Sear Chung / Shar Hong Village - Toishan

[sally2154]

This is my first post on this wonderful forum.  I am hoping someone can point me in the right direction here!

I've been trying to locate Sear Chung / Shar Hong village somewhere in Toishan and confirm whether this is a Chin village.

It is possibly an ancestral village of mine - The grandmother of one of my DNA matches comes from this village.  My Maternal great great grandmother was a Chin, so it is possible we connect there.  I'd like to find out more about this village.

Unfortunately my ancestors did not leave me much information - no Chinese characters and only "Canton" as a birthplace which is very frustrating.  Therefore I am investigating the ancestors of one of my DNA matches who were kind enough to become naturalised US Citizens, leaving at least some kind of place of origin for me to chase up!

My DNA Match's father came from Namshancun 南山村 which is just south of Kaiping city near the Yee ancestral hall  - his father was a Yee.  I am thinking this village above must be in the same general area.  

One source (her naturalisation paper) states Shar Hong, her husband's naturalisation paper calls it Sear Chung village.  I've trawled through the village database, been translating endless village names into a Cantonese to Voice app, and plugged endless locations into google maps, but so far I have not been able to work it out!

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Sally Keam
Melbourne Australia

[lachinatown]

Welcome Sally.

How about 石塘 / Shek Tong (陳 / Chin), which is close to Namshancun 南山村?

Isn't the Namshancun 南山村 you are referring to is located in Kaiping, not in Taishan?

[gckimm]

Hi Sally:

Can you give us a little more clarification? Do you think the village is in Taishan or in Kaiping?

Based on the romanization you have given, my guess is that the place for which you are looking is either 沙塘村 Shatang Village in Taishan or is part of 沙塘鎮 Shatang Town in Kaiping. Shatang = Cantonese Sah Tong = Sah Hong in the local dialect, where the "t" sound in Cantonese becomes an "h" sound. But I have not yet been able to figure out the "Sear Chung" reference.

Greg

[sally2154]

Hi again,

So sorry about not replying, I think I need to update my notification preferences, I had no idea anyone had replied to my post! Total newbie, so sorry! Thank you for your replies, I shall try and clarify somewhat.

Yes Namshancun is now in Kaiping but was once under Toishan, it is definitely the correct village as I have gone back and re-read my DNA match’s grandfather’s gravestone and it mentions Dik Hoi Heung so this is the correct area.

I am certain that Shar Hong is in Toishan as this is the information given on the naturalisation papers.

I am thinking that Shatang village may be promising. Do you know roughly where this village can be found, I haven’t had any luck looking on Google maos for it.

Shek Tong could also be promising, good location and right Clan, just not sure that pronunciation is going to match the way it was anglicised. I will need to look into this one further.

Thanks again for your assistance!
Sally.

[lachinatown]

Do you have any Chinese characters?

[sally2154]

No unfortunately. It is the bain of my life!