John Walter DeGruchy was baptised in 1838, the son of Philippe DeGruchy and Marie Magdelaine Renaut. There is another John W DeGruchy born the same year, but he was John William, son of John a farmer and Hannah.
In 1851, John W DeGruchi was 14, the son of John DeGruchi a Shipwright living in St Hellier, Channel Islands.
In 1852, John Walter went to sea as a boy aboard the Coroline of Arichat, Canada. He was next an Ordlnary Seaman on Lady Falkfandin L853, both of which vessels were engaged in the Foreign Trade.
1854 John Walter was serving aboard the Red Rover of Shields, in the Coastal Trade and 1854-L855 on a voyage to Adelaide, Australia aboard Evening Star of London.
In 1861, his parents John DeGruchy Shipwright and Harriet (62 & 56) were is St Helleir, Jersey. (Another John Phillip DeGruchy of same age was married to Esther)
Did John die in 1863? When Maria DeGrucha (nee Clark) married William Brereton in Fitzroy in 1844, she recorded she was widowed in 1863. However, this may not be the case (see below). There was no death certificate.
31 May 1865, John Walter DeGruchy, Aged 26, Widower and Seaman married Adelina Esther Noël at St Saviour, Jersey.
In 1867 John was certified as a First Mate. Then on 12 Nov 1869, the Board of Trade awarded John Walter DeGruchy a Certificate of Competency as "Master" of the merchant service (i.e. seaman).
In 1881, John W DeGruchy and Adelina E (42 and 40) were with Philip and Louisa Gaudin (52 & 42) at St Martin Jersey. John was now a baker and his wife a grocer.
In 1891, John W (a baker and grocer) and Adelina E (53 and 50) were with son John W (8) and daughter Olivia (10) and had a domestic servant Jane Le Breton (14) with them.
April 1920, John Walter DeGruchy died, aged 82 and was buried 10 April at St Martin, Jersey.