Armsworthy Family Heritage

Joe joined the North Novas during WW#2 and -----------------------------------------

South of the Orne River, past the bomb-scarred ruin that was Caen, Joe Staples saw his 'luck run out'.
On a sweltering July afternoon their carrier inched toward German lines. A brassy Normandie sun seared their bodies stripped to the waist. An occasional bullet shined bitterly on its spiteful mission.

Then the carrier hit a landmine. From the smoking, blast-wrecked steel that had once been a carrier, medical corpsmen removed three dead. For three others, including Joe the war was over.

Six days later Joe regained consciousness. He was being placed in a Dakota aircraft to be flown to England. The attendants told him that both of his legs were gone.

For three months he lay in an English hospital, then he was returned to Canada on the old hospital ship 'Abba', which had transported the Canadian wounded of two world wars.

Joe went to Camp Hill Hospital with the prospect of more than a year in bed. Long weary months of helpessness and uslessness it seemed at first. But he was made of strong stuff and determined to recover. He regained strength and later set to work to learn leather tooling and handicrafts. During the months that followed he master the art, and made a variety of leather articles of beautiful workmanship.

Just before Christmas, 1945, he was fitted with his artifcial legs. With the same spirit that had carried hinm through the campaigns of France Joe set out to regain his former confidence in himself. Daily he practiced with his new legs, learning to walk all over again.

On the first day of February he had made such amazing progress that he was discharged from the hospital. Refusing to 'baby' himself for a moment, Joe went to work as a telephone operator only four days later.

Then one evening he capped his return to normal--got up at a dance and moved smoothly through a waltz! From that moment Joe Staples was on top of the world. Today he defies the casual observer to note anything other than a slight limp to denote that both his legs are artificial. Not long ago, infected with the Sprin-like weather Joe took part in a ball game.

The case is now on display at the Museum in Amherst.

My reason for sending this note is to ask you to give pause and think what you are going to do with the FAMILY

letters, artifacts, mementos and keepsakes you have collected over the years. First who in your immediate family

will you leave them to OR will you take the brave step and place them in a Public Archives/Museum to be kept for all time

Discuss with your family and a local Archives. The Archives in Truro or Halifax Nova Scotia would be good home(s)

if you do not have a local one. Truro of course is the family seat.

Wishing health and happiness to All.

When John Baptist Armsworthy ‘came ashore’ in what is now Canso, Guysborough
County, Nova Scotia he would have been greeted by a beautiful panoramic view of the
ocean and gentle cliffs which remain to this day. Canso town and its environs are a beautiful part of Nova Scotia.

Canso has always been a part of the history of European settlement in North America.
The French used it as a base for their fishing fleets and the English used it as the ‘jumping-off’ port in their successful attack and capture of the French fort of Louisbourg
across the strait.

On and off for many years there were many groups who settled and made use of Canso’s
unique geographic location for both fishing and security.

John Baptist Armsworthy apparently was not married when he received his land grant as a result of his service in the Duke of Cumberland, Lord Montague’s regiment. He was born in St Mary’s county in Maryland and at a very early age joined the 3rd ,Maryland Regiment which was formed to ‘fight’ the British. In August at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, he was captured by the British, made a prisoner of war and later when guaranteed his freedom joined them to fight in Jamaica.

After marrying Mary Mass, a person who we know little about, they established the Armsworthy Family in what is now Canada. Descendants live in the area to this day and have been active in the fishing industry, transportation, retail business and politics.
The Armsworthy name would spread to other communities in the area.





	April 29th, 2008 - Hi Folks I recently received a call from the curator of the Amherst Military Museum. (Home of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders during WW#2) He told me about a friend who was at a Thrift shop/fleamarket type event . He picked up a silver cigarette case bearing the inscription 'Pte J.A. Staples' awarded by---I think-- by a War Amputee Assoc for all his work on their behalf. The curator wanted to know if Pte Staples was a relative! Pte J. A. was our cousin Joseph Alden Staples. He is descended from Matthew, John, William, Samuel and Martin Staples. Joe joined the North Novas during WW#2 and ----------------------------------------- LUCK BURNS OUT South of the Orne River, past the bomb-scarred ruin that was Caen, Joe Staples saw his 'luck run out'. On a sweltering July afternoon their carrier inched toward German lines. A brassy Normandie sun seared their bodies stripped to the waist. An occasional bullet shined bitterly on its spiteful mission. Then the carrier hit a landmine. From the smoking, blast-wrecked steel that had once been a carrier, medical corpsmen removed three dead. For three others, including Joe the war was over. Six days later Joe regained consciousness. He was being placed in a Dakota aircraft to be flown to England. The attendants told him that both of his legs were gone. For three months he lay in an English hospital, then he was returned to Canada on the old hospital ship 'Abba', which had transported the Canadian wounded of two world wars. Joe went to Camp Hill Hospital with the prospect of more than a year in bed. Long weary months of helpessness and uslessness it seemed at first. But he was made of strong stuff and determined to recover. He regained strength and later set to work to learn leather tooling and handicrafts. During the months that followed he master the art, and made a variety of leather articles of beautiful workmanship. LEARNS TO WALK Just before Christmas, 1945, he was fitted with his artifcial legs. With the same spirit that had carried hinm through the campaigns of France Joe set out to regain his former confidence in himself. Daily he practiced with his new legs, learning to walk all over again. On the first day of February he had made such amazing progress that he was discharged from the hospital. Refusing to 'baby' himself for a moment, Joe went to work as a telephone operator only four days later. Then one evening he capped his return to normal--got up at a dance and moved smoothly through a waltz! From that moment Joe Staples was on top of the world. Today he defies the casual observer to note anything other than a slight limp to denote that both his legs are artificial. Not long ago, infected with the Sprin-like weather Joe took part in a ball game. The case is now on display at the Museum in Amherst. My reason for sending this note is to ask you to give pause and think what you are going to do with the FAMILY letters, artifacts, mementos and keepsakes you have collected over the years. First who in your immediate family will you leave them to OR will you take the brave step and place them in a Public Archives/Museum to be kept for all time for all to see? Discuss with your family and a local Archives. The Archives in Truro or Halifax Nova Scotia would be good home(s) if you do not have a local one. Truro of course is the family seat. Wishing health and happiness to All. CANSO, NOVA SCOTIA HOME TO THE ARMSWORTHY FAMILY When John Baptist Armsworthy ‘came ashore’ in what is now Canso, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia he would have been greeted by a beautiful panoramic view of the ocean and gentle cliffs which remain to this day. Canso town and its environs are a beautiful part of Nova Scotia. Canso has always been a part of the history of European settlement in North America. The French used it as a base for their fishing fleets and the English used it as the ‘jumping-off’ port in their successful attack and capture of the French fort of Louisbourg across the strait. On and off for many years there were many groups who settled and made use of Canso’s unique geographic location for both fishing and security. John Baptist Armsworthy apparently was not married when he received his land grant as a result of his service in the Duke of Cumberland, Lord Montague’s regiment. He was born in St Mary’s county in Maryland and at a very early age joined the 3rd ,Maryland Regiment which was formed to ‘fight’ the British. In August at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, he was captured by the British, made a prisoner of war and later when guaranteed his freedom joined them to fight in Jamaica. After marrying Mary Mass, a person who we know little about, they established the Armsworthy Family in what is now Canada. Descendants live in the area to this day and have been active in the fishing industry, transportation, retail business and politics. The Armsworthy name would spread to other communities in the area.