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©Troy Family publications 2001-24

Updated every 3 months .

Last update Jan 2024

Jersey

March 24

Website administrator Maurice R. Troy

The eight young Troy brothers.

EVERY picture tells a story, and this one, taken in 1911 by Jersey portrait photographer Albert Smith, is no exception.

The eight Troy boys — the second generation to be born in Jersey — are pictured (above) . They are from left to right: George, Frank, Bob, Dick (my father ), Jack, Maurice, Edward and Bill.

Edward died in an influenza epidemic in1918 aged 23 , while three of the others, William (Billy), Jack and George, went on to become States Members, as did three of Edward senior’s grandchildren, former Deputies Mike and Brian Troy and Senator Dick Shenton, whose late mother, Kathleen, and her sister Eileen, made up the family.

Four of Edward senior’s great grand children, Peter Troy was a Deputy and Senator Ben Shenton were members of the States of Jersey Government. Marcus Troy at present Constable of St Clement and Karen Shenton-Stone constable of St Martin

Troy family legend has it that eldest son William (Billy), who later became News Editor of the Jersey Evening Post, sent the picture to the German Kaiser, whose secretary replied to the effect that as long as England had such families of sailors, that country would always rule the waves. The events of the Great War which followed were to prove him right.

Death of former Deputy, builder Mr John Troy

( From the Jersey Evening Post)

THE death occurred yesterday, at the age of 84, of Mr John Troy, of Alandale, La Petite Sente, St Clement, an Ex-Deputy of St Helier and, for many years, a prominent businessman in the Island, being the founder of the building firm of John Troy and Sons Limited — one of the major building firms in the Island between the wars and in the post-war years.

Mr Troy was born in St Helier in 1898, the fourth son of Mr Edward Troy, the well-known master stevedore and coal merchant. In the First World War, on coming of age when he could do so Mr John Troy immediately volunteered for active service and, leaving the Island joined the Royal Naval Air Service with which he served in France throughout the war.

Returning to his native island after the war, Mr Jack Troy (as he was sometimes known), unlike the majority of his brothers who became connected with the family coal, haulage and Stevedore businesses, branched out into a new field of endeavour and, in the late 20s, founded the building firm which bore his name. In this, until the outbreak of World War II, he was joined by his younger brother, Robert, and the firm was responsible for the building of a considerable number of houses both in Jersey and in Guernsey.

In 1940, Mr Troy and his family evacuated to Bury, in England, where he again volunteered for military service but, his services not being required, with his building construction knowledge, he immediately joined the Rescue Services and from then until 1945 his activities were in the field of making good and repairing air raid damage in the North-East and Midlands. He was also instrumental in forming the Channel Islands Association in Bury, of which he was chairman from 1941—1944.

Returning to Jersey after the war, Mr Troy resurrected his building firm, initially under his own name, and subsequently in the names of Jersey Builders Limited, and more latterly Trojan Builders Limited. The firm soon again became and remains one of the major house building firms in the Island. His building companies have constructed several hundred low-cost houses and flats in the Island, all of which have been sold or let to Jersey families. As his sons reached adulthood, he was joined in the firm by his sons, Edward, John, Colin and Tony and by his son-in-law, Mr John (Bob) Le Clercq, the husband of his daughter Nancy. His remaining son, Deputy Brian Troy, chose the legal profession and is now a well known Hill Street advocate.

Mr Troy, who is survived by his wife Gladys, was married in 1924 and was a lifelong devout, and for many years, prominent member of the Roman Catholic Church in Jersey. He was a founder member in 1929 of Council 216 of the Knights of St Columba, and his company constructed St Patrick’s Church at St Clement, St Bernadette’s Church at St Brelade, and St Anne’s Church in Alderney.

In 1963 States of Jersey for St Helier No. 2 District, and was re-elected three years later. During his term of office, he served on many committees, particularly Public Works, Tourism and Telephones. He was also a member of the United Club, the Royal British Legion, Jersey, the Royal Naval Air Service Association and numerous other clubs and associations.

Though normally a man of quiet disposition, he was a man of deep convictions and, possessed of definite views, could be outspoken when he felt strongly on a subject. He possessed a particularly kindly, compassionate and charitable nature and was the sort of man to whom others turned for advice and help and this Mr Troy never failed to give, quietly and suitably.

Mr John Troy was a great family man and a devoted husband and father and patriarchal in his outlook on family matters. In later years, he derived much pleasure from observing and supporting the progress in life of his children and grandchildren. His interest in family matters also extended beyond his immediate family to the wider Troy family in Jersey: He will be greatly missed, not only by his devoted wife, daughter and sons, daughters-in-law and son-in-law and grandchildren, but also by his many nephews and nieces and friends, to all of whom the Jersey Evening Post extends its sympathy.

Back to The Troy family history

Above: With their father Edward, from whom all of the present generation of men bearing the surname Troy on the Island of Jersey are descended. They are (top row) Bob and Frank, (middle row) Dick, George and Jack, and (bottom row) Maurice, Bill their father Edward snr and Edward. .

Above: Jersey postcards were made of the brothers.

The businesses they set up included Estate Agent, Building firm, Tour Operator, Coal & Haulage, Stevedore, Channel Television, Premier Electrics, Clubs, Hotel and many other enterprising businesses with others. Little known is that Richard and Frank gave a lot of advice and backing to many of their brothers to help them on their way. The next generation have achieved just as much but that will be another story coming soon.

If you have any comments you would like to add about anything on this website please contact the website administrator.

maurice@troyfamily.co.uk

Captain Edward Troy my grandfather.1860-1924

From the Jersey Evening Post in 1932.

