AboutMichael Troy Expertise I can help with the following:
How to get started with family research.
Resources on the internet to help with research.
Experience I have been researching my own family history for several years. My focus has primarily been in Pennsylvania, but have also done research on family from New York, Canada, Ireland, Germany, and the Ukraine.
Organizations Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
Publications View my own family tree at:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mtroy
Question Hi there Mr. Troy...My name is Tena Troy...My dad, Elmus Walter Troy was born in Jackson Ky 03/06/1946 He was born to Elmus Burns Troy and Daisy M Howard Skidmore. My grandma was married to my grandfather but he married her in 1945, in Ohio, under the name of Harry Skidmore. He was wanted by the police. My grandmother did not know this until she was 8 months pregnant with my dad and the cops found him. My dad has only seen his dad one time and that was when he was 4 years old. We believe my dad has at least one half brother out there. My grandfather was quite a bit older than my grandmother. He was born in 1908 and my grandmother was born in 1925..she died in 1974. I would love to find out what happened to my grandfather. I know he is gone by now but I would love to find my family. Can you help? Thank you for your time.
Answer Hi Tena,
Always happy to hear from another Troy, although I don't think we are related. My family immigrated to Philadelphia and have largely remained in that area. That said, I'd be happy help point you in a few good directions.
First, I did a search of the Social Security Death Index. There is an entry for a Harry Skidmore who was born in 1905. This could be a different person, but given the name and birth year, it could be worth investigating. The SS# is 055-14-4603. If you send away for the SS application, that may provide you with more info. The online entry says that this person was born July 5, 1905 and died in July 1978. Last benefit was sent to Sayre, PA and the applicant applied for a card while living in NY.
I also found a 1920 Census record for Elmus Troy. Although the Ancestry.com transcript lists the last name as "Noy", if you look at the original image, I'm pretty sure it is "Troy". Elmus is listed as being 12, even though by your measure he should be 14 or 15. But I have found this sort of effort common in Census records of this era. If correct, it says Elmus and his parents Grover and Dora, were all born in West Virginia, though living at the time in Canton City, Ohio. There were no siblings listed.
I also found a 1900 Census record for Grover Troy working as a ranch hand in Kansas, and listed as the stepson of George and Mattie McKinley. This record also lists Grover's birthplace as West Virginia and the age is consistent with the 1920 record. Therefore, it's probably the same person.
If your Grandfather was arrested for murder, there is probably some record of a trial or prison term for him. If you can figure out where the crime was committed, you can probably find the court records.
The other place you may want to try is rootsweb.com. There is a Troy Surname message forum there. You may want to post your question there to see if anyone is looking for the same person, or knows anything else.
