Chapter 1: English Heritage

Earliest Known Family Members Of the Carroll Kids are Traced to Our Benney Relatives of England

The Benney family lived in England in the late 1700's, back in the days when England was fighting America in the Revolutionary War. However, before discussing specific Benney family members of the Carroll kids it is important to be aware that this discussion traces the line exclusively through Mom, back through Nana's husband, all the way to Jack and Hannah Armstrong who lived in the early 1800's, and further back to the Benney's who lived in the late 1700's. A separate discussion would be needed to trace the lineage through Dad's side.

And so, the narrative begins with the Benney family, Englishmen whose country was involved in losing the Revolutionary War as this story begins. It is important to remember, however, that in spite of losing the war, England was still powerful and rich, and she continued to dictate events in many parts of the globe—including Ireland. It will be important later to remember that England dominated Ireland because it was

Chap. 1: English Heritage (continued)

English prejudice against the Irish that lost the Carroll kids' family fortune. But this is getting ahead of ourselves.

Around 1790 an Englishman named William Benney, perhaps typically haughty, proud, and arrogant—but surely quite rich—met a woman named Elizabeth Harnan. When William and Elizabeth married they became the great-great-great-great grandparents of the Carroll kids.

Where does this information come from? The historical documents used in this genealogical story are many—from family records to pictures, even to historical notes written on scraps of paper by our forebears. The first of these documents is the notebook of Dorothy Armstrong Ehret.

Label on front cover of Aunt Dorothy's notebook which she began in 1943

Dorothy began her geneological notebook when she was 19 years old, when the United States was totally involved in World War II. The men were away and the girls they left behind had a lot of time on their hands to think of life, death, and the continuity of family. Whether or not these ideas were on the mind of 19-year-old Dorothy, we remain indebted to her for starting her notebook, as well as to her husband, Dr. Charles Ehret, who later helped her continue the family's genealogical investigations.

The story of the origins of the Carroll kids continues... William and Elizabeth Benney had a son, Thomas Benney, who grew up in turbulent times. Napoleon was terrorizing Europe; England was setting fire to Washington; and on the home front, England was embroiled with Ireland—as they had been for centuries. The controversy this time was

Chap. 1: English Heritage (continued)

part of London Maria Anne lived, surely the aristocratic Benney's came from London's West End—the area where thousands of palatial homes were built in Georgian style—ornate and gaudy edifices designed by famous architects. (The East End of London in 1837—the date of Maria Anne's birth—was home to poverty, where child mortality, disease, crime, and desperation became the subject matter of Dickens' novels.)

166 years after Marie Anne Benney was born in London in 1837, this picture was taken of her great grandchild, Jeanne Armstrong Carroll, surrounded by her children at a family gathering in upstate New York in 2003. Pictured from 1. to r. (in rear) are Michael, Dan, Bill, Patricia, and Rich. From 1. to r. (in front) are Mary, Mom, Peggy.

The elegant Maria Anne Benney would eventually marry into the splendor of the well-connected Armstrong family—to a man called 'Duff,' the son of Jack and Hannah Armstrong who were close friends of Abraham Lincoln. However, before we turn to the marriage between Maria and Duff, we must first take a look at the Armstrong family in general, and specifically how Abraham Lincoln was a close friend of the family. Chapter two begins the story of the Armstrong line.

Chapter 2: Jack and Hannah Armstrong

Recent Documentation Reveals

The Armstrongs as Friends of

Abraham Lincoln for Two Generations

For now we will leave Maria Anne and the Benney family to take a look at the family she will marry into—the Armstrongs. We will see that Nana's great grandparents, Jack and Hannah Armstrong, had an impressive friendship with Abraham Lincoln who helped the family both before and after he became president of the United States.

This is the oldest known photograph of any member of the Carroll kids' relatives. It is a picture of Jack Armstrong, our great-great-great grandfather. Jack belonged to a violent gang as a teenager in Illinois, and was described as a "terror" to his neighborhood. He settled down later in life. (Freedman, Lincoln: A Photobiography).

