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Armed Forces / Re: James William King, Royal Engineers army records
« on: Monday 28 March 22 05:33 BST (UK) »
Thanks. I located the record on Fold3 ok. Found some new details. Much appreciated.
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2
Armed Forces / James William King, Royal Engineers army records
« on: Saturday 26 March 22 23:30 GMT (UK) »
I'm trying to find service records for James William King, born about 1875 in Southampton, who joined the Royal Engineers at about 16. He was eventually posted to Hong Kong where he married Ellen Harriet Thomson. Her father had also been with the Royal Engineers, but passed away along her mother about 1901, I believe in a cholera outbreak. James William King and his wife had four sons, but he died in Hong Kong in 1912 at just 37. His widow raised the boys as best as she could. She worked at Wiseman's Restaurant in HK and also had help from her own brothers and sisters while they lived in HK. I did get some records for Ellen's father ( one of my great grandfathers ) from Fold3 but I think someone sent it to me. I looked at Fold3 and I can't see how one could tell if records are there or not.
3
Ancestral Family Tree DNA Testing / Re: ancestry dna small % asia south
« on: Monday 03 January 22 22:12 GMT (UK) »
Sometimes even a small CM count can be significant. I was contacted last year by an Ancestry tester in Netherlands who had done a DNA test for her adopted Chinese daughter. They have no idea as to her background as she was adopted as a baby. I'm caucasian and live in Canada but I turned up as a small match to this girl. The CM amount was so small that it would normally be regarded as "noise" however, I do have Asian DNA and was able to direct her to where I thought mine came from. With my information she concentrated her search to Fujian province and in so doing, was able to discover some much larger matches. My small degree of knowledge about my own origins, was at least helpful to someone.
4
Other Countries / Re: American, British or European Colonial Families in China?
« on: Sunday 19 December 21 06:22 GMT (UK) »
I've been through all the chronicles and I have a Hong List for 1937. I've searched the available papers through the Hong Kong library and public records as well as the Carl Smith cards. I did have access to the SCMP and NCH at one point but no longer. They're available through some universities if they have Proquest subscriptions but it too expensive for most. Just the big city libraries or universities. Our UBC here in Vancouver has access but in person only and with Covid, that's not available on line. Even alumni can't access it anymore. My hope is to find a living relative that may have info that they don't realize is important. Grasping at straws. I think I will never know now. I'm just tired. Thanks
PS: I'm always willing to assist anyone who is still looking for info!
PS: I'm always willing to assist anyone who is still looking for info!
5
Other Countries / American, British or European Colonial Families in China?
« on: Saturday 18 December 21 23:53 GMT (UK) »
Do you have a colonial family link to China?
In the 1800s entrepreneurs from America, Europe and elsewhere, sought to make their fortunes in Asia. Wool and cotton imports and exports, tea and spices, dairy products, tobacco, manufacturing, shipping, printed media are just a few of the enterprises they began. Besides building their businesses in China, they often built their families there too.
From Shanghai and Tientsin in the north, to Foochow, and Formosa, Hong Kong and southward into the Malay Peninsula, some of today's largest companies got their start in Asia. P&O Lines, Hong Kong Shanghai Bank and Cathay Pacific ( a division of the Swire Group ) all began with these adventurous men.
My own great grandfather was from Manchester, England, and sailed to China. He arrived in Foochow the day after Abraham Lincoln's death in April, 1865. He was 21 and had been employed as a tea inspector for the W R Adamson Company.
In my own research, I've discovered many connections I'd never imagined. Many well to do Chinese, sent their sons to school in England and the United States. Some even married and returned to China with their spouses. I was surprised to see how many children were send to the US and resided in such diverse locations as Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Tennessee.
So, my quest continues here with my search for the origins of my great grandMOTHER. Despite knowing most of her details, I can't find a trace of her origins.
Anyway, maybe someone reading this will take a second look at they information that they thought surely must be a mistake! After all, how could we have an ancestor from China when all our family came over on the Mayflower?
So please don't discard that erroneous information. It might just be true!
In the 1800s entrepreneurs from America, Europe and elsewhere, sought to make their fortunes in Asia. Wool and cotton imports and exports, tea and spices, dairy products, tobacco, manufacturing, shipping, printed media are just a few of the enterprises they began. Besides building their businesses in China, they often built their families there too.
