This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kQB.2ACIB/2489 Message Board Post: please stop by my website with over 300 grave stone pictures from Ohio with many surnames including ARMSTRONG http://groups.msn.com/StonesandStorieswithSandy/home.htm

<PRE>Am looking for information on Andrew Armstrong of Milford, Pike Co., PA He came from Ireland about 1823. Brothers followed after him. He had children Andrew A., Barton, Catherine and probably others by first wife name unknown. Had John born abt. 1840-42 and Hamilton b. abt. 1850-53. Hamilton and John married sisters Jenny and Nancy Fuller. Hamiltons wife Jenny died and he married Ida I. Longcor (dau of John Longcor) He had children John by first wife, Clara L., Perl, and Herbert by 2nd wife. Hamilton was a lawyer and a teacher. He was killed in 1908 by a train. Buried in Milford. Does anyone out there have any information on Hamiltons father Andrew. Birth, death, wifes names, names of any other children, etc. I would be most appreciative. Lani Young

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Downey Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kQB.2ACIB/1056.1 Message Board Post: Is this John Downey of Shelocta, PA? Might he be related to Wm. Chambers Downey of Five Points and Marion Center, PA

WHY WE LOVE CHILDREN ---------------------------------------------- A kindergarten pupil told his teacher he'd found a cat. She asked him if it was dead or alive. "Dead" she was informed. "How do you know?" she asked her pupil. "Because I pissed in its ear and it didn't move," answered the child innocently. "You did WHAT?!?" the teacher exclaimed in surprise. "You know," explained the boy, "I leaned over and went 'Pssst!' and it didn't move." ============================================ A small boy is sent to bed by his father. Five minutes later.... "Da-ad...." "What? "I'm thirsty. Can you bring drink of water?" "No. You had your chance. Lights out." Five minutes later: "Da-aaaad....." "WHAT?" "I'm THIRSTY. Can I have a drink of water??" "I told you NO! If you ask again, I'll have to spank you!!" Five minutes later...... "Daaaa-aaaad....." "WHAT!" "When you come in to spank me, can you bring a drink of water?" ================================================ An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?" The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll run in and out and in an out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Dylan, come in or stay out!'" ================================================= One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you sleep with me tonight?" The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: "The big sissy." ================================================== It was that time, during the Sunday morning service, for the children's sermon. All the children were invited to come forward. One little girl was wearing a particularly pretty dress and, as she sat down, the pastor leaned over and said, "That is a very pretty dress. Is it your Easter Dress?" The little girl replied, directly into the pastor's clip-on microphone, "Yes, and my Mom says it's a bitch to iron." =================================================== A little boy was doing his math homework. He said to himself, "Two plus five, that son of a bitch is seven. Three plus six, that son of a bitch is nine...." His mother heard what he was saying and gasped, "What are you doing?" The little boy answered, "I'm doing my math homework, Mom." "And this is how your teacher taught you to do it?" the mother asked. "Yes," he answered. Infuriated, the mother asked the teacher the next day, "What are you teaching my son in math?" The teacher replied, "Right now, we are learning addition." The mother asked, "And are you teaching them to say two plus two, that son of a bitch is four?" After the teacher stopped laughing, she answered, "What I taught them was, two plus two, THE SUM OF WHICH, is four." ===================================================== One day a teacher read the story Chicken Little to her class. She came to the part of the story where Chicken Little tried to warn the farmer. She read, ".... and so Chicken Little went up to the farmer and said, "The sky is falling, the sky is falling!" The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think that farmer said?" One little girl raised her hand and said, "I think he said: 'Holy Shit! A talking chicken!'" The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes! _________________________________________________________ Hope you can smile an extra smile today! Enjoy!

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Armstrong / Collins Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/kQB.2ACIB/2488 Message Board Post: I am looking for any information on Vernon Armstrong (DOB 7/27/1873-D 1936)& Jessie Collins (DOB 1/28/1878-D 1945). Vernon's parents were Benjamin & Hannah (Hattie?) Armstrong. Vernon's sister Jane married Stuart Collins and had a daughter, Jessie. I know that Jessie and Vernon had to go to KY to get married (6/19/1895) because they were cousins. Benjamin and Jane had a sister named Anna, who Vernon and Jessie lived with until her death in 1920. This family lived in the Clermont County and Hamilton County, Ohio area. Any help is appreciated!

