Jersey Branch
Origins
The Jersey branch of the Plucks are descended from William Pluck [PL1423], a soldier in the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion which was garrisoned in Jersey in 1802. The National Archives have, in the records of the Royal Chelsea and Kilmainham hospitals (the latter is the Irish equivalent of the Royal Chelsea), a record of William (WO97/1124/74) which spans the years 1791 to 1814. This records that he was born in Wicklow and served in the 59th Foot Regiment and the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion. He was discharged at the age of 42.
If we assume that the file was closed on his discharge he would have been born in 1772, which suggests that the file was opened with his recruitment in 1791 at the age of 19. However, there is a baptism in Wicklow in 1770 which puts his birth a couple of years earlier, but this difference is not significant for this period.
William married a local girl, Elizabeth le Greslet (le Gresley) and they had at least five children.
He is almost certainly related in some way to the other members of the Irish branch of the Plucks who appear to have also originated from the Wicklow area.
This tree has been compiled almost exclusively from Census records which means that some people will be missing, in particular infants who were born and died between censuses.
More information
Tony Hallihan from the Canadian branch has an interesting photo gallery on his website. Included are pictures of some of the "silverware" won by "Mr Pluck of Jersey". If you visit the History Section you can read nine accounts in contemporary newspapers and journals of him winning various awards for his prize fruit at shows in Torquay, Birmingham and London.
PL No |
Surname |
Forenames |
Notes |
| 1427 | DAUTHEREAU | Jean Jacques | Gx3 grandfather of George Gaudin. |
| 1431 | DYER | Jane Anne | In 1861 census described as a dressmaker. Not found in 1871. In 1881 and 1891 censuses. In 1901 she is a widow living with her son, Percy, and his family. |
| 3684 | JANDRON | Joshua | Joshua and Emily emigrated to Canada. It is not clear when, but the passenger list of the Canada sailing from Liverpool and arriving at Portland, Maine, on 16 March 1914, lists Joshua Jandron (30) a clerk, Florence Jandron (27), and two boys, Romer (4) and Geoffrey (2). The family's destination is Quebec. Joshua had been resident in Canada for 8 years, and Florence for five.; the two children were born in Canada. The family travelled to Jersey on the Regina in December 1924; their destination was First Tower, Jersey. The family travelled again to Jersey on the Pittsburgh in April 1925 to visit Joshua's father, Mr J E Jandron of Watkins Villa, Jersey. Joshua and Emily, now aged 67 and 64, travelled to England in1951. Their destination was 37 Devon Road, Swindon, Wilts. C1901: Grocer's assistant. |
| 1424 | LE GRESLET | Elizabeth | The Jersey Archive records the marriage, in 1823, of Elizabeth Pluck, born in St Helier, to John Bussey, also born in St Helier. This could be one of the children of William and Elizabeth Le Greslet, or it could be the marriage of a widowed Elizabeth. |
| LE SEELEUR | Frederick | a publican | |
| 1444 | LE SEELEUR | Mary Allix | age confirmed by marriage certificate |
| 3685 | LUSBY | Arthur | C1901; living with his parents in Kensal Green (still at 46 Enbrook St), aged 15 and working as a telegraph messenger. C1911: a visitor (?boarder) at 1 West Park Avenue, Jersey. Single, age 25, born in London, works as a G.P.O sorting clerk in the Jersey Post Office. |
| 1449 | PLUCK | Arthur | C1901; C1911. |
| 3686 | PLUCK | Constance Maud | Tony Hallihan's mother. |
| 1448 | PLUCK | Douglas | C1901; C1911. Douglas Pluck, Lance Serjeant, 9th Bn Royal Fusiliers. He died on 3 May 1917, aged 21. He is commemorated at the Arras Memorial. The CWGC site records that he was the son of Francis Burley Pluck and Georgina Amy Durell Pluck of 6 Union Street, St Helier, Jersey. The 1901 census shows that his father was a watchmaker and that Douglas, then aged 5, had two brothers, Frank (8) and Arthur (2) and a sister Maud (7). The family was at the same address in 1881, his grandfather was a publican. |
