Nicholas Conroy

CONROY, NICHOLAS, farmer, justice of the peace, and officeholder; b. 1816, in Rathdowney, Barony Forth, Wexford, Ireland, son of Thomas Conroy and Christine Herron; m. 7 July 1851 Catherine MacDonald, and they had nine children, Dr. Peter, Tilly, George, Fred, Margaret, Mary, James, Rosetta, and Fannie; Roman Catholic; d. 13 October 1879 in Tignish. Conroy, a Liberal, was elected to the House of Assembly in a by-election held in 1873 for 1st Prince. He was re-elected in the general election of 1876. He resigned his seat in 1879 to accept an appointment as Register of Deeds for the province. Conroy was known as a member who was capable of disagreeing with his party's policies. He was in favour of religious education, and was well-liked and respected within many Island communities. Conroy was educated in Ireland before immigrating to the Island in 1835. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace ca. 1840, and became a Collector of Customs in both Cascumpec and Tignish. He was the Sergeant-at-Arms in the Assembly and was twice appointed High Sheriff of Prince County. Additionally, Conroy served as a trustee and governor of Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown. Nicholas Conroy died on 13 October 1879. Catherine Conroy, the daughter of John and Sarah MacDonald, and the niece of Peter McIntyre, Bishop of Charlottetown, was a native of Goose River. She was born in 1826 and died 11 December 1903.