HOWE Mary (female)

Description

Biographical informationHowe Mary (aka Monching Mary) was born in 1887 in Perth and given the name Chow Ro Sam (BDM WA 1887/13). She was the eldest child of Hea Sam and Sing Tay, sister of William (Wing Chong) and Maggie.

She was the wife of Monching See Howe and they married on 26 April 1906 at the East Fremantle Presbyterian Church. She was the mother of Edward Jet Far (born 21 March 1907) and Rosie (born 1909 in Perth, BDM 101128/1909). Between 1906 and 1913, the family lived in at least 7 different premises in Perth including Brisbane St, Queen St, Melbourne Rd, Murray St and William St.

She and her husband had a fruit and vegetable shop in Brisbane Street, Perth.

In divorce proceedings Mary stated that Mong Ching left her around 1911 with no money. Edward may have been in Mong Ching's care at this time as she stated she worked as a Needlewoman, 'working for the purpose of earning a livelihood for herself and child Rosie'.

Mong Ching petitioned for divorce on the basis of adultery but this was later withdrawn. Mary petitioned for divorce in November 1913. She stated that her husband, 'treated her with great cruelty and has repeatedly assaulted her and threatened her life'. She also stated that her husband took her infant son, Edward, to China 'and left him there'. She petitioned for the dissolution of her marriage, custody of the children and relief. The request for relief implied that Mon Ching had left her destitute. In April 1914 a decree nisi was declared and Mary was awarded custody of the children. A decree absolute was declared in November 1914. Their divorce file contains a great deal of details about business costs and income as the basis to determine that Mary should be awarded £100 per annum alimony. (SRO, S35, Cons 3404, 1913/0080)

Mary applied for a CEDT in 1920 but did not use it. When her husband took their son back to China in 1921, she and her daughter moved to Sydney where her daughter Rosie died. Mary Howe is reported to have gone to China where she later died.Other nameHowe, Mary (differentiated name)Chow Ro Sam (also known as)Monching Mary (also known as)Date of birth1887Date of deathnot before 1921

Document

'A Chinese Banquet' - 27 April 1907

Hea Sam and Sing Tay's children - BDM WA Register

See Howe Divorce, 23 April 1914

See Howe Divorce, 25 April 1914

See Howe Divorce, 25 August 1915

See Howe Divorce, 26 August 1915

See Howe Divorce, 27 August 1915

Person

HEA SAM

HOWE Rose (female)

JET FAR Edward

MONG CHING SEE HOWE

SAM William (SAM Wing Chong)

SING TAY (female)

YUEN Maggie (May) (female)

Mary Howe pictured around the age of 35 on an unused 1920 Certificate implies she planned to travel (source: National Archives, K1145, 1920/123).

Family

ParentHEA SAMSING TAY (female)SpouseMONG CHING SEE HOWESiblingSAM William (SAM Wing Chong)YUEN Maggie (May) (female)ChildJET FAR EdwardHOWE Rose (female)

Connections

Subject (place)Brisbane Street, PerthFremantleSydneySubject (topic)Chinese heritage in Western AustraliaShop keeperRelated collectionAnne Atkinson CollectionRelated linkNAA CEDT File 1920

Item information

ContributorSchool of Social SciencesSource of informationAsian immigrants to Western Australia, 1829-1901 (Atkinson, 1988)

Significant place

RelationPlace of birthPlacePerthDate1887

UWA Collected

HOWE Mary (female)

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA