Suen Jew Mean

[mickawinn]

I believe the above was born on 23 June 1890 in Shanghai. The first I know of him is his marriage in 1921 in Hammersmith. I have looked unsuccessfully at Ancestry and Findmypast for immigration records. Can anyone suggest any alternative sites that might hold any clues as to how he got here. I believe he had family in Paris so may have come via that route. Thanks

[rosie99]

I understand that there are no passenger lists between the UK and Europe

[mickawinn]

It was more likely that he came by the direct route.

[bitzar]

His name looks a bit iffey!!  Do you have evidence of his name written in Chinese characters?!?!

Bitzar.

[chempat]

What is his Father's name from the marriage certificate?

Agree that name is likely 'anglicised'

[[Ray]]

Which one ?

Birth 1923 Mar Marylebone 1a 832 Suen J Mean (mmn Davies)     

Marriage 1921 QSEP H'smith 1a 709       
Davies     Edith M     Mean     
Mean     Suen J     Davies     
 Suen     Jew H     Davies 
 

 
 

[mickawinn]

The name Mean appears on other documents and the electoral roles. I am waiting for the marriage cert to find his father’s name. The marriage is correct and the birth is his son with the same name. I haven’t found anything with Chinese characters just one family letter written and signed in English.

[[Ray]]

According to a tree . . . . .     


Ms Davies appears to have been a member of the B.E.F. in WW1?     
Extracts from the service record include the words France and Egypt.     

The Chinese govt had contracts with the French and British to supply non-military labour.     
A short precis = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Labour_Corps

Most labour went back to China, some stayed in France.     

Maybe, just maybe, he came this way after the war?     
Maybe he was a cook? He appears to have been one in London     


Ray

[mickawinn]

Thanks Ray. She is mentioned in her father’s WW1 record, she was only 14 but was with her mother who was separated at the time. Your scenario that Suen may have come to France in the war, stayed on and drifted to England would explain why I can’t find an immigration record but I may never know.