The youngest of three sons of William Armistead and his wife Anne, who had emigrated from Yorkshire, England to Elizabeth City County, Virginia in the 1730s.
During Bacon's Rebellion he supported Governor William Berkeley and later served on a court-martial that condemned one rebel to death (by hanging).
Elizabeth City County voters first elected him as one of their representatives to the House of Burgesses in the final session of the General Assembly of 1680-1682, and his initial committee assignment was to Public Claims.
After a brief lapse, Anthony Armistead served on every session of the General Assembly beginning in 1696 through 1700, usually assigned to the important Committee of Propositions and Grievances.
[7] Anthony Armistead was in Williamsburg attending the legislative session which began on April 17, 1705 when he died, for the House asked to governor to issues a warrant for the election of a new burgess from the county on Mary 2, 1705.