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Updated every 3 months . Last update June 2024 |
Jersey |
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Website administrator Maurice R. Troy |
All the Troys on the Island of Jersey are of the same family and descendants of Edward & Sarah Troy. Lots of research going back to the 12th Century has been carried out by my late cousin Brigadier Terence Troy CBE ( the eldest of the first cousins, I am the youngest) and he has passed this on to my second cousin Advocate Robin Troy. I myself have visited Ireland and met the Troy's in Ballysaggert and Cappoquin .
The surname of Troy is the anglicised form of the Gaelic surname of O’Troighthigh (meaning a foot soldier). Sometimes this became shortened to O’Trehy. The Ui Thrathe or O’Troighthigh were a small County Clare sept in the West of Ireland long before 1000 A.D. which early on migrated to the Cloghean district of Tipperary. The place name Ballytreay in the Baromy of lffa and Offi in South Tipperary derive from the Gaelic “Baille Troightith” meaning townland of the Troys. From here members of the sept moved to the neighbouring counties, with some moving South to County Waterford. Our ancestors were among the latter. To this day there are Troys living in County Waterford centred on Lismore and adjacent towns and villages such as Cappoquin or Ballysaggert whom I have visited.
The Troy Coat of Arms The arms comprise a shield, the background of which is in blue and imposed on it are two griffins segreant combatant d’or which means two mythical dragon like creatures upright fighting. The crest which sits on top of the shield is a tiger’s head raised in d’or (in other words it’s a tiger’s head in gold). As the meaning of the Troy surname in Gaelic is a foot soldier, it is appropriate that the coat of arms shows two mythical animals fighting!
My Great, Great, Great, Grandfather James or John Troy (these Christian names were interchangeable) was born in Ireland around the mid 1700’s was father of John, Honora, William (1790), Morris( English spelling), Eleanor and James. William (my Great Great Grandfather) married a Briget Guivanan and they had a number of sons and daughters who were Margaret 1823, Patrick 1825 ( my Great Grandfather), Maurice born 1826, Honora born in 1828 and James,1830. Margaret, Honora and James were born and remained in Ireland when Patrick came to Jersey but it seems that Honora, who later on was godmother to one of Patrick’s daughters was present at the baptism in Jersey. The son of William, my Great Grandfather is Patrick and he was born in Cappoquin or Ballysaggert in Waterford in 1825. It is probably Cappoquin that he was born in for he was married in 1845 in Ballysaggert which is probably his wife’s birthplace. William was noted as being present at his son Patrick’s wedding in 1845 and it is Patrick who is the founder of our family in Jersey. He married Mary O’Donnell who was born in 1823 probably in Ballysaggert and her father, Edmond O’Donnell was also present at her wedding to Patrick in 1845. Mary was a known to be a very strong character. |
June 24 |
Right: My Grandfather Edward Troy with eight of his sons. My father Richard is the one standing holding the rope in his right hand. He told me his father kept telling him to put it down but he wanted to hold it. |
Below: Seven of the Troy brothers. Standing and half standing from left to right are Robert (Bob), Francis (Frank), Richard (Dick my dad), George, seated, are John (Jack), William, and Maurice. The two sisters Eileen and Kathleen unfortunately are not in the photo and Ted the second eldest brother had died in 1918 aged 23. |
My father Richard Troy in Feb 1919 at the age of 18 years. In World War 1 he served in the Calvary machine gun regiment then R.N.A.S and later the RAF as airman, ground staff. He was also a trained gun layer. He had given his wrong age so as to be able to join the services in the First World War and follow his older brothers. He was quite proud to tell me he had served time in the Army, Navy and Air service during the war and I have record of that. He served in Italy as a machine gunner in the cavalry then in the RNAS and finished in the RAF in 1919. Fought in active service in Italy and raids into Albania (Details coming soon) |
