Adam Pearson Armstrong1

M, #21462, b. 23 February 1788, d. 28 September 1853
Pedigree
Last Edited10 Mar 2023
Birth*Adam Pearson Armstrong was born on 23 February 1788 at Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland.1 
Marriage*He married Margaret Gow on 16 October 1810 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.1 
Death*Adam Pearson Armstrong died on 28 September 1853 at Ravenswood, Western Australia, at age 65.1 

Family

Margaret Gow b. 15 May 1785, d. b 1829
Child
Immigration*Adam Pearson Armstrong immigrated on 15 December 1829 on the ship Gilmore..2 
Census*He appeared on the census of 1 July 1832 at Swan River, Western Australia; #1208, 40, widower, Dalkeith, Scotland, Agriculturist, Gilmore.2 
Census_1836*He appeared on the 1836 WA census of 1 January 1836 at Perth, Western Australia. Seaman.3 
Note*Married Margaret (nee Gow) 16 October 1810, Edinburgh, Scotland - she died 1824 London, England. She was born 15 May 1785, at Dunkeld, Perthshire, Scotland. Adam was employed by Thomas Peel as a Land Surveyor and Accountant to set up a settlement for emigrants at Fremantle. Peel was assigned 250,000 acres on condition that they arrived by a certain date. Unfortunately they were six weeks late and the land was re-allocated. They were then assigned another 250,000 acres further south along the banks of the Murray River which ultimately failed because of flooding from the winter rains. Having endured much hardship, Adam decided to return to Mandurah as had most of the other settlers and then to Perth. He eventually acquired a grant on the Swan River which he called 'Dalkeith', the name of the village near where he grew up in Scotland. Life was difficult and he grew grapes and figs (the cuttings of which he brought from Cape Town when the 'Gilmore' called there on the way to Fremantle), also melons and vegetables and he also raised goats. He ultimately sold the farm and moved back to Mandurah with his 3 youngest children, bringing his sister, Elizabeth, out from Scotland to housekeep for him. He acquired 1,200 acres, 800 acres just off the Murray River and another 400 acres on the river. He named it Ravenswood. George and John took up land at Serpentine when it was opened up. They also had a timber cutting business on the Canning. Francis Fraser had a keen interest in Aboriginals and at the age of 21 applied for and was appointed Superintendent of Native Tribes and Native Interpreter in the Courts of Justice. He was also a foundation member of Wesley Church, Perth. Christopher built a house at Mandurah and became a publican. Laura married Thomas Tichbourne Montgomery and moved to Canada. Adam Armstrong Senior returned to Ravenswood in 1839 and farmed the property until his death on 9 September 1853 and is buried on the property.4 

Citations

  1. [S105] Gilbert D L Armstrong, Armstrong, Adam.
  2. [S127] Ian Berryman, A Colony Detailed.
  3. [S674] CSO - WA Census 1836, https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-2029802883/view
  4. [S199] WA Family History, First Families.
  5. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, Armstrongs - The Outlaws, DebraY44.

Margaret Gow1

F, #21463, b. 15 May 1785, d. before 1829
Pedigree
Last Edited25 Aug 2016
Birth*Margaret Gow was born on 15 May 1785 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.1 
Marriage*She married Adam Pearson Armstrong on 16 October 1810 at Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland.1 
Death*Margaret Gow died before 1829 at Scotland.2,3 

Family

Adam Pearson Armstrong b. 23 Feb 1788, d. 28 Sep 1853
Child

Citations

  1. [S105] Gilbert D L Armstrong, Armstrong, Adam.
  2. [S55] Rica Ericson, Bic Dic Vols 1-4.
  3. [S359] WABI Source Documents,WAGS, Bayswater, WA.
  4. [S309] Ancestry.com, online www.ancestry.com, Armstrongs - The Outlaws, DebraY44.