Melvyn & Sharron Pearson |Tandragee|Co Armagh BT62
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ARMSTRONG & LINKS TO THE ORANGE ORDER
T
here was a link on both sides of the Atlantic between MY Great Grandfather William
Henry Grattan Armstrong and his family and the Armstrong's back in Ireland namely
my Grandfather William James Armstrong. The interest of the Loyal Orange Order and
Royal Black Preceptory was a common thread between the Armstrong's both sides of
the big sheugh.
William Henry Grattan Armstrong felt so strongly about the Orange Order he wrote a book Separate Schools - Introduction of the Dual System into Eastern Canada and its Subsequent Extension to the West. Note the grand title my Great Grandfather wrote the book under.
W H G ARMSTRONG, GL, G.B.C.B.A. Grand Organiser Loyal Orange Association Saskatchewan.
The book was published in 1918 and is now held in the Saskatchewan Archives, in Canada. However I am proud to say I have now procured a copy for myself which I have put along with all my other family paraphernalia and nick knacks.
This is a link to the Full Book which can be read on line:
READ SEPARATE SCHOOLS BY W H G ARMSTRONG
The inside Cover of the archived book has my Great Grandfather’s Signature on the
ins
ide cover as seen here.
Compliments of W.H.G Armstrong.
On the 1911 Census William Henry Grattan bit Grand Organiser on the Census Form as
opposed to 1901 when he had put Brass Polisher. But the Orangism he had obviously
taken from his roots in Ireland and I’ sure he was a member of an Orange Lodge prior
to departing Irelands shores but I have yet to confirm that fact. I have in my possession
another photograph of my half Great U
ncle, my Grandfather’s half brother Melville
Leslie Grattan Armstrong in Royal Black Preceptory regalia as seen here on the right
of page.
As William Henry Grattan’s two sons Melville & Cecil William were ‘doing' the orange bits in Canada my Grandfather William James was doing likewise as he inaugurated the Orange Lodge of Ballyshiel. I am not sure if it was both Orange & Black or only the Black but one or the other or both. Down the years my gran dad was Worshipful Master of both Ballyshiel Orange & Black and banners were unfurled by his wife Dinah and later by my mother Betsy Armstrong.