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HELP!!
Nov 26, 2009 4:59:20 GMT -5
Post by charlie28 on Nov 26, 2009 4:59:20 GMT -5
Hey everyone!! My name's Charlie and I'm from New Zealand. Long story short, my Grandfather is originally from Guangzhou but moved to New Zealand years ago.. unfortunately he died many years ago and i never got to meet him. I'm currently in Hong Kong for work and want to find his home (which i hear is still standing in Guangzhou) my father returned there around 11 years ago, but doesn't remember how, where or who took him there!! He was on an organised tour and a government agency sorted it out! Anyway all the information I have is as follows:
My Grandfather's name is: 吳郁良 (Ng Yok Leung)
My Step-Grandmother's name is: 姚六娣
and the supposed address of the house is: 廣州舊街上三巷57號 with this additional information: 廣州上良魏搖(?)村[花布站](someone said its the same,but we're not sure)
so if ANYONE recognises anything from here and could help me out at all, that would be fantastic!!!!
Thank you so so much, Charlie
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HELP!!
Nov 26, 2009 9:15:46 GMT -5
Post by Henry on Nov 26, 2009 9:15:46 GMT -5
Hi Charlie, Welcome to the Forum! I cannot read or write the Chinese characters, however, I have the following suggestions: Check with the following organization - they assist overseas Chinese in locating their ancestral villages, relatives: Guangdong Overseas Chinese Affairs gocn.southcn.com/english/Email: gdsfqb@gdnet.com.cn Add: 8 Haishan Jie, Ersha Island Guangzhou 510105 Tel: + 86-20-8735 3375 Fax: + 86-20-8735 2060 If this organization is not helpful and/or responsive, I suggest contacting the following travel agency, which has successfully helped other members of this Forum in locating their ancestral village. While they charge a fee, they can meet you when you come in from Hong Kong and provide transportation and guide service in English to your ancestral village. I also suggest that you try to get a copy of your family genealogy book that shows the names of your grandfather and other ancestors when you visit the village. Su Zhiwei Manager of Europe & America Dept. China Merchants Travel Phone: +86-20-8331 3156, 8331 2843 Fax: +86-20-8331 2845 Email zhiweisu@vip.sina.com Regards, Henry
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HELP!!
Nov 27, 2009 2:11:18 GMT -5
Post by helen on Nov 27, 2009 2:11:18 GMT -5
Hi Charlie
I'm also a Kiwi.
Where abouts in N Z was he? When did he arrive and what age? Any idea where he is buried?
I have a friend who also lives in HK, and he took me around the Zengcheng villages in June.
I am going to stick my neck out and say that the family roots are in Nga Yiel village.
please send me a personal email, and I will connect you to some one in NZ who knows the village. And I can connect you to the man in HK. He will be able to guide you to the village
My Grandfather's name is: 吳郁良 (Ng Yok Leung)
My Step-Grandmother's name is: 姚六娣 (Yiew Look Dei?)
and the supposed address of the house is: 廣州舊街上三巷57號
with this additional information:
廣州上良魏搖(?)村[花布站]
The addresses are different. The 1st one is No 57, Upper 3rd Lane, Old Street, Guangchou.
The other one appears to be the village, but the writing is incorrect. Maybe it should read "Sapu" a railway station on the line to Zengcheng.
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HELP!!
Nov 27, 2009 7:15:46 GMT -5
Post by charlie28 on Nov 27, 2009 7:15:46 GMT -5
Henry, Helen.. thank you so much!!!
Henry, i emailed the people you suggested and am awaiting their reply..
Helen, i think you're on to something! i can't access your email address, it's hidden???
My grandfather moved to New Zealand when he was 11 or 12, around 1918, and died at age 42 (approx) he's buried in Avondale, Auckland. He never returned to his home, but his mother lived there, but moved to Hong Kong where she died and the 'stepmother' who was betrothed to my Grandfather (he eloped with my Maori Nan instead!) stayed in the home waiting for him, till she died (so sad!)
I'll forward all this info on to my friend who's also trying to help me out!
my email is: charlotte_york@hotmail.com if you want to buzz me?
Thank you so so so so much!! Charlie
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HELP!!
Nov 27, 2009 8:50:25 GMT -5
Post by Henry on Nov 27, 2009 8:50:25 GMT -5
Charlie,
If you do not hear back from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office - they sometimes are very slow in responding. I suggest going with Su Zhiwei, the travel agent. I believe he will reply promptly and his group will follow through quickly.
Henry
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HELP!!
Nov 27, 2009 12:59:31 GMT -5
Post by charlie28 on Nov 27, 2009 12:59:31 GMT -5
done.. thanks Henry!
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HELP!!
Nov 27, 2009 14:17:29 GMT -5
Post by helen on Nov 27, 2009 14:17:29 GMT -5
Hi Charlie - you say he is buried in Avondale? Could that be Waikumete? Only thing is I can't find his name in the Waikumete database.
So he was born about 1907, came here about 1918 and died about 1960. Do you know if he came with or to his father? Did he come to Auckland direct, or was it some where else? What is his father's name?
Do you know if he had a fruit shop ore a market garden? There were a few market gardens in Avondale at the time.