From Shanghai and Tientsin in the north, to Foochow, and Formosa, Hong Kong and southward into the Malay Peninsula, some of today's largest companies got their start in Asia. P&O Lines, Hong Kong Shanghai Bank and Cathay Pacific ( a division of the Swire Group ) all began with these adventurous men.
My own great grandfather was from Manchester, England, and sailed to China. He arrived in Foochow the day after Abraham Lincoln's death in April, 1865. He was 21 and had been employed as a tea inspector for the W R Adamson Company.
In my own research, I've discovered many connections I'd never imagined. Many well to do Chinese, sent their sons to school in England and the United States. Some even married and returned to China with their spouses. I was surprised to see how many children were send to the US and resided in such diverse locations as Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Tennessee.
So, my quest continues here with my search for the origins of my great grandMOTHER. Despite knowing most of her details, I can't find a trace of her origins.
Anyway, maybe someone reading this will take a second look at they information that they thought surely must be a mistake! After all, how could we have an ancestor from China when all our family came over on the Mayflower?
So please don't discard that erroneous information. It might just be true!
6
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Re: Painting of William Leyland Hunter
« on: Saturday 17 October 20 04:30 BST (UK) »
Thanks, I hope so. Sorry I misunderstood. I’ll be more diligent about the rules in the future.
This is such a great site and I’ve had amazing results with everyone’s help
This is such a great site and I’ve had amazing results with everyone’s help
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Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Re: Painting of William Leyland Hunter
« on: Saturday 17 October 20 04:00 BST (UK) »
Sorry, I tried to answer by PM but for some reason it won't let me. It says I need to have posted two messages, but I have posted 338 according to the record so maybe a glitch or maybe it applies just to this posting. Seems maybe it applies to the recipient. Anyway, if the party with connections to Shellard wishes to contact me, I'm available.
Brian
Brian
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Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Re: Painting of William Leyland Hunter
« on: Friday 16 October 20 03:52 BST (UK) »
Hi,
Good to hear from you. As for my connection, Harry Shellard was married to Alice Hunter June 7 1917 in New York. She was an art teacher from the UK. She had a brother William Lionel Hunter who lived in Philadelphia. She would be a first cousin 2X removed to me. Her father was Edmund Southam Hunter of Manchester, a brother of the man in the painting. I've also seen a photo of one of his miniatures of a lady who bears a likeness to another of the Hunter women of that era. It seems Harry and Alice lived in NY for a time but later went to Morristown, New Jersey ( 1930 census ) They both eventually returned to England.
In case I didn't mention it, I'm in Canada...Vancouver. I can be reached directly at (*)
Hope to hear more.
Brian
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least two postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
Good to hear from you. As for my connection, Harry Shellard was married to Alice Hunter June 7 1917 in New York. She was an art teacher from the UK. She had a brother William Lionel Hunter who lived in Philadelphia. She would be a first cousin 2X removed to me. Her father was Edmund Southam Hunter of Manchester, a brother of the man in the painting. I've also seen a photo of one of his miniatures of a lady who bears a likeness to another of the Hunter women of that era. It seems Harry and Alice lived in NY for a time but later went to Morristown, New Jersey ( 1930 census ) They both eventually returned to England.
In case I didn't mention it, I'm in Canada...Vancouver. I can be reached directly at (*)
Hope to hear more.
Brian
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
New members must make at least two postings before being allowed to use the PM facility.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
9
Free Photo Restoration & Date Old Photographs / Re: Painting of William Leyland Hunter
« on: Tuesday 06 October 20 06:49 BST (UK) »
Yes, the keyword is "budget" I spoke to a restoration service today and sent off a few pics so hope they'll get back to me with an estimate. Even just cleaning is might be over my limit bit I'll wait and see. Would be nice to have it all done in case one of my children or grandchildren might eventually see it's heirloom value.
I spoke to a restoration service today and sent off a few pics so hope they'll get back to me with an estimate. Even just cleaning is might be over my limit bit I'll wait and see. Would be nice to have it all done in case one of my children or grandchildren might eventually see it's heirloom value.