Joseph Wilkinson ARMSTRONG b. 28 Oct 1853 Stonehouse, Coanwood, Northumberland, England d. 9 Jun 1912 Wellsford Rifle Range, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia: AIGS/FHC Member's

AIGS/FHC Member's - Family Trees

1853 - 1912 (58 years)

Name	Joseph Wilkinson ARMSTRONG
Birth	28 Oct 1853	Stonehouse, Coanwood, Northumberland, England
Gender	Male
Immigration	3 Nov 1857	Hobsons Bay, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Residence	11 Jul 1889	Cambrian Hill, Victoria, Australia
Residence	13 Sep 1897	Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Death	9 Jun 1912	Wellsford Rifle Range, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Burial	12 Jun 1912	Eaglehawk Cemetery, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Person ID	I79	FHC006 - White Tree
Last Modified	25 Mar 2020

Father	Peter ARMSTRONG, b. Abt 1821, Kirkhaugh, Northumberland, England d. 4 Jan 1890, Cambrian Hill, Victoria, Australia (Age ~ 69 years)
Mother	Elizabeth STEPHENSON, b. Abt 1822, New Shield, Alston, Cumberland, England d. 13 Sep 1897, Broomfield, Victoria, Australia (Age ~ 75 years)
Marriage	3 Jul 1848	Allison's Bank Toll House, Gretna Green, Dumfriesshire, Scotland
Notes	WESTERN MORNING NEWS, Thursday 28 December 1922 ROMANTIC WEDDINGS. FACTS ABOUT GRETNA GREEN MARRIAGES. The announcement that the once-famous smithy at Gretna Green has been condemned as a danger to motorists, and is to be removed, is, it seems, not altogether accurate. The buildings made historic by the runaway marriages of former times were converted into a curio shop a number of years ago, when the blacksmith removed his residence to a house across the road. It this house, and not the older one, which is now sought to remove. As the scene many hundreds of runaway marriages, among them those of many titled persons and others who late in life, rose to fame, Gretna Green will go down to history as a rather romantic spot. References crop up from time to time. It is only few years ago that a batch of the original marriage certificates of between the years 1825 and 1854 was sold by auction in London. That batch contained some illustrious names, and must have been of high interest to not a few noted families. In the early decades of last century, and no doubt prior to that, runaway marriages seem to have been common enough. The couples always sought the border as the only place where they could be married with some show of legality without the necessity of publication of banns. But all of them did not go to Gretna Green for that purpose. There were obliging “priests” at other places, such Paxton, Lamberton Toll, and Coldstream. It must not be supposed that all these marriages were of a clandestine kind. They were not. The stern Nonconformist type of religion practised for generations in these wild moorland districts made marriage for certain couples impossible at their own parish church. Others disliked publicity given to a local wedding. Many attempts were made by such bodies as the General Assembly to suppress the whole system which made runaway marriages possible, but without success. It was not until 1856, when Lord Brougham (who himself was married at Gretna) carried an Act through Parliament making such marriages illegal unless the persons concerned had resided in Scotland 21 days, that a stop was put the proceedings. At the beginning of last century David Long, "the Gretna blacksmith," was the man to whom fugitive lovers went to be married. He joined hundreds. When the railway was carried to Gretna business in the matrimonial line, seems to have been brisk, and at times fifty marriage ceremonies would be gone through by a single "priest," so-called, whom there were no fewer than four competing for business. They actually had touts at the station. The most famous of the last who held sway until the passing of the Act was John Murray, of Sark Toll Bar. The toll bar is gone, just as the smithy may disappear. Marriages, however, did not take place at the smithy. They did either at the toll bar or at one other of the inns, one of which had for its sign a man and woman clasping hands over an anvil. As to fees, there was, of course, no fixed sum. Those who tied the nuptial knot would take a shilling or less from poor people. A half-crown was accounted a satisfactory sum, and a seven-shilling fee was looked upon as a stroke of luck. But the fees did not cover the whole of the expenditure. The man who performed the ceremony, if it can be so styled, kept an inn, where the newly-wedded couples, when they could afford it, spent a good deal of money in the entertainment of the “company,'' and in the main for the benefit of the landlord.
Family ID	F873	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family 1 Annie Waugh ECCLESTON, b. 1856, Black Lead, Victoria, Australia d. 29 Nov 1881, Dunolly, Victoria, Australia (Age 25 years)

Marriage 31 Dec 1879 43 Eyre St, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