THE large building site at First Tower fronting the upper St. Aubin’s road and running up Be1lozanne Road, tenanted by Mr. Brandy and owned by Major Vatcher, has been acquired by Mr J. Troy, building contractor, of Albert Street, who proposes to erect a considerable number of houses upon it. We understand that it is the intention to build a number of modern shops along the St. Aubin’s road frontage., with the latest modern style houses running along Bellozanne Road.

Note:

My new troyfamily co.nz

web site has started .

J Troy building contractor on their annual outing 1929. John Troy snr in the front row in the dark suit and his brother Bob Troy next to him in a light suit. The man kneeling with the guitar is Mr W. Butters better known later as Bruce Trent the well known singer. At the time they were building houses in Bellozanne road and Bellozanne Avenue.

The good old days when staff were like family.

My Uncle Jack was well known for his liking of sweets.

JEP 1958

A WASP flying into a man’s face while he was driving his car is stated to have been the cause of a triple collision which occurred in Hill Street yesterday afternoon. Mr. S. L. Asbury, of East View, Beaumont, was driving a car from Messrs. Mascot Hire Cars down Hill Street when, reaching the traffic lights at the junction with Halkett Place, they changed to red and he pulled up. This car was then run into from behind by a car driven by Mr. D. G..Picot, of 55 David Place, which, it is stated, was pushed from behind by a car driven by Mr. J. Troy, of La Gillierie, St. Ouen, into whose face the wasp had flown. Looking into Mr. Troy’s car afterwards, Mr. Asbury is stated to have seen the wasp still there. The vehicles were considerably damaged and glass from their head and rear lamps was strewn over the roadway

Above.

My Great Grandmother Mary Kelly nee Mahoney the mother of my Grandmother Sarah Troy.

Below

From Cliona our cousin who has done extensive research on the Mahoney’s/Kelly’s.

Most of my information initially came from Angela (Power) Flack, who you may have known and who died a little over a year ago. Angela was a wonderful source of family history, which she got from her mother Elizabeth ‘Lily’ (Murphy) Power, who was the daughter of Elizabeth Kelly. Old Mrs. Kelly, of the photograph, lived with them until she died in 1909.

According to Angela and her brother Maurice Power, Mary Mahoney married Michael Kelly in Ireland before they came to Jersey. Maurice said that Michael Kelly was from the Fermoy area of Cork, and Mary Mahoney declared herself to be from Waterford on the 1891 Census. He said that according to his mother, Mary often spoke of the Blackwater River in Ireland. We know about their 2 daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah, but Angela was adamant that they had 2 more girls who died as babies. Well I never imagined that I would be able to prove or disprove that given we are talking about the 1840’s -1850’s, but I did actually find the births of those two girls - Margaret (born 10 Mar 1857 Alderney, this information courtesy of Eileen Mignot, Alderney) and Honora ( baptised 25 Feb 1849, Kilworth, Co. Cork). Angela also said that Mary had one brother, John (known as Johnny) who went to America. Before she left Jersey he made a wooden chest for Mary for her trip to Jersey where Michael had gone before her, to work on the St. Catherine’s Breakwater and later in Alderney. This chest was still in the attic at 16 Albert Street until fairly recently!

At the time I was researching the Kelly/Mahoney line in 2009, none of the Church Records from Waterford and much of Cork were available online, so I paid a researcher to see if he could locate the Mahoney family for me, given the fairly scant details at my disposal. I had Mary’s age from her death cert, one brother John, and Co. Waterford as a birth place. Also the fact they emigrated to Jersey - this was much more common in the West of the County than the east. He identified the most likely Mahoney family as being from Tallow, Co. Waterford - the family of John Mahoney and Mary Neil.

When I’m not 100% sure of a family, I usually proceed on the basis that I have the right family and look for something to disprove that theory, and to date I have found nothing to indicate that this is not the right family. I have since found evidence of John Mahoney of Tallow looking for assistance from the Lismore Estate to emigrate to America, and this money (£1) was paid to him indicating that he did in fact go in late 1851. I also found the marriage of Mary Mahoney and Michael Kelly on 2 Feb 1845 in Kilworth, Co. Cork. Kilworth is adjacent to Fermoy. I also found the baptism of their first daughter Honora in 1849.

There is another record that I believe may well relate to this family in Ireland before they left for the Channel Islands. As you may be aware virtually all the Cenus records for the 1800’s in Ireland were destroyed, however there are a number of fragments remaining and I found a record for a Kelly household in Kilmurray North in 1851, consisting of John Kelly and his 9 yr old daughter Mary, along with his brother Michael Kelly and Michael’s wife Mary. Again not conclusive, but it is in the same Kilworth/Fermoy area.

According to family legend Mary worked in one of the ‘big houses’ when in Ireland but came in for unwanted attention from the master of the house, and this precipitated her decision to join her husband Michael in the Channel Islands.

I will send you the documents in separate emails as there are quite a few of them.

Please let me know what you think, and I will do my best to answer any questions arising.

Kind regards and best wishes for the New Year to you and all my ‘cousins’ in Jersey!

Clíona

Note.

Mary’s four daughters were

Honora b1849

Elizabeth b 1854

Margaret b 1857

Sarah b1860 (my Grandmother)

Mary’s only brother John (Johnny) went to America and another relation John Kelly was deported to Van Diemem Island ( now Tasmania) for supposedly stealing two pigs. Val and I visited the penal colony there and discovered after his release he prospered for a time in Australia before dying a poor man. He was the father of the infamous Ned Kelly.

Our Kelly side of the family