| 1437 | PLUCK | Ernest A | Ernest is in the 1881 census as a 15 year old jeweller. In 1891 he is living in London (St Marylebone). I am indebted to George Gaudin for the following information which he has garnered from official records: During the night of the 12 and 13 February 1895 Ernest committed suicide by swallowing a solution of Potassium Cyanide. All the registers are written in French which was the official language in Jersey until 1946 and the description in the register is 'Il s'est lui meme donné la mort en avalant en solution de Cyannure de Potasse'. He was aged 29 years and 5 months. The inquest and post mortem of Ernest Albert showed only formal information but led to a French-language newspaper of Saturday 16th February 1895. Inside is a full page column headed:- Suicide dans un wagon de chemin-de-fer [or Suicide in a railway carriage]. From the article it appears that Ernest Albert was found around 7.30 am on Wednesday morning 13th Feb at the St.Helier Terminus in the 1st Class carriage of a train belonging to La Compagnie de Chemin-de-fer de Jersey. At this time there were two tracks, one along the coast to the East as far as Gorey, and one to the West to Corbiere. The two tracks were separated by the town of St.Helier and a large hill called Mount Bingham, and passengers had to walk through the town from the east terminus to the west terminus. The article goes on to describe the position in which EA was found, as if he was asleep with his head on his hat, and how a packet labelled Cyannure de Potasse was found by the body together with a small vase of water which it appears he had stolen from a friend's mantelpiece the night before. It appears from witnesses that EA was of bad conduct, suffering from la misere or depression, was not working, had been brought before La Cour de Police Correctionelle or Police Court, had spent all that he owned, had tried to poison himself six month before, had spent some time in our General Hospital and had told witnesses that he wished he was dead. Following the report of his suicide when it was mentioned that he was sent before the police court I got the records out of the Archive and it appears that on 28th July 1894 EA together with Henry Froggart Isidore Long, and William James Rendle did commit grave and criminal assault upon one William Lockyer at 20, Midvale Road, St.Helier and at the same time did commit a breach of the public peace. On Saturday 29th they were remanded in prison until Tuesday 31st. Back in court on Tuesday to hear the solemn declaration of prosecution witness William Lockyer (presumably now recovered) and the group were placed on £20.00 bail each for a future court appearance. 4th August Sentences. EA found guilty and fined £5.00 or 30 days in prison with forced work. presumably hard labour. Long £3.00 or 18 days. Rendle £2.00 or 12 days. Clearly EA was the ring leader and Long is mentioned in the suicide inquest as is the same address. |
| 1450 | PLUCK | Ethel | C1901; C1911. |
| 1441 | PLUCK | Florence | C1891; C1901; NF in C1911. |
| 1438 | PLUCK | Francis Burley | C1871; C1881. He is shown as a watchmaker in the 1891 and 1901 censuses. In 1901 he was living at 6 Union Street, next to Percy (and also in the 'ancestral home'). His son, Douglas, was killed in Flanders in 1917 (a lance-serjeant in the 9th Btn Royal Fusiliers). Some records show his name as Francis Burfey and some Francis Burley. The latter form is used in the 1911 census which Francis completed and signed himself. |
| 1428 | PLUCK | James | James is known only from the 1841 census and it is assumed that he was the son of William. His age was recorded as 30 in 1841 but, since ages were rounded in the 1841 census, he could have been aged anywhere between 30 and 35, which gives him a birth date between 1805 and 1811. The census records that he was a mason and had a wife, Jane, and a 5 year old son, also James. They lived in Great Union Road (adjacent to Dorset Street). No other Channel Island Plucks were alive in 1841. |
