James Rogers Armstrong
Encyclopedia
James Rogers Armstrong was a businessman and political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Dorchester (Iberville
) in Quebec
in 1787, he was a grandson of Loyalist, Col. James Rogers
and studied in Vermont
after both his parents died during the early 1790s. He settled in Hallowell Township in Prince Edward County
in Upper Canada in 1807. He later went into business as a merchant in Picton
and Kingston
and, in 1828, opened a store in York (Toronto
). In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
representing Prince Edward. He was appointed a justice of the peace in the Home District
in 1837. In the 1840s, he opened a foundry
which manufactured stove
s. His son, also named James Rogers Armstrong, took over the family business in 1856, when his father retired to Whitby
. James Senior died in Whitby in 1873.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Dorchester (Iberville
Iberville, Quebec
Iberville was a city in the Montérégie region of Quebec, Canada, on the east side of the Richelieu River, across from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. It was about 30 miles from Montreal, and about the same distance from the United States border at the head of Lake Champlain...
) in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in 1787, he was a grandson of Loyalist, Col. James Rogers
James Rogers (soldier)
James Rogers was an Irish-born soldier. He emigrated to America at a young age and became a frontiersman. He served with his brother Robert Rogers during the French and Indian War...
and studied in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
after both his parents died during the early 1790s. He settled in Hallowell Township in Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County is a single-tier municipality and a census division of the Canadian province of Ontario.-Geography:Prince Edward County is located in Southern Ontario on a large irregular headland or littoral at the eastern end of Lake Ontario, just west of the head of the St. Lawrence River...
in Upper Canada in 1807. He later went into business as a merchant in Picton
Picton, Ontario
Picton is an unincorporated community located in Prince Edward County in southern Central Ontario, Canada. It is the county seat and largest community. Picton is located at the south-western end of Picton Bay, a branch of the Bay of Quinte, which is along the northern shoreline of Lake Ontario...
and Kingston
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston, Ontario is a Canadian city located in Eastern Ontario where the St. Lawrence River flows out of Lake Ontario. Originally a First Nations settlement called "Katarowki," , growing European exploration in the 17th Century made it an important trading post...
and, in 1828, opened a store in York (Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
). In 1836, he was elected to the 13th Parliament of Upper Canada
13th Parliament of Upper Canada
The 13th Parliament of Upper Canada was opened 8 November 1836. Elections in Upper Canada had been held 20 June 1836. All sessions were held at Toronto.The House of Assembly had five sessions 8 November 1836 to 10 February 1840....
representing Prince Edward. He was appointed a justice of the peace in the Home District
Home District
The Home District was one of four districts of the Province of Quebec created in 1788 in the western reaches of the Montreal District and partitioned in 1791 to create the new colony of Upper Canada. Known as Nassau District until 1792, it was composed of the areas along western Lake Ontario and...
in 1837. In the 1840s, he opened a foundry
Foundry
A foundry is a factory that produces metal castings. Metals are cast into shapes by melting them into a liquid, pouring the metal in a mold, and removing the mold material or casting after the metal has solidified as it cools. The most common metals processed are aluminum and cast iron...
which manufactured stove
Stove
A stove is an enclosed heated space. The term is commonly taken to mean an enclosed space in which fuel is burned to provide heating, either to heat the space in which the stove is situated or to heat the stove itself, and items placed on it...
s. His son, also named James Rogers Armstrong, took over the family business in 1856, when his father retired to Whitby
Whitby, Ontario
Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region...
. James Senior died in Whitby in 1873.