Dear Armstrongs, This is an item I wrote for the magazine of 411 Mess of the Fellowship Of The Services. I used to write this monthly magazine myself when I had time for such things. Now I rarely get to visit my Messnights as they fall when I'm not at home or on other things. This time I was able to take a small part as a spectator. September 7th 2002. An annual ceremony took place that I heard of in June. An Italian restaurant owner had told me about it and I knew some of the story. In fact I know a man who was involved, he's a Standard Bearer in one of the Newcastle Messes. During the Invasion a squadron of British troops were approaching Willebroek in Belgium. A Belgian Lieutenant with local knowledge of the lie of the land went to tell a British tank unit that a German panzer regiment was in formation across the river Rupel from the town of Boom lying in wait. (Boom, pronounced bohm, it means tree) He also told them of a hair-raising way they could turn the German flank. There was a bridge the Germans had ignored because it was so feeble. The Pont De Fer (The Iron Bridge) was not built even for cars, let alone tanks. They decided to take the chance. The tanks shot over at high speed one at a time. Miraculously the old bridge held up long enough until enough tanks had crossed to put the willies up the Wermacht. Realising they'd been outmanoeuvred, the Germans wisely upped stakes and drove away. That daring scheme saved a lot of hard slogging over that stretch of water that lies so peaceful now in the hot sun. Back to September 7th. Off we went to Klein Willebroek and spent a good morning watching the veterans parading to the broken stub of the old Pont de Fer where the British tanks crossed to outflank the Germans under the guidance of Lt. Robert Vekemans in 1944. It is part of the Remembrance of Willebroek now. They marched from the church along Volks Straat (we saw the son of a friend there doing police traffic control), and then over the old Sas (sluice gate) to the Sherman tank which stands on its plinth by the remaining bridge buttress. A Guard of Honour from the Antwerpen Officer Cadet Academy stood there in smart order in No. 1 dress. The Remembrance ceremony was conducted there with the Burgemeester (yes, I know how the Germans spell it). A representative of the British veterans also made a speech and wreaths of flowers were laid in front of the tank. There were 14 Standards on parade. Most of them from the Folkestone area on the south coast of England and some Belgian ones for the troops who went back to their homeland with the Invasion. After that we came back to have a drink at the Italian café there and then to see the military vehicles drive off interspersed with police motorcycles. The military vehicles club put on a good show at their own expense. The column was nearly half a mile long. They even drove a Sherman tank past. The Europeans take a keen interest in the actions of the Allies in W.W.II., and it is gratifying to see them turn out to pay tribute to the lads who did not get home. It had a touch of humour mind you. One Dutch chap was resplendent in a kilt, Battledress blouse and Tam O' Shanter. The Tammy bore the badge of the Gordon Highlanders, (infantry), his epaulettes had a khaki ribbon bearing the letters RTR (Royal Tank Regiment) below that the top of his sleeves bore a shoulder flash of The Kings Royal Rifle Corps, again, infantry. The Dutch, Gordon, Rifleman, Tanky was unaware of the incongruity, but his heart was in the right place. Hope to attend myself next year now that I know about it, who knows, maybe lay a poppy for the 588 British Armstrongs killed in the Great War, and the 238 in W.W.II. If so I shall wear one's full canonicals, a touch of the tartan. Gan canny, Joe.

Dear Joe and Rita, Glad to hear you are having fun over there across the pond! I did not see any mention of Duvel in your post. Did they run out? Or, don't they have any in France? :-) Kayla, our girl, has started the first grade this year. Things have been a little busy around here these days. I am not able to post much these days but keep up with my reading of all the posts. John T.

Jeff Armstrong wrote: > A treasure trove of genealogical material can be found in the unlikely place of Moultrie, Georgia. > > I was just there this weekend, and I was amazed at what I found. The gem of the library is that it has been chosen as the repository for the genealogical archives for over 120 Scottish Clan Societies, including Clan Armstrong. A description of the library and a listing of the Clan archives in their holdings can be found at: > > http://www.electricscotland.com/familytree/about_odom.htm > > The library has about 200 Armstrong family genealogies. Also quite a few books on Armstrong genealogy; I thought I had seen most of the books on Armstrong genealogy, but they had several I had never seen before. They also have quite a good collection of books and periodicals. > > The genealogy library was apparently built as an extension of the Moultrie Library through a bequest from a wealthy dowager interested in genealogy. > > Moultrie is located in the middle of nowhere, in Southwest Georgia, about 30 miles north of Thomasville and 30 miles southeast of Albany. > > You probably won't find yourself wandering through there anytime, but if you ever find yourself in the neighborhood, it's definately worth a look.

Enjoyed that, Joe. Almost like being there. Brought back some memories. Thank you, Mary G., Indianapolis (formerly Maryland)

came back so resending to list. -----Original Message----- From: Maxine Wilton <mmwaw@sprynet.com> To: ritadekock@belqhacom.net <ritadekock@belqhacom.net> Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2002 3:23 PM Subject: Armstrong Trip Hi Rita and Joe. I have a Rhoda Campbell who mar to William B. Barnett in early 1800, in maybe York Co S C. i am looking for. I want to thank you for posting the imfo of your trip to all the places and the War beaches etc. Normandy invasion. I had a brothet in law Edward Gorman who died there. My first husband also was in a tank in the invasion, Floyd Edward Brooks and was injured in war with srapnal left in his back. I enjoyed visualizing the places you went to see and also eat. I watch Rick Steves on Pub Tel. wirth his travels in Europe series and he had been to most of those places. I visualized the the fun and food etc and wish i could some day take a trip as such but it will never bee for me. Therefore I enjoy reading and seeing in TV programs anf the travels of others for my vaction trips. THank you much. Maxine M Baldwin Wilton mmwaw@sprynet.com Rhoda Campbell was my 4th grt grama and her mother was a Armstrong who was my 5th grt granma.

