
    Born Abt 1826  Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died 28 Feb 1897  Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Saint Andrews Cemetery, Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I468  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Family Deborah Adalade Winner,   b. Abt 1848, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Married 1 Oct 1864  Redwood City, San Mateo, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F383  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. US censuses:
      1860 US: There are two William Armstrongs listed Pescaderia [Pescadero] Post Office, Santa Cruz County [changed in 1868 to San Mateo], California. They curiously look like the same individual and I think it would be safe to assume one or both is our William Armstrong. He may have had two locations and his roommates in one may have reported him in his absence. The area was sparsely populated and it took two days to get 67 households difference as noted below. Perhaps William kept or worked two ranch or farming places or had a place closer to the community of Pescadero and one on the farm/ranch. It appears he has some minor wealth.
      a. House #1175, family 1001, p. 641, enumerated 26 Jul 1860 US:
      Frederick Warnkey, 34, farm laborer, $500 personal property, MA.
      William Armstrong, 34, farmer, $1200 personal property, Eng.
      Andrew Thompson, 35, farmer, $1000 personal property, NY.
      James Thompson, 30, farmer, $1000 personal property, NY.
      b. House #1242, family 1053, p. 647, enumerated 28 Jul 1860 US:
      Oliver Knapp, 40, seaman, $400 personal property, b. NY.
      Chas. Gray, 48, seaman, b. MA.
      Thos. Thomas, 42, seaman, b. NY.
      William Armstrong, 34, farmer, $2000 real property, $1500 personal property, b. Eng.

      1870 US: Pescadero Post Office, Sixth township, San Mateo County, California, p. 409C, household no. 12, family no. 11, enumerated 18 Aug 1870 [I am unsure why Deborah Armstrong not listed but this is definitely the right family]:
      Wm. D. Armstrong, 44, farmer, $8,000 real estate, b. England, both parents of foreign birth, US citizen.
      George S., 5, at home, Cal., father of foreign birth, mother not.
      Frances, 4, at home, Cal., father of foreign birth, mother not.
      Hannah E., 2, at home, Cal., father of foreign birth, mother not.
      Mary Fuller, 44, housekeeper, NY?, parents both of foreign birth.
      James Reid, 27, farm laborer, England, parents of foreign birth, US citizen.

      2. Canadian Censuses:
      1881: South New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada [New Westminister is a general area including Fort Langley]:
      William Armstrong, M, married, 55, origin English, born USA.
      Deborah Armstrong, F, married, 33, origin English, born USA.
      Lizzie Armstrong, F, 13, origin English, born USA.
      Annie Armstrong, F, 10, origin English, born USA.
      William Armstrong, M, 9, origin English, born USA.
      Charles Armstrong, M, 7, origin English, born USA.

      1891: New Westminister District, British Columbia, Canada:
      William Armstrong, 64, married, b. Eng., father b. Eng.
      Deborah, 42, married, wife, b. US, father b. US.
      William, 19, single, b. US, father b. Eng.
      Charles, 17, single, b. US, father b. Eng.
      Albert, 6, single, b. Brit. Columbia, father b. Eng.

      3. Great Registers for San Mateo County, FHL film 977285: Entry #3764: William D. Armstrong, 49, England was country of nativity, local farmer, residing at San Gregorio [general name of La Honda area west to coast], naturalized citizen, registered 28 Aug 1875." By 1879's register, he no longer shows.

      4. Does not appear on Reorganized LDS membership rosters.

      5. Pat Keat, librarian says that there is information on a William Armstrong with the Society of California Pioneers. I am awaiting a copy as of Oct 2001. Received. Is not the correct one.

