“John Armstrong son of the above [Armbrose [sic] Armstrong and Mary his wife] was born Jany. 24th 1762.” [Armstrong family Bible at the Virginia State Archives, Acc. 27094]

John Armstrong was mentioned in the 28 February 1768 will of his father Ambrose Armstrong. He was to receive a year of school in addition to a share of the estate. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 12, pages 321–322.]

On 2 May 1818, the Superior Court of the District of Fredericksburg heard the case of Gideon Purkins, Young D. Purkins, Henry Purkins, Fleming Ransome & Betsy his wife, John Burke & Mary his wife, Caty Boughan & Thomas Boughan infant children of Caty Boughan, who was Caty Purkins, by Purkins Armstrong their next friend, John Armstrong & Sally his wife, Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife, and William Purkins, plaintiffs, against Gabriel Purkins, defendant. “This cause came on to be heard on the bill, answer, exhibits and examinations of witnesses, and was argued by counsel: On consideration whereof since it appears to the Court that Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife, by their indenture dated the 12th day of April 1817, have conveyed all their interest in the land in the bill mentioned to Washington H. Purkins, and that Philemon Purkins conveyed his one sixth of the said land to the defendant, the Court doth adjudge, order and decree that the plaintiff Gideon Purkins do recover of the defendant 10/48 parts of the said tract of land, situated in the County of Essex, whereof Henry Purkins lately died seized; that the plaintiffs Caty Boughan and Thomas Boughan, in right of their mother Caty Boughan, deceased, do recover of the defendant for their joint use 2/48 parts of the said land; that the plaintiffs John Armstrong & Sally his wife, in right of the said Sally, do recover of the defendant 2/48 parts of the said land; that the plaintiffs Fleming Ransome and Betsy his wife & John Burke & Mary his wife, in right of the said Betsy & Mary respectively, and William Purkins & Henry Purkins, each do recover of the defendant 1/48 part of the said land. And the Court doth further adjudge, order and decree that Henry Thomas, William Latané, Edwin Upshaw and Robert Haile, or any two of them, do allot to the several plaintiffs aforesaid, their aforesaid shares respectively, according to value, and assign the same by metes and bounds, leaving for the defendant 18/48 parts of the said land, and for Washington H. Purkins 12/48 parts thereof, being the shares of Young D. Purkins & Cary Purkins. And the Court doth further adjudge, order and decree, that the defendant do render before one of the Commissioners of this Court an account of the rents and profits of the land aforesaid, from the time he came to the possession thereof, until the said allotment be made — and the said Commissioner is directed to State and settle an account between the defndant and the plaintiffs respectively, and to report the said accounts to the Court, with any special matter that he may thing pertinant or any party may require. And on motion of Washington H. Purkins it is ordered, that the Clerk of this Court do deliver to him the deed amongst the exhibits from Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife to the said Washington H. Purkins, bearing date the 3d day of April, 1818, the said Clerk retaining a copy thereof.” [Chancery Order Book 1814–1818, Superior Court, District of Fredericksburg, page 438.]

On 7 October 1819, in the case of Gideon Purkins, Young D. Purkins, Henry Purkins, Fleming Ransome and Betsy his wife, John Burke & Mary his wife, Caty Boughan, & Thomas Boughan, infant children of Caty Boughan who was Caty Purkins, by Purkins Armstrong their next friend, John Armstrong and Sally his wife, Thomas L. Dunn & Cary his wife, & William Purkins, plaintiffs, against Gabriel Purkins, defendant, “This case came on to be heard on the papers formerly read and sundry depositions filed since the former hearing, and the report of Commissioner Barton made pursuant to the order of the 2nd day of May, 1818 … and was argued by counsel: On consideration whereof the Court, overruling the said exceptions and adopting the Commissioner’s 2nd statement, (not because the principles on which it is framed are unexceptionable, but because the result is the same, or nearly the same, that a statement formed on more correct principles would have produced) doth adjudge, order and decree, that the defendant pay to the plaintiff Gideon Purkins $250: 70 cents, to the plaintiffs Caty Boughan & Thomas Boughan in right of their deceased mother Caty Boughan $51: 40 cents, to the plaintiffs John Armstrong & Sally his wife $51: 40 cents, to the plaintiffs Fleming Ransome and Betsy his wife $25: 27 cents, to the plaintiffs John Burke & Mary his wife $25: 27 cents, to William Purkins $25: 27 cents, to Henry Purkins $25: 27 cents, and retain $303: 24 for Washington H. Purkins and the residue of the balance charged by the Commissioner to profits for himself.” [Chancery Order Book 1818–1820, Superior Court, District of Fredericksburg, page 199.]

On 18 September 1820, John Armstrong and Sarah his wife who was Sarah Purkins, and Josiah Minter and Catharine his wife who was Catharine Boughan, all of the County of Essex, for the purpose of conveyance of their interest in a certain Tract of Land in the county of Buckingham, which Land the late Henry Purkins died possessed, appoint Thomas Boughan and John P. Armstrong their true and lawful attorneys. Signed John Armstrong, Sarah Armstrong, Josiah Minter, Catharine Minter. Witnesses: George his + mark Davis, John T Purkins, James his + mark Haile. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 40, pages 145–146.]

On 15 January 1821, John Armstrong and Caston Boughan were bound $100 for John Armstrong’s administration of the estate of Catharine Banks. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 19, page 163.]

He is mentioned in the will of his brother Ellis in 1839.