Dear Armstrongs, A memorable Trip. By Joe Armstrong, Wintam village, in the Province of Antwerpen, Monday September 9, 2002. Willy Borms and his wife Christiane came and took Rita and I to St Niklaas and left us at a certain bus stop beside 4 other people who were going on the same tour as we were. That was Monday 9th of September. The coach arrived a bit late due to heavy traffic, then we set off and picked up more people at Lokeren and then Gent. It happened at Gent that a man and his mother sat opposite on our right Eddie and his mother Rose Marie are from Nieuwport on the coast of Belgium and we soon struck up acquaintance with them and spent most of our meals sitting with them.. We stopped for coffee along the way and onwards to Amiens. There we visited the cathedral. Separately, some of us realised we had better ones, I felt that my local i.e., Durham Cathedral could hold its own, as this is supposed to be one of the better ones in France. Still the carved ornate frontage was very good I have to say that. From there we went on to Rouen, and were getting off the bus after deciding I did not need an umbrella when a peal of thunder struck and we all got wet crossing the street! The whole group, 53 of us hustled along close to walls, it did not help, we all got soaked. Arrived at the Café Flunch, a fast food place in the Rue Des Carmes. What a sorry spectacle we looked. However, fast food or not, it was good quality. Oh those French! After that we walked, (thankfully in the sunshine) to the place where Joan of Arc was burned to death. A cross stands on the spot now. Looking around the square at the ancient houses I tried to imagine the awful scene, the mob, the vengeful churchmen who condemned her, the fearful English soldiers who were given the dirty work of burning her for a witch. Too much noise, too many people, too many smells from nearby restaurants all cashing in on the historic site gimmick prevented my mind from travelling back to the 15th century. But I have stood at the place. Next to the spot is a church, but of modern design, you know, roofs like wings etc. In the form od a ship. A bit of origami in metal and stone. Back along the narrow streets and through the ornate archway to the bridge where a plaque marks the spot where Joan's ashes were thrown in the Seine, (they say) but I fear the river's edge would be different then to the built up quayside banks of today. It was probably under the modern road! BTW. Over here they call her Jean D' Arc, pronounced like 'Shan Dark' To coach, another long walk, then on to Honfleur. It is a very picturesque town, also a very expensive one! Café prices were exorbitant. We walked (naturally) to the harbour and visited a lovely wooden church, really spectacular it is. The shape inside is of timber arches supported by lines of square wooden beams along the length of the nave. It has a feel not quite like any church I have been in. I sat there lost in thought, recalling other churches, in other places but this had a different feel to it, more homely somehow. We were quite taken by its wonder. Bought picture cards then back along to our coach and on to our destination at Caen and arrived at the Campanile motel there late. Had dinner after 9, but it was excellent. A bit of confusion re Rita's needs but René the guide helped out and sorted things. The three smokers who got on at Gent smoked in the dining room, the only ones to do so, naturally, they sat at the next table to us. The sign 'defense de fumer' means nothing to them. We had a good room, facilities were a bath cum shower, a good shower at that, washbasin, toilet, all necessary towels, shampoos/soaps each day./ also TV set with an alarm feature for early calls, a long table and tea making equipment. To bed, and slept like babes! Tues, Sep, 10. Up early, to breakfast with Rose Marie and Eddie. We four sat at another table. Still the smokers ended up on the next one to us. I think they must be aware that nobody is making overtures to them but all are being friendly with us, and especially Rose Marie and her son Eddie who is a pleasant chap. Off to Bayeux and to the museum to see the famous tapestry, again, a long walk! What a fabulous thing it was for me to creep alongside the real one behind its glass frontage, leaning on the handrails designed to keep folk off the glass. I scrutinised every picture as much as time permitted, but always the inexorable clock ticking away. My mind went back 60 years to when Mr. Bell our class teacher first told us of the tapestry, was it really that long ago? But here we were, standing before the reality of that thing nine and a half centuries old. The endless hours of hand-stitching that must have gone into the telling of the story of the Norman Invasion of England. It is 74 metres long! To my surprise I saw that the two figures generally held up to be Harold Godwinson can not be the same man. In the 'arrow-in-the-eye' shot he has green stockings, in the one where he falls backwards dropping his axe, he has stockings with alternate buff and green bands. I must go over my chain of photos that we bought to see what I can 'sus out'. I caught out the Timewatch TV programme twice, (Julius Caesar) and the (Conquistadors), can I do the same with such a famous thing? From that breath-taking venue we came back to normality and to the restaurant La Petit Normand for lunch, we had a starter of raw fish, ( well, smoked herring and raw salmon), a dinner of pork fillet with frites and vegetables and piquant sauce, also a flan caramel. Oh those French! On from Bayeux to a closer battle scene in time. To Point Du Hoc and visited the scene of devastation of the German bunkers by Royal Navy shelling on D-Day. It must have been hell at that moment, hardly a yard of ground is not disturbed and full of craters. They have been left to nature. We walked through one that did not have a path through it because it was too steep. We made it by use of my walking stick; I could get partly up, then reach it back for Rita to grab to pull herself up behind me. Of course the place was also a memorial to the many young Americans who assaulted those cliffs. From there to Arromanches where we visited the D-Day museum, saw 2 films and took photos of the remnants of Mulberry harbour lying in the now peaceful bay. Had a coffee along the street from a old French woman with a face like her (well) ahum.. Along past Omaha Beach to the American cemetery where 9,000 of them are buried. I stopped to read one that looked different, a star of David marked a Jewish American grave. Rita found an Armstrong there too. Donald B. Armstrong, Tech Sergeant, 524 Bomber Squadron. 