Victoria County, New Brunswick - History of Perth-Andover
The following list was sent to the  [email protected], Daniel F. Johnson, and is used here with his permission.
    In 1967, the town of Perth-Andover was created by the amalgamation of the former villages of Andover and Perth, situated on opposite sides of the Saint John River. Perth, located on the east side of the river, is situated on lands originally reserved in 1801 for the Maliseet Indians. About 1854, the lands were surveyed and granted to settlers, some of whom had squatted on the land since 1814. Although the original boundaries of the reserve were observed when the lots were surveyed for the military settlements and the the noted Indian commissioner, Moses Perley, in his report of 1841 complained of the squatters who were lumbering on the reserved land, little was done to protect the interest of the Indians. The squatters identified in 1854 included Samuel Lovely, James Murphy, Abraham Topham, John Hanson, Benjamin Beveridge, Stillman Armstrong, John Larlee, Sr., Elijah Larlee, Thomas Lovely, Joseph Lovely, John Larlee, jr., Daniel Craig, James Taylor, Sutton Armstrong, Anthony Nichols, Joseph Topham, Amos Larlee, David Lewis Dibblee, Frederick Giberson, Barnabas Armstrong. Not all of the squatters were actually settled upon the land. David Lewis Dibblee and Benjamin Beveridge lived elsewhere but had a financial interest in the lots.
      According to Merle Armstrong, the progenitor of the Armstrong emigrated from Graitney, Dumfriesshire, Scotland to Halifax, N.S. in winter of 1769 to 1770. More information may be obtained from W.A. Calnek's, "History of the County of Annapolis": Biographical And Genealogical Sketches of the Families of the Early English Settlers and Grantees of the County of Annapolis page 465. Merle Armstrong says that Richard married Catherine Schafner and by this union had twelve children. W.A. Calnek lists a son James b. 1780 m. Ann Phinney. James Armstrong arrived in the Andover area in the fall of 1827 and died there 26 June 1851. His son Barnabas came in 1831. Barnabas was a first cousin of the brothers, Stillman and Sutton Armstrong of Perth, the sons of Richard, jr. and Ann (Walker) Armstrong. Barnabas Armstrong - 1854 Lot 12 had been sold to John Larlee by Barnabas Armstrong who relinquished his claim to Lot 12 "from his misfortune in becoming blind with a large family to support." 1851 living in Lower Andover. (N.B. Provincial records Indian Papers, P.A.N.B.) Arrived in 1831 from Nova Scotia, age 36; wife Mary Jane, native, 35. children: Catharine, 10, James V., 9, Barnabas, 7, Lucinda Ann, 4, Caroline A., 2, Mary Jane, 1, Sarah Elizabeth, 2 weeks. (1851 Census Victoria County)


Mounted: 27 May 1999
Updated:Monday, 29-Sep-2003 10:52:05 MDT