Preston, Hertfordshire
in the Nineteenth Century
Frederick Armstrong
Frederick 
ARMSTRONG
Emma
KIRKBY
Frederick
William ARMSTRONG
b 16 Mar 1875
Rosa
Dorothy
ARMSTRONG
b 16 Feb 1877
Thomas
George
ARMSTRONG
b 17 April 1878
Ellen
Mary
ARMSTRONG
b 25 May 1880
d 26 May 1881
Alice
Emily
ARMSTRONG
b 16 Oct 1881
Henry 
James
ARMSTRONG
b 6 Sept 1883
Florence
Emma
ARMSTRONG
b 8 Jan 1885
Frederick Armstrong (1839-1911). Left, 1880c. Right, 1910c
Frederick Armstrong (1839-1911). Left, 1880c. Right, 1910c
        Frederick William Armstrong                               Thomas George Armstrong
       Frederick William Armstrong                               Thomas George Armstrong
Frederick and Emma’s grave 
in St Martin’s churchyard, Preston
 s churchyard, Preston
Frederick and Emma’s grave
in St Martin’s churchyard, Preston
Henry James (Jack) Armstrong
Henry James (Jack) Armstrong
Sources: Censuses 1841-1901. I am grateful to Chris Newell (Frederick Armstrong’s great grandson) for his memories and photographs.
The Armstrong Photographic Gallery

Frederick Armstrong was from farming stock. He was born in 1839 at Lower Stondon, Beds, the son of William and Phoebe Armstrong. In 1871, William Armstrong kept the 232-acre Blake Farm in Great Wymondley, near Hitchin, Herts. where he employed eight men and 4 boys.

 

On 3 December 1873, Frederick married Emma Kirkby at Ware, Herts. Although Emma was born at Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex in 1844, she was no stranger to Preston when she married as her parents, Samuel and Dorothy Kirkby, had farmed at Castle Farm, Preston since about 1850.

 

Soon after their marriage, Frederick took over the tenancy of Preston Hill Farm in the parish of Kings Walden. Their first son Frederick was born at Preston on 15 March 1875. They had a further 6 children.

Frederick was a prime mover in the building of St Martins church at Preston. He organised a musical evening which raised £11 towards the Church  Fund.

 

Frederick died on 28 March 1911,aged 71. His headstone reads ‘Peace Perfect Peace’. Emma died 23 February 1929, aged 84. The are buried in a double grave at St Martins churchyard, Preston.

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