Children

	1. Annie Edith ARMSTRONG, b. 7 Oct 1880, Dunolly, Victoria, Australia bur. 10 Oct 1880, Dunolly Cemetery, Victoria, Australia (Age ~ 0 years)
	2. Annie Waugh ARMSTRONG, b. 25 Nov 1881, Dunolly, Victoria, Australia d. 3 Dec 1882, Stawell (Pleasant Creek), Victoria, Australia (Age 1 year)

Family ID F446 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 30 Sep 2019

Family 2 Emma WILLIAMS, b. Abt 1865, Cornwall, England d. 12 Dec 1911, 33 McCrae St, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia (Age ~ 46 years)

Marriage 17 Jan 1889 Bible Christian Church, California Gully, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia

Children

	1. Albert George ARMSTRONG, b. 1890, Sandhurst, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia d. 4 Aug 1940, Payneham, Adelaide, South Australia (Age 50 years)
	2. Myrtle Emma ARMSTRONG, b. 1892, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia d. 1920, White Hills, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia (Age 28 years)
	3. Joseph (Joe) Stephenson ARMSTRONG, b. 1894, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia d. 1966, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia (Age 72 years)
	4. Alice May ARMSTRONG, b. 1898, White Hills, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia d. 1923, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia (Age 25 years)

Family ID F91 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Last Modified 30 Sep 2019

Notes

Elizabeth died intestate but owned land of 20 acres in the Parish of Yarrowee, County of Grant (Allotment 14, Section 6) which was rented out for grazing. 'Land is fenced but otherwise unimproved and there are no buildings or improvements thereon and the same is used for grazing purposes. Land is of very poor quality and is valued at cost of 1 pound 10 shillings per acre. Land is rented at 2 pound a year. Total value 30 pounds.' There was no personal estate.

Peter's attests to himself, and John, Joseph and Thomas George Armstrong, Elizabeth's brothers, all farmers at Cambrian Hill, and her sister Hannah Jane Hetherington, also of Cambrian Hill, as her only next of kin surviving. Peter also states that he is the only person entitled to the administration of Elizabeth’s estate.
Hannah's husband, John Hetherington, butcher, of Broomfield, stated that he had freehold property at Broomfield consisting of three quarters of an acre to the value of fifty pounds.

Peter died on 4 January 1890, presumably before he carried out the administration of his daughter’s estate because on 21 January 1890, brother John, along with brothers Joseph, Thomas George and married sister Jane Hetherington, all of Cambrian Hill, state that they are the only persons lawfully entitled to share in the distribution of the estate. John also seeks to be appointed as the administrator.

Age, 21 January 1890: Probate notice.
Notice is hereby given that after the expiration of fourteen days from the publication hereof, an APPLICATION will be made to the Supreme Court of the colony of Victoria in its Probate Jurisdiction, that administration of the ESTATE of ELIZABETH ANN ARMSTRONG, late of Cambrian Hill, in the said colony, spinster, deceased intestate, be granted to John Armstrong, of Cambrian Hill aforesaid, engine driver, brother and one of the next of kin of the said deceased.
Dated this twentieth day of January, 1890.
S. F. Mann, Applicant’s Proctor, Ballarat.

On 1 February, John Wilkinson Armstrong, Windermere St, Ballarat, mason, signs an affidavit stating that he has property worth 50 pounds, consisting of household furniture and effects. This John is Elizabeth’s uncle, brother of her father Peter Armstrong. John Hetherington also signed another affidavit, this time stating that he has household furniture in Broomfield to the value of fifty pounds. Brother John is granted administrator of Elizabeth’s estate on 14 February 1890.