The Troy brothers were very close. My father told me that although there were many disagreements especially when they always met up at their eldest sister Kathleen’s house in 5 Albert St after mass on Sunday mornings they always stayed together and helped one another. throughout their whole lives. They all developed successful careers and businesses following the example set by their father whom they loved and admired greatly. |
My grandfather Edward Troy proudly taking part in the 1912 Jersey Battle of Flowers with one of his own horse and carts. This was also the year of his Silver wedding to Sarah. |
Major George Troy who in the 1950’s became a Senator in the States of Jersey government. He was commissioned in the Royal Engineers a month before world war 2 broke out and was in France on 9th September 1939. He served seven years almost wholly overseas. He was mentioned in dispatchers and attained the rank of Lieut-Colonel. One of the founder members of the Jersey Progressive Party (see below). My father said that one of George’s dreams was to have a TV station and after a number of years he founded Channel Television. As chairman he was the first person to speak on air on its launch. A real man of vision in more ways than one Unfortunately he died fairly young aged 57 on the 3rd Oct 1962 of a heart attack one month after the picture below. |
Edward Troy 1860-1924 Sarah Troy 1862-1925 |
Sarah Troy (nee Kelly) my Grandmother Born. 14th March 1860 Died 21st July 1925 Married Edward on 6th June 1887 |
Left: My Grandfather |
Edward Troy and William just after the First World War. He received the Military Medal for exceptional bravery. |
My father Richard with one of his horses named Prince in front of his mother and father’s shop at their home 5, Albert St. St Helier that Sarah ran. My father was just on six foot and this horse was almost 19 hands.( one of the biggest in the island at the time he told me). He loved horses and maybe that’s why I ended up owning five. He brought this horse back for his father paid for with his decommissioning money at the end of WW1. |
Sons of the sea. A Jersey postcard was made of the eight Troy brothers. My father told me they were from left to right George, Francis, Robert, Richard (my dad), John, Maurice, Edward (Ted) and William. The second from the right Edward died not long after this photo aged 23. Below in colour |
Party politics in Jersey Below from top to bottom. Mrs A. Forster, W. H. Krichefski, Dennis Ryan and George Troy. |
Bob (who died 18/4/13 ) and Margaret Troy’s shop in Cappoquin Ireland with Val and myself (we are related). |
At the lovely house of the late Maurice Troy, his wife Anne myself Maurice Troy and Valerie with their son Bob (centre) near Ballysaggert Ireland. One of Bob’s sons is also Maurice Troy and Bob has his own Quad bike and garden machinery business. |
Above: My cousin the late Benny Shenton who died aged 19 in 1942 and whose sister Connie died aged 18 in 1943 both during the German occupation and both of TB. My father Richard and his sister Kathleen their mother were very close and their deaths nearly broke my fathers heart. I believe he was with them at the time of their deaths. Their mother Kathleen died on the 30th Oct 1948 |
A picture of his brothers John and Maurice sent to my father Richard (Dick) from England near the termination of World War 2 as there had been no contact during the five year occupation of Jersey |
See larger pictures and John (Jack) Troy senior’s obituary |
Above: In the late 1930’s George Troy (left) began promoting some excellent boxing shows at Springfield Stadium of which one drew a crowd of over 7000 in the open air to see Larry Gains, the Empire heavy-weight champion (centre left) defeat Harry Staal, the Netherlands champion on points over ten rounds. |
William Troy MM Jersey Evening Post News Editor from 1921 to 1955 |
Senator George Troy opening the first live broadcast on Channel TV on 1st Sept 1962, he was so proud. The first program to be shown was Richard Greene in Robin Hood. Video clip. |
When my Great Grandfather Patrick Troy left Ireland for Jersey around 1853 many of his relatives left for America, Australia, etc. Please get in touch if you think you are related |
Note.
My new
troyfamily co.nz
NZ family facts
Link to it on my “What’s new page” |
More facts about our Troy family history in Ireland and who were transported to Australia for petty crimes under English rule. Some for stealing and some for murder. Also all the Troy’s killed and buried around the from the two world wars. Take a look.
