Eugenia Armstrong

Eugenia Armstrong, also known as Eugenia Ida Armstrong and Ida Eugenia Thorne, was born on September 21, 1916 in Panama City.  Her parents were Simeon Thorne and Maude Butcher, and she had an older brother named Byron.  The family arrived in New York on August 6, 1918 aboard the Alliance and settled in Manhattan. The 1920 census lists Simeon as working in a refinery as a labourer. Simeon passed away at some time prior to 1925, and Eugenia is listed as living with her widowed mother, brother, aunt (Miriam Haynes) and cousin (Eunice Hayes). Maude and Miriam are both working as maids.

Eugenia petitioned for US citizenship in 1937, describing herself as a student. Her petition was witnessed by Edwin Belfield Lewis (a fireman) and George Armstrong (a cook). She became a naturalised citizen on September 26, 1940 at the age of 24 and was registered as living at 295 W. 147 Street, one block west of the Harlem River.

 The 1940 census lists Eugenia as single and living at the same address with her mother and brother, who was by then working as a letter carrier. Eugenia’s Aunt, Miriam, was also listed as residing at the address, as was a lodger, Violet Pierce. Miriam was working as a presser at a dress factory and Violet was working as an examiner at a factory.  Eugenia’s brother enlisted in the army during the Second World War. He described himself as married with 2 years of college education. Byron passed away in 1992.

Eugenia began using the surname of Armstrong at some time after 1957, although no marriage certificate has been located. No further information could be found regarding her life between 1957 and June 20, 1995, when she passed away at the Harlem Hospital Center.

She is buried in Grave 57 at Hart Island Cemetery.

 Sources:

Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 19, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1221; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 1341; Image: 755

 Ancestry.com. New York, Index to Petitions for Naturalization filed in New York City, 1792-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, DC; ARC Title: Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906; NAI Number: 5700802; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21

The National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Petitions for Naturalization from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 1897-1944; Series: M1972; Roll: 1264

Year: 1930; Census Place: Manhattan, New York, New York; Roll: 1576; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0995; Image: 490.0; FHL microfilm: 2341311

Year: 1940; Census Place: New York, New York, New York; Roll: T627_2672; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 31-1955

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2005.

Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.