Posted by John Thatcher (202.12.233.21) on August 28, 2008 at 19:06:20:
Hello,
I am currently researching my Chinese Ancestor, who's English speaking name was James Appoo (or James Ah Poo), and was also referred to once as Chen Appoo.
He came (most likely) from the Toishan county in the See Yup district of China to Bendigo in Victoria Australia during the gold rush of the 1850's (most of the Chinese in Australia seemed to come from this area).
He was an interpreter in the local Bendigo community, and married a young French girl (Elizabeth Herault) and settled down there until he died in 1898.
They had 10 children - and later some of the decendants changed their name to "Lee".
Unfortunately I dont have his name written in Chinese characters - so its very hard to be able to trace what family or villiage he came from - apart from the clue that he may have been a "Chen" and also that he may have be part of the "Huy Sing" or "Tsing Ching" tribe or clan?
Does anyone out there have any ideas where I can try and find out more about whate villiage or family he may have come from in the Toishan county?
Thanks in advance,
John