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Post by helen9999 on Nov 24, 2014 1:08:23 GMT -5
I am trying to find information about an ancestor, Charles Kear, who travelled from Amoy (now Xiamen) to Australia in 1852. He lived in Mudgee in NSW from at least 1861 and worked as an interpreter of the Chinese language. We believe Charles was Chinese or part Chinese and don't know whether Kear was his real name, although this was the name he used on his wedding certificate and other Australian documents. Family members are travelling to Xiamen in December and we would be grateful for any information that may help in our search
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Post by helen on Nov 26, 2014 3:03:31 GMT -5
Death of Mrs Kear Sen It is with sincere regret to announce tho deathin Sydney of Mrs. Kear, widow of tho late Mr. Charles Kear, of Mudgee, and mother of Mr. Jacob Kear, coachbuilder, and Mr. H. C. W. Kear, one of the Western Post proprietory, to whom we extend our sympathies. Deceased was for many years a highly respected resident of Mudgee. Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative Monday 5 December 1904 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/157634017?searchTerm=Charles%20Kear&searchLimits=DEATHS. On November 2 at her residence, 16S Redfern Street Redfern Jean, relict of the late Charles Kear, aged 69 years. trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/113310208?searchTerm=%22Charles%20Kear%22&searchLimits= An inquest was held on Saturday last, at Murray's Burrundulla Inn, touching the death of Charles Kear, an old resident of Mudgee district. The medical testimony went to prove that death resulted from apoplexy, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly.' Australian Town and Country Journal Saturday 2 March 1878 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/70614550?searchTerm=%22Charles%20Kear%22&searchLimits= Hugh Charles William Kear deposed : I am part proprietor of the ' Western Post' ; on Monday, 18th instant, was with Baurg at Randell's hotel ; ho left Randell's hotel a few minutes after 11 o'clock, leaving Baurg there ; as fur as ho could judge Baurg was quite sober ; Baurg did not have any injurios whon he left him. Mudgee Guardian and North-Western Representative Thursday 28 September 1905 trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/157686412?searchTerm=%22Charles%20Kear%22&searchLimits= |
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Post by helen on Nov 26, 2014 3:19:34 GMT -5
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Post by helen9999 on Nov 26, 2014 17:44:47 GMT -5
Thank you to the person who provided the above information. We have researched extensively the records available in Australia. I was hoping from this site to get some insight from someone with expertise in Chinese genealogy who could give us some tips on locating information in Xiamen.
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Post by helen on Nov 27, 2014 2:13:04 GMT -5
Good that you have all this information already. Why do you think he was Chinese, and why he was from Xiamen. Do you have a head stone with Chinese characters? And documentation, who his friends might have been, any associations he may have belonged to?
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Post by helen9999 on Nov 27, 2014 14:49:00 GMT -5
The key evidence we have that he was Chinese is a copy of his application for a certificate of naturalisation in NSW which states that he was a native of Amoy in China and that he was an interpreter of the Chinese language and a dealer. He came to Australia in 1852 during the gold rush and lived in Mudgee in NSW. His application for a certificate of naturalisation was refused in 1867 and the document has a note stating that 'the naturalisation of Chinese is prohibited'. We also have photos of three of his children and all have Chinese appearance. We have a newspaper reference of his death but no headstone and no other information. The headstone of his wife (who was not Chinese) who died some years after him in Sydney makes no reference to him. A relative is going to Xiamen in early December so if you have any information such as a point of contact there for family history research that would be very helpful.
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Post by pamay on Dec 6, 2014 0:15:57 GMT -5
I also have an ancestor James Shaw born Amoy c1831, no record of his birth found, arrived Australia 1850's, however a possible sibling Clara E. Shaw was born 1836. I believe him to be European/Eurasian - according to his marriage certificate his father was a storekeeper and his mother's maiden name Lew.
I would love to hear about your relatives trip to Xiamen and any records found as there isn't much information re Amoy c 1830's available.
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