Inquest
An inquest into Joseph’s death was held on 10 June 1912 at White Hills.
Proceedings of inquest held upon the body of Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong at White Hills, Bendigo by E.N. Moore, Coroner.
"Having inquired upon the part of our Lord the King, when, where, how, and by what means the said Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong came by his death, I do say that the said Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong died at Welsford Rifle Range near Bendigo on 9th June 1912 from atheroma of the valves of the heart.
Report of John Greenshields, Constable, White Hills:
It was reported to me at 1.15am this morning 10.6.12 that Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong aged 59 years [sic] was found dead on his tricycle near the Wellsford Rifle Range Siding. Deceased was a Ganger in the charge of the Railway Line repairs on the Heathcote Line.
At 8.30am this morning I visited the depot and made an examination of the body and could not find any marks of violence or any suspicious circumstances and instructed the removal of the body to his late residence No. 33 McCrae St, White Hills.
Joseph Stephenson Armstrong, son of the deceased, states that his father the deceased left his home at 5.15pm on 9.6.12 to go along the Railway Line towards the Rifle Range Siding at Wellsford. He was in his usual good health when leaving home. He did not return and at 10pm in company with John Mills we went out along the line and found my father lying back dead on his tricycle about 2 chains on the Bendigo side of the Wellsford Rifle Range Siding. There were no signs of a struggle or any marks of violence. We removed the body to a shed at the Rifle Range.
John Mills stated: I am a Railway Repairer and the deceased was the Ganger. I reported to him that I was told that a piece of firewood was lying on the Railway Line near the Rifle Range. He said he would go out and see about it. He was then in his usual health. At 10pm in company with Joseph Stephenson Armstrong I went along the Railway Line to near the Siding at Rifle Butts and found the deceased lying dead on his tricycle. I assisted to remove the body to a shed at the Rifle range and reported the matter to the police.
There is a detailed report from Dr Oliver Penfold on the condition of Jospeh’s heart. it is very hard to read the doctor’s writing!
This deponent Joseph Stephenson Armstrong, on his oath saith, I am a coach painter residing at White Hills. The deceased Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong who was 58 years old was my father and I lived with him at White Hills.
He went up to the hospital yesterday to visit my cousin his nephew and came back home at 4.45pm. I saw him last alive at 5.15pm - he was then going to remove an obstruction on the railway line near the rifle butts & he changed his clothes.
As he was not at home (not having come back since he left at 5.15pm) at 10pm I went to the home of the witness Mills and he took me on his trolly along the railway line to Heathcote. When we got about 2 chains from the platform at the rifle butts we saw the tricycle on the line and on going up to it found my father lying backwards on the tricycle quite dead. His body was placed in the rifle butts shed and the death was reported to the police.
He has always been well & never complained of anything save indigestion. He appeared in good health & spirits yesterday.
Signed Joe S. Armstrong
Event Memos from GEDCOM Import...

Inquest
Proceedings of inquest held upon the body of Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong at White Hills, Bendigo by E.N. Moore, Coroner.
"Having inquired upon the part of our Lord the King, when, where, how, and by what means the said Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong came by his death, I dosay that the said Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong died at Welsford Rifle Range near Bendigo on 9th June 1912 from atheroma of the valves of the heart.
Report of John Greenshields, Const. relative to the death of Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong for the information of the Coroner I have to report thatat1.15am this morning 10-6-12 it was reported to me that Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong aged 59 years was found dead on his tricycle near the WelsfordRifle Range Siding.
Deceased was a ganger in charge of the Railway Line repairers on the Heathcote Line.
At 8.30am this morning I visited the spot and made an examination of the body and could not find any marks of violence or anysuspiciouscircumstances and instructed the removal of the body to his late residence No 33 McCrae St White Hills.
Joseph Stephenson Armstrong son of the deceased states that his father the deceased left his home at 5.15pm on 9-6-12 to go along the Railway Linetowrads the Rifle Range Siding at Welsford. He was in his usual good health when leaving home. He did not return and at 10pm in company with JohnMills we went out along the line and found my father lying back dead on his tricycle about 2 chains on the Bendigo side of the Welsford Rifle RangeSiding. There were no signs of a struggle or any marks of violence. We removed the body to a shed on the Rifle Range.
[John Mills made a similar statement]
There is a long statement from the doctor, Oliver Penfold, as to the condition of Joseph's heart.
This deponent Joseph Stephenson Armstrong, on his oath saith, I am a coach painter residing at White Hills.
The deceased Joseph Wilkinson Armstrong who was 58 years old was my father and I lived with him at White Hills.
He went up to the hospital yesterday to visit my cousin his nephew and came back home at 4.45pm. I saw him last alive at 5.15pm - he was then goingto remove an obstruction on the railway line near the rifle butts & he changed his clothes.
As he was not at home (not having come back since he left at 5.15pm) at 10pm I went to the home of the witness Mills and he took me on his trollyalong the railway line to Heathcote. When we got about 2 chains from the platform at the rifle butts we saw the tricycle on the line and on going upto it found my father lying backwards on the tricycle quite dead. His body was placed in the rifle butts shed and the death was reported to thepolice.
He has always been well & never complained of anything save indigestion. He appeared in good health & spirits yesterday.
Signed Joe S. Armstrong