Reminiscences of the Revolution
Col. Martin Armstrong commanded a battalion at Guilford Court House, under Col Campbell and Col. Joseph Armstrong commanded a regiment three years under Gen. Washington in New Jersey, and was under Gen. Summer field of Eqtaw Springs, as commander of a battalion of infantry. He was a gallant soldier and a patriot worthy of honor in history:
Dobson, NC, Oct. 26, 1891
Last spring Mr. S. P. Graves requested me to examine the records in this (Surry) county, to learn what I could about Col. Martin and John Armstrong for you, of which fact I suppose he has informed you. Martin Armstrong had grants recorded to some fifty different tracts of land and they conveyed something over one hundred and fifty acres, much of which is the best farms in Surry county today. The last time he purchased any land was in the town of Rockford in 1803. At the next term of the county court he obtained license to retail whiskey at the homeplace. I find where he executed his bond for sheriff; John Armstrong was the principal surety. He was a member of the county court for years. I find at one court Martin Armstrong, Joseph Winston and Benjamin Cleveland presided at a special court. There are a great many things of interest on the old records relative to John and Martin Armstrong and many others.
John lived and principally operated in and around Old Richmond. I recently had some business transactions with an attorney in West Virginia and learned that he was a grandson of Col. Martin Armstrong. He informed me that his mother said that Col. Martin Armstrong left Surry county about 1810 and went to Tennessee and died in Nashville in 1825 and was interred at that place. Col John Armstrong, he says, left this county shortly after Martin did and went to Virginia (now West Virginia) and afterwards went to Ohio and died there.
I furnish you this thinking, perhaps, it will interest you. If I can be of further service to you on this line, please let me know.
Respectfully,
J. R. Lewellyn