John Vincent Rohu 1813-1893
JV Rohu with Crimea medals
John Vincent Rohu (JV), was born in Devon, England on 27.7.1813, one of five children of Bonaventure Rohu and Susan Serle. After his father died in 1822, JV, Julius and two sisters Jane and Louisa were entered at the Greenwich Asylum for the care and education of children of Naval personnel in reduced circumstances (a third son, Henry, had died age 5). The two boys subsequently graduated into the Royal Navy. Later, John rose to the rank of Warrant Officer, Royal Navy and Julius became a rigger, settling in Woolwich.
In 1849, JV left the Navy to join the Coastguard and was stationed first in Salcombe, Devon, then to Inis Cú, off Burtonport, Donegal. During this time he received an invitation to go to Brittany and live on the Rohu property as his uncle, Colonel Jean Rohu had died. He was not able to go at that time, but when free to do so, paid a visit to Plouharnel and Carnac to claim what was his. After some litigation which was unfavourable to JV, his uncle offered him one half of the property on condition he would return to the Roman Catholic religion. This JV declined to do.
The Crimea War brought about his drafting to the Royal Navy from 1854-1856. JV saw service in the Baltic and Black Seas. His Crimea Diary, tallies to a high degree with the official reporting of those campaigns. He was decorated for his services during that war and can be seen proudly wearing two medals in the photograph on this page. The medal on the left is a Crimea with Sevastopol and Azoff clasps and the one on the right is the Baltic Medal issued to Navy and Marine personnel.
JV married Mary Ann Callacott of Kirkhampton, Devonport, Plymouth, in St. Andrew’s Church in Plymouth on 1.1.1838. He was singularly happy in his married life and had 13 children, of whom 4 did not come to adulthood. Those who survived were 7 sons and 2 daughters. John Vincent died, aged 86, on 20.4.1893 at his home in 3 Bayview Avenue, Dublin. Mary Ann died at the home of her married daughter, Harriet, at 12, Gracepark Gardens, Drumcondra, on 16.4.1913 and is buried in Drumcondra. You can view a chronology of JVs life here.
In 1849, JV left the Navy to join the Coastguard and was stationed first in Salcombe, Devon, then to Inis Cú, off Burtonport, Donegal. During this time he received an invitation to go to Brittany and live on the Rohu property as his uncle, Colonel Jean Rohu had died. He was not able to go at that time, but when free to do so, paid a visit to Plouharnel and Carnac to claim what was his. After some litigation which was unfavourable to JV, his uncle offered him one half of the property on condition he would return to the Roman Catholic religion. This JV declined to do.
The Crimea War brought about his drafting to the Royal Navy from 1854-1856. JV saw service in the Baltic and Black Seas. His Crimea Diary, tallies to a high degree with the official reporting of those campaigns. He was decorated for his services during that war and can be seen proudly wearing two medals in the photograph on this page. The medal on the left is a Crimea with Sevastopol and Azoff clasps and the one on the right is the Baltic Medal issued to Navy and Marine personnel.
JV married Mary Ann Callacott of Kirkhampton, Devonport, Plymouth, in St. Andrew’s Church in Plymouth on 1.1.1838. He was singularly happy in his married life and had 13 children, of whom 4 did not come to adulthood. Those who survived were 7 sons and 2 daughters. John Vincent died, aged 86, on 20.4.1893 at his home in 3 Bayview Avenue, Dublin. Mary Ann died at the home of her married daughter, Harriet, at 12, Gracepark Gardens, Drumcondra, on 16.4.1913 and is buried in Drumcondra. You can view a chronology of JVs life here.