Troy was an Irish town during the 19th century.

Troy had a high concentration of Irish residents (ranking 5th among New York State cities with the largest Irish population in some studies and 24th in others, with 24.3% of the population reporting Irish ancestry). Many became cops, worked in the iron industry, and engaged in domestic service and shopkeeping. Many came for work on the construction of the Erie Canal in the early 1800s and the Irish Potato Famine (1845-1848).

Some came and left without letting family know their whereabouts, maybe on purpose?

”The Search for Missing Friends: Irish Immigrant Advertisements Placed in the Boston Pilot” is a comprehensive, eight-volume reference work that transcribes “missing friends” advertisements published in the Boston Pilot newspaper between 1831 and 1920. I went through them and found a great deal of missing Trojans. Here is a brief sample:

OF PETER GARIGAN, born in Hunter, Green county, N. Y., who worked in the nail factory, in the City of Troy, N. Y., about 13 years ago, and has not been heard from since; when he left the nail factory, he went to New Orleans. Information relative to his whereabouts, if living, or if dead when he departed this life, will be received by his........

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