Hannah Crowninshield Armstrong

Parents:

• Benjamin Crowninshield (nickname “Sailor Ben”)
• Mary Lambert Crowninshield
  

Hannah Crowninshield Armstrong was a portrait artist, most notably for Revolutionary War General John Stark of New Hampshire. Growing up in Salem, she was the pupil of Rev. William Bentley. Nearly all the known information about her comes from his diaries. He was a boarder in her mother’s house. Her father had died young. Bentley baptized her and when she was old enough, took her on many outings across the North Shore and beyond to Boston and Cambridge. They visited museums, attended funerals of his friends, went sailing and fishing, and were guests at several Harvard commencements. He called her “My Hannah’ and “my favorite pupil.”  he married US Navy Commodore James Armstrong in 1819. The ceremony was performed by Rev. William Bentley, who wrote of his concerns “Why did not so accomplished a girl find a bosom friend in Salem? Those who respected her did not dare to ask… I hope H. will be happy; it will be my happiness.”

Two years after Hannah’s death on May 4, 1834 James Armstrong married her sister Elizabeth Crowninshield.

Hannah Crowninshield Armstrong is buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Summit Avenue, Plot #819, Grave #1.

Paintings attributed to Hannah Crowninshield Armstrong. On the left is her father, “Sailor Ben”: on the right is her brother, “Philosopher Ben”. No portrait of Hannah can be found at this time.

Sources Consulted:

• The Diary of William Bentley DD. Pastor of the East Church, Salem Massachusetts,  volume 4 p. 583-584 Peter Smith, Gloucester, Massachusetts, 1962.
• Findagrave.com /memorial/18843833/Hannah-Armstrong