From information provided by Carolyn Barker Strain:

The following information is in the Revolutionary War Pension claim S6534, from which it appears that William ( son of Samuel Armstrong ) was born in Ireland, Aug. 14, 1765.
While residing in Camden District, SC, he enlisted July 29, 1780 and served as a private two years and six months under Capt. John McClure, John Mills, John McCool, Ned Martin, and General Sumpter and Pickens. He was in the battle of Rocky Mount, Hanging Rock, Catawba, Fishing Creeks, Kings Mountain, Cowpens and Eutaw Springs. There is no data on his family. It was stated by William Armstrong in 1833 that he was born 1765 in Ireland and came to Camden, now Fairfield District, SC, where he was residing when he voluntarily entered service in the year of the fall of Charleston under Capt. John McLean or McLure, Gen. Sumpter, and was under him at the battle of hanging rock.

According to the 1787 general Tax Roll, he had 7 slaves and 400 acres in Abbeville District, SC.

William Armstrong is shown in the 1840 census for Anderson Co., SC as being a Rev. War pensioner. His age is given as 78. He is living in the home of Thomas Runnels. (p.108)

From Virginia W. Jones of Atlanta, "Found another paper in SC Magazine of Ancestral Research, ( Winter 1976 ), pertaining to a petetion of William Armstrong, in which he states his annuity of $60 per annum was suspended after the lapse of a few years for further proof, but because of lapsed time and frailties of an advanced age, he was unable to comply he is applying to the state to be restored to the Pension Roll of State of SC for $60 per annum. The petition is dated Nov. 8, 1836 and a list of Annuitants 1842-1846 shows he recieved same in 1842, 1843 and 1844. Based on the record, I am going to show his death date as after 1844."

The "Roster of S.C. Patriots in American Rev." pg. 26, states: Armstrong, Wm. S-6534, b. 14 Aug. 1765, Ireland--While residing in Fairfield Dist., he volenteered after the fall of Charleston and served under Capt. James McClure and Gen. Sumter. He served two years and six months under Capt. McClure, John McCool and Ned Martin and was in the Battle of Rocky Mount, Bratton's Plantation and Hanging Rock, where he assisted in burying the body of his Captain. His own coat had four holes shot through it. He volenteered to serve under Capt. John Mills at King's Mountain and was under him in the Battle of Cowpens. In addition, he was inthe Battle at Eutae Springs, Sumters Defeat at Charleston when the Brittish left. [ A.A. Audited Accountsin S.C. Archives, also, Genealogical Abstracts of Rev. War Pension Files, vol. I-A-E, abst. by Virgil D. White ].

Notes by Donald Hayworth:

In a petition dated 8 November 1836, William Armstrong states that his annuity of $60 per annum was suspended after a lapse of a few years for further proof, but because of lapsed time and frailties of an advanced age, he was unable to comply. He is applying to the state to be restored to the Revolutionary War Pension Roll of the state of South Carolina for $60 per annum. His petition must have been favorably received as he is shown on the 1840 census for Anderson District as being a Revolutionary War pensioner. William is listed as 78 years old and he is living in the home of Thomas Runnels. A list of pension Annuitants shows that he continued to receive a pension through 1844. It is assumed that he died before receiving the pension payment for 1845.
It is my guess that Thomas Runnels was William's son-in-law, married to an unidentified daughter of William Armstrong and Sarah Barr. Sarah Barr Armstrong must have died sometime prior to 1840. William would have been 75 years old, not 78 in 1840. I wonder if he had to add a few years to his age to have his pension restored. After all 15 year old boys were considered too young to serve, although many did so.

• Married: 1785 in Henry Co., VA

1. Amanda ARMSTRONG
2. unknown ARMSTRONG b: in Abbeville Co., S.C.
3. William ARMSTRONG , Jr. b: 19 SEP 1786 in Honia Path, Anderson Co., S.C.
4. James Reed ARMSTRONG b: 29 JUN 1792 in S.C.