The story of the Armstrong family begins with Jack Armstrong who was born in the early 1800's. As a wild teenager, he was a member of a gang called "Clary's Grove Boys" who intimidated the village of Clary's Grove in Illinois. Jack himself was called a "terror." One day Jack's gang

Chap. 2: Jack and Hannah Armstrong (continued)

decided to fight a new boy the village, a boy whose name was Abe Lincoln, and they prodded Jack into picking a fight with him. Jack was built "as strong as an ox" but everyone knew that a fight between him and Abe "would be close." They decided the brawl would take place "on

Information is taken from The Life of Abraham Lincoln by Ida M. Tarbell, first published in 1895. (Special thanks to Thomas P. Smith for delineating pertinent Armstrong passages and forwarding them to Marian Rogers). Additional information is provided by Lincoln, A Photobiography by Russell Freedman; Charles Ehret's verbal discussions of Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters; Dorothy Ehret's Notebook; the Encyclopaedia Britannica; and handwritten remarks by Nana Armstrong and Tom Smith. Quotations are from Ida Tarbell's The Life of Abraham Lincoln, unless otherwise indicated.

the ground near the grocery," and many people came out to witness the event and to bet on it. Most onlookers bet on Jack Armstrong, but as soon as the fight started it was clear that Jack had a rough struggle ahead. "The two men wrestled long and hard, but both kept their feet."

Jack realized that he could not throw Abe, so he tried a dirty trick but Abe was onto him and "furious with indignation, [Abe] caught him by the throat, and holding him at arm's length, he shook him like a child." Soon Jack Armstrong's friends rushed to help Jack and "dived in to join the scuffle." It almost looked like Abe would be forced to run away because of the "sheer force of numbers," but Abe held his own. He "backed against a cliff and defiantly offered to take them all on—one at a time. Impressed, Armstrong jumped to his feet and offered Lincoln his hand, declaring the match a draw." (Freedman)

In spite of the fact that just about everyone was rooting for Jack, they "were filled with admiration" for Abe's toughness, and the fight ended with a handshake. The crowd declared that Abe was the best kid to ever break into the neighborhood, and soon young Abe Lincoln and young Jack Armstrong became good friends.

Chap. 2: Jack and Hannah Armstrong (continued)

Jack Armstrong and Abe Lincoln Wage War Against Indians

Sometime after Jack and Abe became friends in Clary's Grove, Illinois, we learn that the Indians in the northern part of that state began attacking settlements there. "The white settlers were alarmed, and the governor called for volunteers to stop the invasion." Abe Lincoln enlisted in a local militia to help fight the Indians, and he was "surprised and pleased when the men elected him as their captain, with Jack Armstrong as first sergeant." (Freedman)

Young Abe Lincoln became a close friend of the Armstrongs for two generations.

Five of Jack Armstrong's great-great-great grandchildren in Kingston, New York with Dad, 1952. Rear: newborn Mary, Dad, Dan; front: Rich, Bill; Michael in center.

For three months, Abe, Jack, and the rest of their friends and neighbors prepared for battle with drills and workouts, but after marching to northern Illinois they never encountered any Indians. Years later, Abe Lincoln would joke about this event with Jack Armstrong, telling how they "survived a good many bloody battles with mosquitoes."

Chap. 2: Jack and Hannah Armstrong (continued)

After Jack Armstrong fought Abe Lincoln, and after the youngsters became friends and subsequently enlisted to fight Indians together, Jack finally settled down. He fell in love with a certain Hannah who ran a boarding house in Illinois, and he married her around 1827.

Jack and Hannah Armstrong had three sons and lived happily in the years before the Civil War. Abe Lincoln, their lifetime friend, would visit Jack and Hannah at their home "two or three weeks at a time." Abe would bring candy for their three sons and he was delighted to rock the infant "Duff¹ to sleep while Hannah prepared dinner.

This picture of the Carroll kids, and some of their children, was taken four generations after Abraham Lincoln frequently rocked to sleep little Duff Armstrong, as dinner was being prepared for him. (Duff grew up to beome the notorious great-great grandfather of the Carroll kids. Duff Armstrong was at one time charged for murder and subsequently defended by Lincoln who got him off through a technicality. At a later time Duff continued to be coddled as he was released from Civil War duty by Lincoln after he became president). Clockwise, beginning on left, is Patricia, John, Bill and Heather, Betsy, Peggy, and Mary. In center, left to right, is Rich and Ben, Dan, and Michael.

Chapters: Duff Armstrong

Abe Lincoln Rescues Duff Armstrong from

Murder Accusation; Later Abe Releases

Duff from Fighting in the Civil War

The child of Jack and Hannah Armstrong followed in his father's footsteps, but more dramatically. Whereas Duffs father was 'only¹ a terror and a fighter in a street gang, Duff was accused of murder!

Here's the factual story. During a drunken brawl, Duff attacked his "friend," James Metzger, and struck him in the head with a slingshot. Three days later James died and Duff was put in prison to await trial. By this time Abraham Lincoln was an attorney so Duffs parents contacted their good friend to see if he could help.

