An American Family History

Captain John Bartholomew Treahy was born about 1829 in Askeaton, County Limerick, Ireland and was the son of Barthlomew Treahy and Bridget Moran.

He moved to Canada with his parents when he was young and may have enlisted in the English army and went to fight in the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857. He was a captain under Major Healy and married the major's daughter, Sarah. They inherited the major's estate.

John and Sarah's children were born in Batticaola, Ceylon. Mary Katherine Treahy Wallace was born in 1863, Mary Elizabeth Treahy Edsall was born in 1866, Agnes M. Treahy Flynn was born in 1867, Patrick Austin Moran Treahy was born in 1868 and Albert Moran Treahy was born in 1871.

On July 15 1869 B. M. Treahy bought a 15 acre coconut estate called Little Hydrabad in Batticaola which he cleared and planted. He sold it on January 25, 1873. He sold it on January 27, 1873.

The 1878 Ceylon Handbook at directory shows B. M. Treahy as the proprietor of three coconut estates in the eastern provinces.

The Haven was in Batticaola and was 160 acres. It was managed by B. M.

Rockwood was in Batticaola and 140 acres. It was managed by B. M. and his son. According to the Coconut Planter's Manual it was started in 1850 by Kidd.

Ootoo Oday was in Trincomalee and was 101 (or 161) acres and managed by Cangary.

There is one estate at Trincomalee, Ootoo Oday, the property of Mr. J. Wright. It is situated in one of the deltas formed by the Mahavillaganga where it enters the sea in Tamblegam Bay, and promises well. (Coconut Planter's Manual, 1907)

Some of John and Sarah's children came to San Diego about 1885. At first they lived with their aunt, Elizabeth Cleveland.

Children of Bartholomew Treahy and Bridget Moran Eliza Treahy Griffin Elizabeth Catherine Treahy Cleveland Copley John Bartolomew Treahy Helen Treahy Flynn Anne Treahy (Sister Mary Lawrence) Patrick Joseph Treahy

The peak period of Irish immigration to Canada was during the Great Famine between 1845-1849. Most immigrants went to Canada because the fares were lower. Ships that reached Canada lost many passengers and even more died while in quarantine. From the reception station at Grosse-Ile, most survivors were sent to Montréal. The typhus outbreak of 1847 and 1848 killed many of the new immigrants. An economic boom following their arrival allowed many men to work in on the expanding railroad, in construction, in the logging industry, or on farms.