Thursday, July 21, 2016

Henry Swords Meade in Amoy and Shanghai!

Ahoy from Amoy!  I just received an interesting email (below) from a Susan H. of Dublin who is researching her roots in 19th century Amoy (present day Xiamen) and Shanghai.  If you have any information, please contact me and I'll pass it on to her!

Enjoy Amoy!

Dr. Bill

Hi Bill,

I came across your blog when searching online for information on catholic cemeteries on Amoy Island, Shanghai. My grandfather, Henry Swords Meade was born on Amoy in 1885 and his two sisters Norah( in 1887) and Minnie (in 1888) were born in Shanghai. It also seems from looking at an Irish Census for 1901 that there was a half sister called Mary Meade who was also born in China (cannot make out the location) in 1871.

I know that their father was Harbourmaster or Head of the Port of Shanghai at this time (John Meade?). They are all buried in Ireland but Henry Swords Meade and his sisters Minnie and Norah's Mother died of (typhus, we believe) in Amoy and is buried there. When their Mother, Mary, died the children were sent back to be "reared" by family in Ireland and they were in Ireland in 1901 at the date of the Census.

We think that their Mother was called Mary (nee Bourke) Meade.

Is there a Catholic graveyard from this period on Amoy which I could contact to see if I could find her grave? I am planning a trip to Shanghai next year.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Many thanks,
Susan H.
Dublin, Ireland


School of Management, Xiamen University
Amazon eBook
"Discover Xiamen"
www.amoymagic.com

Bill Brown
 Xiamen University
 www.amoymagic.com