For those who read the previous post on Charles Jung Kear of Amoy, here is another letter from the descendant seeking to learn more about him. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Bill Brown
Bill, it was so good to received you email. Many thanks.
As we are going away for a few days, i actually posted the information to you and the address I mailed it to : Mr Bill Brown, Box 1288, Xiamen University, Xiamen Fujian China 361005. So fingers crossed that you will receive the A4 size padded bag when you get back from your trip. I mailed postcards to my family from Xiamen and happy to report all arrived approximately 3/4 weeks later.
It was difficult to decide what I should send. I went through numerous paperwork and found anything that I thought would/may help the Chinese end. Im not sure how many old Churches still stand in Xiamen but we did think that would be a start (hence why we were outside the old Presbyterian Church). Luck was with us that day. The other strong clue was my gran telling my mother that her father could speak "Scotch and Chinese". Did Charles attend a Missionary school? Obviously he was well educated for someone of that period as he worked for a time as a court interpreter acting for the Chinese Miners one would assume in the Hill End/Bathurst region was full of Chinese mining for gold. He may have been a full blood Chinese and adopted the name "Kear" on arrival in Australia. Or his father could have been Scottish, a missionary or a naval man. We are betting on the missionary part although cousin Helen has done research on line and have not found any Kears coming to Amoy. Old residents in Mudgee insisted that Charles was a "full blood" and we were told that he and his sons dressed in traditional clothing and had pigtails. And given the strong chinese features of my gran Hannah Vashti and other relatives, it seems that could be so.
All of Charles's children had biblical names. (see letter from David Kear, NZ - check out on Google his background)
However, the Kears come from the Forest of Dean in the UK, and have resided there for hundreds of years - all well documented. It seems puzzling that Charles's wife Jean Shergold (Shurgold) came from Wilshire, very close to the Forest of Dean. David Kear in New Zealand has made a lifetime search of the Kears and has made a comprehensive and organised file of the family. He generously has shared it with us. You will see his notes to me, so logical and organised. David is now 92 and it appears no longer is using a computer when he wrote to me late last year. His son in Melbourne is now taking up the Kear research. I have yet to contact him.
Whist in Xiamen, we stayed at the Swiss International Hotel opposite the Island and actually walked past the University. So close.
Obviously Kear/Chinese research has been picked up by us all and put aside given personal circumstances and it was really when I retired some 9 years ago that I had a bit more time and though I should get a move on. Both MK and HM my cousins have done the same whilst a lot younger .
So fingers crossed that there are some researchers who may help us further.
We are happy to reimburse copying costs/postage where/as needed.
Longing for more news.
Many, many thanks
J.
Dr. Bill's Amazon eBooks
"Fujian Adventure"
Xiamen University www.amoymagic.com
Bill Brown
Bill, it was so good to received you email. Many thanks.
As we are going away for a few days, i actually posted the information to you and the address I mailed it to : Mr Bill Brown, Box 1288, Xiamen University, Xiamen Fujian China 361005. So fingers crossed that you will receive the A4 size padded bag when you get back from your trip. I mailed postcards to my family from Xiamen and happy to report all arrived approximately 3/4 weeks later.
It was difficult to decide what I should send. I went through numerous paperwork and found anything that I thought would/may help the Chinese end. Im not sure how many old Churches still stand in Xiamen but we did think that would be a start (hence why we were outside the old Presbyterian Church). Luck was with us that day. The other strong clue was my gran telling my mother that her father could speak "Scotch and Chinese". Did Charles attend a Missionary school? Obviously he was well educated for someone of that period as he worked for a time as a court interpreter acting for the Chinese Miners one would assume in the Hill End/Bathurst region was full of Chinese mining for gold. He may have been a full blood Chinese and adopted the name "Kear" on arrival in Australia. Or his father could have been Scottish, a missionary or a naval man. We are betting on the missionary part although cousin Helen has done research on line and have not found any Kears coming to Amoy. Old residents in Mudgee insisted that Charles was a "full blood" and we were told that he and his sons dressed in traditional clothing and had pigtails. And given the strong chinese features of my gran Hannah Vashti and other relatives, it seems that could be so.
All of Charles's children had biblical names. (see letter from David Kear, NZ - check out on Google his background)
However, the Kears come from the Forest of Dean in the UK, and have resided there for hundreds of years - all well documented. It seems puzzling that Charles's wife Jean Shergold (Shurgold) came from Wilshire, very close to the Forest of Dean. David Kear in New Zealand has made a lifetime search of the Kears and has made a comprehensive and organised file of the family. He generously has shared it with us. You will see his notes to me, so logical and organised. David is now 92 and it appears no longer is using a computer when he wrote to me late last year. His son in Melbourne is now taking up the Kear research. I have yet to contact him.
Whist in Xiamen, we stayed at the Swiss International Hotel opposite the Island and actually walked past the University. So close.
Obviously Kear/Chinese research has been picked up by us all and put aside given personal circumstances and it was really when I retired some 9 years ago that I had a bit more time and though I should get a move on. Both MK and HM my cousins have done the same whilst a lot younger .
So fingers crossed that there are some researchers who may help us further.
We are happy to reimburse copying costs/postage where/as needed.
Longing for more news.
Many, many thanks
J.
Dr. Bill's Amazon eBooks
"Fujian Adventure"
Xiamen University www.amoymagic.com
