Alexander "Sandy" Roy^[1]

1825 - 1891  (66 years)

• Name	Alexander "Sandy" Roy
  Born	1825	Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA.   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Occupation	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Labourer
  Residence	1871	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Baptist
  Race	1881	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	black
  Occupation	1881	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Laborer
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-100056
  Died	29 Aug 1891	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Cause: Tuberculosis (6 months)
  Buried	31 Aug 1891	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I100056	Generations
  Last Modified	28 Jan 2025

  
  

  Family 1	Mary Ann Drayn,   b. 1834, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	1860
  Children	1. William Alexander Roy,   b. CALC 23 Jul 1862, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Apr 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 18 years)   2. Mary Jane Roy,   b. 1865, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   3. George E. Roy,   b. 1867, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. Alice Victoria Roy,   b. 24 May 1874, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F25766	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Children	1. William Alexander Roy,   b. CALC 23 Jul 1862, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. 23 Apr 1881, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age ~ 18 years)
  Last Modified	29 Jan 2025
  Family ID	F267515	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Death of Alexander Roy On Saturday last, Mr. Alexander Roy, for many years known to almost every resident of Galt by the familiar name of "Sandy Roy," passed away, in his sixty-sixth year. Deceased was born a slave, in Farquier County, Virginia, in 1825. He was owned by a farmer named Reid and up to his 31st year "Sandy" resided on the farm and for eight years, held the position of overseer. He was a very industrious and trustworthy man and enjoyed in more than an ordinary degree the confidence of his master. But the yearning for liberty which nature has implanted in the heart of every man, be he white or black, impelled him to forsake his southern home and endeavor, to make his way to the land of liberty, north of the American boundary line. Accordingly in 1856, he started out, his sole possessions being an old fashioned pistol, a bowie knife and about $60 in cash, which he had managed to accumulate. He was some three weeks on the journey and after suffering many privations, reached the Niagara river and crossed to the Canadian side, at Chippewa, on the 31st of July of that year, his little fund of cash having dwindled away, till on his arrival in Canada he had but twenty-five cents left. He then made his way to Stoney Creek and obtained employment as a farm hand, with a Mr. Gage, with whom he worked for about three years. In 1860 he was married to Mary Ann Drayn of Hamilton, who survives him. About that time he removed to Galt, where he has resided ever since. He worked as a laborer for many years, till his once powerful constitution was broken down with rheumatism and succeeded in acquiring a comfortable home. For the past ten years he has been employed as fireman, at W. F. A. Scott's planing mill. Deceased possessed a keen sense of humor and considerable shrewdness. He fully appreciated his privileges as a free man and frequently alluded with pride, to the first time he exercised his franchise at the Polls. It was on the occasion of the Parliamentary election of 1867, when the Hon. Jas. Young entered public life. "Sandy" was at the polling place at six o'clock in the morning and patiently waited till the polls were opened, when he cast the first vote. On coming out of the polling booth, he threw up his hat with a cheer, exclaiming, "Now I am a free man !" Although possessed of but little education, he was faithful and honest to the last degree, and our citizens generally, regret that they shall see his familiar face no more. Deceased had a family of five children, three of whom, a son and two daughters, with his widow, survive him. The funeral took place on Monday afternoon, to Mount View Cemetery and was largely attended. The Dumfries Reformer 3 Sep 1891 pg 1

  
  

• Sources

  [S1338] News - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge - Galt Reporter (1846-1973), Obituary of William Alexander Roy - 29 Apr 1881,pg 8. [S336] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1881, Galt Division 1 Page 19. [S570] Census - ON, Waterloo, Galt - 1871, Div. 1, Pg. 77.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1825 - Fauquier Co., Virginia, USA. Occupation - Labourer - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Baptist - 1871 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Race - black - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Laborer - 1881 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: Tuberculosis (6 months) - 29 Aug 1891 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - 31 Aug 1891 - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth