Tartan Tales of Clan Armstrong

David is a proud piper, he wears the Armstrong tartan while performing. He has both the Armstrong modern and Armstrong Ancient kilt, along with a matching fly plaid too. It isn't always tradition for pipers to wear full highland dress, but we think you'll agree David looks great. Discover the history of the Bagpipes on our Tartan Blog!

"My story has to do with immigration to the United States. I was close to my grandfather (maternal side), Archibald Armstrong, as I grew up. But I never bothered to learn more about my Armstrong ancestry.

Over the past few years, however, I became more curious, and subscribed to a popular ancestry site to learn more. I also took the site's genetic test, to help cross-check my findings.

I was particularly interested in when this branch of the Armstrongs came to the US, and if possible, why they immigrated. I learned a lot, because evidently, the Scots are good at ancestry record-keeping! Archie and his father, Albert, hailed from Kentucky (although Archie later married and moved to Pennsylvania).

Going further back into the family tree, I learned that the earliest US Armstrongs in my family settled in Greenville, North Carolina, and Chatham, North Carolina, in the late 1700s. History tells us that the Carolinas were popular destinations for Scots in this time period. They were leaving Scotland for economic and political reasons. Increasing rents and evictions also motivated them to leave Scotland.

My second great-grandmother had Armstrongs on her side, as well. And on her side, we can trace the family tree all the way back to the 1500s, with ancestors primarily from the Edinburgh region.

My research also reveals that the idea of Armstrongs as exclusively border lands people is something of a myth. We see them, in my trees at least, documented as hailing from the Edinburgh and Ayrshire regions primarily, although we see Dumfries-Shire as well.

I have enjoyed attending our regional Celtic fests, celebrating Burns Night, enjoying haggis, and proudly wearing the Armstrong tartans, with a much deeper understanding of, and emotional connection to, my heritage. My wife and I have enjoyed visiting Edinburgh and the Loch Lomond regions and we will be back!"

Fred's story of discovering heritage is one we hear frequently, we are so lucky to be able to trace our family back hundreds of years and discover our origins. If you want to begin your own journey of heritage discovery, then why not start with our free clan consultation service.

Sheryl was excited to share her family wearing the Armstrong tartan. Her family are a great asset to the Armstrong clan and are very proud to wear the clan tartan. Their matching Armstrong ancient tartan kilts look amazing and is a great representation of the Armstrong clan.

Her daughter and granddaughter are in their local pipe band and also wear the Royal Stewart. What a fantastic family!

We get stories from all over the world and hear of many stories of clan connections, however the story Betsy has shared with us is amazing and very detailed. Betsy is involved with Armstrong clan gatherings and will be visiting Scotland soon to embrace her family heritage.

"I am a descendant of an Armstrong couple who emigrated from Scotland to Illinois, USA in 1855. My grandma and her mom, grandma, and ancestors kept very good records of their genealogy, and I'm grateful to have inherited many photographs and other documents related to my Scottish ancestors.

James and Sibella (Elliot) Armstrong sailed with their 8 living children from Newcastleton, Scotland to Elmira, Illinois, USA in 1855. Their 19-year-old-son Robert kept a diary of the journey, which was preserved by the family and can be read online on pages 3-4 of this Clan Elliot Society newsletter from 2010. The family settled in a community of Scottish immigrants in rural north-central Illinois, where they purchased land and began farming. Five of their children married and had families, with many descendants still living in the area today. As early as 1911, the Armstrongs held a reunion for the many family members, and in the 1930s, some of the Armstrongs worked to organize a family tree. Since then, the Armstrongs have held reunions every few years (as recently as 2022), and they have continued to keep an updated family tree.

Within a few years of their arrival in America, one of the original immigrant sons, James Armstrong, Jr. (1845-1876), invented a 2-row corn planter, for which he received a patent in 1862, when he was 16 years old . His planter was in such high demand that he eventually sold his patent to Keystone Manufacturing Company, which continued to manufacture and sell his planter to farmers who were eager to find more efficient ways to plant corn. One of his planters is on display at the Stark County Illinois Historical Society in Toulon, Illinois, along with a nice display highlighting James Jr.'s achievements.