I don't see his name on the poll tax, unless you have the spelling wrong.
Were you an Aucklander? I am in Auckland.
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Nov 27, 2009 19:55:35 GMT -5
Post by geoff on Nov 27, 2009 19:55:35 GMT -5
Hello Charlie28, I'm also seeking an NG male who married into our clan. He possibly lived in the nearby village of Nga Yiel & later migrated to Australia with his Australian born chinese wife & #2 son (school age), late 1910's. Their #1 son was excluded from entry into Aust due to the strict 1901 Immigration Restriction Act (possibly too old to be a dependant) & he travelled onto Wellington NZ to live. Efforts were made to reunite the family, however all attempts were unsuccessful. I think I've found #2 son paying poll tax to enter NZ. Have you searched the poll tax records at The Office of Ethnic Affairs online at www.ethnicaffairs.govt.nz/oeawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Advisory-Services-Consultations-Online-Poll-Tax-Records?OpenDocumentclick on "Poll Tax family research" (on left), then search by name etc. Shapu or Sapu is the nearest railway station to our villages in Zengcheng county. I haven't been in contact with a village elder in Nga Yiel yet. Do you have a photo of grandfather's headstone in Auckland? Helen, could you please put me in contact with your person in NZ who knows the village? Details to my hotmail address please.
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HELP!!
Nov 28, 2009 2:38:35 GMT -5
Post by helen on Nov 28, 2009 2:38:35 GMT -5
Hi Geoff - It's Gordon in Wellington. You have been in contact with him before.
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HELP!!
Nov 28, 2009 23:34:18 GMT -5
Post by charlie28 on Nov 28, 2009 23:34:18 GMT -5
Hey guys!! Thanks again Yep Waikumete is it, and yeah apparently relations have tried to find him in the database and there's a huge problem there cos his name is entered wrong or something like that but he's definitely there!! He didn't come to or with his father, his parents remained in China, and no one knows his father's name. A whole heap of documents about my Grandfather were burnt in a house fire! :-( And yeah he had market gardens in Mangere! I still haven't heard back from the two places Henry, one of the emails bounced back aswell?? I grew up in Rotorua Helen :-) but my father lived in Auckland after my Grandfather died, with other Chinese relatives who we refer to as "the Kings" until he was 12 and then moved up North. But i did live on the North Shore for three years (and Ponsonby) while i studied at AUT :-) where are you from? ? Thanks again guys! Charlie
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Nov 29, 2009 11:07:58 GMT -5
Post by Henry on Nov 29, 2009 11:07:58 GMT -5
Charlie,
Which email bounced?
I suggest using SKYP and calling Su Zhiwei directly at the travel agency.
China is not an email oriented country and most communication is via telephone.
Henry
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Dec 3, 2009 4:33:13 GMT -5
Post by charlie28 on Dec 3, 2009 4:33:13 GMT -5
Thanks Henry! i managed to get hold of Su Zhiwei and she's looking into it!! How would i go about getting my family genealogy book once i get there?? Cheers, Charlie
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HELP!!
Dec 3, 2009 8:51:44 GMT -5
Post by Henry on Dec 3, 2009 8:51:44 GMT -5
Charlie,
It might help to provide Su Zhiwei before your visit with the following Chinese names and she can ask the village chief about acquiring a copy of the village genealogy book and identifying these names within the book and your village relatives. If you are lucky, you may be able to get an original copy or have a photocopy made.
Usually, the village genealogy book may start with the village founder as generation number 1 or it may extend back to the original clan ancestor for the county or for the first of your clan to come to Guangdong province. These particular ancestors are significant because they provide linking points for genealogy books for your clan - this is important because it is these link points that provide the lineage connections back to HuangDi, the Yellow Emperor (2797 BC - 2697 BC).
These Chinese names are for your grandfather and also the Chinese characters for the name of your great grandfather. With 2 successive generations, this will ensure that you have the correct branch and that this is "pedigree" descent line that you are seeking.
If you wait until you visit the village to provide the information, the genealogy book and the particular page of the genealogy may not be found so quickly - sometimes, it takes a while to read through the lineages, hence, a copy of the village may not be available in time for you to carry back home.
The genealogy book documents your family lineage and is the only document that does so in China - prior to 1949 when the Communists took over. The lineage charts also detail all your relatives and is a good way to verify villagers that claim to be your relatives.
Also, villagers are sometimes very suspicious of outsiders and are not so inclined to show their genealogy book. Remember, many of these genealogy books survived the destruction by the Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution because they were hidden. Bring Chinese "red" envelopes to give to the people that help you in the village, especially for the village chief.
Henry
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HELP!!
Dec 3, 2009 23:31:09 GMT -5
Post by helen on Dec 3, 2009 23:31:09 GMT -5
Hi Henry - words of wisdom there. Even my late Mother's brother and sisters professed not to know anything about their family last year. Once I met them I was able to establish a relationship of my own. This year when I went, my Aunties and Uncle took me to where my Grandparents' photos were. And they took me to the village. Small steps, and no expectations are best.Don'y come out asking for something precious. They will get suspicious of your actions.
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