Definitely worth a read for all the Troy’s around the world. |
Known as Sister Aileen Perkins (nee Troy). My father’s sister was the Jersey prison matron throughout the German occupation of WW2 and after. |
Troy's arriving in Jersey For much of the first half of the 19th Century, Ireland was suffering the terrible potato famine. When several years in succession the crop failed, due to potato disease, there was terrible famine throughout the whole of the country of Ireland. Many families died and were wiped out, others emigrated to America and Australia and anywhere out of Ireland. The Troy family of Waterford were not exempt from this terrible time and it was in the 1850’s that Patrick, son of William, decided to leave Ireland and come over to Jersey. Patrick was a stonemason and he came over to Jersey in probably 1854 to work on St Catherine's breakwater. He brought with him his wife and three eldest sons, William, born in Ireland in 1847, John, born in Ireland in 1850, and Patrick, born in Ireland in 1853. After the arrival in jersey, Bridget was born in 1857, Edward (my Grandfather) 1860, Ellen 1862 and Maurice 1864. None of Patrick’s sons, other than Edward have left any male Troy descendants alive in Jersey today. Edward was born in Jersey on the 29th Feb1860 a leap year, married in Jersey in 1887 and died in Jersey in 1924 . My father often joked with me that his father was only a quarter of his age because he only had a birthday every four years. Edward married Sarah Kelly, she had been born in Alderney in 1860. The reason she was born in Alderney was that her father, Michael Kelly, who had married a Mary Mahoney, in Ireland, was also a stonemason who came to Jersey where Elizabeth was born (24th Nov 1854), later went to Alderney where he worked for some time on their breakwater and Sarah was born. Sarah died in 1925 only a matter of months after her beloved husband, Edward, had died of pernicious anaemia. It was said that she died of a broken heart
Our Troy Family descendants. ( with dates born if known). Starting with: John or James ( mid 1700’s). Children were John, Honora, William, Morris (English spelling), Eleanor and James. Next generation. William 1790 married Brigid (nee Guivanan). Children were Margaret 1823, Patrick 1825, Maurice 1826, Honora 1828 and James 1830 Next generation. Patrick 1825 married Mary (nee O’Donnell) in 1845. Children were William 1847, John 1850,Patrick 1853, Brigid 1857,Edward 1860,Helen 1862 and Maurice 1864. Next generation Edward 1860 married Sarah 1860 (nee Kelly) on 6/6/1887. Their children and the dates born are: Edward 15/8/1888 to18/7/1889 (11 mths 3 days) William 6/8/1889, Kathleen Mary 14/7/1891, Aileen Sarah 22/6/1892, Winifred May 25/6/1893 died 4/7/1893 ( 9 days old), Edward Patrick 9/4/1895 died 10/4/1895 ( 1 day old), Edward O’Donnell 24/4/1896, Maurice John 23/3/1897, John 14/5/1898, Richard 31/08/1899 (my father), Robert Kelly 14/10/1901, Francis Patrick 06/12/1902 and George 28/9/1905. His wife Sarah was born in Alderney in14th March 1860 as explained above
The next generation are my cousins and their children( in brackets):
Williams children: Terence died 1/12/2007( no descendants ) Kevin 1926 -died 4/1/2012( two sons Peter and Colin)
Kathleen’s children: Ben(1923-1942) both died during the occupation Constance(1925-1943) really upset my father who was very close. Richard (1926-2/1/2013)(Monica, Karen, Ben ,and John.) Barbara (1928-Died 14th May 2008) ( no descendants ) Kathleen (d.25/9/2015) (Simon, Christopher and Timothy) Sheila (12/8/32-23/7/13) (Beverly and Philippa) Robert.(1935-18/12/2017)( Jeannette)
Aileen’s children: Winifred died 8/11/2006 (Jennifer and John)
Edwards children: No descendants died 15/7/1918 aged 23.
Maurice’s children: Kathleen Died 4/4/2021 (Elizabeth, Sarah and Robert) Maureen. Died (Richard and Michael)
John’s children: Edward 1925—Jan 2011( Alan, Christine, Gary, Caroline, and Catherine.) Nancy died 28/5/2024 ( Elizabeth and Angela) John died 6/3/2019 (John, Gordon, (Robin & Sally 1955-1955), Peter and Robin) Allan (1932-1/9/1934) aged 2 years 3 weeks. Anthony d 3/11/2017 ( Gillian and Patricia) Colin d 21/2/2015 (David, Paul and Susan) Brian. d. 31/10/20 ( Sarah and Charles)
Richard’s children: Richard died 16/3/2012(Mark (1956-1986), Marcia and Andrea.) (my father): Anne, ( no descendants ) Dennis (Angela and Stephen). Mary ( Paul and Michael) (me) Maurice ( Nicola, JJ and Marianne).
