Arrived in the Colony 1856 in ships from ???
A letter he wrote to his eldest son Alfred ARMSTRONG on 7th December 1915.
8 Mayne St
Invermay
Dec 7th 1925
Dear Alf
Just a few lines to say we got home and found every thing all right we had rather a rough trip Mabel was pretty bad I dont think she is a very good sailor however she is all right now we went to see Allan on the Thursday he is well his crops look fairly well considering the dry season we have had no rain since we came home it is badley wanted it is pretty hot some days we went to Stanley's on Thursday and home on Saturday have seen Lily (......?) they are all well. Stanley made a name for himself at Deloraine on the Saturday before we got home he took two horses to Deloraine and got put out for six months for not trying with one of them it was not his own horse either the owner knew nothing about it till he got to Town that (......?) he was in a great way over it however he, Stanley, has appealed to the Association. The Association has considered the appeal and refered it back to the Deloraine Club with very strong comments refered to the horses poor showing in other races and (seeking?) to (reccomend?) him at any time he got away
Page 2.
badley tangled in his (Hopples?) lost nearly 100 yds and then another horse fell in front of him he had to ride him to a stand still to get to the tail of the field then he was winded and could not go on. I believe the Association has notified the Deloraine Club the 5 months disqualification is out of all reason under the circumstances every one is disgusted with the verdict and thinks Stanley will get out of it it is a nuisance to him as he has a lot of horses in work for the Christmas meetings at different places he dont like it he says if he had pulled the horse and got caught he would not complain the owner is satisfied I believe. Well now about my finger it has been giving me a lot of pain since I came home until the last two days it looks now as if it is going to heal but I am not going to say much about it yet we have been disappointed in it so often at the same time I can only say I have better hopes of it the last two days than I have had for many months this is a (line?) letter for (such?) I had nearly forgot to say those (....?) you gave me works splendidly in the (......?) remember me kindly to Lindsay & Mrs Harris when you see them and fond
love from us both from your Alf
Father
P.S. They started the same horse in a race last week with another man (West) on and he did not go any better than he did for Stanley.
Last 9 years of his life was married to Mabel Mary YELLAND of Melbourne,VIC.
Extract out of the "(Launceston?) Examiner newspaper dated 22/3/1928.
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OBITUARY
MR. THOMAS ARMSTRONG GREAT LOVER OF HORSES
After 75 years of active life, from which the community, particularly the formerly of Westbury and Hadspen, but Westbury district, greatly benefited, Mr. Thomas Armstrong died early yesterday morning at his residence, 8 Mayne-street, Invermay, TAS. He was a native of Scotland, and arrived in Tasmania at the age of three. His father, the late Mr. Alexander Armstrong, settled first at Breadalbane for five years, and finally in agricultural pursuits at Bishopsbourne.
In 1888 the deceased took up about 500 acres of rich agricultural land near Westbury. He devoted many years to breeding racing and trotting horses, with excellent results. A particularly consistent performer in earlier years was Len, which won innumerable trophies as a hack and harness horse. He imported from Victoria the trotting stallion Prince Har [by Honesty Harry-Childe Harold.]
His best racer was the steeple chaser Victor, for which he was offered 500 Guineas. He was one of the best riders or drivers of trotting horses in the state in his young days, and never used a whip, according to reputation. He won many hunters prizes in the show yards. As a judge of horseflesh he was perhaps unequalled in Tasmania, particularly in relation to draughts and harness horses, both of which classes he bred successfully. He was associated with the Longford and Carick racing clubs as judge and starter.
In the early seventies he was one of the best ploughmen. He won a large number of minor matches and over a dozen championships, and was one of three Tasmanian representatives in an intercolonial match at Geelong.
The late Mr. Armstrong was for years chairman of the Westbury Road Trust and was on the committee of the local Agricultural Association. His reputation was of the finest. He was always extremely popular and it was said that he had not an enemy. He was a J.P. for Westbury.
In 1876 he married Mary, daughter of the late Mr. John Hall, of Bishopsbourne, and reared a family of four sons and a daughter, namely Allan, Alfred, Stanley, and Frank (deceased), and Lilly (now Mrs. H.B. Archer). Subsequently he married Miss Mabel Mary Yelland, of Melbourne.
Leaving Westbury, he removed to Hadspen, where he resided for about ten years. Then he retired, and spent the rest of his life at Launceston. The funeral will leave his late residence at 3.30 this afternoon for the Carr Villa Cemetery.
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The late Mr. Thomas Armstrong, latterly of Launceston, who died on Wednesday morning at his residence 8 Mayne-street, Invermay.
The funeral of the late Mr. Armstrong took place from his late residence, 8 Mayne-street, Invermay, yesterday afternoon. A brief service was conducted in the house by Rev. W.H. Leembruggen. There was a long cortege (?) of motorcars, indicative of the general esteem in which the deceased was held. Numerous wreaths which covered the coffin were sent from friends far and near. The chief mourners were the three sons, Messrs, Alfred, Allan, and Stanley, of Melbourne, Longford, and Scottsdale respectively. The only daughter (Mrs. Hedley Archer) was among the chief mourners at the old house, with the widow, to whom Mr. Armstrong was married for nine years.
Also at the funeral were Messrs, Hedley Archer (son-in-law), Gerald Archer, E.G. Hall (Alanvale), R.L. Hall (Westbury), and J.C. Hall (Hadspen), nephews. The service at the graveside was conducted by Rev. W.H. Leembruggen.
Examiner newspaper dated 23/3/1928.
