Sophie Couchman – Page 5

The Chinese in Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery

7 June, 202123 October, 2021 Sophie Couchman Leave a comment

By Terry Young (Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria)

I grew up in Coburg and during those 20 years I never visited the local cemetery. The Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery in Bell Street, Preston is one of the oldest in Melbourne dating back to 1856.

Recently I made a decision to visit the cemetery to investigate the Chinese who were buried there. My research tells me that there are about 130 Chinese buried in the Other Denominations section dating from 1907 to 1937. Many of these graves are unmarked.

On this visit I came across the headstone of Young Ying who died 29/12/1919, aged 54.

Young Ying’s gravestone at Coburg Pine Cemetery, 2021. Photographer: Terry Young

Using the Victorian CEDT Index, I searched for Young Ying and found the following information.

3090	Young Ying	Chinese	44	Market gardener	North Carlton	1910
5492	Young Ying	Chinese	49	Gardener	Brunswick	1915
7153	Young Ying	Chinese	52	Gardener	East Brunswick	1919

Victorian CEDT Index search result for ‘Young Ying’

At first I thought this was not the same person as he returned to China in 1919 (see above)

A closer look at the actual register page image tells me that the CEDT was cancelled as it was not used within three years of issue.

Victorian CEDT Register detail
[Index entry for Young Ying, 1919, Register 2, p. 43, Victorian CEDT Index, https://www.cafhov.com/vic-cedt-index/?type=id&search=7153 (original data taken from ‘Register of Certificates Exempting from the Dictation Test, 1915-1933’, National Archives of Australia: B6003, 2)]

It was not used as he had died in December 1919 as identified on the headstone.

If I had not looked at the register page I would have assumed this was not the same person. This is an example of how the Victorian CEDT Index can help provide more information and support family history research.

The index is able to provide information about 262 Chinese who resided in Coburg from 1904 to 1955 or you can browse through those from other suburbs here – http://www.cafhov.com/vic-cedt-index/browse.

Terry Young

Terry is a first generation Chinese Australian. As an adult he developed a curiosity about the unspoken lives of his Cantonese speaking parents. Both migrated to Australia during difficult times, personally and historically. Terry’s family research has helped shape his persona and identity. He continues to research and discover details about his ancestors and his extended family, not only for his personal satisfaction but also for future family generations.

Finding my Dad

4 June, 202120 June, 2021 Sophie Couchman Leave a comment

By Marie Hammond (Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria)

I joined the Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria (CAFHOV) to learn more about my Dad’s life in Australia. He was known as George Woon later in life but the name he used when he first arrived was Ah Tow. With the help of CAFHOV member Terry I found two matches for my Dad in the Victoria CEDT Index under the name of ‘Ah Tow’.

The first entry, in 1921, shows he was a cabinetmaker in Melbourne who had lived in Australia for 21 years. This has given me a possible date of 1900 for when my Dad first came to Australia. This matches the information my mother told me. She said my Dad came to Australia as a 19 or 20-year old. According to the entry in the Victorian CEDT register he was 41 years old when he travelled in 1921 and so would have been about 20 years old when he arrived.

Index entry for Ah Tow, 1921, Register 2, p. 65, Victorian CEDT Index, http://www.cafhov.com/vic-cedt-index/?type=id&search=8103 (original data taken from ‘Register of Certificates Exempting from the Dictation Test, 1915-1933’, National Archives of Australia: B6003, 2)

I found a secon d entry in 1932. It tells me he must have come back again to Australia and left again in 1932 for China. I now know he was residing in Melbourne for 32 years. The reason he may have returned to China in 1932 was he was possibly looking to find a new wife, my mother, whom he brought to Australia in 1948. His first wife had died giving birth to a daughter who was being cared for by an elderly grandparent.

Index entry for Ah Tow, 1932, Register 2, p. 152, Victorian CEDT Index, http://www.cafhov.com/vic-cedt-index/?type=id&search=11663 (original data taken from ‘Register of Certificates Exempting from the Dictation Test, 1915-1933’, National Archives of Australia: B6003, 2)

It was possible verify that that this Melbourne cabinet maker called ‘Ah Tow’ was my Dad by matching these entries with his CEDT.

CEDTs for my Dad, 1921 and 1933
[NAA: B13, 1933/134]

My mother told me that whilst he was in China, the second-hand furniture shop that he ran near Little Bourke St was burnt down but I have not been able to verify that. I think my Dad possibly moved to regional Victoria on his return to Victoria, as the town’s folk in Red Cliffs (Victoria) have told me they remember him being in the town in the 1930s. Covid restrictions have prevented me from investigating my Dad’s life further but I’m looking forward to doing so.