Robert’s children: Margaret died 30/9/2014 (Fiona, Alison and Ian) Robert ( Robert and Paul) Dermot died 20/3/2015 (Darren and Jacqueline).
Francis’s children: Patrick (Timothy and Ian) Helen died 22/3/2019 (Nigel, Michael and Jonathan).
George’s children: Michael Died (Nicholas, Jonathan, Christopher and Marcus) Adrian. (Deborah, Kathryn, Jason, Rachel and Christian) |
After St Catherine’s breakwater had been completed, Patrick by this time had moved to St. Helier with his family, and he worked for the Jersey Railway Company for quite a few years until he retired in 1888. He lived in Castle Street with his family, close to his workplace which was as gate keeper at the railway crossing at the bottom of Castle Street. According to research carried out by my cousin Terence he was a quiet and a kindly man but a very upright character and popular and well-liked in the community. We know Patrick retired in 1888, as he was presented with a silver snuffbox with his name and the date 9th August 1888 and this was still in the possession of Terence’s family.
Patrick’s son Edward (my Grandfather) as a very young boy went to sea in sailing ships which used to journey from Jersey to North and South America and the West Indies. His career at sea was a very successful one and at the time that he quit the sea to marry, he had risen to be first mate of a sailing ship. On one of his voyages in the Irish Sea, the ship was in dense fog when it was hit and run down by a steamer. The captain of Edward’s ship disappeared and it was thought he had been lost overboard. Edward took command and successfully bought the damaged ship safely back to port at Liverpool where, to his astonishment, he saw the captain standing on the quayside. He had apparently, in fear of his life, leapt aboard the steamer’s bow as it hit his own ship.
At the age of 28, Edward left the sea to marry Sarah who at one time was a governess to a famous opera singer in London before her marriage. She agreed to marry Edward only if he quit the sea. This he did. Edward proposed to Sarah in the grounds of Victoria College. His ship sailed the next day. True to his promise he did not sail with her, which according to my father and cousin Terence was just as well since the ship was never heard of again. It is interesting to think that if Edward had gone on his ship and had sunk with it, none of us (the Troy family of Jersey) would be here today!
Edward who became known and was called Captain Edward Troy around the island went on and started a coal business. Because of his knowledge and contacts at the St Helier harbour he went on to become a master stevedore. Both businesses did very well and were taken over by his sons, one still in operation George Troy & Sons and the other ceased in 1997, E.Troy Ltd. On the occasion of their silver wedding in 1912. all the ships in St. Helier Harbour were dressed over all in their honour, the dockland wharfs were dressed in flags and bunting and at a ceremony attended by over 200 persons, Edward was presented with a number of pieces of silver including a tray and tea set suitably inscribed which is still in the family possession .
Take a look at the E. Troy Ltd page on this website for more on Edwards life.
It is worthy to note that the family has provided three senators, five deputies of the States of Jersey, two parish constables and in two world wars every Troy of military age has fought in defence of their country and of their Island home with two being decorated for bravery/distinguished conduct in the field and that the family has provided employers and business people in many fields in the Island. Troys on the Island of Jersey in the census of 1851,1871,1891 and 1901 |
On a personal view although I knew all my aunts and uncles, the uncle I was closest to was my uncle Frank as it was he and Richard, my father, who continued the coal business E.Troy after their father died. I also worked in the coal & haulage business with my uncle Frank, (as did my other two brothers at times) who continued it on our behalf after my father ( Richard) died. The cousin I was closest to was my cousin Dermot as he is the closest in age and his father Robert only lived a few hundred yards from his brother Richard, my father, when we were growing up in St Clement. We spent a lot of time at each others houses. Richard and Robert died within a month of each other in 1964 both of cancer. My Uncle William (Bill) also lived next door to Robert at “Ilium” Samares, St Clement but not for so long. "Ilium” was the capital of Troy |
My Great Grandmother Mary Kelly nee Mahoney picture is on this page here.
She had four daughters. Including Sarah below. |