Looking for Grandpa

[benjamin]

My great grandfather immigrated to America from China around the year 1913. I believe that he had a brother living in China at that time.

We have his name recorded as Jue Wa Ding but are unsure of the correct spelling. He was born in the year 1870 according to his tombstone.
We believe that his father’s name was similar to his: Jue Wa Ding. We do not know a birth date or death date.
We believe that his mothers name was something like Ng She. We do not know a birth date or death date.
According to a passenger list that we found, he had a brother named Wong Chew shown as living in Koo. Chang. Sun Wui as recorded by an American who did not speak Chinese. This probably was meant to be Xinhui. I believe that this could be Xinhui, Jiangmen, Guangdong, China, or it could be Xinhui, Zhujing, Jinshan, Shanghai, China we are not sure.

I would love to know more about my ancestors.

I have a photograph of the tombstone with Chinese characters. I also have a photo of the passenger list with what we believe to be his arrival to Seattle, Washington, USA on the SS Talthybius on June 21, 1913. According to my research, this ship left from Hong Kong and stopped in Yokohama Japan.

I am not sure how to post photos on this thread, but if I can figure it out, I will.

[Doug 周]

Try this:

[cdnheadtaxdata]

Dear Benjamin:

Your ancestral village is Koo. Chang. Sun Wui : 古井鎮, 新會縣
The Jue 趙 family Clan of Ko Chang 古井鎮 are direct descendants of the Sung Dynasty.
The Chinese characters for Jue Wa Ding is likely 趙華鼎 or 趙華定
His wife Ng She is 吳氏 (meaning her maiden last name is Ng)6.
The Ng 吳 family is also a major clan in Ko Chang.

The Canadian Head Tax Data from 1904 to 1949 lists the following Jue 趙 members with the middle name Wa 華:

Chew Wa 霞路鄉 Har Low 古井鎮 Ko Jang 1911
Jew Wah Wong 慈溪鄉 Soo Kai 古井鎮 Ko Jang 1911
Jew Wah Foon 慈溪鄉 Soo Kai 古井鎮 Ko Jang 1913
Jew Wah Woy 鵝溪鄉 Gor Kai 古井鎮 Ko Jang 1913
Jeu Wah Chew 慈溪鄉 Soo Kai 古井鎮 Ko Jang 1919
Chew Wah Kow 霞路鄉 Har Low 古井鎮 Ko Jang 1923

all the above would share the Chinese name of 趙華
They would likely belong to the same generation of your great grandfather Jue Wa Ding.


the 趙 family clan in Ko Chang will probably be able to trace your ancestry.
Good Luck!