397 Bomber Group (H). Ohio, September 3rd, 1943. That huge cemetery, only one of many, was a solemn reminder of the debt we owe. I am sure there will be many more in that vast array of white marble gravestones that shows the price of liberty. Continental Europeans are very conscious of it. Back to the bus and returned to Caen. Had dinner at 8. A little sooner than last night. Starter of fish terrine, Duck with garlic potatoes etc. and ice cream for dessert. Oh those French! Again to our room early and then to bed for an early start. Wed. Sep. 11. Up at 7, breakfast at 8, they are all self service, a goodly selection of fruits, cereals, orange drinks, coffee, cold meats and cheese with lovely crusty bread. Oh those French! Off to Mont San Michel, a good long run through nice scenery, very green and a rolling landscape. Normandy is a lovely Province. Passed the Bocage country where so many murderous fights took place in 1944. There the Allies had to fight for every yard of ground in those tree and brush squares designed to keep the wind at bay from the farmlands. We saw Saint Michel from a distance of some kilometres, it was far more spectacular than I had realised. I thought it was just another town, but it is a church cum fortress built out of an outstanding rock formation, similar to Holy Island castle in Northumberland but much larger. The walk for car visitors is too long, 2 kilometres, but we were dropped at the special point for buses. Had not enough time and it was red hot. We only had time to look at the shops, (this was the complaint of all the places we went to) and we had to turn back when we reached the monastery. Bought cards, took photos, Rita got some special famous biscuits for her grandchildren and back to the bus. To St Malo, a very strongly fortified walled town with a crowded harbour containing a forest of masts. Had lunch in the Café de l'Ouest. In the Place Chateaubriand. It was crowded and we had to sit just the two of us, but we had a good meal, a bacon and onion omelette with salad and pommes frites, and red wine. It had a donkey cart in metal on the canopy, containing a lady with a Spanish style fan and a gentleman handing a gift to her. Very chocolate box I thought. Coming out a dolt of a waiter stood to attention and shouted something to me about about "Mein Fuhrer" but then I've always said Frenchmen can't tell the difference between Brits and Germans. There we went into the cathedral of St Vincent and there I looked up and saw some strange by-plays of colour caused by sunlight through the stained glass windows, in themselves, too modern to be special, but the lights were magnetic. Because of that light we found the tomb of Jaques Cartier, who lived 1491 to 1557 the man who discovered Canada, and died there! His remains were brought back to France in 1949. Walked round shops (literally, it's a circular town 3 kms) and had coffee and a beer in the le Lion d' Or. It was expensive, coffee 3.50, Euros beer 3.50 Euros. Oh those French! (Euros are about the same value as U.S. dollars). We had all the time to do little at St Malo that we would have liked at other places. Back to the bus at 5. On the return journey we stopped for fuel, and they used the stop to give us all a drink of Pommeau or Calvados. It was a nice gesture, maybe calculated for tips but fine anyway. René the courier described how the five main drinks of Normandy were Pommeau, and Calvados (made from apples) Poiré, made from pears, Benedictine, a liquer made with herbs, and lastly Cidre, cider to you and me. Back at 7.45, dinner at 8.15. Crudittes with cream sauce, main course spaghetti in a yellow sauce and a cutlet of pork. Fruit for dessert. Again, Oh those French! We sat as usual with Rose Marie and Eddie and did much talking but we had to break it up for lack of time. Despite having weary, aching legs Rita had to pack everything for, guess what, yet another early call, in fact, the earliest one yet, 6 a.m. for breakfast at 7. Thurs, Sep. 12. Left 8.30. arrived later at Fécamp and to the Benedictine palace cum distillery. It is a splendid building, a riot of carving, plaster work, works of art in many forms. A classic example of the richness that religious zeal can produce. It is also a museum with many interesting old locks etc, works of the Flemish painters and all. We had our free drink in the visitors lounge and of course bought a bottle, in fact 2, one for Willy and Christiane as a small token of appreciation for all the favours they do us. Also bought cards. One man from the four that got on with us at St Niklaas told me a surprising thing, that English and French had 51 percent of the same words. I can believe it. But I'm sure they'd never understand the way we say them, <Grin> Both Rita and I were amazed at how much we can read in French, she can speak it better than me and revived words she thought she did not know. Leaving there at last we wended our way back to Etretat on the coast again, a very old village of half timbered houses, whole timbered in some cases. We had lunch upstairs in the Auberge Express in the Place Foch. I thought the two could not handle 54 diners but I was wrong. Having the orders made the day before the man and his wife served us all in double quick time. We had beer and mussels and fritten, French style, very tasty. Oh those French! Back to the bus and set off for home. It was a long run through gradually flattening landscapes, we stopped at one place for coffee and toilets, a hurry up joint, no milk for the coffee, no courtesy either, René says he will not use it again. Oh those French! From there over the frontier into Belgie as the board says, to Kortrijk where we dropped off the first people. Hit traffic jams a bit round there (they call them files pro feel-es), then on to Gent. There we said goodbye to all those getting off including Rose Marie and Eddie, we have their address to send photos and a CD of Highland bagpipe music. Hmm! What a trip, what a whole package of memories and exciting venues, wonderful French cuisine, and a mixture of people and cultures. At Le Mont Saint Michel we were in throngs speaking all languages imaginable. Saw one group of Americans taking a photograph of an 18 inch wide stone stairway between two houses. No doubt to show to the good folk back at Duluth, Minn. I thought of all my old Armstrong lurkers and partakers on the List while we were at these remarkable places and pondered what they would have thought of such things. It was, despite its short duration, more experiences than I can cram into a year normally. I even found myself looking closely at the D-day photographs to try to recognise my Uncle Jim, or Edward, or Geordie! All three brothers were in the Allied Invasion, the first two on the first day. Strangely, they all look the same, British, Canadian, American etc, only the type of clothes were different, they were all bright youth at its best, and many of them were to stay that way in memory, and to remain forever close to where they landed. We must go to Brittany and Normandy again. We decided that we must. Rita De Kock, Joe Armstrong.