      6. Copy of indenture on file with me for 13 Oct 1860 recorded in Vol 5, p. 591 of Deeds of Santa Cruz Co., Cal. lists William D. Armstrong as one of 7 grantors including J.C. Allen, Joseph Keiffer, George Watkins, Moses Davis, Hugh Hamilton, and James W. Bill to grantee Spring Valley Water Works, a corporation, for $100 for water rights. Water rights were granted without any other powers given in the deed. The area described is as follows: "...all the waters of the creeks in the County of San Mateo and State of California and known as the Arroyo de San Gregorio or San Gregorio Creek the Arroyo ?? and the Tunis or Tunitas Creek and the Corte Madera Creek and with sources of waters of the same that may be necessary for the use of said corporation in supplying the City of San Francisco with water but without the power of using them for any other ??? purpose together with the right of way over and through the land known as San Gregorio Rancho in the said County of San Mateo and State of California granted by the Mexican Government to Antonio Buelna and bounded on the North by the Lobitos Creek, on the south by the Pomponio Creek, on the West by the Pacific Ocean and the East by the Sierra Morena or Santa Cruz Mountains. Together with so much of the said land as shall be deemed necessary for the purpose of erecting the works necessary for the gathering up and conducting the said waters throught the said land or Rancho. Together with all and singular the hereditments (but without prejudice to the right of the said parties of the first part [grantors] to use the said waters for the purpose of watering their stock..." More information on this Rancho:
      A. Univ. of Cal. at Berkley website www.lib.berkeley.edu/EART/rancho.html has much detail and indicates San Gregorio Rancho grant #172 has "Castro" as patentee on 19 Feb 1861 for 4,439.31 acres and grant #173 has "Rodriguez" as patentee same date for 13,344.15 acres. Both of these patents are after the 1860 date in the above cited indenture. After the Mexican War was won by the US in 1848, part of the "Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo" which ended the war guaranteed the mexican landowners would retain title to their prewar ranchos or ranches. It was however upon the land-rich but cash-poor original owners to prove their ownership and the legal process took many years. The Americans had a cavalier attitude to the previous landowners since they were the victors and after the gold rush the lands were often occupied by squatters who had litle or no respect for Mexican ownership. So the court cases were expensive and lengthy but many eventually proved their titles as appears to be the case here. I would assume the americans had to remove themselves from the land.
      B. The website www.cal1850.com/San_Francisco_chapter.pdf indicates: "Sixteen ranchos had been granted in the area that makes up San Mateo County today... Don Antonio Buelna's widow and her new husband, Francisco Rodriguez, owned Rancho San Gregorio. Buelna's widow also owned a rancho in Santa Clara Conty. Her late husband had built a road over the hills connecting his two ranchos. Known today as La Honda Road and Old La Honda Road, it was the first connecting route across the mountains. During 1850 Don Salvador Castro acquired an eastern portion of Rancho San Gregorio from Dona Rodriguez to settle some debts." Same site also notes the current area of the old Rancho as Pomponio and San Gregorio state beaches, San Gregorio, and La Honda.
      C. Website www.montara.com/Montara/CulturalResources/Chapter2.html notes in speaking about San Gregorio: "The broad San Gregorio Valley, north of Pescadero, was also a rich farming region... The small village established at the head of the valley in the early 1860's became a major agricultural center. Its hotel, built in 1865, served the new stagecoach trade between the coast and the Bayside. In the 1860's dairy ranching became a major enterprise in the San Gregorio-Pescadero region... Completion of the San Francisco-San Jose Railroad in 1863 was also a major event... As transportation improved, people on the South Coast, which was then part of Santa Cruz County, petitioned for annexation to San Mateo County because of the lack of roads to the county seat at Santa Cruz. In 1868, the legislature authorized annexation and San Mateo County's land area increased nearly one fourth..."
      D. Website terraserver-usa.com provides online topographic maps on which one can approximately locate the boundaries of the Rancho. San Gregorio Creek runs from east to west and dumps into the ocean at San Gregorio Beach Park. Pomponia Creek, which parallels San Gregorio Creek just south and dumps into the ocean at Pomponia State Beach Park forms the Rancho's southern boundary. The northern boundary is Lobitos which can be found by following the coast up 3 to 4 miles north of San Gregorio just north of Tunitas Creek. Lobitos Creek runs from east to southwest and starts in the vicinity of Bald Knob (2102') which is about 5 miles inland and about 6 miles directly west of Woodside. Some modern maps seem to also call this Purisma Creek. Tunitas Creek parallels Lobitos on the south. El Corte Madera Creek (should not be confused with a waterway of the same name in Marin county north of the Golden Gate bridge) parallels Tunitas and dumps into the San Gregorio just about a third of the way west from Redwood Terrace to the ocean. Highway 35 or Skyline Blvd. seems to follow the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains and is about 8 miles east of the Pacific Ocean Coast.

