James Francis Armstrong

James Francis Armstrong Chaplain Maryland 2nd Brigade May 1777-1782 James Francis Armstrong served as Chaplain in the American Revolutionary War for the Maryland Second Brigade. He not only attended Princeton University but lived with the family of Rev. John Witherspoon (the college president). He graduated with the class of 1773 as did Henry Lee. James Madison graduated in 1772 and Aaron Burr in 1774. After graduation, Armstrong stayed a while longer and studied theology under Dr. Witherspoon (as did Madison). James was preparing for the ministry in New Brunswick in 1776 but the presence of the British Army in New Jersey changed his plans. He became an ordained minister and started serving as a regimental chaplain in the Continental Army. A big factor in his being assigned to the Second Brigade in Maryland is the fact that he was born in West Nottingham, Maryland (near Rising Sun, Maryland on the eastern side of the Susquehanna River). After the war, Armstrong served as the pastor of the Elizabeth New Jersey Presbyterian Chuch (1782-1783) where Rev. James Caldwell served until meeting his death at the hands of the British. Armstrong married William Livingston’s daughter Susannah in August 1782 with Rev. Witherspoon officiating at the service. Armstrong served as minister to the First Presbyterian Church at Trenton from 1786 until his death in 1816 (thirty years). There are so many facets where this story can go deeper. One can read about Rev. James Caldwell (in my book 1776 Faith, pp. 160-1), chaplains in the Continental Army, Maryland’s Second Brigade, William Livingston, Susannah Livingston (who took care of John and Sally Jay’s son while they represented the United States in Spain and France from 1779 until 1783), Elizabeth Presbyterian Church in New Jersey, Rev. Witherspoon, Princeton, Henry Lee, Aaron Burr, James Madison, etc.