The Armstrong family of Witless Bay immigrated to Little Bay via Betts Cove at some point prior to 1886. I’d guess it was after 1882. One of my first records of them is the obituary of Rosanna Armstrong. She died in Little Bay in 1886. It reads “At Little Bay Mines, on the 9th Dec., Rosanna, relict of the late Mr. James Armstrong. and eldest daughter of Mr. Michael Cahill, of Newtown, aged 76.” I believe Rosanna was with her adult sons, among which was Michael. The following generations of Armstrongs in Little Bay trace back to Michael via his son Thomas.

1886 – July Death of Michael Armstrong’s Daughter Mary Gates (RC headstone)

1886 – Dec 16 Death of Rosanna Cahil Armstrong widow of James Armstrong. Age 76. (DC / ET)

1889 – Oct 11 M. Armstrong subscription to newspaper (SJC)

1889 – Michael Armstrong (Voter’s List)

1891 – June 14 William Armstrong played in the billiard tournament (TS)

1894 – Micheal and John Armstrong listed as fishermen (Census)

1898 – Michael Armstrong listed as miner (McAlpine’s)

1900 – March – Death Michael Armstrong’s daughter Alice Maud (RC headstone)

1904 – Michael and Thomas Armstrong listed as fisherman (McAlpine’s)

1906 – Thomas Armstrong married Ellen Walker. Ellen’s date of birth pushes record of the Walker family’s presence in Little Bay back to 1883.

1911 – James Armstrong, who worked as a cook, immigrated to Nova Scotia with Fred Stewart. This was part of the larger exodus from Little Bay mines.

1921 – Thomas Armstrong and family living in Little Bay (1921 Census)

1935 – Thomas Armstrong and family living in Little Bay (1935 Census)

1945 – May 14th. The presumed death of LAC Michael Armstrong. He’d survived the war but was lost during a flight later (Hearn documents)

I should also note that while looking for pictures of my grandfather in the book “They Also Served” about the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit with my mother I remember her pointing out that one of the men pictured with him looked to be an Armstrong from Little Bay.

Special thanks go to Bruce Armstrong for helping me fill in some details on this one!