LINCOLN DEFENDS DUFF AT FAMOUS MURDER TRIAL

In 1857, after Duff Armstrong got into serious trouble with the law, the close friend of the family, Abraham Lincoln, came to the rescue and defended Duff. Lincoln was able to get his client off through a technicality: the witness said he saw Duff murder the victim in the light of the moon, but Lincoln said the moon was "low in the sky," not enough light to see the murder take place! This feeble argument was accepted by the jury and Duff Armstrong was pronounced not guilty.

According to Freedman and several other sources, "the prosecution's star witness, Charles Alien, testified that he had seen Duff strike

Chap. 3: Duff Armstrong (continued)

Metzger on the head with a slingshot." It was dark but the witness said he saw everything unmistakably, "because a full moon was shinning directly overhead." Then Lincoln got up to cross-examine the witness. "He hooked his thumbs under his suspender straps and asked Alien to repeat his story. Now, was Alien sure about the moon being overhead? Alien was sure. Lincoln nodded and stroked his chin. Then he reached into his pocket, pulled out a copy of the 1857 almanac, flipped through the pages, and read aloud to the jury. At the time of the brawl, the moon wasn't directly overhead. It was low in the sky, about an hour away from setting. The jury quickly found Duff Armstrong not guilty." (Freedman)

Duffs Two Brothers Are Killed in the Civil War; Abe Lincoln Signs Order to Free Duff from Service

Even as president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln remained close to the family. And when it came time for a favor, Lincoln did not hesitate to help—that time came after Duff's two brothers were killed in the Civil War. Duff was also in the war, quite sick, and his mother, Hannah Armstrong, was worried Duff would die as well—three dead sons would be too much.

Duffs mother went to the White House where she was welcomed by President Lincoln. After chatting about old times, Hannah told the

Chap. 3: Duff Armstrong (continued)

president about her plight and he immediately helped. Abraham Lincoln "dropped his business as president" and wrote Duffs discharge "in his own hand." Duff was now free of any further service in the Civil War.

If President Abraham Lincoln weren't a close friend of the family and if he did not free Duff Armstrong from further service in the Civil War, then Duff may have been killed along with his two brothers—and "Billie and Bonnie" would never have taken a boat ride five decades later.

"Billie and Bonnie" are the Carroll kids' Nana and Grandpa Armstrong. Grandpa, a descendant of both English and Irish families, usually called his wife by the Scottish nickname, Bonnie, which means 'charming' or 'sweet,' as in 'my bonnie lass.' Some have thought Bonnie was Nana's first name, but it was not. Nana's first name was "Jeanette," from the French (as was Mom's name, "Jeanne") after Nana's mother and father, Fred and Margaretha, spent time in Paris before arriving in America. The French spellings are only a sidenote, however, as our Nana, Jeanette Pfeiffer, was 100% German.

Thanks is extended to Tom Smith for unearthing this unique photo and forwarding it to Aunt Marian.

Chapter 4: Marriage of Maria Bennev and Duff Armstrong

The Elegant Maria Benney is Fascinated by

the Splendor of the Armstrongs and Their

Close Friendship with Abraham Lincoln

The rich Maria Anne Benney of England is enthralled by the well-connected Duff Armstrong of Westchester, New York

We left Maria Anne Benney back in chapter one so we could take a look at the Armstrong people, the family into which she would eventually marry. So now our story continues with Maria Anne Benney of England becoming captivated by a fascinating Armstrong of Westchester County, New York — William "Duff¹ Armstrong, the swaggering gentleman whose silver trophy is still in the family.

But was Duff Armstrong a gentleman? — or was he a heavy drinker? A tough guy? A murderer? A spoiled brat brought up in a privileged

"The twins," Peggy and Patricia, enjoy themselves and are unconcerned by their aristocratic past through their forebear, the wealthy Marie Anne Benney of England

Chap. 4: Marriage of Maria and Duff Armstrong (continued)

family? A name dropper who talked about Abe Lincoln rocking him to sleep as an infant? Or all of these?

MARRIAGE OF THE CENTURY Maria Anne Benney continued in the tradition of her English aristocratic family and married into high society—she married the swaggering William "Duff Armstrong, a man from a highly-connected family, and a yachtsman of the Larchmont Yacht Club in Westchester, New York. Maria found in the Armstrongs a family so high and powerful that they had been able to secure a favor directly from the White House itself. It was to become the perfect match.

