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 9 May 1828, Jno P. Armstrong made an affidavit taken at the Tavern of Jno: Temple at the Court House in Richmond County. The affiant was present last April when a conversation took place in Quarle’s between William Settle and John R Matthews respecting a Jack ass which the sd Matthews sold to Mr T. Mooklar. Matthews said to Settle that he had bought the Devil (alluding to the Jack Ass) and had sold him. It was my opinion that when the said Matthews bought the Jack, he was cheated. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 45, item 45-L-6.]

On 5 September 1829, John P Armstrong made an affidavit in Richmond County. That he considered Mr Philip Temple the agent of Mrs Matthews in Consequence of his the said Temple’s trasacting business concerning the estate of John R Matthews dec’d with this Affiant and that he was generally considered as such. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 45, item 45-L-9.]

On 15 December 1834, a bond was taken out in Essex County, Virginia, by John Armstrong with Joseph Armstrong his security for John’s marriage to Melissa Crow. [Essex County, Virginia, Marriage Register I, page 250.]

On 20 February 1837, John P Armstrong, Washington H Purkins and Leonard Henley were bound in the penalty of $5,000 for John P Armstrong’s administration of the estate of Hundley Moody, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 24, pages 97–98.]

In an undated petition, orators and oratrices Robert H Moody, Sthreshley Dunn and Mary his wife who was Mary Moody a daughter of Hundley Moody decd late of Essex County and Joseph Minor and Nancy his wife who was Nancy Moody another daughter of the said Hundley Moody and Daniel J Moody complained that the said Hundley Moody father of your orators Robert H Moody, Daniel J Moody and oratrices Mary Dunn and Nancy Minor, died on ____ 1837 leaving a widow Elizabeth Moody (who has since died) and your orators Robert H, Mary, Nancy, and Daniel J his only children and heirs. He died intestate and administration of his estate was granted to a John P Armstrong. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 48, item 48-J-10.]

In an undated petition from Croxton &c vs Crows heirs &c, orators and oratrices James Croxton and Sally his wife who was Sally Crow, John P. Armstrong and Malissa his wife who was Malissa Crow, complained that Thomas Crow the father of Sally and Malissa died in ____ 1825 having left a last will and testament, leaving a widow Sally Crow who died in _____ 1830 and seven children viz Nathaniel John George Sally who married your complainant Croxton, Malissa now married your complainant Armstrong, Cathrine [sic] who intermarried with John C. Brizendine and Elizabeth who intermarried with Benjamin Brooks. George died in ____ of full age intestate and without heir and John died in ____ of full age intestate and without heir. The estate was divided in the case of Crow vs. Crows Exrs. Nathaniel died sometime in the year 1833 or thereabouts leaving 5 children: Lucinda, John, Elizabeth, Thomas and Nathaniel, all under age. Cathrine the wife of John C. Brizendine died in 1833 without issue. That Elizabeth the wife of Benjamin Brooks died in ____ without issue. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 47, item 47-K-5.]

