- OBITUARY
DEATH OF MR. RICHARD TROY.
The death of Mr. Richard Troy, which took place at York last week removes one more interesting figure from the ranks of the early pioneers who landed in this State long be-
fore West Australia received the proud title of "The Golden West.". The late Mr. Troy was born at Phillipstown, King's county Ireland on the 2nd of February, 1829 (a year memorable in Ireland for the passing of the Emancipation Act, and was therefore 81 years of age at the time of his death not 84 as stated in the daily press.
At the age of 24, he set sail in the good ship "Sabrina". for West. Australia "The Swan River Settlement" as it was then called and landed in Fremantle on June 13, 1853, after a tedious and perilous voyage, which in those days occupied as many months as our modern mail boat takes weeks.
In those days there was mail communication from Europe only once a year and the Government officials had authority to open all letters, fearing they might contain anything "treasonable," or disparaging to the then ruling powers.
The story of Mr Troy's early experience is the history of many an emigrant who came in those troubled days to seek fame and fortune beneath the Southern Cross. Perth was then only an insignificant village and so high was the cost of provisions that Mr. Troy once informed the writer, that on many occasions he had to pay as much as 10/- for a 10-lb bag of sugar to the storekeeper, Mr. Shenton (the father of the late Sir George Shenton).
The hardships and privations experienced by those sturdy pioneers who had to work long hours in all conditions of weather for a mere pittance, would be almost increditable to the present generation of workers, who have (amid other conveniences) an Arbitration Court, to which they can submit their grievances.
Most of Mr. Troy's days were spent in the Eastern Agricultural Districts and at York he brought up a respectable family, one of whom is the popular Warden of Cue. Mrs. Troy who died a few years ago was also a native of King's County, and Mr. Troy's long expressed wish to have his remains laid beside those of his late beloved wife in the York cemetery, was carried into effect on last Tuesday week, when Father P. Sheridan, performed the last burial rites.
The last few years of his life were calmly and peacefully spent at Sister O'Connor's St. Vincent Hospital, York, and the end, which was happy and tranquil in the extreme, was a fitting climax to an honest well spent life, each day of which was a preparation for Eternity. A devout and consistent son of the Catholic Church he received the last consolalations of his mother. May his gentle soul rest in peace. [2]
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1829 - 1910 (81 years)
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