| 1430 | PLUCK | James | In 1841 census, aged 6. In 1851 living with widowed mother and described as an apprentice carpenter. John Jean's book 'Jersey Sailing Ships' lists him: James Pluck, born 1835 Jersey, ship's carpenter on the Lavinia. In 1861 married, living at 2 Union Street and described as a fruit and potato merchant. James and Jane Anne have not been found in the 1871 census index, although their family are all present (as visitors) in other Jersey households. In 1881 he is living at 2,4,6,8 Union Street. His occupation is "'Fruit and Potato merchant and Publican'. What seems to be extensive premises could be explained by his being in the wholesale fruit and vegetable business as well as being a publican (but this is only speculation). |
| 1442 | PLUCK | James | C1891; C1901; C1911. Served in the Royal Army Service Corps in WWI (a mechanical engineer who had previously served in the Royal Jersey Militia). He rapidly attained the rank of sergeant and was highly regarded [Reliable: 'very'; Intelligent: 'very'; 'Power of command and control: 'very reliable man'.] Served with the B.E.F. in France. |
| 1434 | PLUCK | James Florence | In 1871 census (with a friend's family). In 1881 a policeman. In 1891 he, with his wife Emily, were servants in the household of Charles Le Quesne, a retired banker. He died soon after the 1891 census; his gravestone also recorded the death of his son James Sidney, aged 16 days (no date given). |
| 1432 | PLUCK | Jane Alice | C1861; C1871; C188, a milliner. |
| 3683 | PLUCK | Jessie | C1911. |
| 1439 | PLUCK | Jessie Theresa | In 1871 and 1881 censuses. |
| 1433 | PLUCK | Lydia Louisa | In 1861, 1871, 1881 (dressmaker), 1891 (dressmaker) censuses. In 1901 she is living with her brother, Percy, and his family. She does not appear to have married. |
| 1447 | PLUCK | Maud | C1901; C1911 (dressmaker). According to Tony Hallihan, Maude Pluck came to Canada on a number of occasions, and may have owned property outside of Vancouver. He does not believe, however, that she emigrated. |
| 2187 | PLUCK | Michael | known only from children's baptisms |
| 1443 | PLUCK | Minda | C1891; C1901; C1911. |
| 1436 | PLUCK | Percy Voisin | C1871; C1881: he was a railway clerk; C1891 a cooper (unusual - did he serve an apprenticeship?) and in 1901 he was a victualler (possibly a publican) at 2 Union Street (the ancestral home) which is still a public house. He was married to Mary Le Seeleur but they do not seem to have had any children. Mary's father was also a publican. He appears to have died in London in 1930. The facts fit, but this seems a little unexpected; however I can find no other Percy who was born around 1866. |
| 1423 | PLUCK | William | Known only from George Gaudin. He was an Irish born soldier in the 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion which was garrisoned in Jersey in 1802. From TNA: WO97/1124/74 (pension records) Covering dates 1791-1814 Scope and content: WILLIAM PLUCK Born WICKLOW, Wicklow Served in 3rd Royal Veteran Battalion; 59th Foot Regiment; Invalids or Supernumerary Invalids Discharged aged 42. Not in the 1841 census. |
| 1452 | PLUCK | William | Another William was born in 1812, which suggests that this one died at an early age. |
| 1440 | [PLUCK] | Emily | C1891: a servant; C1901: widowed, a boarding house keeper; C1911: no change. |
| 1445 | [PLUCK] | Georgina Amy Durell | C1901; C1911. |
| 1429 | [PLUCK] | Jane Margaret | She is in the 1841, 1851 and 1861 censuses. By 1851 she is a widow living with her son James at 6 Dorset Street (now only 2 Plucks in the Channel Islands). In 1861 she is living with James, his wife, and two daughters. In 1871 Jane and her grandchildren (except James) are recorded as visitors in the house of Thomas Rogers, coachbuilder. |
Acknowledgement
I am indebted to George Gaudin of Jersey for his help in compiling this branch of the Pluck Tree.