On 23 October 1839, John P. Armstrong provided a deposition in the case of Saunders vs. Crow. The deposition of John P. Armstrong of lawfull age taken this 23rd day of October 1839. in the Town of Tappahannock at the House of Thomas Matthews in the County of Essex, at the hour of 10 oclock, to be read as evidence in a suit depending in the Circuit Sup. Court of Law & Chancery for Essex County in which George Saunders and others are ptffs and James Croxton exer of Thomas Crow and others and defts, in pursuance of the notices herewith—
This deponent being first duly sworn deposes and says as follows—
Question by deft’s Counsel. Please state what conversation you have heard between the ptff Saunders, and the deft Croxton in relation to the subject of this suit, and all that passed between them—
Ans: I went with Mr Saunders to Mr Croxton’s House to see him in relation to this matter, there was then no suit depending we found Mr Croxton at a sale and they had a conversation when [where?] Mr Croxton said he was always ready to settle, they then agreed to [illegible] it Mr Croxton asked him to name a time he Saunders said he "could not untill he saw Col Wright and Mr Croxton told him Saunders that Mr Moses Crow was also willing and ready to have the matter settled Mr Saunders said something to Mr Croxton about board of the children he Saunders said it was a fair board and that it should be paid it was reasonable and just and that he would not have any thing that was not just and rather than have any that was unreasonable he would throw it away
Question by same—
Did you, or did you not understand that the children spoken of in your last answer, to be the present wives of the ptffs Saunders and Durham—
Ans yes—
Question by same—What did the ptff Saunders say in relation to the feelings of his wife towards the late Thomas Crow—
Ans He Saunders said that his wife said they (Thos Crow and wife) felt like a father and mother to her
Question by Plaintiffs counsel Did The conversation which occured between Saunders and Croxton as herein before spoken of have reference to any other mode of adjustment of the differences between them than to a compromise
Ans He Saunders spoke of a suit at first saying he would sue afterwards agreed to [illegible] it [illegible] meet him at Tappak afterwards for the purpose of arbitrating it Mr Croxton was present I did see Mr Saunders but heared he was here
Question by same Was it before or after the compromise was spoken of that Mr Saunders expressed his satisfaction with the charge for board—
Ans It was during the conversation but cannot say whether it was before or after
Question by same Did Mr Saunders say that he would pay the board or was it understood that in the proposed difference it should be allowed as charged
Ans He Saunders said he was perfectly satisfied with the board as charged in the account so far as Mr Thos had gone
Question by same Did Mr Saunders have any authority to act for any other persons than himself and wife or did he affirm to be acting under the authority of any other of the parties if any please say Who—
Answer I do not know
And further this deponent sayeth not
John P Armstrong
Subscribed and sworn to before me a justice of the peace for Essex County this 23rd day of October 1839
[Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 49, Item 49-D-10.]

On 26 October 1839, James Durham provided a deposition in suit of Saunders vs. Crow that concerned in part John P. Armstrong:
The deposition of James Durham of lawful age taken at the dwelling house of Doctr Jefferson Minor pursuant to notice to be read as evidence in a suit depending in the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery of Essex County wherein George Saunders and Lucy his wife and George Durham and Polly his wife are plaintiffs and James Croxton surviving Executor of Thomas Crow decd, who was one of the Executors of John Crow decd and Mary M. Crow admix of Moses Crow and in her own right and others are defendants
This deponent being duly sworn
Question by the pltiffs counsel—
Please state any thing you may have heard Moses Crow say in relation to Armistead Jones’s selling the negroes bequeathed by John Crow decd to the children of his daughter Massy Jones and all you may know in relation thereto
Answer
I heard Mr Crow say a little time before he sold the negroes to Mr Hill, that he wished to God, that Armisteed [sic] Jones, would take the whole of them, and carry them off and sell them, for they were so much trouble to him, and no profit.
Question by same—State if you know Armistead Jones’s circumstances whether he held any property also whether he had not been absent for some time out of the state as it was supposed before it was said he carried off the negroes?
Answer—He held no property, except his interest in these negroes, and he had been absent from the state for several years, but returned for twelve months, before it was said he carried off the negroes.
Question by same—State who John P. Armstrong married, & whether his wife is not alive, & whether she has children?
Answer, He married Melissa Crow, daughter of old Mr Thos Crow. His wife is alive, and I know she has a child, and I believe children.
Question by defts Counsel—When Moses Crow said that he wished to God, that Armstead Jones would carry off the whole of the negroes—Do you really and sincerely believe he was in earnest, or whether he was in a fit or otherwise excited—
Answer, It might have been his wish for aught I know.
Question by same—Are you the father of one of the pltf’s in this suit, George Durham and are you the agent of your son in this suit
Answer, I recognise him as my son, I am not the agent of my son in this suit.
Question by same—Have you not been active in attending the various[?] proposed references of the matters involved in this suit, and have you not be active [sic] in the prosecution of this suit.
Answer, Yes, I have, at the request of George Saunders I have taken an active part in this suit, and also to aid my son,
And further this deponent saith not.
James Durham
Subscribed and sworn to before me a Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex this 26th October 1839.
James Semple J.P.
[Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 49, item 49-D-5.]