      7. The land belonging to William Dale Armstrong is slightly southwest of Redwood Terrace to the west of La Honda. Redwood Terrace is in the northeast corner of sect. 21. See maps on file. The land is on the east west Deer Ridge just above Pomponio Ranch and just south of San Gregorio Road. Armstrong bought the land June 1, 1864 from James Bissell as recorded by deed in Vol. 6, p.659 of Deeds of Santa Cruz County, California records. The University of California map librarian says the clerk must have made a mistake in describing the property and it should have said: "the north half of the southeast quarter and the north half of southwest quarter of sect. 20." As written it would not be contiguous land and would have required two separate deeds. It is unusual it was recorded in Santa Cruz County since it later shows in San Mateo County. I suspect the county line moved between the two counties in those early days. Copy on file: "Deed. James Bissell to William D. Armstrong. This indenture made the first day of June in the year of our Lord 1864 between James Bissell of the county of Santa Cruz and State of California party of the first part and William Dale Armstrong of the County of Santa Cruz and State of California party of the second part witnesseth that the said party of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of $200 to him in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged does hereby grant remise release and quit claim unto the said party of the second part and to his heirs and assigns for ever all of that parcel of land lying and situate in the county of Santa Cruz and State of California and described as follows. The north east half of the south east one quarter and north half of south west quarter of Section 20 T.7S.R.4W Mr. Diablo meridian. Together with all and singular the tenements hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any case appertaining and the reversion and reversions remainder and remainders and issues and profits thereof. And also all the estate right title interest in the above described property possession claim and demand whatsoever as well in law as in equity of the said party of the first part of in or to the above described property with every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances. To have and to hold all and singular the above mentioned and ???bed premises together with the appurtenances unto the said party of the second party, his heirs and assigns forever. In witness whereof the said party of the first part has hereunto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of R.W. Moore, H.B. Thompson. James Bissell." Note: land moved to from Santa Cruz County to San Mateo County in 1864.

      8. Per email 13 Feb 2002 from Richard Bullock : "I received a letter from a R. Lorraine Hughes, written January 28. I quote: 'Dear Richard, My friend looked up Winner/Wenner on the net and found your research. Anc. File 1XLT-DB. ID 1251 George King Winner. He's my great-great-grandfather. Deborah Adelade (Adelaide) was married to my great-grandfather William Dale Armstrong. I am waiting right now for Cal. marriage records where he's listed as Wm. F. He may have had an 'F' in his name but not to my knowledge. His 'D's were written like (symbol) on his Will, which I think someone took as 'F.' He lived until 1870's in Cal. (San Mateo Co.) Peseader, Township #6. In 1875 he applies and was given a land grant here in British Columbia, Canada at a place called Fort Langley (first capital of B.C.) 40 miles east of Vancouver. He died in 1897 and a few years later "Addie" returned to the U.S. Family story is she was cooking in a mining camp and one winter was killed in an avalanche there and no one here remembers where. I suspect Cal. Please write if you need more information. I'm working on family through LDS at Abbotsford, BC. Yours Truly, Lorraine Armstrong Hughes p.s. Family members still live on part of that 160 acre homestead. About 7 miles from where I live.' I immediately replied to her letter and sent her a couple of newsletters, a copy of the Gravesite listing for the Winner family and questioned if Addie was the child born after arriving or Dembra? Hopefully she will be able to tell us more. I told her about your connection in the family and how active you have been and also gave her your address and email as well as my own email. I hope this will help us shed more light on the rest of the Winners. Richard."

      9. Family lived on Armstrong Road just east of Fort Langley which runs north to south just south of the Fraser River.

      10. Checked at Family History Library in Salt Lake City:
      a. Book 979.471/S1 V22d I.O.O.F. Cemetery at Soquel, Santa Cruz County and found no indication of Winner nor Armstrong burials.
      b. FHL 1290972 - Index to deaths in Santa Cruz County, 979.471/S1 B32ss - Santa Cruz Sentinel Local News Index, and 979.471/S1 B32s - Santa Cruz Daily Surf all had many Armstrong entries but after 1883 which is too late for our Armstrong family. The only two entries of interest are:
      i. Elizabeth Winner died 27 August 1926. I requested 7 Jun 2003 of the Santa Cruz public library for a look-up on this individual.
      ii. Armstrong, William D.; son, 02 Aug. in the Sentinel 12 Aug. 1865; Page 2, col. 4. This is a son and I have entered this info with file of George S. Armstrong.

      11. 1868 and 1871 Voter Registrations for Santa Cruz Co. No records for William Armstrong or any Winner was found.