Rita and Joe, Thanks for sharing. You may have noticed some of the locals looked a little shell-shocked. That's because I recently drove a rental car over the same route, Texas style. I presume the little hand signs the other drivers kept flashing had something to do with the number 1. They sure were Texas friendly. Can't wait to go back. Chuck > [Original Message] > From: ritadekock@belghacom.net <joearmstrong@belgacom.net> > To: <ARMSTRONG-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 9/18/02 11:56:14 AM > Subject: [ARMSTRONG-L] Brittany and Normandy, 2002. Very Non Genealogical > > Dear Armstrongs, > > A memorable Trip. > > By Joe Armstrong, > > Wintam village, in the Province of Antwerpen, > Monday September 9, 2002. > > Willy Borms and his wife Christiane came > and took Rita and I to St Niklaas and left us at a > certain bus stop beside 4 other people who were > going on the same tour as we were. That was > Monday 9th of September. > > The coach arrived a bit late due to heavy traffic, > then we set off and picked up more people at > Lokeren and then Gent. It happened at Gent that a > man and his mother sat opposite on our right Eddie > and his mother Rose Marie are from Nieuwport on > the coast of Belgium and we soon struck up > acquaintance with them and spent most of our > meals sitting with them.. We stopped for coffee > along the way and onwards to Amiens. There > we visited the cathedral. > > Separately, some of us realised we had better ones, > I felt that my local i.e., Durham Cathedral could hold > its own, as this is supposed to be one of the better > ones in France. Still the carved ornate frontage was > very good I have to say that. > > From there we went on to Rouen, and were getting off > the bus after deciding I did not need an umbrella when > a peal of thunder struck and we all got wet crossing the > street! The whole group, 53 of us hustled along close to > walls, it did not help, we all got soaked. Arrived at the > Caf� Flunch, a fast food place in the Rue Des Carmes. > What a sorry spectacle we looked. However, fast food > or not, it was good quality. Oh those French! > > After that we walked, (thankfully in the sunshine) to > the place where Joan of Arc was burned to death. A > cross stands on the spot now. Looking around the > square at the ancient houses I tried to imagine the > awful scene, the mob, the vengeful churchmen who > condemned her, the fearful English soldiers who > were given the dirty work of burning her for a witch. > Too much noise, too many people, too many smells > from nearby restaurants all cashing in on the historic > site gimmick prevented my mind from travelling back > to the 15th century. But I have stood at the place. > > Next to the spot is a church, but of modern design, > you know, roofs like wings etc. In the form od a > ship. A bit of origami in metal and stone. > > Back along the narrow streets and through the ornate > archway to the bridge where a plaque marks the spot > where Joan's ashes were thrown in the Seine, (they say) > but I fear the river's edge would be different then to the > built up quayside banks of today. It was probably under > the modern road! > > BTW. Over here they call her Jean D' Arc, pronounced > like 'Shan Dark' > > To coach, another long walk, then on to Honfleur. It is a > very picturesque town, also a very expensive one! Caf� > prices were exorbitant. We walked (naturally) to the > harbour and visited a lovely wooden church, really > spectacular it is. The shape inside is of timber arches > supported by lines of square wooden beams along the > length of the nave. It has a feel not quite like any church > I have been in. I sat there lost in thought, recalling other > churches, in other places but this had a different feel to it, > more homely somehow. We were quite taken by its wonder. > > Bought picture cards then back along to our coach and on > to our destination at Caen and arrived at the Campanile > motel there late. Had dinner after 9, but it was excellent. > A bit of confusion re Rita's needs but Ren� the guide > helped out and sorted things. The three smokers who > got on at Gent smoked in the dining room, the only > ones to do so, naturally, they sat at the next table to us. > The sign 'defense de fumer' means nothing to them. > > We had a good room, facilities were a bath cum shower, > a good shower at that, washbasin, toilet, all necessary > towels, shampoos/soaps each day./ also TV set with an alarm > feature for early calls, a long table and tea making > equipment. To bed, and slept like babes! > Tues, Sep, 10. > Up early, to breakfast with Rose Marie and Eddie. > We four sat at another table. Still the smokers ended > up on the next one to us. I think they must be aware > that nobody is making overtures to them but all are > being friendly with us, and especially Rose Marie > and her son Eddie who is a pleasant chap. > > Off to Bayeux and to the museum to see the famous > tapestry, again, a long walk! What a fabulous thing > it was for me to creep alongside the real one behind > its glass frontage, leaning on the handrails designed > to keep folk off the glass. I scrutinised every picture > as much as time permitted, but always the inexorable > clock ticking away. My mind went back 60 years to > when Mr. Bell our class teacher first told us of the > tapestry, was it really that long ago? But here we > were, standing before the reality of that thing nine > and a half centuries old. The endless hours of > hand-stitching that must have gone into the telling of > the story of the Norman Invasion of England. It is > 74 metres long! > > To my surprise I saw that the two figures generally > held up to be Harold Godwinson can not be the same > man. In the 'arrow-in-the-eye' shot he has green > stockings, in the one where he falls backwards > dropping his axe, he has stockings with alternate buff > and green bands. I must go over my chain of photos > that we bought to see what I can 'sus out'. > > I caught out the Timewatch TV programme twice, > (Julius Caesar) and the (Conquistadors), can I do > the same with such a famous thing? > > From that breath-taking venue we came back to > normality and to the restaurant La Petit Normand > for lunch, we had a starter of raw fish, ( well, > smoked herring and raw salmon), a dinner of pork > fillet with frites and vegetables and piquant sauce, > also a flan caramel. Oh those French! > > On from Bayeux to a closer battle scene in time. > To Point Du Hoc and visited the scene of devastation > of the German bunkers by Royal Navy shelling > on D-Day. It must have been hell at that moment, > hardly a yard of ground is not disturbed and full > of craters. They have been left to nature. We > walked through one that did not have a path > through it because it was too steep. We made > it by use of my walking stick; I could get partly > up, then reach it back for Rita to grab to pull > herself up behind me. Of course the place was > also a memorial to the many young Americans > who assaulted those cliffs. > > From there to Arromanches where we visited > the D-Day museum, saw 2 films and took photos > of the remnants of Mulberry harbour lying in the > now peaceful bay. Had a coffee along the street > from a old French woman with a face like her > (well) ahum.. > > Along past Omaha Beach to the American > cemetery where 9,000 of them are buried. I > stopped to read one that looked different, a > star of David marked a Jewish American grave. > Rita found an Armstrong there too. > > Donald B. Armstrong, > Tech Sergeant, > 524 Bomber Squadron. > 397 Bomber Group (H). > Ohio, September 