Sadly, James Jr. died of tuberculosis at age 30 in 1876. Another descendant of James and Sibella Armstrong was their grandson, Adam E. Armstrong (1876-1964), whose father was Abel Armstrong (1830-1893). Adam Armstrong founded a company in 1900 making industrial steam traps called Armstrong Machine Works. Today, the fifth-generation, family-owned company, based in Three Rivers, Michigan is now known as Armstrong International.

Later in June, my mom, sisters, and I are traveling to Scotland and will visit Newcastleton, Inverness, and Edinburgh. We look forward to spending time in our ancestors' village, learning more about our heritage, and popping into ScotlandShop during our stay in Edinburgh, where we will be very excited to see the Armstrong display!
Thank you for your excellent work in providing quality tartan products and celebrating Scottish heritage. I have enjoyed reading your newsletters and look forward to our visit!"

Mike's father has traced his family back to the Armstrongs, though his grandparents were from Ireland and we currently live near Bristol. Mike got his Armstrong modern fabric from ScotlandShop to be made into this amazing waistcoat. It was made for the wedding of his school friend which took place at a beautiful location just south of Dundee. Many a wedding guest commented how dapper he looked.

Edward was treated to this unique Armstrong themed 'baggo board' for Fathers Day. Alicia and her six siblings knew their dad would appreciate this gift. You may be wondering what the game 'baggo' is, it goes by other names like cornhole, but in simple terms, Baggo is a game where you toss beanbags into a target. A great game for the whole family to play and let their competitive side out. We hope Edward and his own clan of Armstrongs enjoy their games and are reminded of their heritage every time they play it.

An exciting tale that includes a strong Armstrong family, it's not released until the end of 2023, but we have been lucky enough to have been given an excerpt to share.

"Armstrongs in Baltimore:

Bob's family, the Armstrongs, arrived in Baltimore at the dawn of the nineteenth century, still questing for a home of their own in the wake of their Scottish clan’s diaspora three hundred years previously. The Armstrongs originated in the backwater of the borderlands in the southwest corner of Scotland, near Lockerbie, a place now famous as the Pan Am crash site. Beginning in the thirteenth century, the clan thrived for hundreds of years by “rieving” in what were known as the “Debatable Lands.” Their hallmark, not an honourable one, was to slip across the border and plunder the English countryside. Over time, the Armstrongs became the largest and toughest of the “reiving” clans. However, with James VI’s ascension in 1603 astride both the Scottish and English thrones, the king vowed to clean up and pacify the borderlands. With swift action and two armies at his call, he had the Armstrongs’ castles torn down and the remaining clan members hunted down and executed. Hundreds were killed, while many others fled to Northern Ireland. The last clan chief, who was holed up in the hills, was dragged out of his lair and hung in Edinburgh in 1610.

Rob’s forebears had been in Northern Ireland for generations, and it remains unclear from whom exactly his grandparents were descended. However, the family emerges from the ancestral mists on a gravestone in Baltimore, an emigration record, and in a small, printed booklet entitled a “Discourse at his Funeral.” From this and other records we know that William and Jane Armstrong were both born around 1760, and came from somewhere around Sligo, Ireland. They married, and appear to have emigrated in 1799, arriving in the United States on a packet from Liverpool. They had three sons, Thomas who was born in 1790, Robert in 1793 and William in 1796. By 1800 William, the father, is listed in the Baltimore Directory as a grocer on Caroline Street, and shortly after he moves to Stall #5 on the County Wharf. He dies in 1805, leaving his wife to raise their fifteen, twelve and nine year old sons. It must not have been easy. One odd facet of the tale is that while Jane lives to a ripe 81 years of age, dying in 1841, her grandson makes no mention of her in his account."

If you would like to read more you can pre-order today!!

Join Lauren and Emma on the Sofa to discuss all things Clan Armstrong. From a medieval king to the first man on the moon, Clan Armstrong are blessed with many notable members. Join us as we explore some impressive sites related to Clan Armstrong, from the grand home of notorious reiver Johnnie of Gilnockie, to an eerie haunted castle with a grisly past.