It seems to have been easy for Maria to dismiss Duffs shortcomings. Although she may have been convinced that Duff was an alcoholic (he drank heavily before being charged with murdering his friend), but look who rescued him at his trial—none other than Abraham Lincoln himself! Duffs father may have been a tough guy, but look whom he

The then-current Carroll kids in 1953 in Northport, NY, a half century before their documented connection to Abraham Lincoln came to light in 2003 through Tom Smith's research. Left to right (rear) Bill and Dan; (front) Mike, Mary, and Rich.

Chap. 4: Marriage of Maria and Duff Armstrong (continued)

fought—Abraham Lincoln himself! Surely Maria made allowances for Duffs and his family's flaws. After all, it was Abraham Lincoln who rocked to sleep her husband-to-be when he was a baby! And of course it was Abraham Lincoln who was to release her husband from continuing fighting in the Civil War. Of course she'd marry him—look at his credentials!

So, although Maria herself came from high-society, surely she was impressed by the Armstrongs and their political connection with Lincoln. Maria Anne Benney was from high-society and married into high-society, into the high social standing of the Armstrongs. She married Duff Armstrong—and the couple would become Nana's grandparents—or the great-great grandparents of the Carroll kids.

Duff and Maria Armstrong wasted no time in having children. William was born in 1856, followed in rapid succession by Harriet (1858),

Pictured here are Maria and Duffs first six children—Billy, Harriet, Bobby, Martha, Charlie and Johnny. They frolicked and cavorted three generations before the seven Carroll kids appeared on the world's stage. The sixth child, Johnny, is the important one to the genealogical story of the Carroll kids.

Martha (1861), Robert (1862), and Charles (1865). The next child, born in 1867, was named John Lincoln, surely after the exalted friend of the family. Following John Lincoln Armstrong were Dolly (1869), Maria (1871), and Alfred Benney (1873).

Chap. 4: Marriage of Maria and Duff Armstrong (continued)

And so, this rich and prosperous couple had nine children. Duff and Maria Armstrong were thus the progenitors of nine tribes of Armstrongs—only one of which concerns the story of the Carroll kids. The important child was the sixth—John Lincoln Armstrong—who was born on December 8, 1867. John was to have a lasting influence on the fortunes (rather, the lack thereof) of all who followed him— including the Carroll kids.

Why did the Armstrong-Benney family fortune disappear with John Lincoln Armstrong's line? We will find out in the next chapter where we will see that it was the prejudice of the English against the Irish which was responsible for wealth not flowing into the family line of the Carroll kids.

The stately, wealthy Armstrongs of the Lincoln era re-emerged as the stately, dignified Armstrongs of the 20th century—rich in moral fiber, strength, and determination, if not in earthly wealth. Pictured here are Bill and Bonnie Armstrong, our "Nana and Grandpa." It was Grandpa's father, John Lincoln Armstrong, who lost the family fortune in marrying their Irish servant girl. Grandpa's father died when he was fourteen and he had to work ever since.

Chapter 5: From Riches to Rags

Family Fortune Disappears

After John Lincoln Armstrong

Marries Irish Servant Girl

Assault! Drunkenness! Murder! In a certain way we could argue that Duff and Maria's sixth child, John Lincoln Armstrong, continued in the roguish tradition of his father and grandfather. We remember his grandfather, Jack, was the tough leader of a street gang who 'played dirty' when wrestling Abe. And John's father, Duff, was drunk for many days before being involved in the murder of his friend. But John did something far worse! He married someone who was Irish! John Lincoln Armstrong had the audacity to marry the family housekeeper who was nothing but an Irish servant girl!

John Armstrong (1867-1910), an honor-bound gentleman of English descent,

is Mom's grandfather who defied his family by 'marrying beneath himself in

marrying Lizzy, the Irish family servant. He was thus cut off from any inheritance.

Chap. 5: From Riches to Rags (continued)

John Armstrong's act was so disgraceful that the story of the family's riches ends with his marriage to Lizzy. John Armstrong, and all who followed him, including the Carroll kids, had to now fend for themselves. Their aristocratic past had come to a screeching halt.

Trying to Understand the Incomprehensible

In 21st century America John's offense is almost incomprehensible to understand. But to get an idea of what it was for an Englishman to marry an Irish girl in 1892 (the date of John Lincoln's marriage to Lizzy Fitzpatrick), we may first refer back to chapter one of this narrative which mentions the centuries-old hate between the English and the Irish. Also literature, such as O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night, is replete with the stereotype of the Irish servant girl.