      12. Descendant Lorraine Hughes thinks the F. that shows up occasionally as William's middle name may tentatively stand for Francis.

      13. According to Charles E. Armstrong's death certificate, William D. Armstrong's family appear to have moved to Canada around 1876 [probable error since George Winner's obituary would put family in California Sep. 1877; application for Canadian homestead land per copy on file was 29 Jul 1878].

      14. Copy on file of application of Certificate of Pre-emption of Surveyed Land [for homestead] in District of New Westminster, British Columbia per folio in District Register of 2333: William Dale Armstrong, 29 Jul 1878, for 160 acres in Township XI with boundaries as "south east quarter of sect. 27, township eleven. The homestead was per the British Columbia Land Act of 1875.

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Per 15 Jun 2003 email from Lorraine Hughes; she says about William: "Grandma Armstrong always talked about him coming from a well-to-do family. The story goes like this. He was the second son of a well-to-do family that had a lot of land. When his father died, he of course did not inherit the farm or lands, his older brother did. When he managed the farm, he let the hired help poach, and a big fight ensued with the older brother. He got mad and emigrated to California which he thought was part of Canada. Robert Dale Armstrong was in WWII and went to see the family left in Great Britain. He chickened out when he got there. There was a dried-up moat and a gatehouse at the driveway entrance." Lorraine says it was too late when she started doing genealogy for anyone to remember where in Great Britain this was. She says she cannot attest to the accuracy of the story.

      BIRTH:
      1. Family Search's "British Columbia Marriage Registrations, 1859-1932" for daughter Hannah Elizabeth Armstrong, widow to John Reece Scott, in her second marriage to Joe Rowlett, 8 Oct 1930. She states her parents as William Dale Armstrong, b. Sleaford, England, and Dobora Adelaide Winner, birth location unknown. Sleaford is in Lincolnshire and the local parish church there is named Sleaford St. Denys.

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Per marriage license copy provided 14 Aug 2001 by the County of San Mateo, Redwood City, CA, handwritten: "Marriage License. State of California, County of San Mateo. I do hereby authorize any Judge, Justice of the Peace, Clergyman or Preacher of the Gospel to celebrate the marriage of William F. Armstrong to D.A. Winner. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 21st day of September 1864. Thomas H. Noble, County Clerk. Marriage License. I certify in pursuance of the above license W.F. Armstrong and D.A. Winner were by me married this day the first of October A.D. 1864. Wm. Durham. Justice of the Peace. Pulgas Township[Redwood City]. San Mateo Co., California. A true copy of an original recorded at request of W.F. Armstrong Oct 12th at 2 P.M. Thomas H. Noble, County Recorder."

      2. Per San Mateo County Times Gazette for issue date of 14 Oct 1864 per microfilm in San Mateo County History Library, Redwood City, CA: "At Redwood City, Oct. 1 [1864], by Wm. Durham, Justice of the Peace, William F. Armstrong to Miss D.A. Winner, both of San Mateo County." No other information given. D.A. is Deborah Adalade. George K. Winner is definitely the father since George's obituary states he died at the home of his son-in-law: William F. Armstrong. For some reason William alternated his middle name between F. or D. or Dale; they definitely are all the one and same individual.

      DEATH:
      1. Death Certificate, British Columbia, Division of Vital Statistics, GP 2951, Vol. 79, cert. no 30/47: William D. Armstrong, died 28 Feb 1897, male, age 70 years, farmer, born in England, died of heart disease of 14 weeks duration, Physician was A.A. Sutherland, associated with Church of England.

      BURIAL:
      1. Per file photo of tombstone at cemetery at St. Andrews/Ft. Langley, British Columbia, Canada, located at Fort Langley on Glover Road: "William D. Armstrong 1826 - 1897."

      SOURCES_MISC:
      1. A good history book with lots of photos about the Lahonda area and time where and when George Winner died living with his son-in-law William Armstrong can be found with the book "Crossroads, People and Events of the Redwoods of San Mateo County," by Gilbert Richards (Woodside, CA; 1973).

      2. Active genealogist and descendant of William Armstrong and Deborah Winner: Lorraine Hughes, 6737 Satchell Road, Mount Lehman, British Columbia (on the Fraser River between the suburbs of Langley and Abbotsford on the east side of the city of Vancouver), phone: 604-856-5702. Photos of family and home on file.