GENERATION 11

GENERATION 10

Biography

JONATHAN ARMSTRONG was living in Misquamicut (Westerly), Washington, RI, or Pawcatuck, New London, CT, as early as 1640, amid the riots, inroads, writs, and judgments that possessed that area which came into political dispute, along the borders between Connecticut and Rhode Island. In 1670, the land was claimed by Connecticut as being part of Stonington.

The town of Westerly, RI, was originally settled in the year 1661 by a colony from the island of Aquidneck (now Rhode Island), and mostly from the town of Newport. Its Indian name appears under the various orthography of Misquamicut, Misquamocuck, Swampscot, Squamicutt, Squamicuck, etc.

The original articles of agreement of the purchasers of Misquamicut, bearing the date Mar. 22, 1660/61, were signed by 76 persons, of whom only a small portion actually settled there. And of those who settled, a number soon joined the settlement of Kingstown. Others came through, and by 1679 families of 35 different names were living there.

A list of "free inhabitants" from the first volume of town meeting records includes the name JONATHAN ARMSTRONG. The list is dated May 18, 1669, but was not recorded in the books until Mar. 22, 1682/83.

JONATHAN removed to Norwich in October, 1677, perhaps because 100 acres of land was granted to him by the Legislature of Connecticut, as partial redress of his grievances.

In 1693, JONATHAN sold his land and removed to Roxbury, Suffolk, MA, with his daughters, Mercy and Martha.