3rd, 1943. > > That huge cemetery, only one of many, was > a solemn reminder of the debt we owe. I am > sure there will be many more in that vast > array of white marble gravestones that shows > the price of liberty. Continental Europeans > are very conscious of it. > > Back to the bus and returned to Caen. Had dinner > at 8. A little sooner than last night. Starter of fish > terrine, Duck with garlic potatoes etc. and ice cream > for dessert. Oh those French! Again to our room > early and then to bed for an early start. > Wed. Sep. 11. > Up at 7, breakfast at 8, they are all self service, a > goodly selection of fruits, cereals, orange drinks, > coffee, cold meats and cheese with lovely crusty > bread. Oh those French! > > Off to Mont San Michel, a good long run through > nice scenery, very green and a rolling landscape. > Normandy is a lovely Province. Passed the Bocage > country where so many murderous fights took place > in 1944. There the Allies had to fight for every yard > of ground in those tree and brush squares designed to > keep the wind at bay from the farmlands. > > We saw Saint Michel from a distance of some > kilometres, it was far more spectacular than I had > realised. I thought it was just another town, but it is > a church cum fortress built out of an outstanding rock > formation, similar to Holy Island castle in Northumberland > but much larger. The walk for car visitors is too long, > 2 kilometres, but we were dropped at the special > point for buses. > > Had not enough time and it was red hot. We only had > time to look at the shops, (this was the complaint of all > the places we went to) and we had to turn back when > we reached the monastery. Bought cards, took photos, > Rita got some special famous biscuits for her > grandchildren and back to the bus. > > To St Malo, a very strongly fortified walled town > with a crowded harbour containing a forest of masts. > Had lunch in the Caf� de l'Ouest. In the Place > Chateaubriand. It was crowded and we had to sit > just the two of us, but we had a good > meal, a bacon and onion omelette with salad and > pommes frites, and red wine. It had a donkey cart > in metal on the canopy, containing a lady with a > Spanish style fan and a gentleman handing a gift to her. > Very chocolate box I thought. Coming out a dolt of > a waiter stood to attention and shouted something > to me about about "Mein Fuhrer" but then I've always said > Frenchmen can't tell the difference between Brits and > Germans. > > There we went into the cathedral of St Vincent and > there I looked up and saw some strange by-plays of > colour caused by sunlight through the stained glass > windows, in themselves, too modern to be special, > but the lights were magnetic. Because of that light > we found the tomb of Jaques Cartier, who lived 1491 > to 1557 the man who discovered Canada, and died > there! His remains were brought back to France in 1949. > > Walked round shops (literally, it's a circular town 3 kms) > and had coffee and a beer in the le Lion d' Or. It was > expensive, coffee 3.50, Euros beer 3.50 Euros. > Oh those French! > (Euros are about the same value as U.S. dollars). > > We had all the time to do little at St Malo that we > would have liked at other places. Back to the bus > at 5. On the return journey we stopped for fuel, and > they used the stop to give us all a drink of Pommeau > or Calvados. It was a nice gesture, maybe calculated > for tips but fine anyway. Ren� the courier described > how the five main drinks of Normandy were Pommeau, > and Calvados (made from apples) Poir�, made from > pears, Benedictine, a liquer made with herbs, and lastly > Cidre, cider to you and me. Back at 7.45, dinner at 8.15. > Crudittes with cream sauce, main course spaghetti in a > yellow sauce and a cutlet of pork. Fruit for dessert. > Again, Oh those French! > > We sat as usual with Rose Marie and Eddie and did > much talking but we had to break it up for lack of time. > Despite having weary, aching legs Rita had to pack > everything for, guess what, yet another early call, in > fact, the earliest one yet, 6 a.m. for breakfast at 7. > > Thurs, Sep. 12. > Left 8.30. arrived later at F�camp and to the > Benedictine palace cum distillery. It is a splendid > building, a riot of carving, plaster work, works of > art in many forms. A classic example of the richness > that religious zeal can produce. It is also a museum > with many interesting old locks etc, works of the > Flemish painters and all. We had our free drink in the > visitors lounge and of course bought a bottle, in fact > 2, one for Willy and Christiane as a small token of > appreciation for all the favours they do us. Also > bought cards. > > One man from the four that got on with us at St Niklaas > told me a surprising thing, that English and French had > 51 percent of the same words. I can believe it. But I'm > sure they'd never understand the way we say them, <Grin> > > Both Rita and I were amazed at how much we can read > in French, she can speak it better than me and revived > words she thought she did not know. Leaving there at > last we wended our way back to Etretat on the coast again, > a very old village of half timbered houses, whole > timbered in some cases. We had lunch upstairs in the > Auberge Express in the Place Foch. I thought the two > could not handle 54 diners but I was wrong. Having the > orders made the day before the man and his wife > served us all in double quick time. We had beer and > mussels and fritten, French style, very tasty. > Oh those French! > > Back to the bus and set off for home. It was a long run > through gradually flattening landscapes, we stopped at > one place for coffee and toilets, a hurry up joint, no milk > for the coffee, no courtesy either, Ren� says he will not > use it again. > Oh those French! > > From there over the frontier into Belgie as the board > says, to Kortrijk where we dropped off the first people. > Hit traffic jams a bit round there (they call them files > pro feel-es), then on to Gent. There we said goodbye > to all those getting off including Rose Marie and Eddie, > we have their address to send photos and a CD of > Highland bagpipe music. Hmm! > > What a trip, what a whole package of memories and > exciting venues, wonderful French cuisine, and a > mixture of people and cultures. > > At Le Mont Saint Michel we were in throngs speaking > all languages imaginable. Saw one group of Americans > taking a photograph of an 18 inch wide stone stairway > between two houses. No doubt to show to the good > folk back at Duluth, Minn. > > I thought of all my old Armstrong lurkers and partakers > on the List while we were at these remarkable places > and pondered what they would have thought of such > things. It was, despite its short duration, more > experiences than I can cram into a year normally. > > I even found myself looking closely at the D-day > photographs to try to recognise my Uncle Jim, or > Edward, or Geordie! All three brothers were in the > Allied Invasion, the first two on the first day. > Strangely, they all look the same, British, > Canadian, American etc, only the type of clothes > were different, they were all bright youth at its best, > and many of them were to stay that way in memory, > and to remain forever close to where they landed. > > We must go to Brittany and Normandy again. > > We decided that we must. > > Rita De Kock, > Joe Armstrong. > > > --- Charles Armstrong --- mutinyct@earthlink.net --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/mbexec/msg/5538/kQB.2ACIB/486.725.2 Message Board Post: What info do you have?