IRISH SERVANT GIRL, Lizzy Fitzpatrick—O'Neill describes the stereotype of the Irish Servant girl in Long Day's Journey into Night. We read in Act 2 that the Irish servant is "amiable, ignorant, clumsy, and possessed by a dense, well-meaning stupidity." In Act 3 the Irish servant is assumed to be a thief by a shopkeeper. And earlier in Act 1, the Irish servant girl is described as being "so lazy" and "so sly."

Dan was amazed one day several years ago when Peggy took him to see the wretched living quarters of the Irish servant girl in a grandiose old mansion overlooking the Hudson River in New York, home of the rich Armstrongs before John Armstrong married Lizzy Fitzpatrick.

...and finally, it is the Irish servant girl stereotype that has even wended its way into the so-called 'Dadisms' collected by the Carroll kids: "You may eat with the family, Bridget." In O'Neill's play, Bridget is the name of the cook, the Irish servant girl!

Mom's grandmother was simply called Lizzy. Perhaps as a sign of disrespect, or even contempt, her marriage certificate states only the name "Lizzy" instead of her legal name, "Elizabeth" Fitzpatrick.

And so, the Carroll kids' story moves on to that Irish servant girl, Lizzy. But what kind of person was Mom's grandmother? Was she ignorant, clumsy, lazy and shy, as the stereotype has it? Or was she something quite different?

Chapter 6: Lizzy and John Armstrong

Lizzy and John Armstrong Try to Make Ends Meet

by Running a Beach Boarding House In New Jersey

And Later, a Brownstone Apartment in the Bronx

Some facts about Lizzy: she was the daughter of Patrick Fitzpatrick and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, born on July 1, 1871 in Manhattan. As a good Catholic girl—all Irish servants were good Catholic girls©— Lizzy attended mass at St. Jerome Church on 178th Street and Alexander Avenue. Early on, like many of her peers, she learned the Irish trade of being a household servant.

As Lizzy reached her teens, she landed a job in the household of the wealthy Armstrong's of Westchester, New York. She caught the eye of one of her employers, John Armstrong, who subsequently married her, possibly 'in disgrace.' They were ostracized in the ensuing scandal and family wealth did not flow into their line.

After getting married and having to make an honest living, Lizzy and John tried their hand in running a beach boarding house in Avon, New Jersey, eight blocks from Ocean Beach.

A rendition of Lizzy Armstrong's beach boarding house in Avon, New Jersey

According to Nana (in handwritten documentation) the boarding house of her mother-in-law, Lizzy, was delightful for the young Armstrong girls—Jeanne and Dorothy. (Marian was born 10 years after Dorothy). Each summer Nana took the two girls to Avon for vacations lasting two weeks. Nana said the food was great, plus she was happy to have received "reduced rates." Lizzy followed in the

Chap. 6: Lizzy and John Armstrong (continued)

tradition of her grandmother, Hannah, who also ran a boarding house—whose most famous visitor, of course, was Abraham Lincoln.

As children, Mom and Aunt Dot spent two week vacations with their parents in their Grandma Lizzy's boarding house where they ate well and inexpensively.

Whatever happened to the beach boarding house is a matter of speculation, but we do know that toward the end of her life, Lizzy Armstrong ran a brownstone back in the Bronx. Life was hard for our Mom's grandmother and being in charge of that brownstone was

especially difficult. Lizzy had become "the janitor and general maintenance man," says Tom Smith who frequently visited his grandma Lizzy there. The rapidly aging woman had to tend the coal furnace, dispose of the building's garbage, take care of repairs, haul ashes to the curb, and run the entire building. Mom's Grandma Lizzy died in the Bronx in 1932 at the age of 61, when Mom was 11.

Chap. 6: Lizzy and John Armstrong (continued)

Although the Armstrong's of yacht-club-living had come to a close in the lineage of the Carroll kids, a new era had begun as John Lincoln and Lizzy had three children—Florence, Mabel and the gritty Bill Armstrong who followed in the footsteps of his father in also marrying a 'foreigner.¹ This time, though, the foreigner was not Irish, but German. Also, the times had changed—nobody was ostracized and that German woman was not only loved, but became our family matriarch known as "Nana."

Jack and Hannah Armstrong

Lifetime friends of Abraham Lincoln

Duff and Maria Armstrong

President Lincoln released Duff from the army

John Lincoln and Lizzy Armstrong

English - Irish marriage resulted in ostracism

Bill and Nana Armstrong

Three children—Mom, Dorothy, Marian