HEA SAM

Description

Biographical informationHea Sam was born in 1855 in Hokon, China (also indicated as Foo Chow Foo). He migrated to Western Australia in 1873. He was five feet and six inches in height. He was the husband of Sing Tay/Neng Youke, father of Mary, born 1887, William, born 1888 and Maggie (May) born 1890.

He worked as a fisherman at Sharks Bay under a labour contract from 1873 to about 1876. When his contract expired, he became a market gardener with a vegetable garden at Cannington. In 1884 he owned a market garden in Peninsula Road, Maylands, employing five Chinese. This may have been a partnership with Ah Leap which was dissolved in 1887 (Daily News, 13 August 1887, p. 3) He also worked in Mr Burt's garden for a period of three months.

He travelled to Singapore for 3 months in 1885, married Neng Youke, and she travelled to Western Australia with him. Hea San claimed in 1885 that he, "is the only Chinese who has brought his wife to this Colony." (SRO, S675, Cons 527, 1889/3183).

He may have had a shop in William Street around 1886 (Daily News, 8 November 1886, p. 3).

His request for naturalisation was granted by the Governor in November 1889 (SRO, S61, Cons 3442, H05).

In 1890 he had a fruit and vegetable shop in Market Street, Fremantle, where his third child was born in a room above the shop. His wife died on 4 June 1893 at the age of 24.

He was ordered by the court to pay £97 costs to Theo R Lowe & Co. The court case indicates that Hea San had sold his produce to Lowe & Co on a consignment basis "by auction and otherwise" for around three years. (SRO, S577, Cons 3580, 1902/L036).

Hea Sam was recorded in 1910 as leasing a market garden in Roberts Street, Osborne Park, employing six workers.

He travelled back to China between July 1910 and March 1912. His immigration paperwork indicated he was blind in one eye and was missing his left thumb.

Based on information from his daughter Mary's divorce proceedings, Hea Sam had returned to China sometime before 1915 (possibly December 1913?), leaving Mary in charge of his market garden in Osborne Park. At the time the 12 acre market garden had a cottage with three rooms: one of which was occupied by Mary and her daughter Rosie, long-time employee Chew Toong [may be Chew Tong?] had one of the other rooms and the third room was occupied by the three other employees. Mary described Hea Sam as, 'a fair and just man, and I expect him to on his return to make me an allowance from the proceeds of the garden...He may return at any time'.

Hea Sam is believed to have died in China, but the place and date is unknown. He has descendants from the 3rd to the 5th generation are still residing in Western Australia.

In 1982, a Western Australian newspaper article described him as "possibly the first Chinese market gardener in this State." (see Anne Atkinson Collection Box_007_Green_Box_0055)

A digitised file of him is available at the National Archives of Australia (K1145, 1910/131 - see 'Related Link' below).Other nameHea Sam (differentiated name)Hea San (also known as)Hea San Win Ton (also known as)Date of birth1855