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: armstrong checkley Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/mbexec/msg/5538/kQB.2ACIB/486.725.1 Message Board Post: Has Liz replied to you? Liz is my Auntie. I have info on Winifred Checkley.

Good Day Cousins: It has been a while. Well, I picked up the W32=KLAZ virus from somewhere, and by the time we figured out what was wrong, and my moving things so I wouldnt loose them, I lost it all. I just want to thank you all who sending me information that I was able to print off, I now have a place to start. I had printed off some of my own, but since it was all in the computer, I didnt want to waste the print paper by printing everything. GERrrrr. I dont know weather that was a good thing, or a bad thing. Appreciate you all, you will never know how much. Nan Armstrong, Brunner, Campbell, Carley, Chevalier, Clark, Clay/Klee, Cochran, Curtis, Dawes, De Remer Durbin, Foote, Gardner, Garretson, Gibson, Griffin, Hare/Hair, Hays, Kantner, Kitch, Lancaster, Langlois, Laughlin, LeBrun, Leduc, MacDonald, Mann, Morgan, Redding, Rice, Valier/Vallier.

Bedpans!!?? They told me the day they painted the Director of Nursing sign on my office door I would be relieved of all future bedpan duties. One would need to be more than just a friend to get me to do that again. I think I dumped a jillion and I was pretty good at it too. I can vouch for the other rules based on successful application of most. ca > [Original Message] > From: <OneLdyBear@aol.com> > To: <ARMSTRONG-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 9/15/02 6:54:40 PM > Subject: [ARMSTRONG-L] Non-gen: Life's real rules > > Sometimes we just need to remember WHAT the Rules of Life really are.... > > 1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas. > > 2. You need only two tools. WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move > and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape. > > 3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: > "I apologize" and "You are right." > > 4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. > > 5. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. > It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm. > > 6. The only really good advice that your mother ever gave you was, > "Go! You might meet somebody!" > > 7. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her-believe them. > > 8. Learn to pick your battles; ask yourself, 'Will this matter one year > from now? How about one month? One week? One day?' > > 9. Never pass up an opportunity to pee. > > 10. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance! > > 11. Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a > bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was > right about you. > > 12. Work is good, but it's not that important. > > 13. And finally ... Be really nice to your friends. You never know when > you are going to need them to empty your bedpan. > ====================================== > > > > > --- Charles Armstrong --- mutinyct@earthlink.net --- EarthLink: It's your Internet.

Sometimes we just need to remember WHAT the Rules of Life really are.... 1. Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas. 2. You need only two tools. WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape. 3. The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: "I apologize" and "You are right." 4. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. 5. When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm. 6. The only really good advice that your mother ever gave you was, "Go! You might meet somebody!" 7. If he/she says that you are too good for him/her-believe them. 8. Learn to pick your battles; ask yourself, 'Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?' 9. Never pass up an opportunity to pee. 10. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance! 11. Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you. 12. Work is good, but it's not that important. 13. And finally ... Be really nice to your friends. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan. ======================================

=========================================== HUMOR =========================================== · HARD TO SWALLOW... A dietitian was once addressing a large audience in Chicago. "The material we put into our stomaches is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks erode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. Vegetables can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water." "But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all and we all have, or will, eat it. Can anyone here tell me what food it is that causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?" A 75-year-old man in the front row stood up and said, "Wedding cake!" ** Using Legacy, THE genealogy program! ** To download the new Legacy 4.0 free version, click here: http://www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/Index.asp?mid=13MBFAP Upgrading to the deluxe version after installation will give you even more features! --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.386 / Virus Database: 218 - Release Date: 9/9/02

My gg-grandfather was William Armstrong - born in Chirnside, Berwickshire, Scotland about 1795. I am especially interested in finding out about his wife - Jane BROWN, born in Northumberland, England about 1796. She died in Edinburgh in 1872 aged 76. Their family were David ARMSTRONG b. 1823, Susan ARMSTRONG b. 1825, Jane ARMSTRONG b. 1827 (my g-grandmother), James & Elizabeth ARMSTRONG b. 1831, William ARMSTRONG b. 1833, Alexander Knox ARMSTRONG b. 1835 and Katherine ARMSTRONG b. 1840. I would be delighted to hear from anyone with any connection to this family. Doreen.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Armstrong, Ethinger, Totman Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/kQB.2ACIB/2487 Message Board Post: I am unable to find anything on this part of my family line.... This would be my Great great grandma. My great grandmother's name was Ruth Cecelia born Abt 1893, M. Jacob presley Totman Sept. 4 1912 Her brother was the Three legged boy in Buffalo Bill's Great Wild West show, his real name was Georgie Francis Ethinger, But in show biz they named him May-Joe as he was male and female. Ruth was (according to family) born out of wed lock so we are not certain what her last name was at birth. I have no other information than above... ANY HELP WOULD BE GREAT!!!!!!!!!! Thank You